Chapter 20 Home
And Ekansh kissed her like she was something precious.
Not aggressively.
Not hungrily.
Just slow warmth and trembling relief.
Like after years of surviving darkness—
he had finally found home.
Aarohi's fingers remained tangled softly in his hair while his forehead rested against hers, both breathing unevenly after the kiss.
For a few seconds neither moved.
Neither wanted to.
Then suddenly—
"Hh'tch—!"
Ekansh sneezed directly beside her.
Aarohi blinked.
Complete silence.
Then she burst into soft laughter.
The feared mafia lord instantly frowned adorably.
"Why are you laughing?"
"You ruined the moment."
"I have fever."
"You sneezed in middle of romance."
"I sneezed elegantly."
That made her laugh harder.
Ekansh looked deeply offended now and pouted slightly while still half wrapped around her beneath the blanket.
Aarohi melted immediately at the sight.
Because somehow this dangerous terrifying man became unbelievably cute only around her.
She gently cupped his face.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Better."
"Liar."
"I'm serious."
Still smiling softly, Aarohi moved closer and placed her cool palm against his forehead carefully.
Ekansh went completely still.
That simple touch always affected him too deeply.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just care.
Aarohi checked his temperature quietly for a moment before murmuring softly—
"Still warm," she murmured softly.
Ekansh watched her quietly.
Then without thinking—
he smiled faintly again.
Aarohi blinked slightly.
There it was again.
That rare smile.
It transformed his entire face.
Made him look younger.
Human.
Dangerously attractive.
And somehow seeing it because of her made warmth rise unexpectedly in her chest.
"What?" he asked quietly.
"You smile more when you're half-dead."
"Interesting diagnosis."
A small laugh escaped her.
God.
That sound.
Ekansh could genuinely become addicted to it.
Ekansh looked at her silently.
Then without warning, pulled her back against his chest again.
He whispered near her ear. "Now can we continue where we were interrupted before my tragic sneeze."
Aarohi laughed softly while hiding her face against him.
A knock interrupted them before he could say something dangerously honest again.
Then the door burst open dramatically.
Vivaan Khanna walked in carrying files—
and froze instantly.
His eyes moved between them suspiciously.
Then narrowed.
"...Something happened."
Aarohi immediately looked away.
Huge mistake.
Vivaan gasped loudly.
"OH MY GOD."
"Lower your voice," Ekansh muttered.
"You kissed!"
Silence.
Then Aarohi nearly choked.
"How do you even know that?!"
Vivaan looked offended.
"Boss is smiling voluntarily. Obviously something happened."
Fair.
Unfortunately fair.
Ekansh looked completely unashamed.
Vivaan stared dramatically at the heavens.
"Finally. Seven days of emotional depression ended with romance."
Before Aarohi could throw something at him, another voice entered calmly.
"What romance?"
Rishabh Mehra walked in holding his morning coffee.
Then saw Ekansh smiling.
And stopped walking.
"...Oh no."
Vivaan pointed aggressively.
"They kissed."
Rishabh closed his eyes briefly.
"I leave for eight hours and my sister falls for a mafia psychopath."
"Correction," Vivaan announced proudly, "the mafia psychopath fell first."
Ekansh looked mildly annoyed.
"I'm still in the room."
"And emotionally unstable," Rishabh added.
Aarohi rubbed her forehead.
"You both are impossible."
Before anyone could continue, a new voice interrupted warmly—
"Breakfast is ready!"
Savita Mehra entered smiling brightly.
Then immediately noticed the atmosphere.
Her eyes moved between the four of them slowly.
Mother instincts activated instantly.
"...Why does everyone look guilty?"
"No reason," Aarohi answered too quickly.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Savita narrowed her eyes slightly.
Then suddenly noticed Ekansh sitting comfortably against the pillows looking calmer than she had ever seen him.
And smiling.
A real smile.
Her expression softened immediately.
"There," she said proudly. "Much better. Now you finally look alive."
Something unexpectedly emotional moved through Ekansh's chest again.
Nobody had spoken to him this gently in years.
Savita walked over without hesitation and fixed the blanket around him slightly like he belonged there naturally.
"Come downstairs after freshening up," she ordered softly. "You need proper breakfast."
Ekansh blinked once.
Then quietly—
"Okay."
Vivaan looked ready to cry laughing.
"The underworld king obeys auntyji faster than his own syndicate."
"Survival instinct," Rishabh muttered.
—
Fifteen minutes later.
The dining table somehow felt warmer than any place Ekansh had ever lived in.
Simple conversations.
Tea being passed around.
Savita arguing with Rishabh about work stress.
Aarohi telling her father to reduce sugar intake.
Normal.
Painfully normal.
Ekansh sat silently for a while just... watching.
And something inside him felt strangely tight.
Because he couldn't remember the last time he sat at a table that didn't involve business deals, threats, or blood.
Savita placed more paratha on his plate immediately.
"You're too thin."
"Aunty," Vivaan interrupted dramatically, "he bench presses criminals for stress relief."
"Still thin."
Ekansh almost smiled again.
Almost.
Then Aarohi quietly moved the spicy pickle away from his side.
"No spicy food. Fever."
The tiny action hit him harder than expected.
Care.
Casual care.
Like she had already started thinking about him automatically.
Rishabh noticed instantly.
"Oh this is serious."
Aarohi glared.
Vivaan grinned openly.
"Doctor bhabhi behavior."
Ekansh actually smiled this time.
Fully.
Small but unmistakably real.
The entire table went silent for one second.
Because nobody expected it.
Even Aarohi froze slightly.
Savita's expression softened almost emotionally seeing it.
"There," she whispered quietly. "That's how young men should look."
Not cold.
Not feared.
Just alive.
Ekansh lowered his gaze briefly toward his plate.
And for the first time since his mother died—
he realized something terrifying.
This house didn't feel temporary.
It felt like home.