Chapter Eight.
"Thank you, Riri." Ira said as she stepped down from the scooter, handing back the helmet.
"Anytime, Your Highness. Just be careful." Ritika replied, flashing a mock salute.
Ira laughed softly. "I will. And you..stay out of trouble."
"Not promising." Ritika smirked, revving the scooter before driving off.
Ira shook her head, still smiling, then turned toward the gate.
The guard was already there, standing rigid as ever.
She offered him a small, polite smile, though her nerves made it falter.
"Hey, sir." she greeted gently.
He didn't respond, just pressed the button. The massive gates groaned open, and Ira slipped inside without waiting, her sandals tapping lightly against the path as she made her way toward the mansion.
???
The double doors stood wide open. Ira adjusted her tote strap on her shoulder, climbing the short marble steps when suddenly
Someone bumped into her.
She stumbled back with a hiss, but a steady hand caught her before she could fall. Her eyes darted upward, landing on a familiar face.
Vivaan.
His expression flashed with surprise before easing into a small smile. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Ira straightened quickly, pulling herself free of his hold to create some distance. She offered a brief, polite smile. "I'm fine. Thank you."
But as her gaze lingered, her brow furrowed. He looked rushed, agitated, even.
His shirt slightly untucked, his eyes scanning the entryway as if expecting someone.
Is he okay?
"Um... are you okay?" The question slipped out before she could stop herself.
Vivaan's lips quirked into a smirk. "Wow. You do care about others. That's new for me."
Her frown deepened. "I barely know you, but I asked because you look troubled. You know what, never mind." She moved to step past him, but he shifted sideways, blocking her path.
"Okay, chill. Geez..are you always this guarded?"
Ira blinked at him.
Vivaan sighed and leaned back slightly, lowering his voice. "You're right. I am troubled. But you don't have to worry about it."
"I didn't say I was worried." she countered flatly.
He chuckled under his breath, amused "I'd love to tease you all day, but I really need to leave. Someone might see me here, and that's ... not what i want.."
Her eyes narrowed. "Girlfriend?"
He scratched the back of his neck, sheepish. "Not exactly. Just... someone my mom keeps trying to push into my life."
Ira's frown lingered, her tone softening only slightly. "Then don't run. Talk it out with her. If you don't have feelings for her, be honest. Be transparent. Otherwise, you're not just hurting her, you're hurting yourself too."
She stepped past him this time, not waiting for a reply.
Vivaan stood frozen for a moment, her words echoing in his head, his smirk fading into a small smile.
◆◆◆
Ira reached Devraj's door, She sighed, then whispered a silent prayer beneath her breath, drew in a steadying inhale, and knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again, gentler this time, until a low, gravel-deep "Come in" rumbled from the other side.
Swallowing, she pushed the door open and stepped in, but then froze.
The room was cloaked in heavy dimness.
Thick curtains shut out the morning sun, casting everything in shadows.
The air itself felt heavy now.
Her eyes adjusted, drifting toward the large bed. Devraj sat there, broad frame hunched slightly forward, his features lit only by the pale glow of his laptop screen.
His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, his attention anchored so firmly to the device.
Did this man even sleep last night?
"G-good morning, sir." Ira said.
No reply. His gaze didn't flicker, his expression didn't change as the rhythmic tapping of the keys filled the silence.
Ira's throat tightened. She slipped her tote bag onto the couch and, after a moment of hesitation, tiptoed toward the curtains.
Her hands carefully grasped the thick fabric, tugging them open just enough for sunlight to stream inside, spilling golden warmth into the cold shadows.
Still, he didn't glance her way. His eyes remained fixed on the screen, jaw tense.
Her nerves prickled. "S-sir... are you ready for your bath? I can have it prepared."
This time, his hands stilled. His fingers hovered above the keys before lowering, and slowly, he lifted his head.
Ira froze under his gaze.
His eyes bore into her, heavy-lidded. The faint purple shadows beneath them betrayed sleepless hours.
His skin seemed paler, carved with fatigue, yet his presence remained as intimidating as ever.
The question rose on her tongue..Are you alright?but she bit it back quickly.
It wasn't her place. It was none of her business.
"Get me my breakfast." he ordered
"Yes, sir." she murmured, nodding quickly. She turned, relief mixing with nerves as she walked toward the door.
But Devraj's gaze lingered, following her small frame until it disappeared out his room.
Only then did his head fall back against the headboard, his jaw tightening as a whisper escaped between his teeth.
"Stupid woman."
He closed his eyes, but sleep mocked him still, refusing to come. His eyes snapped open again.
And then, her scent. Subtle, soft, familiar. It drifted into the air, curling toward him.
He inhaled despite himself, feeling an unfamiliar calm slip into the chaos clawing his chest.
For a fleeting moment, the tension in his muscles eased.
"Stupid woman." he mumbled again, this time almost hoarse, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
???
Meanwhile, Ira descended the staircase, her dupatta trailing lightly at her side.
A few maids scurried about below, polishing vases and dusting chandeliers, their hushed movements filling the silent hall.
Ira kept her head down, making her way toward the kitchen, until her name rang out.
"Ira!"
The voice was unmistakable.
She closed her eyes briefly, muttering under her breath, For the love of nature, doesn't he ever let people be?
Turning, she found Vivaan striding toward her, his usual easy smile plastered in place, except this time, a young woman clung to his arm like a stubborn vine.
He was trying, not so subtly, to free himself, irritation flickering across his handsome features.
Ira arched a brow. What now?
