CHAPTER 23 （MAHI）
My eyes fluttered open as the warm sunlight touched my skin.
For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling.
Then yesterday's memories came rushing back.
Gunshots.
Fear.
Aryan gone.
My grip tightened around the blanket unconsciously.
My eyes immediately moved toward the couch.
A breath of relief escaped me.
He was still there.
Sleeping peacefully.
His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.
Safe.
I sat up slowly and quietly climbed out of bed.
Careful not to wake him.
Then I made my way toward the couch and crouched down beside him.
His face looked calm.
Peaceful.
As if yesterday had never happened.
A smile appeared on my face.
But this time, I didn't stop it.
I simply let it stay.
My fingers slipped into his hair gently.
If something had happened to him...
I would have broken completely.
The thought alone made my chest tighten.
I don't know when it happened.
I don't know how it happened.
But somehow...
Aryan had become one of the most important people in my life.
And the thought of losing him terrified me more than I wanted to admit.
My eyes lingered on his sleeping face.
My hand was still tangled in his hair.
For a moment, I simply watched him.
Peaceful.
Safe.
Then—
His eyes opened.
And immediately found mine.
I froze.
Completely.
My breath stalled in my chest.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
A small smile appeared on his face.
The kind that made my own smile appear before I could stop it.
Without breaking eye contact, he reached up and wrapped his hand around my wrist.
My heart skipped.
"Aryan—"
Before I could finish, he turned my hand slightly and pressed a soft kiss against my knuckles.
My entire brain stopped working.
Heat rushed to my face instantly.
I could practically feel my cheeks turning red.
Aryan's smile widened.
Traitor.
I immediately stood up.
Far too quickly.
Almost losing my balance in the process.
"Mahi?"
I ignored him.
Absolutely ignored him.
Then turned around and marched straight toward the bathroom.
The moment I stepped inside, I closed the door behind me.
And leaned against it.
My heart was still racing.
Unbelievable.
Absolutely unbelievable.
One kiss on my hand.
And suddenly I couldn't remember how to function like a normal human being.
A smile appeared on my face.
A real one.
Not forced.
Not hidden.
Just there.
I made my way further inside the bathroom and stopped in front of the mirror.
For a moment, I simply stared at my reflection.
Yesterday's fear.
Yesterday's pain.
Yesterday's helplessness.
It all seemed so distant now.
As if it had never happened.
My eyes looked different.
Brighter.
Softer.
There was a glow in them that hadn't been there before.
A glow I couldn't quite explain.
My gaze lingered for a moment.
Then I looked away.
I was strangely afraid that if I stared too long...
It would disappear.
And I didn't want that.
Not yet.
Turning toward the shower, I switched it on.
Warm water cascaded over my skin.
A quiet sigh escaped my lips.
The heat felt wonderful against my tired muscles.
Slowly...
The remaining stress left my body.
Yesterday's fear.
Yesterday's panic.
Yesterday's nightmares.
They seemed to wash away with the water.
Disappearing little by little down the drain.
For the first time since everything happened...
I felt at peace.
After half an hour—
Or maybe more.
I finally stepped out of the bathroom.
The moment I opened the door, Aryan entered the room.
My eyes immediately landed on him.
He looked up.
A small smile appeared on his face.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Where were you?"
He took a step closer.
Completely unfazed.
Then said,
"There are fifty bathrooms in this house."
A pause.
"So I used one of them."
For a second, I simply stared at him.
Then realization hit.
My eyes widened slightly.
That was exactly what I had told him on my first day in this mansion.
The idiot remembered.
A laugh threatened to escape me.
Instead, I rolled my eyes dramatically.
"Very funny."
His smile widened.
"I thought so too."
I pointed a finger at him.
"Don't get used to it."
"Too late, Snowflake."
Traitor.
Complete traitor.
The worst part?
I was trying very hard not to smile.
And failing miserably.
My eyes moved toward the clock.
And immediately widened.
I was late.
Very late.
Or at least dangerously close to being late.
I grabbed my bag.
Phone.
Check.
Earphones.
Check.
ID card.
Check.
I looked at Aryan.
"I have to go to the hospital."
He nodded.
"Yes, you can go."
I blinked.
That was surprisingly easy.
Then he continued.
"But you didn't eat breakfast."
I froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
I turned back toward him.
"What did you just say?"
Aryan released a long breath.
The kind people released when they were dealing with a difficult child.
"You didn't eat breakfast."
I pointed toward the door.
"People need me."
He folded his arms.
"And you need breakfast."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
Neither of us moved.
I crossed my arms.
"Are we seriously going to fight over breakfast right now?"
