CHAPTER 30（mahi）
"Alina."
Silence.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Alina."
Still nothing.
A very bad sign.
I placed the soup bowl on the counter and marched toward the living room.
Immediately, I found the criminal.
Alina sat on the couch.
Vristi sleeping peacefully in her arms.
And an empty packet of spicy chips beside her.
I closed my eyes.
Briefly.
Very briefly.
"Alina."
She looked up.
Then smiled.
The guilty smile.
The one that always appeared before trouble.
"What?"
I pointed at the chips.
"What is that?"
Her eyes followed my finger.
Then widened.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
She immediately hid the packet behind a cushion.
As if that somehow solved the problem.
I stared.
She stared back.
Neither of us blinked.
Then Vristi yawned.
Immediately, both of our expressions softened.
The little traitor had perfect timing.
I walked over and carefully adjusted the blanket around her.
"You're supposed to be resting."
"I am resting."
I looked at the chips.
She looked at the chips.
Then she looked away.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
A few moments later, I carried Vristi into the nursery while Alina ate the healthy lunch I had made.
Or rather...
The healthy lunch I forced her to eat.
Being a new mother apparently made her forget basic survival skills.
Someone had to keep her alive.
That someone was me.
By the time evening arrived, the house was spotless.
Alina had eaten.
Vristi had slept.
And I was exhausted.
The sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.
Immediately, Alina smiled.
"Advik."
A few seconds later, he appeared in the living room.
Tie loosened.
Tired.
The second he saw Vristi, every bit of exhaustion disappeared from his face.
I smiled.
Then stood up.
"Perfect timing."
Advik laughed.
"Mahi."
"Your shift starts now."
He looked at the baby.
Then at Alina.
Then at me.
"I've been waiting all day."
Good answer.
Very good answer.
I grabbed my purse.
Then bent down and kissed Vristi's forehead.
"Be nice."
The baby blinked.
Clearly making no promises.
Alina laughed.
"See you tomorrow?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Obviously."
Because despite all my complaining...
I already knew exactly where I would be tomorrow morning.
Right back here.
With my best friend.
And my favorite tiny human.
As I stepped outside, my phone buzzed.
A message.
Aryan.
Coming home?
A smile immediately appeared on my face.
Yes.
A second later, another message arrived.
Good. The house is too quiet without you, Snowflake.
My smile widened.
And for the first time all day...
I hurried home.
I entered the mansion and immediately felt at home.
A deep breath escaped me.
The familiar scent.
The familiar walls.
The familiar silence.
A small smile appeared on my face.
Though...
The silence was a little strange.
No Noor.
No rushing footsteps.
No dramatic stories waiting for me the second I walked through the door.
For the first few weeks, I had actually expected her to appear out of nowhere.
Then reality would hit.
She wasn't here.
She was in another state.
Studying.
Surviving medical school.
A laugh escaped me.
Now she would finally understand what I meant every time I said:
"Best of luck."
The poor girl had sounded so confident when she left.
I wondered how long that confidence had survived.
Probably one week.
Maybe two if she was lucky.
Still smiling, I made my way further inside.
The house felt different.
Not empty.
Just quieter.
More grown up somehow.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Noor.
The timing made me laugh immediately.
Noor: I haven't slept in 36 hours.
I shook my head.
Predictable.
Completely predictable.
Me: Best of luck.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then—
Noor: I hate you.
My smile widened.
Me: Love you too.
Before she could send another complaint, I slipped my phone back into my purse.
The moment I looked up, my steps stopped.
Aryan stood at the end of the hallway.
One hand tucked into his pocket.
The other holding a cup of coffee.
His eyes met mine.
A small smile appeared on his face.
The kind that only ever appeared when he looked at me.
"Welcome home, Snowflake."
And just like that...
The exhaustion from the entire day disappeared.
I dragged my purse behind me as I made my way toward Aryan.
The moment I reached him, I didn't say anything.
Didn't greet him.
