CHAPTER 31! COFFEE #2
Aadhira stepped forward quietly, placing the coffee mug on the edge of his desk. The moment the ceramic clicked against the wood, she spun on her heel, aiming straight for the door.
"Did I tell you to leave?"
The quiet command snapped her spine straight. Slowly, reluctantly, she turned back around.
Aryav finally looked up from his paperwork. Those dark, bottomless eyes settled onto her, locking her in place.
"Come here."
Every survival instinct she possessed began to scream, but her feet didn't listen.
Aadhira walked forward, taking one hesitant, agonizingly slow step at a time until she reached the front of his desk.
Aryav picked up the steaming mug, his long fingers wrapping around the ceramic, and extended it toward her.
"Taste it."
She stared at him, then at the dark, murky liquid. Five heavy seconds ticked by in absolute silence.
He didn't repeat himself.
He didn't move. He just waited.
Trapped under the weight of his stare, she took the mug, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip.
Instant regret.
Her face twisted into a look of unfiltered horror as the bitter liquid hit her tongue. Isko coffee kisne boli? Suicide kyun nahi declare kar dete.
"Chiii," she gagged, placing the mug down with a sharp thud.
She accessorized the moment with a violent shudder, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"You dislike bitterness," Aryav observed, his voice entirely even.
Aadhira frowned, her defense mechanism kicking back in. "...It's coffee."
"I'm not talking about the coffee."
Aadhira's breath hitched.
Aryav stood up. The sheer mass of his frame instantly made the room feel smaller.
She took a step back.
Then another.
The third step ended against the solid, unforgiving wood of the wall.
Aadhira froze.
Aryav stopped a single step away, close enough that she could feel the absolute heat of his presence, yet he didn't lean in.
He didn't cage her with his hands or press his body against hers. He simply stood there, owning the space.
Neither of them spoke. The clean, sharp scent of his expensive cologne mixed with the bitter aroma of the coffee.
Aryav's gaze dropped, cataloging every detail of her face-tracing the bridge of her nose, lingering on the tiny, shimmering diamond of her nose ring, before settling on her lips.
Dekh to aise rahe hain jaise aankhon mein X-ray laga hai...
A loose, stray strand of hair had escaped her clip, falling softly across her cheek. Aryav lifted his hand.
Seeing the movement, Aadhira flinched, her eyes squeezing shut.
The touch that followed was disturbingly deliberate. The calloused tips of his fingers brushed against her cheek as he tucked the stray strand of hair securely behind her ear.
His knuckles grazed her skin, a lingering, warm contact that lasted barely a second.
Her pulse slowed to a heavy, dragging thud instead of racing. That frightened her more.
When she finally forced her eyes open, he was still looking down at her.
"Apparently..." He paused. "I heard I was afraid of you."
His gaze dropped to her trembling fingers.
"Strange." Another heavy pause. "I'm not seeing it."
Reyansh. Tu bas bahar mil mujhe. Main thujhe zinda nahi chhodungi.
Before she could process the shock of him having overheard her entire corridor conversation, a loud, bright voice shattered the heavy atmosphere like glass.
"Mama!"
Aadhira's knees nearly gave way.
Meri jaan ke karan aaj mujhe jaan mein jaan aayi.
Aryav's eyes shifted to the doorway, a flicker of irritation crossing his features before his mask slipped back into place.
The heavy study door burst open, and Ayaan rushed inside, his little sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. "I was looking for you, Mama!"
Without a second thought, Aadhira slipped out from the oppressive aura of Aryav's presence, dropping to her knees on the floor.
"Ayaan!"
The little boy launched himself forward, throwing his small arms tightly around her neck.
Aadhira closed her eyes, hugging him back with a fierce, protective desperation, burying her face in his hair.
Aryav watched the entire scene in absolute silence. His gaze lingered on the tight, unyielding way Ayaan clung to her, and then on the genuine, breathless smile that appeared on her face-a smile meant solely for the child.
"Found her?" Aryav asked, his voice returning to its cool, detached baritone.
Ayaan pulled back slightly from the hug and nodded right at his father. "Yes."
"Good."
The little boy looked between the two of them, his brow furrowing suspiciously. He pointed a small finger from Aadhira to Aryav.
"Were you fighting again?"
Aadhira answered instantly, her voice strained. "No."
Aryav answered at the exact same time, his voice smooth and steady. "Yes."
Ayaan looked from Aadhira to Aryav, then back again.
A long-suffering sigh escaped him, looking deeply disappointed in both of them. "You two are getting worse. At this point, I'm the mature one."
Then, he grabbed Aadhira's hand and started dragging her firmly toward the open door. "Come on, Mama."
Aadhira followed immediately.
Gladly. Desperately.
Behind them, Aryav watched their retreating figures in silence.
Slowly, he walked back to the desk. He picked up the mug, turned it slightly, and calmly drank from the exact place her lips had touched the rim.
He didn't look away from the empty doorway.
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