"Yes."
The answer came far too quickly.
My jaw dropped.
"Aryan!"
"You almost fainted three weeks ago because you skipped breakfast."
"That happened once."
"It happened twice."
"Details."
"Medical details."
I narrowed my eyes.
He narrowed his right back.
For a moment, it felt less like a conversation and more like two stubborn children refusing to surrender.
Unfortunately...
I was beginning to realize Aryan Rathore was not planning to let me leave this room without eating something.
Which was highly inconvenient.
For me.
And my dignity.
I looked at him.
Then tried my best innocent expression.
"Please."
His eyes narrowed immediately.
That wasn't a good sign.
"Just drop me at the hospital."
A pause.
"I promise when I come back, I'll eat twice my weight."
Aryan stared at me.
Unimpressed.
Completely unimpressed.
I offered him my brightest smile.
A long sigh escaped him.
Then he shook his head.
"Fine."
Victory.
I tried very hard not to look too pleased with myself.
A few minutes later, we were in the car.
The drive passed surprisingly quietly.
Neither of us brought up breakfast again.
Though I had a feeling Aryan was still mentally arguing about it.
Eventually, the hospital came into view.
The car stopped near the entrance.
I reached for the door.
"Goodbye, Snowflake."
I looked back at him.
A small smile appeared on my face.
"Bye."
Then I stepped out.
The morning air brushed against my skin as I adjusted my bag.
The hospital stood before me.
Busy.
Loud.
Demanding.
Exactly as always.
I rolled my shoulders back.
Cracked my neck lightly.
And took a deep breath.
The softness of the morning disappeared.
The wife.
The woman who almost got into a war over breakfast.
The woman who spent half an hour staring at a sleeping Aryan.
She could wait.
Because now—
Doctor Mahi was on duty.
The familiar smell of antiseptic filled my lungs.
A smile appeared on my face instantly.
Home.
Not the mansion.
The hospital.
A nurse passing by greeted me.
I smiled and greeted her back before making my way toward the emergency room.
The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.
Monitors beeped.
Doctors moved from one patient to another.
Nurses hurried through the corridors.
Controlled chaos.
Exactly the way I liked it.
I looked around once.
Cracked my knuckles lightly.
Then grabbed the files waiting for me.
Time to work.
I settled behind the desk and started reviewing notes from the previous shift.
Night shifts.
Just the thought made me shiver slightly.
Not because of the patients.
Not because of the work.
But because of the corridors.
Dark.
Quiet.
Almost empty.
The kind of silence that made my imagination run wild.
A small shiver ran down my spine.
Thank God.
Throughout my MBBS and residency, I somehow managed to get more day shifts than night shifts.
A miracle, honestly.
Because if anyone ever told me to walk alone through a dark hospital corridor at three in the morning—
I would immediately start questioning every life decision that brought me there.
A laugh escaped me.
Then I shook my head and returned to the files.
Unfortunately for me...
The patients weren't going to treat themselves.
After writing notes, ordering tests, and dealing with what felt like an endless number of patients, I finally sat down in my chair.
A relieved sigh escaped me.
My back hurt.
My feet hurt.
And my handwriting had somehow become worse throughout the day.
I stretched slightly.
The nurse sitting beside me smiled.
"Doctor."
I looked up.
"Here. This is for you."
She pushed a box toward me.
My brows pulled together immediately.
I looked at the box.
Then at her.
"Who gave this?"
She shrugged.
"He said he was your husband."
A smile appeared on my face before I could stop it.
Traitor.
My own face had become a traitor.
I nodded.
"Thank you."
The nurse smiled knowingly and returned to her work.
Which was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
I looked down at the box and opened it carefully.
A folded note rested on top.
I immediately recognized the handwriting.
I unfolded it.
You don't have to eat twice your weight, Snowflake.
Just eat this.
It will help.
I rolled my eyes.
Playfully.
Of course he sent food.
Of course he remembered.
Of course he somehow found a way to win the breakfast argument without even being here.
I opened the box fully.
Sandwiches.
Fruit.
Salad.
Healthy.
Annoyingly healthy.
Exactly the kind of thing Aryan would send.
A laugh escaped me.
The idiot actually thought I wouldn't eat.
Then again...
He wasn't entirely wrong.
My eyes moved back to the note.
And despite myself...
The smile returned.
I folded the note carefully and slipped it into my pocket.
Then reached for a sandwich.
Fine.
Aryan Rathore wins this round.
I ate the sandwich.
And somehow...
It was perfect.
Delicious.
Annoyingly delicious.
Which only made the whole situation worse.
Because now I couldn't even complain about it.
