Chapter 12
The room had gone quiet again.
Only the soft sound of rain outside filled the silence now.
The painkillers were slowly making my body feel heavier, but my mind still stayed awake.
Mostly because of him.
Dhruv stood near the bed, one hand pressed against his jaw while the city lights reflected faintly behind him.
And despite how calm he looked,
Something about him tonight felt... unstable.
Not weak.
Never weak.
Just shaken in a way he didn't know how to hide.
I looked down at the white bandage wrapped around my shoulder.
Then quietly pushed the blanket aside.
Dhruv's eyes immediately snapped toward me.
"What are you doing?"
"I'll go sleep in my room."
His brows furrowed instantly.
"No."
I blinked slightly.
"It's okay. You're tired too."
I slowly tried standing up from the bed.
Big mistake.
The second pressure hit my shoulder, pain shot through my body violently.
A soft gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.
Dhruv reached me instantly.
His hand grabbed my waist firmly before I could lose balance.
The sudden closeness made my heartbeat stumble.
"Careful."
His voice came out sharper than intended.
I swallowed softly.
"I'm fine."
He gave me a look that clearly said you're an idiot.
Honestly fair enough.
His hand still rested against my waist steadily.
Warm.
Strong.
Protective.
And suddenly I became painfully aware of how close we were standing.
My breath felt uneven.
Because Dhruv's presence always consumed space too intensely.
I carefully stepped back slightly.
Mostly because my nervous system needed survival.
"I just thought..." I spoke softly while avoiding his eyes, "you'd feel uncomfortable if I stayed here."
Silence.
I continued nervously.
"You don't really like people around you while sleeping."
The room went very still after that.
Because somehow,
The sentence sounded sadder aloud.
Dhruv stared at me quietly.
And for one strange second,
Something in his expression changed again.
Not anger.
Not irritation.
Something heavier.
Like guilt.
Which shocked me.
Because Dhruv Malhotra didn't seem like the type to feel guilty about anything.
I tried smiling softly.
"It's okay. I'll sleep in the guest room."
I turned carefully again,
And suddenly his hand wrapped around my wrist.
Firm.
Instant.
My breath caught.
The movement stopped me immediately.
Silence filled the room.
I slowly looked down at his hand holding mine.
Then back up at him.
Dhruv's jaw looked tight again.
His dark eyes remained fixed on me.
Unreadable.
But intense enough to make my heartbeat painfully loud.
"Don't."
The word came low.
Quiet.
And somehow,
More vulnerable than anything he'd ever said before.
I froze completely.
Because for once,
That didn't sound like an order.
It sounded genuine.
The realization itself felt dangerous.
My voice came out smaller now.
"I don't want to disturb you."
Something flickered sharply in his eyes then.
Almost frustration.
But not at me.
At himself maybe.
Because suddenly Dhruv stepped closer.
Too close.
Always too close.
"You got shot because of me."
His voice dropped lower.
"And you're still worried about disturbing my sleep?"
The room fell silent again.
My throat tightened unexpectedly.
Because no matter how cold Dhruv acted,
Tonight every sentence from him felt loaded with emotions he didn't know how to handle.
I looked away softly.
"I just thought you'd rather be alone."
The second those words left my mouth,
Dhruv went completely still.
And somehow,
That sentence affected him more than anything else tonight.
Because suddenly I saw it.
Something raw flicker across his face for one tiny second.
Gone almost immediately.
But there.
Like hearing you'd rather be alone hit somewhere deeper than expected.
His grip around my wrist loosened slightly.
Not letting go.
Just softer now.
Then quietly..
Very quietly..
"Stay."
My heart literally stopped.
Not because it sounded romantic.
Because it sounded honest.
Too honest.
The room suddenly felt unbearably intimate.
Rain poured outside.
The city lights glowed through the windows.
And Dhruv Malhotra stood there holding my wrist like letting go physically wasn't an option anymore.
