Bound by mistake

CHAPTER 31（MAHI ,ARYAN）

I looked down at Vristi.

She was drinking her milk peacefully.

Her tiny grey eyes looked brighter than usual today.

A smile appeared on my face.

Snow grey eyes.

The first time I had seen them, I had been convinced they would change.

They hadn't.

Alina followed my gaze.

Then smiled too.

"She's beautiful."

I nodded immediately.

"Obviously."

Alina rolled her eyes.

As if I was biased.

Which I absolutely was.

A few moments passed.

Then she looked at me.

"How is Aryan?"

I leaned back against the couch.

"Good."

A pause.

"But he's been very busy."

Her brows pulled together.

"Busy how?"

I released a breath.

"He had to go back to the company at night."

Immediately, Alina's eyes narrowed.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

"What work?"

I rolled my eyes.

"He was working on the meeting he postponed."

She nodded slowly.

Still suspicious.

As if she personally intended to investigate.

"So he's tired."

I looked down at my coffee.

"Very."

The answer came out softer than intended.

Because he was.

For the past week, he had been leaving early.

Returning late.

Still somehow finding time to ask about my day.

Still somehow remembering to call me during lunch.

Still somehow pretending he wasn't exhausted.

The man was impossible.

Alina noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

"You miss him."

I nearly choked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I see him every day."

"Barely."

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it.

Because unfortunately...

She had a point.

The past week had been chaos.

Between Vristi.

The company.

And life in general.

The longest conversation Aryan and I had shared recently was about whether babies should wear socks while sleeping.

Alina's grin widened.

"I knew it."

"You knew nothing."

"I knew everything."

I pointed at her.

"Motherhood has made you annoying."

"It made me wise."

"It didn't."

"It did."

Before I could continue arguing, Vristi let out a tiny sound.

Immediately both of us looked down.

The little traitor had perfect timing.

Again.

A thought crossed my mind.

Then another.

Then another.

Until finally—

A smile appeared on my face.

Alina immediately noticed.

Dangerous.

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing."

"Mahi."

I ignored her.

Because if I said it out loud...

She would never let me live.

The smile remained on my face anyway.

Maybe...

I could surprise Aryan at work today.

I looked at her.

Then at Vristi.

Then back at her again.

A smile slowly appeared on my face.

"Maybe I should surprise him with lunch today."

Alina's entire face lit up.

Brighter than it had any right to.

"That's a great idea."

Immediately.

Far too quickly.

The woman stood up.

Carefully placed Vristi in the middle of the couch.

Then surrounded her with enough pillows to survive a natural disaster.

I stared.

"What are you doing?"

"Supporting your marriage."

I rolled my eyes.

Of course.

Naturally.

Completely normal answer.

Alina ignored me and marched toward the kitchen.

"Okay."

She clapped her hands together dramatically.

"You make lunch."

A smile appeared on my face.

"That's actually a good idea."

For the first time in days, Aryan would get a proper meal.

One not delivered by his assistant.

One not eaten during a meeting.

One not forgotten completely.

Alina immediately pointed at me.

"Make his favorite."

"I know his favorite."

She gasped.

Offended.

Deeply offended.

"Excuse me?"

"I do."

"Name three."

I stared.

She stared back.

Neither of us blinked.

Then—

"Paneer paratha."

"Hm."

"Rajma."

"Hm."

"And that coffee he pretends not to like when it's too sweet."

Alina froze.

Then narrowed her eyes.

"You actually pay attention."

I looked at her.

"What kind of wife do you think I am?"

"A scary one."

A laugh escaped me.

Honestly.

Fair.

Very fair.

I made my way toward the kitchen.

Already planning the menu.

Behind me, Alina shouted—

"And wear something pretty!"

I stopped.

Slowly turned around.

"What?"

She smiled.

The dangerous smile.

The one I hated.

The one that usually meant she was about to ruin my day.

"You know."

She wiggled her brows.

"No."

"You know."

"I don't."

"You're surprising your husband."

I pointed at her.

"Alina."

"Mahi."

"Stop."

She smiled wider.

"I said nothing."

The liar.

The absolute liar.

Still...

As I stepped into the kitchen, I couldn't stop the small smile appearing on my face.

Because despite all her teasing...

I was excited.

And for some reason...

The idea of seeing Aryan's face when I walked into his office made me smile even more.

I stood back and admired my work.

For once...

Nothing had burned.

Nothing had fallen.

Nothing had exploded.

A miracle.

An actual miracle.

A proud smile appeared on my face as I carefully packed everything into containers.

The aroma filled the kitchen.

