CHAPTER 27（MAHI）
Sunlight flickered through the curtains, creating a soft golden glow across the room.
My eyes slowly opened.
For a moment, I simply lay there.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Safe.
A smile appeared on my face as I felt an arm wrapped around my waist.
I turned my head slightly.
Aryan was still asleep.
His black hair had fallen over his forehead during the night.
For once, his expression was completely relaxed.
No work.
No phone calls.
No responsibilities.
Just sleep.
The sight made my smile grow.
Three months ago, I never would have imagined waking up like this.
My phone suddenly buzzed on the bedside table.
I carefully reached for it, trying not to wake Aryan.
The screen lit up.
Advik.
My brows pulled together.
Why was Advik texting me this early?
I opened the message.
Mahi, I prepared everything.
Below it was a picture.
I clicked on it.
My eyes widened instantly.
A beautiful riverside venue filled the screen.
Flowers lined the pathway.
Soft decorations surrounded the seating area.
And right in the center—
A banner.
BABY SHOWER
I sat up so quickly that the blanket nearly fell off the bed.
My mouth dropped open.
Baby shower.
Alina's baby shower.
Today.
"Oh my God."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I stood up immediately.
"Aryan."
My sudden movement made him stir.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Still half asleep.
"What happened?"
I turned toward him.
"Today is Alina's baby shower."
A pause.
Then realization hit me.
My eyes widened.
"And I forgot."
I immediately jumped off the bed.
Panic mode activated.
Completely activated.
I rushed toward the bathroom.
Then stopped halfway.
My eyes drifted back toward Aryan.
He was sitting up now.
One hand rubbing his eyes.
His hair was completely messy.
For some reason...
The sight made me smile.
A lot.
I turned around.
Then quietly tiptoed back toward him.
Aryan looked up.
Confused.
Before he could say anything, I leaned down and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
His movement froze.
I pulled back immediately.
A smile appeared on my face.
His eyes softened slightly.
Just slightly.
But I noticed.
I always noticed.
"Good morning, husband."
For a second, Aryan simply stared at me.
Still waking up.
Still processing.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Good morning, Snowflake."
The smile on my face grew instantly.
Mission accomplished.
Before he could recover enough to say anything else, I spun around and hurried toward the bathroom.
A second later, his voice followed me.
"You forgot the baby shower."
I stopped at the door.
"Oh no."
His laugh echoed through the room.
The traitor.
I immediately disappeared into the bathroom before he could enjoy my suffering any further.
I closed the bathroom door behind me.
Then immediately started pacing.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
What was I supposed to do?
The baby shower was today.
Today.
Not tomorrow.
Not next week.
Today.
A realization hit me so hard I stopped walking.
I hadn't prepared anything.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
"Oh no."
I spun around.
Then immediately exited the bathroom again.
Aryan was still sitting on the bed.
Stretching slightly.
The movement pulled his shirt tighter across his shoulders.
I looked away immediately.
Very professionally.
Very maturely.
Very quickly.
Unfortunately, Aryan noticed.
Of course he did.
The traitor noticed everything.
A smirk appeared on his face.
"Miracle."
My brows pulled together.
"What?"
He leaned back against the headboard.
"You came out of the bathroom this early."
I stared at him.
Then rolled my eyes dramatically.
"I don't want to hear it."
His smirk only grew.
"Usually I have enough time to run the company, attend three meetings, and come back before you're done."
"Aryan."
"I'm just saying."
I pointed at him.
"I need to make a list."
That got his attention.
"A list?"
"Yes."
I started counting on my fingers.
"Gift."
One finger.
"Clothes."
Second finger.
"Decoration."
Third finger.
"Food."
Fourth finger.
"Alina."
Fifth finger.
I froze.
Then looked at him.
"Wait."
Aryan looked suspicious already.
"What?"
"What if I forgot something important?"
His expression remained completely calm.
"Mahi."
"What?"
"You haven't even started the list."
I stared at him.
Then slowly looked down at my empty hands.
A pause.
Then—
"Oh."
A laugh escaped him immediately.
I pointed accusingly.
"Don't."
"I'm trying."
"No, you're not."
"I'm really not."
The honesty was offensive.
Absolutely offensive.
I grabbed the nearest notebook from the bedside table and sat down dramatically.
"Fine."
Aryan watched me open it.
Then asked,
"What's the first thing on the list?"
I immediately started writing.