I stared at him speechlessly.
Because this man,
This cold, emotionless billionaire who hated attachment,
Had just asked me to stay.
His gaze remained fixed on mine.
And for the first time since marriage,
Dhruv looked like someone who genuinely didn't want to be alone tonight.
The realization made my chest ache unexpectedly.
I nodded softly.
"Okay."
Something in his shoulders relaxed slightly after hearing that.
Barely noticeable.
But there.
He slowly let go of my wrist then immediately stepped back.
Walls returning.
Control returning.
Like he hated revealing too much.
"I'll sleep on the couch."
Of course.
I almost smiled weakly.
Because even emotionally spiraling, Dhruv Malhotra still needed distance.
I carefully sat back onto the bed while he walked toward the long couch near the windows.
The room became quiet again.
But different now.
Softer somehow.
For a few minutes neither of us spoke.
Then suddenly,
Dhruv's voice broke the silence.
"You should quit that job."
I blinked.
Seriously?
Now?
I looked toward him in disbelief.
"You almost died tonight and that's your concern?"
His expression stayed blank while lying back against the couch.
"The office is too far."
I stared at him.
Actually stared.
Because somehow that sentence sounded suspiciously close to concern.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Are you worried about me?"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Dhruv slowly looked toward me.
And the expression on his face made me instantly regret existing.
"No."
Too fast.
Way too fast.
I almost laughed softly despite everything.
Dhruv noticed immediately.
His eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"You answered too quickly."
His jaw tightened faintly.
"Sleep, Riya."
Okay wow.
Definitely caught him there.
I smiled slightly while adjusting carefully against the pillows.
And weirdly,
For the first time since marrying Dhruv Malhotra,
The room didn't feel cold anymore.
....
Morning sunlight filled the room softly.
For one peaceful second,
Everything felt calm.
Then pain shot through my shoulder the moment I tried moving.
"Ow!"
I sat up carefully with a wince.
Right.
Bullet.
Fantastic.
The events of last night came rushing back instantly.
The attack.
The blood.
Dhruv.
My eyes immediately shifted toward the couch near the windows.
Empty.
I blinked slightly.
Had he already left?
Of course he had.
This was Dhruv Malhotra.
The man probably attended billion-dollar meetings after emotional breakdowns.
I carefully stood up from the bed and walked toward the bathroom.
The oversized black shirt still hung loosely around me.
After somehow managing to freshen up one-handed like a struggling penguin, I stepped out again and checked the time on my phone.
8:12 AM.
My soul exited my body immediately.
"Oh my God."
I had office.
ACTUAL OFFICE.
My first week.
And I had already almost died.
This was not professional behavior.
Panic instantly consumed me.
I quickly started searching for clothes with one functioning arm.
Absolutely impossible.
Everything hurt.
My hair looked insane.
And buttoning clothes one-handed deserved military respect.
I finally managed wearing a simple kurti after fighting for my life for ten minutes.
Then I grabbed my bag carefully and turned toward the door,
Only to freeze.
Dhruv stood there.
Watching me.
Black shirt.
Grey trousers.
Hair still slightly wet from shower.
Phone in one hand.
And an expression so dangerously calm that my survival instincts activated immediately.
His eyes slowly moved over me.
Dressed.
Bag packed.
Ready to leave.
Silence.
Then finally,
"What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Uh oh.
I cleared my throat softly.
"I have office."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Dhruv stared at me like I'd just announced plans to climb Everest with broken legs.
"You got shot yesterday."
"I know."
"And you're going to work."
"Yes."
Dead silence.
Then suddenly,
"No."
The word came flat.
Absolute.
Like there wasn't even room for discussion.
I blinked.
"What do you mean no?"
Dhruv stepped fully inside the room now.
His jaw already tight with irritation.
"You're injured."
"It's just my shoulder."
His eyes darkened instantly.
"Just your shoulder?"
Okay maybe wrong wording.
