Chapter 46 - Back to Reality and secret couple.
The peaceful bubble they had created in the park lasted exactly until they stepped back into the real world.
The evening air of London was cool as Arjun and Aadhira walked side by side along the sidewalk.
For the first time in years, Aadhira felt completely at peace.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then another.
Then she started smiling to herself like an idiot.
Arjun noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He had been stealing glances at her every few seconds since they left the park.
Finally, he couldn't help himself.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
Aadhira immediately looked away.
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am not."
"You definitely are."
Aadhira stubbornly looked ahead.
Arjun chuckled.
"You've been smiling for the last five minutes."
Her cheeks turned pink.
"No, I haven't."
"Should I take a picture as evidence?"
Aadhira shot him an offended look.
"You wouldn't."
"I absolutely would."
"You are impossible."
"And yet you like me."
The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
Both of them froze.
Aadhira's face turned completely red.
Arjun cleared his throat.
"That came out wrong."
"It didn't."
The answer was so soft he almost missed it.
His steps slowed.
Aadhira immediately realized what she had said and wished the ground would swallow her whole.
Arjun stared at her.
Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.
A genuine smile.
One reserved only for her.
"There she is."
Aadhira frowned.
"What?"
"The girl who keeps surprising me."
She rolled her eyes.
But the smile on her lips refused to disappear.
The rest of the walk passed with light conversation.
No heavy topics.
No painful memories.
Just simple moments.
The kind neither of them had ever realized they were missing.
As they crossed a street, a bike suddenly sped past.
Without thinking, Arjun reached for her hand and pulled her slightly closer.
Aadhira blinked.
He blinked too.
Neither let go immediately.
For a few seconds, they simply continued walking.
Hand in hand.
The realization hit them both at the same time.
Aadhira looked down.
Arjun looked away.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
And neither let go.
A smile slowly spread across Aadhira's face again.
This time Arjun noticed immediately.
"There you go again."
She groaned.
"Stop noticing everything."
"I can't."
"Why?"
His answer came effortlessly.
"Because it's you."
Aadhira almost walked into a lamp post.
Arjun barely managed to stop himself from laughing.
"Careful."
"This is your fault."
"My fault?"
"Yes."
"What exactly did I do?"
"You keep saying things."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What things?"
Aadhira pointed at him accusingly.
"Things."
Arjun finally laughed.
A real laugh.
The sound made her stare.
For years she had heard stories about Arjun Rathore.
The ruthless businessman.
The disciplined heir.
The man who terrified boardrooms.
Yet this version-
The one laughing beside her-
felt entirely different.
And somehow...
She liked this version the most.
They finally reached the hotel entrance.
The moment the building came into view, Arjun sighed dramatically.
Aadhira looked at him curiously.
"What happened?"
He pointed toward the hotel.
"The interrogation squad is waiting."
Aadhira immediately started laughing.
"They can't be that bad."
Arjun gave her a look.
"You clearly haven't met my friends when they smell gossip."
Her smile widened.
"Maybe they're worried."
"They're not worried."
"Then what are they?"
"They've probably placed bets."
Aadhira laughed harder.
Arjun shook his head.
"You think I'm joking?"
"You are joking."
"I wish I was."
The hotel doors opened.
The moment they stepped inside the lobby, every head turned toward them.
Every.
Single.
Head.
Aadhira immediately stopped laughing.
Arjun closed his eyes.
"See?"
The entire group was gathered near the lounge area.
Kabir.
Naina.
Shanaya.
Rohan.
Siddharth.
Dev.
All staring at them with suspiciously interested expressions.
Aadhira suddenly understood what Arjun meant by interrogation squad.
She almost turned around.
Unfortunately, they had already been spotted.
Kabir stood up dramatically.
"Oh no."
Arjun muttered.
"It's too late."
Kabir spread his arms wide like a host welcoming honored guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
Everyone immediately groaned.
"Not again," Siddharth muttered.
Kabir ignored him.
"I'd like to officially announce that our missing honeymoon couple has finally returned."
The entire lobby erupted into laughter.
Aadhira nearly choked.
Arjun pinched the bridge of his nose.
Kabir continued dramatically.
"I was this close to printing missing posters."
Siddharth looked up from his phone.
"Good."
Everyone looked at him.
He shrugged.
"I just cancelled the rescue mission."
Aadhira laughed.