1. Don't forget the baby shower.
Aryan stared.
Then looked at me.
Then at the notebook.
Then back at me.
I nodded confidently.
"Important."
His laugh echoed through the room.
And unfortunately...
I couldn't stop smiling either.
After several minutes of intense concentration, I finally finished the list.
I looked down at it proudly.
Food.
Clothes.
Flowers.
Cake.
Games.
Crowns.
Gifts.
Extra decorations.
And several other things that I absolutely could not forget.
A total of ten items.
Perfect.
I closed the notebook with satisfaction and looked at Aryan.
He glanced at the list.
Then at me.
Then nodded seriously.
"As expected."
I smiled proudly.
"Exactly."
A pause.
Then he pointed toward the bathroom.
"Now you can go."
I blinked.
"Go where?"
"The bathroom."
I gasped.
"The disrespect."
Aryan crossed his arms.
"You spent ten minutes making a list."
"A very important list."
"And now you're staring at it."
I immediately hugged the notebook to my chest.
"Because I'm organized."
His eyebrow rose.
"Mahi."
I pointed at the notebook.
"This is growth."
That earned a laugh from him.
Then he nodded toward the bathroom again.
"Go get ready, Snowflake."
I stood up dramatically.
"Fine."
I placed the notebook on the table.
Then proudly made my way toward the bathroom.
This time, I had a plan.
And nothing could possibly go wrong.
Knowing my luck...
That thought alone was probably a mistake.
I closed the bathroom door behind me and started my day.
I stepped out of the bathroom wearing a baby pink dress.
A smile immediately appeared on my face.
Vristi was coming.
Even thinking about it made me excited.
A few weeks ago, I had checked whether the baby was a boy or a girl.
Now I knew.
A girl.
And only two people knew the truth.
Me.
And Aryan.
Everyone else was still guessing.
I clapped my hands together excitedly.
I was going to be a Massi.
The thought alone made me grin.
I stepped outside the room.
My eyes immediately landed on Aryan.
He was sitting on the couch, scrolling through something on his phone.
Completely distracted.
I rolled my eyes.
Then coughed dramatically.
His head lifted instantly.
The moment his eyes landed on me, he froze.
For a second, he simply stared.
His eyes softened slightly.
A smile tugged at my lips.
Good.
Exactly the reaction I wanted.
I spun around once.
The skirt of my dress moving with me.
That finally earned a smile from him.
I stopped and placed both hands on my hips.
"Well?"
Aryan stood up slowly.
Still looking at me.
I raised an eyebrow.
"How do I look?"
He walked closer.
Then closer still.
Until he was standing right in front of me.
"Perfect."
The answer came without hesitation.
Heat immediately rushed to my cheeks.
I tried very hard not to smile.
Failed.
Completely.
Aryan noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His smile widened slightly.
And unfortunately...
Mine did too.
I quickly finished my makeup and grabbed my purse.
Phone? Check.
Earphones? Check.
A portable fan for Alina because she started feeling hot every five minutes? Check.
Wet tissues? Check.
Extra snacks? Check.
Several other things that might or might not be necessary? Also check.
Satisfied, I nodded to myself.
Perfect.
My eyes shifted toward Aryan.
He was already ready.
A black suit.
Black watch.
Black shoes.
Honestly, the man looked like he had stepped out of a magazine.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Where are you going?"
Aryan looked up from adjusting his cufflinks.
"Company."
I immediately opened my mouth.
"No."
His brows lifted.
"No?"
"No work today."
I pointed a finger at him.
"Today is Alina's special day."
Aryan released a breath.
"I know, Snowflake."
Clearly he had expected this conversation.
"I just need to stop by for a few hours."
I crossed my arms.
"A few hours becomes the whole day with you."
A smile appeared on his face.
"I'll be there before it starts."
I narrowed my eyes further.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
I took a step closer.
"What if you don't fulfill it?"
His smile softened.
The teasing disappeared completely.
"When it's about you..."
His gaze met mine.
"I don't break promises."
For a second, I forgot what I was about to say.
The traitor knew exactly how to win arguments.
I pointed at him anyway.
"I'm still watching you."
That earned a laugh.
"I would be worried if you weren't."
I rolled my eyes.
But the smile on my face stayed.
Unfortunately.
Aryan noticed immediately.
I nodded and pointed a finger at him.
"Be here before twelve, Aryan."
He placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"As you command, Snowflake."
