Chapter 18 Morning
Soft rain still tapped against the windows when morning finally arrived.
For the first time in years, Ekansh Rathore slept peacefully.
No nightmares.
No sudden violence.
No waking up reaching for weapons.
Just warmth.
His fever-weakened mind registered one thing only—
her.
The soft scent of jasmine.
Gentle fingers occasionally brushing through his damp hair during the night.
A heartbeat beneath his cheek.
Safe.
The realization alone kept him asleep longer than usual.
Beside him, Aarohi Mehra slowly opened her eyes.
And instantly regretted having functioning emotions.
Because Ekansh was half-curled around her possessively in his sleep.
One arm around her waist.
Face buried near her shoulder.
Like separating himself physically was unacceptable even unconscious.
Aarohi stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
Then at the man sleeping beside her.
And finally admitted the truth she had avoided for weeks.
She was emotionally attached too.
Dangerously attached.
The terrifying mafia lord who terrified cities had slept holding her like she was the only peaceful thing left in his world.
And worse—
some reckless part of her liked it.
A low knock interrupted her thoughts.
Then the door opened slightly.
Rishabh Mehra walked in holding coffee.
Took one look at the bed.
And froze.
"...Wow."
Aarohi immediately sat up.
"Rishabh—"
"No, no." He raised one hand dramatically. "Don't explain. I support women making terrible life choices."
Ekansh stirred slightly from the movement.
Instantly his arm tightened around Aarohi reflexively.
Rishabh stared openly.
"Oh my God, he's clingy, even unconscious."
Aarohi glared.
"He has a fever."
"He has attachment issues."
Fair.
Unfortunately fair.
Rishabh placed the coffee down quietly.
Then his expression softened slightly seeing Ekansh actually sleeping peacefully.
"That's the first time I've seen him look human."
Aarohi glanced down unconsciously.
Sleeping Ekansh looked younger somehow.
Less dangerous.
The constant tension gone from his face.
No rage.
No walls.
Just exhaustion finally resting.
Then suddenly—
Ekansh's eyes opened.
Sharp instinct immediately activated.
His arm tightened protectively around Aarohi before he fully registered the room.
Rishabh blinked slowly.
"...Protective too. Great."
The second Ekansh realized Aarohi was beside him, his entire body relaxed again instantly.
That automatic trust affected her more than it should have.
Then he noticed Rishabh.
Expression flattened immediately.
"Why are you in her room?"
Rishabh looked offended.
"Because this is my house."
Ekansh thought about that briefly.
"...Unfortunate."
Aarohi covered her face tiredly.
Rishabh looked deeply exhausted with both of them already.
"You stood in rain for six hours."
"I was waiting."
"You almost died."
"But she came."
The simple certainty in his answer silenced the room briefly.
Because he said it like he never doubted her in the end.
Even while freezing outside.
Aarohi looked away first this time.
Dangerous feeling.
Very dangerous.
Rishabh sighed dramatically.
"You both need therapy."
"We literally are therapy," Aarohi muttered.
"Clearly not effective enough."
Ekansh ignored the conversation completely.
His attention stayed fixed on Aarohi only.
Studying her face carefully.
"You slept?"
"A little."
"You stayed."
The quietness in his voice nearly hurt.
Like part of him still sounded surprised she actually kept her promise.
Aarohi softened slightly.
"You had fever."
"You still stayed."
The meaning underneath the sentence was obvious.
People usually left once things became inconvenient.
Messy.
Emotionally difficult.
She hadn't.
Before Aarohi could answer, Ekansh slowly sat up.
Then immediately winced.
His fever had reduced but his body still looked exhausted.
Aarohi instantly moved closer.
"Slowly."
The way his eyes softened at her concern did not escape Rishabh unfortunately.
Neither did the fact that Ekansh leaned toward her touch instinctively again.
Rishabh drank coffee like he deserved compensation for witnessing this emotional disaster.
Then suddenly Ekansh spoke quietly without looking away from Aarohi.
"I told you something last night."
Aarohi froze slightly.
Rishabh immediately looked interested.
"Oh?"
Aarohi shot him a death glare.
Ekansh's gaze sharpened carefully on her face.
"You remember."
Not a question.
A statement.
Aarohi stayed silent.
Big mistake.
Because Ekansh noticed everything.
The slight tension in her shoulders.
The avoidance.
Hope flickered dangerously in his eyes.
"You didn't answer me."
Rishabh nearly inhaled coffee wrong.
"Oh this is better than Netflix."
"GET OUT," Aarohi and Ekansh snapped together.
Rishabh looked delighted instead.
"Wow. Already fighting like married people."
A pillow hit his face immediately.
He finally left laughing.
The room became quiet again afterward.
Then slowly—
Ekansh looked back toward Aarohi.
Completely serious now.
"I meant it."
Her heartbeat became annoyingly uneven.
"Ekansh—"
"No." His voice stayed calm. "I know what I said."
Aarohi looked down briefly.
This was exactly what she feared.
Because his feelings were too intense.
Too consuming.
"You're vulnerable right now," she said carefully.
"I'm always vulnerable with you."
The honesty in that sentence hit too hard.
Aarohi exhaled slowly.
"You barely know healthy attachment."
"And you barely know what it feels like to be needed."
Silence.
That one landed accurately too.
His gaze never left her face.
"I love you," he repeated quietly. "Not because you fixed me."
A pause.
"Because you stayed when you saw the worst parts."
Something inside Aarohi weakened dangerously at those words.
Because he wasn't loving an idealized version of her.
He loved the fact that she remained after seeing him broken.
And maybe the scariest part?
She realized she had stayed because somewhere along the way...
He stopped feeling like a patient.