Chapter 27 Peace
Three months after the wedding-
the Rathore mansion no longer felt cold.
It felt lived in.
Warm laughter echoed through hallways now.
Fresh flowers stood near windows every morning.
Soft music occasionally played from the kitchen because Aarohi Mehra hated complete silence.
And somehow
the terrifying world of Ekansh Rathore slowly began healing around her presence.
Not perfectly.
Not magically.
But genuinely.
The scars on Aarohi's shoulder had faded into soft marks now.
The nightmares reduced too.
Though sometimes she still woke from dreams of gunshots and blood.
And every single time
Ekansh immediately woke beside her.
Always.
Without fail.
One touch from her and he calmed.
One touch from him and she breathed easier too.
They became each other's safe place.
Because now instead of one emotionally unstable person, there were two deeply attached people protecting each other obsessively.
Ekansh changed in ways nobody thought possible.
Not softer exactly.
The world still feared him.
Meetings still went silent when he entered.
Enemies still disappeared mysteriously after threatening his empire.
And anger?
It still existed.
Violent.
Dark.
Dangerous.
But now
he controlled it.
Because somewhere between hospital nights and whispered promises, Aarohi taught him something important:
Control was not suppression.
It was safety.
One evening during a high-level business meeting, a politician openly insulted one of Ekansh's men.
Three months ago
someone would've died.
Now?
Ekansh simply leaned back calmly.
Smiled faintly.
And destroyed the man politically with words alone.
Vivaan nearly cried emotionally afterward.
"You used emotional regulation."
Ekansh looked disgusted.
"Don't make it sound inspirational."
"But it IS inspirational."
"It's survival."
Because now he had something to lose.
Something precious enough to protect by staying in control.
Aarohi.
At home, though?
Everything changed completely.
The moment Ekansh entered the mansion after long workdays, his entire body visibly relaxed if Aarohi was nearby.
Like his nervous system recognized home instantly.
Sometimes she worked late from her office room reviewing patient files.
And every single time
Ekansh eventually appeared silently carrying coffee.
Then stayed.
Not talking much.
Just existing beside her.
One night Aarohi finally looked up from her laptop with a smile.
"You know you don't have to supervise me constantly."
"I'm not supervising."
"Then why are you here?"
Ekansh looked genuinely confused by the question.
"You're here."
As if that explained everything.
And somehow
it did.
Late nights became their favorite part of life.
When the mansion quieted down.
When the world stopped demanding things from them.
When it was just husband and wife beneath soft lamp light.
One rainy night, Aarohi stood near the bedroom balcony wrapped in one of Ekansh's black shirts while watching lightning spread across the sky.
Ekansh entered quietly after a late call.
And instantly paused.
Because she looked breathtaking.
Hair loose.
Barefoot.
Safe.
His.
Aarohi turned toward him slowly.
"You're staring."
"I'm married. Allowed."
A laugh escaped her softly.
God.
That sound still affected him unbearably.
Ekansh walked closer until he stood directly in front of her.
Then gently tucked loose hair behind her ear.
His touch remained careful even now.
Always careful with her.
Aarohi looked up quietly.
"You had a difficult day?"
He exhaled slowly.
"Yes."
"Bad meeting?"
"Threatened three people."
"Only three?"
"Growth."
She laughed again.
Then softly touched his face.
Immediately the tension left his shoulders.
Like magic.
Like home.
Ekansh closed his eyes briefly against her palm.
"You calm me too easily."
Aarohi smiled faintly.
"You let me."
A long silence followed.
Warm.
Intimate.
Then slowly
Ekansh opened his eyes again.
And the way he looked at her made her heartbeat stumble softly.
Not lust alone.
Love.
Deep.
Possessive.
Devoted.
Like she was stitched directly into his soul now.
His forehead rested gently against hers.
"I love you," he whispered quietly.
Aarohi's fingers slid softly through his hair.
"I know."
"No," he murmured softly, "you don't."
And before she could respond
he kissed her.
Slowly.
Deeply.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just overwhelming tenderness wrapped in months of healing and trust and longing.
Aarohi melted into him instantly.
Because after everything they survived
this felt sacred somehow.
Not physical desire alone.
Connection.
Belonging.
His hands held her carefully against him like something precious while her arms wrapped around his neck softly.
The storm outside grew louder.
But inside the room
everything felt warm.
Safe.
When Ekansh finally pulled back slightly, his forehead remained against hers.
Breathing uneven.
Eyes softer than she had ever seen them.
"You're my peace," he admitted quietly.
Aarohi's chest tightened with emotion.
Then gently she kissed him again.
And that night
for the first time in their lives
neither of them felt broken anymore.
Just loved.