I narrowed my eyes.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The smile on his face said otherwise.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the baby shower venue.
The riverside looked even more beautiful than the picture Advik had sent.
Flowers lined the pathway.
Soft decorations swayed in the breeze.
Everything looked perfect.
Aryan parked the car.
I remained exactly where I was.
He knew why.
A second later, he sighed and stepped out.
Then walked around the car and opened my door.
As expected.
I stepped out and adjusted my dress.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I looked up at him.
"Please come."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Aryan's expression softened immediately.
I hated when he looked at me like that.
It made it impossible to stay stubborn.
He stepped closer.
Then placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"I'll be here."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
Like there was no possibility of anything else happening.
"Okay, Snowflake?"
I studied his face for a moment.
Trying to figure out if he was lying.
Unfortunately...
He looked completely sincere.
I released a breath.
"Fine."
A smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
I started walking toward the venue.
Then immediately turned around again.
"If you're late, I'll never forgive you."
Aryan laughed.
"You say that every time."
"Because you deserve it every time."
His laughter followed me all the way to the entrance.
And somehow...
I found myself smiling too.
Before he could get into the car, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.
For a second, Aryan looked surprised.
Then his arms settled around me automatically.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
The kind of hug I no longer had to think about.
I pulled back after a moment.
"Before twelve."
I reminded him.
Again.
Aryan laughed softly.
"Before twelve."
He opened the car door and got inside.
A few seconds later, the engine started.
I remained exactly where I was.
Watching.
As the car slowly disappeared down the road.
I didn't move.
Not until it was completely out of sight.
Only then did I release a breath.
The smile on my face remained for another second.
Then disappeared.
Not because I was sad.
Because I had work to do.
A lot of work.
I turned toward the venue.
Cracked my neck.
Then rolled up my sleeves slightly.
The decorations.
The food.
The games.
The guests.
The gifts.
The cake.
Everything had to be perfect.
I adjusted my purse on my shoulder.
A determined smile appeared on my face.
"Now."
I started walking toward the entrance.
"Let's get started."
And unfortunately for everyone involved...
I had already entered organizer mode.
I spotted Advik from a distance and immediately waved.
The moment he saw me, relief flooded his face.
He practically hurried toward me.
"Thank God you're here."
I blinked.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
A pause.
Then he pointed toward the venue.
"That's exactly the problem."
I stared at him.
Advik ran a hand through his hair.
"I am excited."
I nodded.
"Good."
"No."
His voice grew serious.
"Very excited."
That earned a laugh from me.
Poor man looked more nervous than the mother-to-be.
I crossed my arms.
"Does Alina know?"
He immediately shook his head.
"No."
Relief washed through me.
Good.
Very good.
I looked toward the decorations.
Then toward the river.
Then back at him.
"This is going to be a great surprise."
A smile appeared on Advik's face.
"I know."
Then he released a breath.
As if remembering something important.
"Oh."
My eyes narrowed immediately.
Whenever someone started a sentence like that, trouble followed.
"What?"
He pointed toward a pile of boxes stacked near the entrance.
"Everything you ordered is here."
For one glorious second...
Silence.
Then a smile slowly appeared on my face.
The kind of smile people should fear.
I cracked my knuckles.
Advik immediately took a step back.
A wise decision.
A very wise decision.
I adjusted the sleeves of my dress.
Then started walking toward the boxes.
"Perfect."
"Mahi."
I didn't stop walking.
"Mahi."
Still walking.
"Mahi!"
I finally looked back.
"What?"
Advik pointed toward the boxes.
"There are a lot of them."
I looked at the boxes.
Then at him.
Then back at the boxes.
A smile appeared on my face.
"Good."
The poor man looked concerned.
Unfortunately for him...
I had already entered organizer mode.
And there was no cure for that.
I walked toward the boxes and opened the first one.
The moment the lid lifted, the scent of wisteria filled the air around me.
I paused.
Then closed my eyes for a second.
The fragrance instantly brought a smile to my face.
Perfect.
Exactly what I wanted.
When I opened my eyes again, Advik was watching me nervously.
As if waiting for a final verdict.
I nodded once.
Then pointed toward the venue.
"We're arranging it exactly like the Christmas decorations."
Relief flooded his face.
"Got it."
I looked around.
The riverside was beautiful already.
But beautiful wasn't enough.
Today it had to be unforgettable.
Several workers arrived carrying more boxes.
A few family friends had come early as well.
