CHAPTER 62! YOU ARE MINE #2
?"You can go upstairs and sleep if you're tired," Aryav said after a moment, his tone dropping back into its usual measured cadence.
?"I don't want to," she replied automatically.
?"Why?"
?She opened her mouth to offer a quick, lighthearted excuse-that the weather was lovely, that she wasn't sleepy, that she preferred sitting outdoors-but the words lodged in her throat.
The real answer was simple, embarrassing, and far too vulnerable. She wasn't about to say it aloud. "I am fine."
?Aryav stopped typing. His fingers rested motionless against the keys. Slowly, he turned his head and looked directly into her eyes.
?"That's not an answer," he said quietly.
?Aadhira pulled her eyes away, staring out at the light dancing across the water.
"I just... slept better last night."
?A heavy silence stretched between them, thick with the weight of everything they hadn't said.
?"Because of the hot water bottle?" he asked softly.
?She hesitated, her heart delivering a sudden, hard thud against her ribs. "No."
?The silence deepened, wrapping around them like a hold.
?"Because of me?" he asked.
?The question was barely louder than the breeze, but it struck her with undeniable force.
Aadhira snapped her head back toward him, her cheeks burning instantly as her defenses slammed into place.
?"Don't flatter yourself," she snapped, her voice tightening.
?The corner of his mouth curved into a small, knowing angle, but he didn't press her.
He didn't say another word. He simply let her sit there with her burning face, completely aware of the truth she was trying to hide.
?A minute later, a young maid emerged from the side corridor carrying a silver tray with a single glass of fresh, chilled juice.
She walked over with careful steps, setting the glass down on the small table beside Aadhira.
?"Here you go, Ma'am," the maid said softly.
?Aadhira looked at the glass, then up at the girl. "Thankyou but I didn't order this."
?"I told her to bring it," Aryav said, his eyes never leaving his screen.
?"Why?"
?"You ate three bites of breakfast this morning because of pain."
?Aadhira turned her head slowly, her eyebrow rising. "You count."
?"I was not trying to."
?She stared at him for a long moment, a strange, unsettling warmth blooming in her chest at how meticulously he tracked her, even when he seemed entirely preoccupied.
?Picking up the glass, she took a small sip.
"You are extremely bossy."
?"I've always been bossy."
?"At least you're self-aware."
?The young maid offered a polite nod and turned to leave. But as she took her first step off the patio rug and onto the slick, wet stone near the edge of the pool, her foot lost traction.
?It happened in a split second.
?Her balance vanished. Her arms flailed, and the heavy metal tray crashed onto the tiles with a deafening clatter.
A heartbeat later, a heavy splash echoed across the yard.
?She had fallen straight into the pool.
?Aadhira set her glass down so hard the juice sloshed over the rim.
She scrambled out of her chair and rushed to the edge. The surface of the pool was churning violently, white foam bubbling up, but no head broke through.
?Aadhira waited, panic seizing her throat.
?One second. Two seconds. Nothing.
?
?"Aryav!" she called out, her voice laced with sharp panic.
?He was already moving.
In one fluid motion, he shut his laptop, kicked off his shoes, and launched himself off the edge.
He sliced into the deep end cleanly, diving straight toward the dark shape struggling beneath the surface.
?"She can't swim!" Aadhira shouted, leaning over the edge, her hands gripping her knees.
?The water churned furiously. For a beat, the pool went eerily still.
?Then Aryav broke the surface with a sharp intake of air. He had one strong arm locked securely around the maid, keeping her head well above water while his other arm stroked toward the deck.
?Aadhira dropped to her knees on the wet stone, extending her arms as far as she could. "Bring her here-careful!"
?Aryav reached the edge, using his upper-body strength to lift the coughing, gasping girl onto the tiled deck first.
Then, with an effortless pull, he hauled himself up out of the deep end.
?The maid lay on her side, coughing up water and shivering violently from shock.
Aadhira immediately leaned down, placing a warm, steady hand on the girl's back, rubbing it in soothing circles.
?"Don't sit up yet," Aadhira said softly, her voice remarkably calm despite her racing heart. "Just breathe. You're safe."
?The girl choked out a shaky breath, her eyes wide with terror. "Ma'am... I'm so sorry-"
?"Shut up idiot," Aadhira reassured her gently. "Just focus on breathing. You are safe."
?Aryav stood beside them, water dripping from his dark hair, soaking straight through his wet shirt and the wet fabric against his shoulders and chest.