Warm.

Comforting.

Homemade.

Exactly the way I wanted it.

I opened one of the containers slightly and smelled it.

A smile immediately appeared on my face.

Perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

Aryan better appreciate this.

Because I had spent nearly two hours making it.

And I had only nearly caused three disasters.

Personal growth.

I looked up.

Alina was watching me from the couch.

A knowing smile on her face.

The dangerous kind.

The kind that always meant she was thinking something she shouldn't be.

"So."

She stretched the word dramatically.

I narrowed my eyes.

"What?"

Her smile widened.

"Now go to your hungry husband."

I rolled my eyes immediately.

"He is not my hungry husband."

Alina looked at the lunch bag.

Then at me.

Then back at the lunch bag.

"Mahi."

I ignored her.

Mostly because she wasn't wrong.

The woman laughed.

Then waved me away.

"Go."

I grabbed my purse.

The lunch bag.

My phone.

Then bent down and kissed Vristi's forehead.

The baby blinked at me.

Completely unimpressed.

Honestly.

A little rude.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Vristi yawned.

Still unimpressed.

Alina laughed.

"She gets that from her father."

A protest immediately came from the couch.

"I heard that."

Advik.

Apparently he had arrived home ten minutes ago and nobody had noticed.

Alina looked completely unbothered.

I laughed.

Then made my way toward the door.

The lunch bag swinging lightly beside me.

A strange excitement settled inside my chest.

The kind that appeared before a surprise.

Aryan had no idea I was coming.

No idea I was bringing lunch.

No idea I had spent the entire morning thinking about him.

The thought made me smile.

As I stepped outside and made my way toward my car, I glanced at the clock.

Perfect.

If traffic behaved for once in its life...

I would reach his office just in time for lunch.

And maybe...

Just maybe...

I would finally get to spend more than five minutes with my husband today.

Still smiling, I started the car.

Completely unaware that my peaceful little surprise was about to become something else entirely.

The meeting should have ended twenty minutes ago.

Yet somehow...

I was still sitting there.

Listening.

Nodding.

Pretending to care.

My gaze shifted toward the clock.

12:37 PM.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

The presenter continued talking.

Numbers.

Graphs.

Profits.

Predictions.

None of it stayed in my head.

Because the only thing I could think about was lunch.

Or more specifically...

The fact that I hadn't eaten it.

Again.

A knock sounded against the conference room door.

Everyone looked up.

My assistant stepped inside.

"Sir."

I immediately knew something was wrong.

She never interrupted meetings.

Ever.

"What happened?"

She hesitated.

Then walked closer.

"Someone is here to see you."

My brows pulled together.

I wasn't expecting anyone.

"Who?"

A strange smile appeared on her face.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

"Your college friend."

Silence.

The room went silent.

Several executives immediately looked interested.

Idiots.

I released a breath.

Of course.

Her.

I rubbed a hand across my face.

"I'll be there in five minutes."

My assistant nodded.

Then left.

The second the door closed, everyone suddenly found their laptops fascinating.

Cowards.

All of them.

A few minutes later, I finally escaped the meeting.

The moment I entered my office, I found her sitting on the couch.

Exactly as I remembered.

Confident.

Comfortable.

And entirely too happy to be here.

She stood immediately.

"Aryan."

I nodded once.

"Riya."

A grin appeared on her face.

"Still serious."

"And you're still annoying."

The grin widened.

Unfortunately.

She took a seat again.

Without being invited.

Also unfortunately.

I sat behind my desk.

"What do you want?"

Her hand immediately flew to her chest.

Dramatic.

As always.

"I came all the way here and that's how you greet me?"

"Yes."

A laugh escaped her.

The same laugh that used to drive our professors insane.

Some things never changed.

"For someone who owns half the city, you're still boring."

"I'll survive."

She rolled her eyes.

Then suddenly pointed toward a framed photograph on my desk.

"Wait."

She stood up.

"No way."

My brows pulled together.

"What?"

"Is that from the college trip?"

I looked toward the frame.

Unfortunately...

It was.

She immediately laughed.

"Oh my God."

Before I could stop her, she walked around the desk.

Leaning closer to look at it.

"You remember this?"

"No."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

She laughed again.

Then without warning, placed her hand over mine.

Exactly like she used to during college whenever she wanted attention.

"Look."

She pointed toward the picture.

"You were smiling."

I looked down.

At her hand.

Then at her.

My brows immediately pulled together.

"Riya."

She followed my gaze.

Realization flashed across her face.

"Oh."

She immediately removed her hand.

"Sorry."

