Chapter 30
Morning sunlight slipped softly through the massive glass windows of Dhruv's bedroom.
Golden.
Warm.
Quiet.
For one peaceful second,
Everything felt still.
Safe.
And then,
My brain started working.
Slowly.
Dangerously slowly.
Because first,
I felt warmth.
A lot of warmth.
Second,
Something heavy rested around my waist.
Third,
My face was buried against something firm.
Very firm.
My sleepy brain frowned slightly.
What even,
Then suddenly,
The scent hit me.
That expensive dark cologne.
Dhruv.
My eyes snapped open instantly.
And my soul LEFT MY BODY.
Because OH.
OH MY GOD.
I was practically wrapped around Dhruv Malhotra.
One of his arms rested tightly around my waist pulling me against his chest while my head somehow slept tucked beneath his chin.
Meanwhile one of my legs had literally tangled with his.
EXCUSE ME WHAT.
My heartbeat stopped.
Started.
Stopped again.
Panic exploded instantly inside me.
Because last night,
LAST NIGHT I PUT TWO HUGE PILLOWS BETWEEN US.
TWO.
Massive ones.
Like India-China border protection level pillows.
So WHY WAS I CURRENTLY CUDDLING MY HUSBAND LIKE A KOALA.
My horrified eyes slowly looked downward.
And immediately,
I spotted the pillows.
Both lying dramatically dead on the floor.
Traitors.
Absolute traitors.
Meanwhile Dhruv still slept peacefully.
And unfortunately?
Morning Dhruv looked illegal.
Messy dark hair falling slightly over his forehead.
Black t-shirt stretched perfectly across his chest.
Face relaxed in sleep for once.
No coldness.
No walls.
Just devastatingly handsome man breathing softly against my hair.
God.
No wonder girls lost sanity over him.
I stared for one dangerous second too long.
Then suddenly,
Dhruv shifted slightly in sleep.
His arm tightened around my waist unconsciously.
PULLING ME CLOSER.
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
Because now,
My entire body pressed directly against his.
Chest to chest.
Legs tangled.
His warm breath against my forehead.
OH MY GOD.
Panic mode activated instantly.
I jerked violently backward trying to escape.
Huge mistake.
Because my leg tangled in the blanket.
And before my sleep-deprived brain processed anything,
I FLEW OFF THE BED.
"AAH!"
THUD.
My forehead slammed directly against the wooden side table.
Pain exploded instantly.
"Oh my GOD!"
I curled up dramatically on the carpet clutching my forehead in betrayal.
Meanwhile the loud crash woke Dhruv immediately.
His eyes snapped open sharply.
Years of billionaire trauma and assassination attempts activating instantly.
He sat up violently.
"What happened?!"
Then he saw me.
On the floor.
Half tangled in blanket.
Holding my forehead dramatically.
And somehow,
The terrifying Dhruv Malhotra looked genuinely confused.
Silence.
Then slowly,
His eyes shifted toward the fallen pillows.
Then toward the bed.
Then toward me.
And suddenly,
Understanding hit.
My face burned so badly I wanted death.
Absolute death.
Dhruv stared at me for one second.
Two.
Then,
He laughed.
HE LAUGHED.
An actual real laugh.
Deep.
Uncontrolled.
Beautiful enough to physically ruin me.
I froze completely in shock.
Because excuse me?!
Dhruv Malhotra was sitting there laughing at me like a normal human being.
And somehow,
That was hotter than anything else he'd ever done.
Meanwhile I looked personally betrayed.
"You pushed the pillows!"
His laughter immediately softened into amused disbelief.
"I was asleep."
"Liar."
"You think I strategically attacked your pillow wall at 3 a.m.?"
YES.
ABSOLUTELY YES.
I glared at him dramatically still clutching my forehead.
"This is your fault."
Dhruv finally got off the bed walking toward me.
Still visibly amused.
Which honestly offended me more.
Then he crouched down in front of me.
And suddenly,
The air changed again.
Because now he was close.
Too close.
His laughter faded slowly while his eyes examined my forehead carefully.
The amusement disappeared instantly afterward.
His brows furrowed.
"You actually hit yourself hard."
My dramatic anger weakened slightly.
Because his voice suddenly sounded soft again.
Concerned.
Dhruv gently moved my hand away from my forehead.
Then his fingers lightly touched the forming red mark.
