Chapter - 80
I told Siya in the morning that I'd be back in 2–3 hours.
Truth was, I knew it might take longer. Still, I didn't want her to worry.
Before leaving, I instructed my PA clearly, "After the paperwork is done, you are free.
Do whatever you want, go back if you like.
But don't disturb me. Do you understand? "
He nodded like his life depended on it. It should.
After finishing everything, I took Siya for lunch. I had already planned the lakeside dining for her. The way her eyes sparkled, the way she laughed while I clicked her pictures... that smile—damn, I could burn down kingdoms for that smile.
Later, she told me she wanted to have dinner in our room as she was tired. I agreed immediately. Why would I deny her anything?
But just when we were about to sit in the car, Rohan called.
The moment I saw his name flash on the screen, irritation flared in me. Still, I picked up.
"Sir... I need your signature on some papers I forgot in the morning.Without it—"
My jaw tightened. I had told him not to disturb me, ever, when I'm with Siya. I cut him off. "Do you think I'm paying you for this kind of incompetence?"
He stammered something about urgency, and I clenched my teeth. Siya looked at me, calm as always, and said softly, "It's okay. You finish your work... I'll wait."
Her understanding always disarms me. I was expecting her to get upset, at least sad... but no. She just smiled faintly.
Fine. I went back to the venue where the morning meeting had been held. Rohan stood there, pale as a ghost, with files in his hands. He quickly handed me the papers. I snatched them from him, scanned through, signed, and was about to walk out when he said, "S...sir..."
I stopped. My glare alone was enough to silence him, but he still dared to continue.
"What the hell is it now?" I snapped, my voice sharp like a whip.
He handed me another document. I took one look and my blood boiled. Errors. Again. "Didn't I tell you to correct this yesterday? Are you all deaf or just brainless?"
He stuttered, "S-sir, I thought—"
"Don't think. That's not your job," I cut him off coldly. "Your job is to follow instructions. If you can't even handle that, why the hell am I paying you?"
He shrank back, trembling. Good. At least fear keeps these people in line.
I sat down myself, fixed the errors in thirty minutes, shoved the papers back at him, and said in an icy tone, "Now, listen carefully. Don't you dare disturb me again. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. If I get even one call because of your stupidity, you won't see the sun in Jaipur again. Understand?"
He nodded violently, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Pathetic.
I walked out, my anger still simmering. All I could think was—my Siya is waiting for me. That's the only thing that mattered.
I clenched the steering wheel as I drove back. "Damn these creatures," I muttered under my breath. "Here I came to Udaipur only to spend time with my wife, and they don't even let me have that."
But not anymore. Now, nothing will come between me and Siya.
My heart was racing so fast that I thought he could hear it the moment he stepped in. I had arranged everything—candles, fairy lights, flowers, and his favorite food. I had wanted to cook for him myself, but time slipped away, so I ordered instead. Still... it looked beautiful.
I had even worn his coat over my dress, because without it I felt too shy, too bare. How will I even talk to him? If I can't handle his intense gaze, how will I say a word without stammering?
So I hid myself near the door, waiting. Nervous. Excited. Scared.
And then, finally, after what felt like forever, he came.
The moment he opened the door, my breath caught. He didn't say anything at first. Just stood there, looking around. My heart dropped. Did he not like it? Was it too much? Maybe I should've just planned a simple dinner... oh no...
But then his voice came, low and almost broken, "A... angel."
I froze. Slowly, I took a baby step toward him, my payal making a faint sound. He turned, and when his eyes landed on me, he just... stopped. Didn't blink, just kept staring.
I panicked a little, lowered my eyes, my fingers clutching the side of his coat nervously. Say something, Siya... ask him... does he like it or not?
Before I could gather courage, before I could even think more, he closed the distance and pulled me into his arms.
This hug... this wasn't like any hug before. It wasn't just tight—it was heavy, almost desperate, like he was letting go of something inside him. Like he was leaning on me.
For a second, I was too stunned to move. Then slowly, I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back just as tight. My hands moved on his back, gently rubbing, trying to calm him.
And that's when I heard it—his heartbeat. Loud. Fast. Strong. Against my ear, it felt almost wild. And the thought hit me—it was beating like this for me. Only for me.
I closed my eyes, smiling softly against his chest. My heart whispered, Siya... this moment, this feeling, is everything. Don't let go.
We didn't say anything. We didn't need to. The silence itself felt like a conversation—his arms telling me more than his words ever could. For a while, we just stood there, holding each other, and I never wanted to let go.
But slowly, Avi pulled back, his eyes still on me, filled with something so deep that it made my chest ache.
"I..." I tried to speak, but before I could finish, he hugged me again, tighter this time.
"Thank you," his voice broke a little, "thank you so much, jaan. You don't know what you've done... what I'm feeling... it's just too much for me. I... I can't explain it in words."
My own eyes stung, and I hugged him back. "You don't have to, Avi. I know... and I can feel what you're feeling."
But he shook his head and pulled away just enough to hold my face in his hands. His gaze was so intense that I almost forgot to breathe.
"No, Siya... I want to share it with you.
You know... no one has done something like this for me in years.
Since I was young, all I ever heard from my grandfather was that I would be king, that I had to be someone people could rely on.
And I... I grew up with that. I forgot what it felt like to rely on someone else.
I built a wall around myself, keeping everyone out.
Mom, Dad... they were there, but I never let them see that I needed them.
Maybe that's why they too stopped seeing it. "
His voice dropped lower. "I forgot what happiness feels like when someone does even the smallest thing for you. But you, Siya... you broke that wall, even before you realized you did. You reminded me... what it means to feel."