His expression remained entirely composure-bound as he watched the girl to ensure she is fine.
?By now, the sound of the crash and the splash had drawn several staff members running from the kitchen, followed closely by Reyansh, Arjun, and Arush, who had heard the commotion from the hallway.
An older head servant rushed forward with a large towel, kneeling down to take over for Aadhira.
?Seeing that the girl was in good hands, Aadhira began to stand up, wiping her damp hands on her clothes.
?"...look at sir..." a quiet, hushed whisper echoed from near the glass doors.
?"...he's handsome..."
?A tiny, suppressed giggle followed the words.
?Aadhira froze.
?She slowly turned her head toward the sliding glass doors.
Two of the younger housemaids were hovering near the entrance holding towels, their eyes shamelessly glued to Aryav.
?Aadhira followed their gaze.
?The wet, dark shirt was clinging tightly to his frame, emphasizing the broad expanse of his chest, his tapered waist, and the hard muscle of his arms.
Droplets of water were tracing a path down his jawline to his throat.
?A sudden, surge of irritation flared in Aadhira's chest. She didn't fully understand the sudden spike of possessiveness-she only knew, with absolute clarity, that she wanted him out of their line of sight immediately.
?Aryav shifted his weight, his eyes sweeping over the pool deck before settling on her.
He caught the rigid line of her shoulders and the sharp, fiery look in her eyes instantly.
?Aadhira didn't hesitate.
?She marched straight up to him, grabbed his wet wrist with both hands, and yanked.
?"Come inside," she said, her tone far sharper and louder than she had intended. "You're going to catch a cold standing out here."
?Aryav looked down at her hands clamped tightly around his wrist. Then his gaze flicked quietly toward the two maids by the door.
?Understanding settled into his eyes like a slow, burning flame.
?He didn't tease her, didn't call her out in front of the staff. He simply let his gaze slide back down to her face, taking in the deep flush spreading across her cheeks and the stubborn set of her jaw.
A deep, quiet amusement danced in his dark eyes.
?"Of course," he said smoothly, his voice dropping into a low, intimate register meant strictly for her. "Whatever my wife says."
?Aadhira's pulse took a wild, disorienting leap. Heat flooded all the way to the tips of her ears, but she stubbornly refused to loosen her grip on his arm.
?She turned sharply toward the head servant. "Soup. Upstairs. Now."
?The old servant blinked, startled by her unusually commanding tone. Because She was always soft with everyone no one ever has saw her rude or cold towards staff.
"For Mr. Singhania, Ma'am?"
?Aadhira's face burned even hotter, but she held her ground, tightening her grip on Aryav's wet arm. "Yes. For him."
?Aryav's eyebrow rose slightly, a faint, lingering smile playing on his lips, but he didn't say a word to correct her.
He simply allowed her to tug him past the doors and into the cool, air-conditioned hallway of the house.
?Behind them on the patio, Reyansh watched the glass doors slide shut. He rested his elbow on Arush's shoulder, a broad grin spreading across his face.
"Tum bhi vahi soch rahe ho jo main soch raha hu?"
(Are you thinking what I'm thinking?)
?Arush shook his head, pulling his towel tighter over his shoulders.
The bedroom was quiet, carrying the faint, clean scent of jasmine and cedar that always seemed to follow Aryav.
Aadhira closed the door behind them. The click of the latch sounded entirely too loud in the silent space.
"You should take a shower," she said, her voice tight as she walked over to the closet, keeping her eyes fixed on the dark wood floor. "I'll pull out something dry for you to wear."
Aryav didn't move immediately. He stood near the entrance, water dripping from the hem of his trousers onto the floor, his gaze resting on her back.
For a second, she thought he might argue-that he might tease her-but he simply turned and walked into the bathroom, the door closing softly behind him.
Aadhira exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She opened the wardrobe, scanning the neat rows of tailored suits, crisp white shirts, and dark silk ties-an intimidating array of authority.
Deep near the back, however, she found a simple charcoal t-shirt and a pair of dark cotton lounge pants.
She laid them on the edge of the bed and stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened. Steam drifted into the cooler air, carrying the clean scent of body wash.
Aryav stepped out, drying his dark hair with a towel. He had already changed into the clothes she laid out.
Aadhira's breath caught in her throat, though she forced her face to remain completely neutral.
Without his tailored suit jacket and stiff collar, he looked different. The fitted t-shirt clung to his shoulders and chest, stripping away the distant head-of-the-family persona and leaving behind the sheer size of the man beneath it.
His hair was still wet.