I sighed softly.
"Dhruv, it's been literally one day since I joined."
He looked completely unimpressed.
"And?"
"I can't take leave already."
His expression somehow became even colder.
"Why not?"
Because normal people couldn't casually disappear from work after day one unlike billionaire psychopaths?
But I valued my life so I didn't say that aloud.
Instead I spoke carefully.
"It'll leave a bad impression."
Dhruv actually laughed.
A short dangerous laugh.
"Riya."
One step closer.
"You took a bullet."
His voice lowered sharply.
"If your company has a problem with you resting after that, I'll buy the company and shut it down."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"What kind of insane solution is that?!"
"A very effective one."
God.
This man genuinely solved problems like a movie villain.
I shook my head stubbornly.
"I'm still going."
Dhruv's patience visibly snapped slightly.
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No."
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
We stared at each other.
Neither backing down.
And honestly?
This was probably the first real argument in our marriage where I wasn't scared.
Mostly because exhaustion had killed fear.
Dhruv ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
Then suddenly,
"Leave the job then."
I blinked.
"What?"
His voice came colder now.
"You clearly can't handle it physically."
Something inside me instantly got hurt.
Because after everything,
After finally earning something for myself,
Hearing him dismiss it so easily stung deeply.
"I can handle it."
His eyes narrowed.
"By starving yourself, getting injured, and travelling alone at night?"
I opened my mouth.
Closed it again.
Okay wow maybe my recent decisions sounded concerning aloud.
Still.
"This matters to me."
The words came quieter now.
Real.
And for one second,
Dhruv actually paused.
Because maybe he realized this wasn't stubbornness anymore.
It was dignity.
Independence.
Something I'd been fighting desperately to keep ever since entering this mansion.
I picked up my phone carefully with my uninjured hand.
"Fine."
Dhruv watched me sharply.
"I'll call Armaan sir."
The second that name left my mouth,
The atmosphere changed violently.
Actually violently.
Dhruv's expression darkened instantly.
Dangerously.
"What did you just say?"
Oops.
Too late.
I continued nervously while unlocking my phone.
"He's understanding and kind, maybe he'll let me work from home for a few days.."
Before I could finish,
Dhruv suddenly grabbed my wrist.
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
My breath caught.
Not because he hurt me.
Because his eyes looked lethal.
Actually lethal.
"You got shot yesterday."
His voice came terrifyingly calm.
"And your solution is calling another man first thing in the morning?"
I stared at him in shock.
What?!
"This isn't about that!"
"Then what exactly is it about?"
His grip tightened slightly around my wrist.
Not painfully.
Possessively.
His jaw clenched sharply.
"You can barely move your arm and you're worried about impressing Armaan Khanna?"
The room went silent.
And suddenly,
I realized something horrifying.
Dhruv wasn't angry about the job anymore.
He was angry about Armaan.
The realization itself felt insane.
I blinked slowly.
"...are you jealous?"
Silence.
Pure silence.
Dhruv froze.
Actually froze.
Like the word itself offended his existence.
Then immediately,
"No."
Way too fast.
Again.
I almost would've laughed if he didn't look one second away from homicide.
He let go of my wrist abruptly and stepped back.
Expression colder than ever now.
"I don't care who you call."
Liar.
Massive liar.
He looked like he'd personally fight Armaan in the parking lot.
I carefully held my shoulder with my free hand.
"Then why are you angry?"
Dhruv stared at me for a long moment.
And suddenly,
Very suddenly,
He looked exhausted.
Like he himself didn't fully understand why he was reacting this way.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the bandage visible near my shoulder.
Then back to me.
And when he finally spoke,
His voice came quieter.
More dangerous somehow.
"Because you almost died for me yesterday."
The room fell silent instantly.
Every ounce of humor disappeared.
Dhruv looked away sharply after saying it.
Like admitting that aloud already revealed too much.
And somehow,
That sentence affected me more than anything else.