I hissed softly.
"Ow."
His jaw tightened immediately.
"You idiot."
EXCUSE ME?!
"You fell off a king-sized bed."
I glared at him again.
"I was escaping."
Something unreadable flickered through his eyes briefly.
Then quietly,
"From me?"
My heartbeat stumbled instantly.
Dangerous question.
Very dangerous question.
Because suddenly,
The memory of waking up in his arms replayed vividly.
The warmth.
The closeness.
The way he'd held me unconsciously like I belonged there.
My face immediately burned again.
Dhruv noticed instantly.
Of course he did.
His gaze darkened slightly afterward.
Then softly,
"You blush too much around me lately."
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
I stared at him horrified.
Meanwhile Dhruv looked entirely too calm for a man saying things like this at eight in the morning.
I quickly looked away trying to stand up.
Bad idea.
Because the second I moved,
Pain shot through my forehead again.
I stumbled slightly.
Before I could fall,
Dhruv caught me immediately.
One hand around my waist.
The other steadying my arm.
And suddenly,
We froze.
Again.
Because now,
I stood trapped between his arms while he looked down at me from too close.
Way too close.
The morning sunlight hit his face perfectly.
Golden eyes.
Sharp jawline.
Messy hair.
And that soft sleepy expression still lingering slightly.
God.
This man was dangerous before coffee too.
My breathing became uneven instantly.
Meanwhile Dhruv just stared at me quietly.
Like he'd forgotten to let go.
Then his eyes flickered briefly toward my lips.
And the atmosphere changed completely.
My pulse crashed violently.
Because for one terrifying second,
It genuinely felt like he might kiss me.
Because,
The distance between us disappeared slowly.
Dangerously slowly.
Dhruv's hand remained firm against my waist while the other rested near my arm steadying me carefully.
And somehow,
Neither of us moved away.
Neither breathed properly either.
The morning sunlight wrapped around him beautifully.
And the way he was looking at me?
God.
Like he forgot every rule he'd ever made for himself.
My pulse crashed violently inside my chest.
Because Dhruv's gaze had dropped to my lips again.
And this time,
He didn't look away.
The air felt thick suddenly.
Too warm.
Too quiet.
I could hear my own heartbeat embarrassingly loud.
Meanwhile his thumb moved slightly against my waist unconsciously.
Tiny movement.
Still enough to ruin me completely.
Then slowly,
Very slowly,
Dhruv leaned down.
My breath caught instantly.
Because OH MY GOD.
This was happening.
Actually happening.
Dhruv Malhotra,
The man terrified of love,
Was about to kiss me.
And the terrifying part?
I wanted him to.
Desperately.
My eyes fluttered shut instinctively.
His breath brushed softly against my lips.
So close.
Just one inch more.
One tiny inch.
And then,
BANG BANG BANG.
The bedroom door shook violently.
"DHRUV!"
I physically jumped in shock.
Dhruv froze instantly.
And somewhere deep inside his soul,
A murder probably occurred.
Because his jaw clenched immediately afterward.
Meanwhile Kiara's voice continued dramatically from outside.
"DHRUV OPEN THE DOOR."
The moment shattered completely.
Gone.
Ruined.
My breathing remained uneven while Dhruv slowly straightened again.
And honestly?
The look on his face was terrifying.
Pure irritation.
Pure fury.
Like he'd personally declare war now.
I quickly stepped back nervously trying to calm my heartbeat.
Meanwhile Dhruv rubbed a hand over his face once.
Trying very hard not to lose composure.
Outside,
BANG BANG BANG.
"DHRUVVVV."
God.
The timing.
The actual demonic timing.
Dhruv finally walked toward the door stiffly.
And honestly?
I've never seen a man look more interrupted in my life.
He unlocked the door sharply.
And immediately,
Kiara launched herself at him.
Literally.
"DHRUV!"
Before he could react,
She hugged him tightly dramatically.
"It's my birthdayyyyy."
I stood there awkwardly behind them trying to ignore the weird ache in my chest again.
Because no matter how much Dhruv changed lately,
Kiara still crossed boundaries too easily.
Meanwhile Dhruv remained stiff for half a second before carefully removing her arms from around him.
Not rude.
But definitely not soft either.
"Happy birthday."
Kiara grinned brightly.
And then,
She noticed me.
Standing behind him.
Inside his room.