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
Vivaan's lips curved into a strained chuckle. Before he could answer, the girl beside him tilted her head, her kohl-lined eyes narrowing on Ira.
"Who is she, Vee? A new maid?" she asked, her voice dripping with sugar, though her smile carried an edge.
Ira stiffened, her brows knitting as her chest tightened at the casual dismissal.
Vivaan's expression shifted instantly. His easygoing charm hardened into steel, and his voice cut sharp.
"Show some respect, Rani. Her name is Ira. And she is not a maid."
Rani fluttered her lashes in exaggerated innocence, her pout deepening. "Why do you sound so upset, Vee? I was only asking."
This girl smells like trouble. Ira's instincts hummed with warning. Best to walk away before the storm thickened.
"It's quite alright." Ira interjected, keeping her tone polite, "My name is Ira. I'm Mr. Devraj Singh Rathore's caregiver. Not a maid. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."
She offered a small nod, pivoted on her heel, and walked away without waiting for a response.
Behind her, Rani's sharp intake of breath filled the corridor. "Wait-did she say she's taking care of Devraj?"
Vivaan pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling through clenched teeth.
He glanced at her, jaw tight. "Is there a problem if she is?"
Rani's lips parted, her voice rising with indignation. "Devraj has never let an outsider near him! I was supposed to-"
"Enough." Vivaan's voice cracked, his teeth grinding as he shook her hand off once and for all.
Without another word, he stalked away, leaving Rani standing alone, her pretty pout twisting into something darker.
???
A few hours later.
Devraj's labored breaths filled the private gym. His palms pressed hard against the treadmill's rails as sweat trickled down his temples, his body straining through every stride. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the sound of the machine humming beneath him.
"Your leg seems to be improving better today than yesterday, Sir." Ira said softly from the side, her voice carefully measured.
Devraj gave no reply. He hadn't said a word to her all morning. He only pushed forward, jaw tight.
By the time he finished, his muscles trembled, and sweat clung to his skin. He struggled onto the wheelchair without asking for help.
Ira waited, her hands twitching to assist, but she said nothing. When he finally settled, she wheeled him back to his room.
"I'll set the shower for you, Sir." she murmured. Without waiting for his response, she slipped into the bathroom.
Devraj's amber-dark eyes followed her until the door clicked behind her.
Her scent still lingered in the room, light, almost maddeningly delicate.
He inhaled, and the strange calm it brought made him tense.
When the faint trace began to fade, irritation curled in his chest.
He didn't want it gone.
That was when her phone lit up on the couch. The glow caught his attention, dragging his gaze away from the bathroom door.
He wheeled himself closer. The screen revealed a name that stabbed through him.
Kunal.
His jaw clenched, his irritation sharp and unrelenting.
With a low hiss, he dropped the phone back onto the couch.
His chest tightened further, and before he could stop himself, he turned his chair toward the bathroom.
The door opened. Ira stepped out, startled when she nearly collided with him.
She caught her breath, her hand pressing lightly to her chest.
Devraj's eyes, stayed locked on her. For a moment, silence dragged heavy between them.
Then, his voice came low and gritted, each word cutting like iron.
"Tell your boyfriend to stop texting you during work hours."
Ira froze. The anger etched across his face unnerved her, and for a second, she could only nod.
"I... I'm sorry, Sir. It won't happen again." she whispered, her throat tight.
Without another word, he wheeled himself past her and into the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound making her flinch.
Ira's eyes drifted back to the couch, to the faint glow of her phone.
She sighed. Kunal...
~???~
Devraj gulped hard as the shower pounded against his skin, but it didn't wash away the heat crawling under it.
His fist clenched until his knuckles ached.
"Stupid woman... stupid woman!" he muttered, voice echoing off the tiles. He wasn't sure if he was cursing her, or himself.
"She has a boyfriend. Why does it bother me?" His voice dropped to a harsh whisper, "I don't care. All women... all of them... are the same."
But the steam only thickened around him, and with it came her face.
Those eyes.
The way her hand had steadied him yesterday, it replayed like a ghost touch across his skin. He squeezed his eyes shut, but it didn't disappear.
She is not special. She's not.
Then why hadn't he slept last night? Why did every breath carry her scent like it was carved into his lungs?
"She has a boyfriend... good.." he muttered through gritted teeth, his fists trembling under the water.
She'd keep her distance. She'd stop looking at him with those wide, curious and sympathy eyes. She'd stop brushing close enough that her scent clung to his lungs.
That's good... that's good....
But even as he said it, his pulse throbbed violently. His teeth ground together.
"I want it again.." he suddenly whispered, his chest heaving. "That touch... yesterday. The warmth of it." His jaw tightened.
"No. I don't want it!"
Still, her scent lingered in his head, sweet and maddening. He wanted to tear it out of the air, bottle it, smother himself with it until he drowned.
"She's not even my type.." he whispered, though his voice was raw now, fractured. "She's Kunal's type."
The name alone lit his veins with fire. Irritation twisted into something darker. His lips pulled back, a growl scraping his throat.
"Kunal's type ... Kunal's type..." The name pounded in his skull like a drum. Louder.
Harder.
Until he could barely breathe past it.
"Who the fuck is he, anyway?" Devraj snarled, slamming a fist against the tile.
The sound cracked through the shower like a gunshot, water spraying around the force. His chest rose and fell violently.
What the fuck is she doing to me? No no no, calm down Devraj.
You don't feel, calm down.
This has to stop, it will stop! I will make sure of it.
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Hiii ??????
Can I get 30 votes please ?? ?? (update again tomorrow)