I nodded once.

Not angry.

Just uncomfortable.

Because some habits belonged in the past.

And should stay there.

Before either of us could say anything else—

The office door opened.

My attention shifted toward it.

And my heart stopped.

Mahi.

Standing in the doorway.

Lunch bag in one hand.

A smile on her face.

A smile that disappeared the second her eyes landed on us.

More specifically...

On where Riya's hand had been a few seconds ago.

Oh.

No.

She looked at Riya.

Then at me.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

A smile appeared on her face.

A smile that immediately told me one thing.

I was dead.

Completely dead.

"I am sorry if I interrupted."

Her voice was perfectly polite.

Which somehow made the situation worse.

Much worse.

She turned slightly.

Clearly intending to leave.

Absolutely not.

I stood up immediately.

My chair practically slid backward.

Before she could take another step, I caught her wrist.

Firmly.

"No."

She looked at me.

"No?"

"You didn't interrupt anything, Snowflake."

For a moment, her eyes softened.

Just a little.

Not enough.

But a little.

Unfortunately, that was when Riya decided to speak.

"Who are you?"

I closed my eyes briefly.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

I looked at Mahi.

Then at Riya.

And said clearly,

"She is my wife."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Riya froze.

Mahi froze.

I froze.

Actually, no.

I was suffering.

There was a difference.

Riya's eyes widened.

"Wait."

She looked at Mahi.

Then back at me.

Then back at Mahi again.

"You're married?"

I stared at her.

"Yes."

Another pause.

"You didn't tell me."

"You didn't ask."

Mahi's lips twitched.

The traitor.

The absolute traitor.

Riya suddenly laughed.

"Oh."

Realization crossed her face.

Then horror.

Then embarrassment.

Then more horror.

She looked at Mahi.

"Oh my God."

Mahi remained perfectly calm.

Which was terrifying.

Absolutely terrifying.

Riya pointed toward me.

"I wasn't flirting."

Mahi smiled.

A very sweet smile.

The dangerous kind.

The kind that should come with warning signs.

"Of course."

I knew that smile.

I knew it very well.

And I knew exactly what it meant.

I was going to hear about this later.

For a very long time.

Riya looked between us.

Then slowly took a step backward.

"Okay."

Another step.

"I think I should leave."

Excellent idea.

Wonderful idea.

Possibly the best idea anyone had ever had.

Mahi smiled.

"Nice meeting you."

Riya nodded quickly.

"You too."

Then she practically escaped from the office.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Silence.

I looked at Mahi.

Mahi looked at me.

Neither of us spoke.

Then her gaze dropped.

To the lunch bag in her hand.

Then returned to me.

One eyebrow lifted.

Just one.

Somehow...

That was far more frightening than yelling

She took a step forward.

Instinctively, I took a step back.

A very wise decision.

Unfortunately, it didn't help.

She placed the lunch bag on my desk with a loud thud.

The sound echoed through the office.

A warning.

A very clear warning.

"Enjoy your meal, Aryan Rathore."

I looked at her carefully.

"Mahi."

"Yes?"

"Calm down."

She smiled.

The terrifying smile.

The one that usually appeared moments before disaster.

"I am calm."

I remained silent.

A survival skill.

She crossed her arms.

"Why should I be angry?"

I nodded slowly.

A mistake.

A very big mistake.

Because her eyes narrowed immediately.

"You agree?"

"No."

"Then why are you nodding?"

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it again.

Unfortunately...

I had no good answer.

Mahi laughed.

A completely fake laugh.

"Oh, this is wonderful."

"Snowflake—"

"I am calm."

"You already said that."

"I am just repeating it because apparently nobody believes me."

I rubbed a hand across my face.

This was going badly.

Very badly.

She pointed toward the chair Riya had been sitting on.

"So."

Dangerous word.

Extremely dangerous word.

"College friend?"

"Yes."

"Hm."

Silence.

Then—

"Interesting."

Not interesting.

Never interesting.

Whenever a woman says something is interesting...

It is not interesting.

It is a problem.

A very large problem.

I released a breath.

"Mahi."

"What?"

"Look at me."

She looked everywhere except at me.

The ceiling.

The wall.

The window.

My desk.

Everything.

Except me.

"Mahi."

Finally, her eyes met mine.

Good.

Progress.

Tiny progress.

"She touched my hand."

Straight to the problem.

Always.

Her lips pressed together.

"She did."

"I moved away."

A pause.

"I know."

That surprised me.

"You know?"

"I saw."

Well.

That was unexpected.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then Mahi looked down at the lunch bag.