Wearing his oversized t-shirt.
Hair messy from sleep.
And suddenly,
The smile on her face paused.
Just slightly.
Because the realization hit instantly.
I had spent the night in Dhruv's room.
And apparently,
Morning too.
Meanwhile my own brain finally realized how suspicious this looked.
OH NO.
Kiara's eyes slowly shifted between both of us carefully.
Then toward the unmade bed.
Then toward the pillows on the floor.
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
OH MY GOD.
This looked HORRIBLE.
I panicked instantly.
"It's not what it looks like."
Why would I SAY THAT.
People only say that when it absolutely IS what it looks like.
Dhruv closed his eyes briefly like I personally exhausted him.
Meanwhile Kiara smiled slowly now.
Too slowly.
"Oh?"
I wanted the floor to swallow me alive.
Immediately.
Dhruv finally spoke flatly.
"Security reasons."
Kiara looked unconvinced.
Very unconvinced.
But before she could say anything else,
I quickly walked forward forcing a smile.
"Happy birthday, Kiara."
She blinked before smiling brightly again.
"Thank youuu."
Then suddenly,
Her eyes narrowed slightly toward my neck.
Toward the sapphire pendant resting there.
And instantly,
The smile weakened.
Because she recognized it.
Of course she did.
The necklace from yesterday.
The one not meant for her.
The one Dhruv bought for me.
The atmosphere shifted again immediately.
Kiara laughed lightly trying to sound casual.
"You wore it already?"
My fingers instinctively touched the pendant softly.
"It's beautiful."
Kiara's jaw tightened almost invisibly.
Meanwhile Dhruv noticed both our expressions immediately.
Of course he did.
Then calmly,
"We're leaving in an hour."
Kiara blinked.
"Leaving where?"
"Your birthday lunch."
Oh.
Right.
Birthday plans.
Kiara instantly brightened again.
"Dhruvvvv you planned something?"
Dhruv looked entirely unenthusiastic.
"Mother did."
I nearly laughed.
Meanwhile Kiara still looked thrilled.
Then suddenly,
She moved closer toward him again smiling sweetly.
"Can I steal you for breakfast?"
Pick me energy before 9 a.m.
Incredible dedication honestly.
Dhruv looked mildly annoyed already.
......
An hour later
Breakfast at the Malhotra mansion looked like some royal family gathering.
The massive dining hall glowed under morning sunlight pouring through giant windows while servants moved around placing expensive dishes across the table.
Fresh flowers.
Silver cutlery.
Luxury everywhere.
And in the center of it all,
Kiara sat smiling brightly while everyone wished her.
The perfect almost-daughter-in-law.
I walked downstairs beside Dhruv quietly.
And immediately,
Every eye shifted toward us.
Or more specifically,
Toward the fact that we came downstairs together.
From upstairs.
At the same time.
Kiara noticed too.
Her smile flickered for one tiny second.
Then immediately returned.
"Dhruv!"
She stood up dramatically.
"Good morning."
Dhruv nodded once calmly before sitting beside me at the table.
Meanwhile I quietly wished her again.
"Happy birthday."
Kiara smiled sweetly.
"Thank you, Riya."
Her voice remained nice.
But now,
I noticed it.
The slight tension underneath.
The subtle possessiveness whenever she looked at Dhruv.
The insecurity growing slowly.
Because for the first time,
She no longer saw me as temporary.
Meanwhile Dhruv's mother handed Kiara a luxury gift box smiling warmly.
"This is from me."
Kiara gasped dramatically opening it instantly.
"Oh my God."
Diamond earrings.
Of course.
Everyone here casually gifted things worth houses.
Kiara hugged her immediately.
"Thank you aunty!"
Dhruv's mother smiled softly stroking her hair briefly.
And suddenly,
I understood something quietly.
Kiara really had grown up here.
This wasn't just family friendship.
This mansion was practically her second home.
Then Dhruv's uncle handed her another gift.
Luxury watch.
His aunt gave her a designer handbag afterward.
Meanwhile the entire table looked genuinely affectionate toward her.
Like she'd always belonged.
And honestly?
Maybe she had.
Dhruv's aunt looked especially emotional today.
"My princess is growing older."
Kiara laughed dramatically.
"I'm literally twenty-seven."
His aunt ignored that immediately hugging her again.
And suddenly,
The reason behind everything became painfully obvious again.