I couldn't hold back anymore. I hugged him tightly, almost as if I could hide him from all that pain. "Avi... you can rely on me. For everything. I was, I am, and I will always be here for you. You will always find me beside you. So don't ever think you're alone, okay?"
He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against mine. "Okay, jaan..." he whispered.
And then he noticed the coat around me. His lips curved faintly as he said, "You know, angel... my coat looks better on you than it ever did on me."
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I quickly looked down, blushing. I took a deep breath to steady myself, my heart fluttering at his words.
I smiled softly, brushing away the tears in my eyes. "Now let's go... I'm feeling hungry." I held his hand and gently pulled him toward the balcony, where I had arranged everything.
The fairy lights twinkled around us, the candles flickered softly, and the food was waiting. Just as I was about to pull out a chair for him, he caught my hand.
"Some things are for me to do," he said firmly, but with a small smile. "Let me."
I nodded shyly, my heart fluttering, and sat down as he pulled out the chair for me. Then he sat across, his eyes never leaving mine.
We ate quietly, but it wasn't empty silence.
It was filled with glances, with little smiles, with the warmth that said everything without a single word.
Every bite, every look, felt like love. And for the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn't just giving him happiness—he was giving me mine too.
After dinner, when we entered the living room, I held his hand tightly. My heart was thumping, but I knew I had to say it. "Avi... I wanted to share... and talk about everything."
He sat on the sofa and, before I could even think, he pulled me gently onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me. His voice was low and soft, "I'm listening, jaan."
I had worn his coat to give myself some courage, but how could I speak with him this close? My heart was already trembling. While I struggled with my thoughts, he rubbed his nose against my neck and whispered, "I'm waiting, jaan."
I stammered, "I... that... you... I—"
He looked at me, calm but firm. "You can share anything with me without a thought, angel."
He must have seen I couldn't speak like this, so he shifted me beside him on the sofa, holding my hand instead. "Okay... now I'm listening."
I took a shaky breath. "I'm sorr—"
Before I could finish, he placed his finger on my lips, his gaze hard. "I can hear anything from you, but not this word. I hate it when my Rani sa apologizes. Not with anyone. Not even me."
"But Avi..." I whispered, "if I make a mistake, then I should apologize..."
His jaw tightened, his eyes locked on mine. "You can never make a mistake."
I shook my head gently. "But what if in future... I do? What if I already have?"
He cut me off again, his tone protective, almost fierce. "Then I will be the one to apologize on your behalf. Because I will never let my Rani sa bow her head in front of anyone."
I blinked fast, trying not to cry. "Okay... but now you won't stop me in between. Let me speak."
His lips curved slightly. "Only if you promise not to use that word again."
I nodded. "Promise."
Finally, I spoke what had been heavy on my chest. "When I heard you talking with Karan.
.. I wanted to come and ask you. But I couldn't. It felt like everything was suffocating, so I just..
. went home. And then the nightmare... and everything after that, Avi.
.. I couldn't think properly. I don't know how I behaved with Maa, with everyone.
.. and especially with you. Now, I feel so guilty even thinking of it.
The things I said... the way I acted... I just—"
Before I could break down, he pulled me into his arms. His voice was steady, warm against my ear.
"You don't have to feel guilty, baby. I know you weren't yourself.
I understand. Whatever you said... it wasn't you.
It was the fear, the emotions, the nightmare.
I get it. We're even now. I hid things from you, and you punished me a little. "
I pulled back, shaking my head. "That wasn't little, Avi. I know it wasn't."
He cupped my face in his strong hands, making me look into his eyes. "Look at me, Siya. Am I angry with you?"
I hesitated, then nodded a small "no."
"Then why are you thinking all this?" he asked softly, but firmly. "Forget the past, forget everything. Just remember one thing... whatever happens, I will never let you go. Never. I will always hold you. Always. So never think otherwise."
My eyes blurred with tears, but this time they weren't from guilt. They were from the comfort of being loved so fiercely. I leaned into his chest, clutching his shirt as if my heart had finally found its home.
And then he teased, his lips brushing my hair, "You arranged everything perfectly, but you forgot to arrange dessert, baby."
I looked up at him, confused. "But... you don't even like dessert."
His smirk was dangerous, playful. "Who said I don't like dessert? It's just that I like only my dessert."
I frowned, confused. "W... what dessert?"
His voice dropped lower, making my cheeks heat. "Your lips, Rani sa. The only sweetness I crave is your lips."
My cheeks burned instantly, and I quickly put my hand over his mouth. "Don't... don't say such shameless things."
He chuckled softly, leaning even nearer so I could feel his breath. "You don't even know how shameless I can be, jaan."
My eyes widened, and he chuckled at my expression, pinching my nose gently. Then, as if nothing had happened, he stood up. "We should change and sleep, jaan. Tomorrow we're going to Karni Mata temple. Dadi maa said we must take blessings."
I nodded softly, hiding my disappointment.
He took his clothes and went inside the bathroom to change.
I stood there, fiddling with my fingers.
What should I do now? He wanted to sleep, and I too.
.. but... tonight felt special. I thought he would understand me like always.
But he didn't even kiss me... not even on my forehead.
With a sad face, I slowly slipped off his coat and placed it on the sofa. My eyes felt heavy. I walked to the mirror, about to wipe away my makeup, when I suddenly heard his voice behind me.
"Rani sa..." his tone was low, rough. "...do you want me to die?"
I froze. My breath caught. My eyes lifted to the mirror. And what I saw...
The way he was looking at me—it made my knees weak. His gaze wasn't just intense, it was burning, like he was holding back something only for me.