After finishing my lunch, I closed the box and placed it beside me.
My phone buzzed.
I looked down.
Aryan.
Of course it was him.
A smile tugged at my lips.
I opened the message.
I hope it was tasty.
I rolled my eyes immediately.
The man knew exactly how it was.
He knew me far too well.
Indeed, it was, I typed back.
The moment I pressed send—
Three dots appeared.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Did he not have a company to run?
A second later, another message arrived.
Did you enjoy it?
I shook my head.
Then typed back.
Yes, I did.
The reply came almost instantly.
Good.
A pause.
Then another message appeared.
Now I know you actually ate.
My jaw dropped.
I stared at the screen.
The absolute audacity.
You don't trust me?
The typing indicator appeared immediately.
No.
I gasped dramatically.
The nurse beside me looked up.
I quickly looked away and pretended nothing had happened.
My phone buzzed again.
You tried to convince me that eating twice your weight later was a reasonable plan.
That alone makes you suspicious.
A laugh escaped me.
Before I could stop it.
I typed back.
You are impossible.
His answer came within seconds.
And yet you married me.
Traitor.
Complete traitor.
I looked down at the message.
And despite my best efforts...
The smile returned.
I closed my phone and stretched slightly.
A relieved sigh escaped me.
For some reason, my day felt lighter.
My phone buzzed again.
I looked down.
Aryan.
Again.
A smile immediately appeared on my face.
I opened the message.
Work hard, Snowflake.
My smile widened.
The idiot.
I quickly typed back.
You too.
A few seconds passed.
No reply.
Which probably meant he had finally decided to do his job.
Miracle.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and stood up.
The break was over.
Patients were waiting.
Tests needed approval.
Reports needed checking.
And somewhere in the emergency room, chaos was probably preparing to introduce itself.
I adjusted my coat.
Tied my hair back properly.
Then made my way toward the ER.
The moment I stepped through the doors, the softness of the afternoon faded.
Doctor Mahi was back.
And work had officially begun again.
My shift ended just before sunset.
I finished organizing my notes and handed them over to the next doctor on duty.
Finally.
Freedom.
I adjusted my coat and made my way toward the hospital exit.
The moment I stepped outside, a cold breeze brushed against my skin.
I froze.
Aryan.
He was leaning casually against his car with his arms crossed.
A smirk resting on his face.
As if he had been standing there for hours waiting for me.
Which, knowing him...
Was entirely possible.
I made my way toward him.
"You own a company, right?"
He nodded.
"Why?"
I crossed my arms.
"Because you're never there."
His smirk widened.
"What would I do in that building?"
He pushed himself off the car.
"My world is here."
My steps faltered.
Just slightly.
The words caught me completely off guard.
Unfortunately, I couldn't let him know that.
So I rolled my eyes dramatically.
"You're becoming very cheesy."
"I learned from the best."
I pointed at him immediately.
"I don't say things like that."
He looked completely unconvinced.
The traitor.
I sighed and glanced at the car.
"Please don't tell me you're taking me to some party."
His expression instantly became offended.
"I would never."
"Good."
I pointed at myself.
"I just finished a shift."
"Exactly."
He opened the passenger door for me.
"Which is why I'm not taking you to a party."
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"Aryan."
"Relax, Snowflake."
A laugh escaped him.
"I'm not taking you anywhere scary."
That answer somehow made me trust him even less.
But I got into the car anyway.
Because unfortunately...
I was beginning to enjoy being around him far more than I should.
He settled into the driver's seat and started the car.
For the first few minutes, I didn't pay much attention.
Until I noticed something.
This wasn't the usual route back to the mansion.
My brows pulled together immediately.
I looked out the window.
Then at him.
Then back at the road.
Definitely not the mansion route.
"Aryan."
"Hm?"
"Where are we going?"
He took a turn without looking at me.
"You said you're tired, right?"
I nodded.
"Very."
"Good."
That was not a reassuring answer.
At all.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
Aryan continued driving.
Completely relaxed.
Which somehow made me trust him even less.
"Aryan."
"What?"
"Where are we going?"
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I'm taking you somewhere relaxing."
My head slowly turned toward him.
"Like where?"
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"Like a date."
My brain stopped working.
Completely.
I stared at him.
He kept his eyes on the road.
As if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell into the conversation.
"A what?"
"A date."
His answer was far too casual.
Far too confident.
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"You're taking me on a date?"
He finally glanced at me.
A smirk already waiting on his face.
"That's usually how dates work, Snowflake."
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing came out.
The traitor looked pleased with himself.
Very pleased.
"Aryan."