Because Kiara wasn't just some family friend.
She was practically family already.
Her mother and Dhruv's aunt were sisters.
Which meant,
Dhruv's aunt always wanted her as daughter-in-law.
Always.
That explained the hatred toward me too.
I was the outsider who ruined the perfect plan.
Meanwhile Dhruv silently drank coffee beside me entirely uninterested in birthday emotions.
His aunt looked toward him dramatically.
"And where is YOUR gift?"
Kiara immediately brightened again looking at Dhruv expectantly.
My fingers tightened slightly under the table unconsciously.
Because suddenly,
I remembered the pendant around my neck.
Dhruv noticed my movement instantly.
Of course he did.
Then calmly,
"I already gave it to my woman."
Kiara's expression stiffened slightly.
Before anyone answered,
Dhruv's mother noticed the sapphire pendant immediately.
Her brows lifted.
"Oh."
Then smiling softly toward me:
"Dhruv bought that?"
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
Because suddenly,
Everyone looked at me.
And the necklace.
I awkwardly touched the pendant lightly.
"Uh..."
Dhruv answered calmly before I embarrassed myself further.
"Yes."
Silence.
Dhruv's aunt looked personally offended instantly.
Meanwhile Kiara smiled tightly pretending everything was fine.
His mother however looked genuinely surprised.
Because apparently,
Dhruv buying jewelry personally wasn't normal.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then casually while sipping tea,
Dhruv's mother spoke again.
"By the way, Kiara."
She smiled fondly.
"Your mother called this morning."
Kiara brightened instantly.
"Really?"
"They'll visit next week."
Kiara grinned.
"Finally."
Then laughing dramatically:
"Mama probably misses this mansion more than her own house."
His aunt immediately agreed proudly.
"Obviously. This is your home too."
Something about those words made my chest ache quietly.
Because no matter how kind everyone acted sometimes,
There were still invisible lines between us.
Kiara belonged naturally.
I was temporary.
The contract wife.
Four months remaining.
My appetite disappeared slightly again.
Beside me,
Dhruv noticed immediately.
Again.
His eyes flickered briefly toward my untouched breakfast.
Then toward my expression.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Meanwhile his mother suddenly looked toward me warmly.
"Riya beta."
I looked up quickly.
"Hm?"
She smiled gently.
"When is your birthday?"
The entire table went quieter instantly.
And suddenly,
Something painful twisted inside me.
Because honestly?
I didn't know.
I looked down softly at my hands.
"...I don't know."
Silence.
Everyone froze slightly.
His mother blinked softly.
"What do you mean?"
I swallowed quietly.
And somehow,
The words still hurt even after all these years.
"When I woke up in the hospital..."
My voice softened unintentionally.
"I didn't remember anything."
The dining table fell completely silent now.
Even the servants slowed slightly.
I stared quietly at the tablecloth while speaking.
"The doctors said I was in a coma for fifteen years."
Dhruv's eyes shifted toward me immediately.
Sharp.
Focused.
Like he always became whenever my past came up now.
I continued softly.
"They told me someone had brought me there when I was five years old after an accident."
My throat tightened slightly.
"But when I woke up... I didn't remember my parents."
"Or my home."
"Or even my name."
The silence became heavy now.
I forced a tiny laugh awkwardly.
"The doctors only called me Riya because apparently the man who brought me kept calling me that."
Dhruv had gone completely still beside me.
I continued quietly.
"So maybe that's my real name."
Maybe.
The word echoed painfully inside the huge dining hall.
Because imagine not even knowing if your own name belonged to you.
His mother looked heartbroken instantly.
"Oh beta..."
I smiled lightly trying to make it less sad.
"It's okay."
But honestly?
It never fully stopped hurting.
Because everyone around me belonged somewhere.
Had childhood photos.
Parents.
Birthdays.
Stories.
And I had,
Nothing.
Just blankness before six years ago.
Meanwhile across the table,
Kiara stared at me strangely again.
Like something about my story disturbed her.
Then suddenly,
Dhruv spoke.
Calm.
Quiet.
But firm.
"We'll find out."
My breath caught slightly.
I looked toward him instantly.
And God.
The way he was looking at me now.
Certain.
Protective.
Determined.
Like he'd personally fight the world for answers if needed.
Then softly,
Almost like a promise only for me,
"I'll find everything."