Within minutes, people were moving in every direction.
Flowers.
Tables.
Lights.
Gift stations.
Cake arrangements.
Everything.
I clapped my hands once.
The sound immediately got everyone's attention.
Good.
Very good.
"Okay."
I pointed toward the flower boxes.
"Wisteria goes around the arch."
Then toward the tables.
"Those flowers stay near the seating area."
Then toward the gift section.
"No one touches those boxes until I say so."
Everyone nodded.
I turned back toward Advik.
"Where's the banner?"
His eyes widened.
"The banner."
I pointed dramatically.
"The most important thing."
He immediately hurried away.
Poor man.
For someone who was about to become a father, he was surprisingly easy to scare.
A smile appeared on my face.
The morning breeze carried the scent of flowers around us.
People moved around carrying decorations.
The river sparkled under the sunlight.
And slowly...
The baby shower started coming to life.
Exactly the way I imagined it.
I looked at the clock again.
11:45.
My eyes immediately searched the venue.
Still nothing.
No black suit.
No familiar smirk.
No Aryan.
Guests had already started arriving.
And Alina would be here by 12:30.
Where was he?
I started pacing.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Finally, I grabbed my phone and called him.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
My foot tapped impatiently against the ground.
Come on, Aryan.
Pick up.
"Hi."
The unfamiliar voice made me look up.
A black-haired man stood a few feet away.
Brown eyes.
A confident smile.
My brows immediately pulled together.
I lowered the phone slightly.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me your name?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"No."
Then I placed the phone back against my ear.
The man blinked.
Clearly not expecting that answer.
"Can I get your phone number?"
I closed my eyes briefly.
"No."
Another pause.
Then—
"Boyfriend?"
I opened my eyes and looked at him.
"Husband."
The answer came instantly.
Without hesitation.
For some reason, saying it made a smile appear on my face.
The man's expression immediately changed.
"Oh."
"Yes."
A few seconds of awkward silence followed.
Then he cleared his throat.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
The man nodded once and quickly walked away.
Smart decision.
Very smart decision.
I returned my attention to the phone.
Just as I was about to hang up—
"Mahi."
My entire body froze.
That voice.
Aryan.
I turned toward him and immediately released a breath.
"Aryan."
My hand moved to my chest.
"You scared the soul out of me."
His expression didn't change.
Not even a little.
In fact...
His jaw seemed to tighten further.
A warning sign.
A very bad warning sign.
I frowned.
"What happened?"
His gaze shifted past me.
Toward the man.
"What was he asking?"
My brows pulled together.
"Who?"
Aryan pointed toward the stranger.
The poor man was suddenly very interested in the decorations.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Realization hit me.
"Oh."
I looked back at Aryan.
"It was nothing important."
His expression remained unchanged.
Which somehow felt worse.
"He was flirting."
I decided honesty was the best option.
A dangerous option.
But the best one.
"I told him I have a husband."
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then Aryan's eyes moved back toward the man.
The poor guy visibly froze under that stare.
I immediately recognized that look.
No.
Absolutely not.
Aryan took a step forward.
I reacted instantly.
My hand landed on his chest.
Firmly.
He stopped.
Good.
Very good.
I looked up at him.
"Don't."
His gaze remained fixed on the man.
"He was bothering you."
"He asked my name."
Silence.
"And my number."
More silence.
"Then I said no."
Aryan's jaw clenched.
Not helping.
I pressed my hand against his chest slightly.
"Aryan."
Nothing.
"Aryan."
His eyes finally dropped to mine.
Progress.
Small progress.
But progress.
"Don't do anything stupid."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"Stupid?"
"Yes."
"I wasn't going to do anything."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
We both knew he was lying.
"Aryan."
A sigh escaped him.
I pointed a warning finger at him.
"Not today."
His brows lifted.
"Not today?"
"Today is Alina's baby shower."
I glanced toward the venue.
Then back at him.
"You can do whatever dramatic thing you're planning after it's over."
A pause.
Then I added,
"Actually no."
His expression almost cracked.
"After today."
That finally earned a laugh from him.
A small one.
But enough.
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
Victory.
I smiled.
Then grabbed his hand.
"Good."
Aryan intertwined his fingers with mine.
His thumb brushed lightly across my knuckles.
"You're very demanding."
I smiled sweetly.
"I learned from the best."
That earned another laugh.
And just like that...
The crisis was officially postponed.