"I made lunch."

My expression softened immediately.

"I know."

"I spent two hours making it."

"I know."

Another pause.

Then she finally admitted it.

Very quietly.

"So seeing another woman touching your hand wasn't exactly how I imagined this going."

There it was.

The truth.

Finally.

A smile almost appeared on my face.

Almost.

Then I remembered survival.

And wisely kept it hidden.

Instead, I walked toward her.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Like approaching a wild animal.

"Mahi."

"What?"

"Are you jealous?"

Her eyes widened.

Immediately.

"NO."

The answer came so quickly it was almost impressive.

I nodded.

"Right."

"I am not."

"Of course."

"I am not."

I couldn't stop the small smile this time.

And the second she saw it...

She pointed a finger at me.

"Do not smile."

Too late.

I was already smiling.

And somehow...

That only made her cheeks turn redder.

"Aryan."

I immediately straightened.

A very dangerous sign.

"Yes?"

"Don't smile."

The smile disappeared instantly.

Years of survival experience.

Very useful.

"Otherwise it will be dangerous for you."

I nodded seriously.

A wise warning.

One I fully intended to respect.

"Okay."

I even raised both hands.

Showing complete cooperation.

"See? No smiling."

Mahi narrowed her eyes.

Clearly unconvinced.

Honestly?

Fair.

I took a careful breath.

Then tried again.

"Now listen to me."

"What?"

"Calm down."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Mahi stared at me.

I stared back.

Then—

"If you say calm down one more time..."

Her voice was dangerously soft.

"...I will show you what real calm is."

I immediately closed my mouth.

Excellent point.

Wonderful point.

The best point anyone had made all day.

Mahi nodded.

"Good."

I rubbed a hand across my face.

This was going terribly.

Very terribly.

She crossed her arms.

Then pointed toward the chair.

"Did she sit there?"

I looked at the chair.

Then at Mahi.

Then back at the chair.

A trap.

An obvious trap.

A very dangerous trap.

Unfortunately...

Silence was also suspicious.

So I chose honesty.

"Yes."

She nodded slowly.

"Hm."

Not good.

Never good.

That sound alone had shortened my lifespan.

Then her eyes moved toward my desk.

"And she stood there?"

"Yes."

Another nod.

"Hm."

Even worse.

Much worse.

I was beginning to miss the meeting.

At least graphs didn't threaten me.

Mahi looked around the office.

Inspecting it like a detective investigating a crime scene.

Then finally—

Her eyes landed on the lunch bag.

The one she had brought for me.

The one she had spent hours making.

The one I hadn't even opened yet.

Immediately, guilt settled inside my chest.

"Mahi."

"What?"

"You made lunch."

"I did."

Her answer came instantly.

Still angry.

Still polite.

The most dangerous combination.

I took a step closer.

Carefully.

Like approaching a wild animal.

"Mahi."

"What?"

"I missed you."

Silence.

For the first time since entering the office...

She stopped moving.

Her eyes met mine.

The anger softened slightly.

Just slightly.

Enough for me to notice.

Enough for her to notice that I noticed.

Which immediately annoyed her again.

Unfortunately.

A sigh escaped her.

Then she looked away.

"You're annoying."

Relief washed through me.

Because that was progress.

Tiny progress.

But progress.

A smile almost appeared on my face.

Almost.

Then I remembered the warning.

And decided I quite enjoyed sleeping in my own room.

So I wisely kept a completely serious expression.

At least...

I tried to.

She crossed her arms.

"I made you lunch."

I nodded immediately.

A very important fact.

A very wonderful fact.

Then she continued—

"Don't make me poison it."

I gulped.

Immediately.

"Mahi."

She stared.

I stared back.

"Mahi, don't joke."

"I don't joke, Aryan Rathore."

Silence.

I straightened immediately.

Because unfortunately...

There was a small chance she meant it.

Not the poison part.

The emotional damage part.

Absolutely.

I looked at the lunch bag.

Then at her.

Then back at the lunch bag.

Very carefully.

Very respectfully.

Then I nodded.

"Thank you, Snowflake."

Her expression softened slightly.

Just slightly.

Enough for me to notice.

Enough for me to survive another five minutes.

"For what?"

I looked at the containers.

The homemade food.

The effort.

The time.

The fact that she had come all the way here.

Then back at her.

"For the surprise."

A pause.

"For making lunch."

Another pause.

Then—

"For thinking about me."

The anger disappeared from her eyes for a second.

Only a second.

But it was there.

And I caught it.

Mahi looked away immediately.

As if annoyed by her own reaction.