"Yes?"
"You could have warned me."
His smirk widened.
"No."
I stared at him.
"You did that on purpose."
"Absolutely."
I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms.
The man was impossible.
Completely impossible.
Unfortunately...
The small smile threatening to appear on my face was making it very difficult to stay annoyed.
I looked down at myself.
Then at him.
Then back at myself.
A horrifying realization hit me.
"Aryan."
"Hm?"
"Am I supposed to go on a date looking like this?"
For a second, he looked genuinely confused.
His eyes moved over me.
Then back to my face.
"You look fine."
I stared at him.
The man clearly knew nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
"I've been working all day."
"So?"
"So?"
My jaw dropped.
"Do you know how many hours I've been in the hospital?"
He looked completely unconcerned.
"Many?"
I pointed at him.
"Exactly."
Aryan released a breath.
As if he was dealing with an unreasonable patient.
Then he said,
"Okay."
I narrowed my eyes.
That response sounded dangerous.
"So that's your problem."
Before I could respond, he took another turn.
"Let's shop."
My head snapped toward him.
"Let's what?"
"Shop."
He said it so casually.
As if suggesting coffee.
Not an entire shopping trip.
I stared.
Aryan kept driving.
Completely serious.
"Wait."
I pointed at him again.
"You are taking me shopping?"
"Yes."
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then realization hit.
My eyes widened.
"So you're taking me on a shopping date?"
A smile appeared on his face.
"You can think of it like that."
I looked out the window.
Then back at him.
Then out the window again.
This was ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
And yet...
A smile was already threatening to appear.
Unfortunately.
I was beginning to suspect I would agree to almost anything if Aryan asked me like that.
Which was a very dangerous discovery.
He stopped in front of a store and stepped out of the car.
Before I could open my door, he was already there.
He opened it and offered me his hand.
I looked at him.
Then at his hand.
Then placed mine in it.
The warmth of his palm immediately wrapped around my cold fingers.
We started walking toward the entrance.
I glanced at him.
"Don't you feel cold?"
He looked down at me.
"No."
A pause.
"Why?"
I lifted our joined hands slightly.
"Because my hands are freezing."
He glanced at them briefly.
Then back at me.
I smiled.
"Aren't you supposed to say 'Oh my God, your hands are always cold'?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
A smirk appeared on his face.
"No."
I blinked.
"No?"
He shook his head.
"Don't compare me to the people who made you feel like that."
My steps slowed.
Just a little.
The teasing smile faded from my face.
For a moment, I simply looked at him.
Aryan didn't seem to realize what he had just done.
Or maybe he did.
Either way...
He continued walking as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
And somehow...
That made it mean even more.
A small smile found its way onto my face.
Then we stepped inside the store.
Warm air immediately greeted us.
Bright lights reflected off polished floors.
Rows of clothes stretched in every direction.
I looked around.
Then looked at Aryan.
Then back at the store.
Then at Aryan again.
His expression immediately turned suspicious.
"Mahi."
I pointed at the dresses.
"No complaints."
"Mahi."
"You brought me here."
His shoulders slumped.
Very slightly.
Victory.
A beautiful victory.
After what felt like several hours—
And according to Aryan, an entire lifetime—
I finally chose a dress.
A silver-white dress with delicate embroidery along the edges.
The fabric shimmered whenever it caught the light.
Almost like freshly fallen snow.
It looked exactly like the dresses I always saved on Pinterest but never actually bought.
For a moment, I simply stared at it.
Then at my reflection.
And smiled.
This was the one.
After paying for the dress and several other things Aryan claimed had somehow "accidentally" ended up in the shopping bags, we finally made our way back to the car.
The moment I sat down, I released a dramatic sigh.
"My feet hurt."
Aryan started the engine.
"You spent three hours shopping."
"That's not my fault."
"It is entirely your fault."
I ignored him.
Because he was clearly wrong.
The car pulled away from the parking lot.
The city lights slowly passed by outside the window.
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.
I rested my head against the seat and looked outside.
The sky was slowly changing colors.
Orange.
Pink.
Gold.
Sunset wasn't far away.
A comfortable silence settled between us.
The kind that no longer felt awkward.
I glanced at Aryan.
He was focused on the road.
One hand on the steering wheel.
The other resting casually beside him.
Completely relaxed.
Which immediately made me suspicious.
Very suspicious.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Aryan."
"Hm?"
"Where are we going now?"
A smirk appeared on his face.
Uh oh.
That smirk never meant anything normal.
I sat up straighter.
"Aryan."
His smile widened.
And suddenly I was absolutely certain—
We were nowhere near done with this date.