Didn't explain my day.
I simply stepped forward and rested my head against his chest.
"I am tired."
A laugh escaped him.
Soft.
Warm.
Familiar.
He placed the coffee cup on the nearby table.
Then wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
"I know."
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
I could hear his heartbeat beneath my ear.
Steady.
Calm.
Comforting.
The kind of sound that made the rest of the world disappear for a little while.
A content sigh escaped me.
"You know..."
My voice came out muffled against his shirt.
"Hm?"
"I never knew babies could create so much work."
Another laugh escaped him.
A deeper one this time.
I felt it vibrate through his chest.
"Really?"
"They eat."
"Hm."
"They sleep."
"Hm."
"They cry."
"Hm."
"And somehow everyone around them becomes exhausted."
His hand moved slowly through my hair.
"I've heard that's how it works."
I lifted my head slightly and narrowed my eyes.
"You're making fun of me."
"No."
"You are."
A smile tugged at his lips.
"Maybe a little."
I rolled my eyes.
Then immediately rested my head back against his chest.
Because arguing required energy.
And I had none left.
His arms tightened slightly around me.
Not enough to trap me.
Just enough to keep me there.
A comfortable silence settled between us.
The kind that didn't need filling.
The kind that only existed when two people knew each other well enough.
After a few moments, Aryan spoke.
"Did Vristi behave today?"
I laughed.
"She slept."
"Good."
"Alina didn't."
That earned another laugh.
I smiled despite myself.
Then yawned.
A very unfortunate mistake.
Because Aryan immediately noticed.
Of course he did.
"How long were you there?"
I thought about it.
Then winced.
"Since eight."
His brows rose.
"It's evening."
"I know."
"Mahi."
I pointed a finger at him without opening my eyes.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Lecture me."
His smile widened.
"You're impossible."
"No."
I yawned again.
This time even bigger.
"I'm tired."
"Clearly."
For a moment, I thought that would be the end of it.
Then suddenly—
The floor disappeared beneath my feet.
A startled sound escaped me.
My arms immediately wrapped around his neck.
"Aryan!"
He didn't even look guilty.
The man simply adjusted his hold on me and started walking.
"Aryan."
"You said you were tired."
"That doesn't mean—"
"you said you are tired"
I froze.
As i was so tired to argue.
Unfortunately.
I rested my forehead against his shoulder.
Defeated.
Completely defeated.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
The smug man.
Still...
As he carried me upstairs, I couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on mine.
I closed my eyes as he carried me upstairs.
The steady rhythm of his footsteps echoed softly through the hallway.
For some reason, it made me feel even sleepier.
By the time we reached the bedroom, I was barely awake.
Aryan pushed the door open with one hand.
Then walked inside.
Carefully.
As if I might break.
A small smile appeared on my face.
The man carried business deals worth millions on his shoulders without blinking.
Yet somehow he treated me like I was made of glass whenever I was tired.
Gently, he placed me on the bed.
The mattress dipped beneath my weight.
Before I could protest, he pulled the blanket over me.
Then leaned down and pressed a small kiss against my forehead.
A warm one.
The kind that always made something inside me soften.
I smiled sleepily.
A few moments later, the other side of the bed dipped.
Aryan slid beneath the blanket.
His strong arm wrapped around my waist almost immediately.
Instinctively, I moved closer.
Resting against him.
His warmth surrounded me.
Safe.
Familiar.
Home.
A content sigh escaped me.
Behind me, I felt his lips brush against my hair.
"Tired, Snowflake?"
I hummed softly.
Too tired to form actual words.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The room settled into silence.
Comfortable silence.
The best kind.
Just before sleep claimed me completely, a thought crossed my mind.
"I think Vristi likes me more."
The words came out sleepy and barely understandable.
Aryan laughed.
A low laugh.
"Of course."
A smile appeared on my face.
Satisfied with the answer.
A few seconds later, sleep finally pulled me under.
Still wrapped safely in his arms.