The woman was impossible.

A sigh escaped her.

"You've barely eaten properly all week."

My expression softened.

Of course she noticed.

She noticed everything.

Even when I wished she wouldn't.

"I've been busy."

"I know."

The answer came instantly.

Not accusing.

Not angry.

Just honest.

That somehow made me feel worse.

I stepped closer.

Carefully.

Because I valued my life.

"Mahi."

"What?"

"I really did miss you."

Her eyes lifted to mine.

Suspicion immediately filled them.

"As a distraction from work?"

I nearly laughed.

Nearly.

A dangerous activity.

"No."

"Then why?"

I looked at her.

The answer came naturally.

The way it always did with her.

"Because you're my favorite part of the day."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Mahi froze.

The fight left her face completely.

And for the first time since walking into the office...

She looked more embarrassed than angry.

Progress.

Excellent progress.

Tiny.

But excellent.

Then she pointed a finger at me.

A warning finger.

The most dangerous kind.

"Don't think you're forgiven."

I nodded seriously.

"I wouldn't dare."

A pause.

Then—

"Can I eat lunch now?"

The corner of her lips twitched.

Just a little.

Victory.

Small victory.

But victory nonetheless.

I spent another hour with Mahi.

The lunch sat forgotten between us.

Mostly because she kept talking.

And I kept listening.

About Vristi.

About Alina.

About Noor.

About the chips Alina wasn't supposed to eat.

About absolutely everything.

For some reason...

Listening to her never felt tiring.

Eventually, the anger disappeared completely.

At least on the surface.

The woman would probably remember this incident for the next five years.

But for now...

Peace had been restored.

As she stood to leave, I walked her to the door.

Before she could say anything, I leaned down and pressed a kiss against her forehead.

A soft one.

A familiar one.

"Again..."

I looked at the lunch containers.

Then back at her.

"Thank you, Snowflake."

A smile appeared on her face.

Small.

But genuine.

"You're welcome."

My eyes softened.

For a second, I considered asking her to stay.

Then reality returned.

Work.

Meetings.

Responsibilities.

Unfortunately.

Mahi waved once before disappearing into the hallway.

A few moments later, she was gone.

The office felt quieter immediately.

I returned to my desk.

Leaning back in my chair.

A smile still resting on my face.

She made me lunch.

The thought alone was enough to improve my entire day.

The smile widened slightly.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

My eyes opened.

Immediately.

The smile vanished.

Years of practice.

I straightened in my chair.

"Come in."

The door opened.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Riya.

Again.

She stepped inside carrying a folder.

Completely unaware of the disappointment she had just caused.

"What?"

She blinked.

"Wow."

My brows pulled together.

"What?"

"You looked happy."

"I am."

The answer came immediately.

For some reason, that surprised her.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

She looked at me.

"Aryan."

I already disliked that tone.

Very much.

I released a breath.

"What?"

A pause.

A dangerous pause.

The kind that usually led to problems.

Big problems.

"I am here for one week."

I blinked once.

Then twice.

Still waiting for the disaster.

Unfortunately...

It arrived.

"So can I stay in your house?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Waiting.

Hopeful.

Completely unaware that she had just shortened my lifespan.

I blinked a few more times.

This couldn't be real.

Surely not.

Really, God?

After everything that happened today?

This?

This was the next challenge?

Riya tilted her head.

"Aryan?"

I rubbed a hand across my face.

Thinking.

Very carefully.

Because there was only one thing more dangerous than saying yes.

Saying no.

My mother would find out.

Then I would die.

Slowly.

Painfully.

Riya frowned.

"Why do you look stressed?"

I laughed.

A humorless laugh.

"You have no idea."

She crossed her arms.

"So?"

I looked at the ceiling.

Seeking strength.

Seeking patience.

Seeking divine intervention.

Finding none.

Then I looked back at her.

"One week?"

She nodded.

"One week."

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

My gaze moved toward the office door.

Toward the hallway where Mahi had disappeared less than thirty minutes ago.

A terrible feeling settled in my chest.

Because I already knew how this conversation would go.

Mahi would smile.

A very sweet smile.

Then she would say:

"Of course she can stay."

And somehow...

That would be far more terrifying than if she yelled.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Then finally nodded.

"You can stay."

Riya grinned.

Far too happily.

"Thank you."

I pointed a finger at her immediately.

"There are rules."

Her smile disappeared.

"Rules?"

"Many rules."

"Aryan."

"Many."

Because if this woman was staying in my house for a week...

I intended to survive it.

Somehow.

Even if the odds were no longer in my favor.