Siddharth pointed at Arjun.
"Do you know how exhausting it is searching for two grown adults?"
Rohan immediately shook his head.
"Rescue mission?"
He looked between Arjun and Aadhira.
Then grinned.
"Please."
"Look at their faces."
The entire group's eyes moved toward the couple.
Aadhira instantly looked away.
Arjun tried to maintain a straight face.
Failed miserably.
Rohan pointed dramatically.
"Nobody was lost."
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Someone definitely confessed."
The lobby exploded.
Aadhira wanted to disappear.
Arjun wanted new friends.
Unfortunately, neither option was available.
"You people seriously need better hobbies," Arjun said.
"We have hobbies," Siddharth replied.
"Making fun of you," Rohan added instantly.
"And business has never been better," Kabir finished proudly.
The group burst into laughter once again.
While Arjun glared at all of them.
And Aadhira stood beside him trying-and failing-not to smile.
The interrogation had officially begun.
And they hadn't even made it ten feet into the hotel lobby.
The interrogation began immediately.
Arjun and Aadhira hadn't even sat down yet.
The entire group had surrounded them like a pack of hungry wolves who had finally found their prey.
"Sit."
"Talk."
"Explain."
"Start from the beginning."
Questions came from every direction.
Aadhira looked overwhelmed.
Arjun looked annoyed.
Which only encouraged everyone further.
"Why are you both smiling?" Rohan asked suspiciously.
"We're not smiling," Arjun replied.
"You literally are."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Siddharth looked at Aadhira.
"Aadhira."
She immediately pointed at Arjun.
"He's smiling."
The group erupted.
Even Arjun looked betrayed.
"You sold me out that quickly?"
Aadhira covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
The sight made everyone even more suspicious.
Before anyone could continue-
Naina suddenly jumped up from her seat.
She had been trying to contain herself for nearly ten minutes.
Unfortunately, Naina Kapoor and secrets were mortal enemies.
"Finally!"
Everyone turned toward her.
"You two got together!"
Silence.
Complete.
Utter.
Silence.
Naina froze.
The realization hit her.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Her eyes widened.
Then she covered her mouth.
"...Oops."
The room remained silent.
Kabir stared at her.
"You had one job."
Naina winced.
"One."
Shanaya nodded seriously.
"And somehow you failed within three seconds."
"I was excited!" Naina defended herself.
"No one told you to announce it like breaking news."
"It was important news!"
Aadhira wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole.
Meanwhile, Arjun looked surprisingly calm.
Mostly because everyone was now focused on Naina.
Unfortunately...
That didn't last long.
Rohan slowly looked at Arjun.
Then at Aadhira.
Then back at Arjun.
His jaw dropped.
"WAIT."
Nobody liked the way he said that.
Rohan pointed dramatically.
"You're actually together?"
The room exploded.
"What?!"
"When?"
"How?"
"Since when?"
" She accepted your confession?"
Aadhira immediately looked down.
The tips of her ears turned red.
Kabir suddenly raised a finger.
"Actually..."
The room quieted.
Whenever Kabir said "actually," trouble followed.
"I think everyone is giving Arjun way too much credit."
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
"Careful."
Kabir ignored him.
"Aadhira fell first."
Silence.
Again.
The group looked at Aadhira.
Then at Kabir.
Then back at Aadhira.
Rohan blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Siddharth looked genuinely confused.
"Hold on."
He sat forward.
"You're telling me that our Arjun won without even trying?"
Kabir nodded solemnly.
"The poor guy didn't even know he was participating."
The room erupted once more.
Rohan clutched his chest dramatically.
"This is the greatest upset in romantic history."
Shanaya laughed.
Naina laughed.
Even Dev looked amused.
Aadhira wished she could disappear.
Arjun slowly turned toward her.
She refused to meet his eyes.
Which immediately told him everything.
A smile appeared on his face.
A dangerous smile.
The kind that made Aadhira even more nervous.
"So..."
His voice was soft enough that only the group could hear.
Aadhira finally looked at him.
"I wasn't the only one keeping secrets."
Her cheeks turned crimson.
Everyone watched with the enthusiasm of people watching their favorite television show.
Aadhira gave a tiny nod.
The room exploded yet again.
"She admitted it!"
"I saw that!"
"Did everyone see that?"
"She nodded!"
Aadhira buried her face in her hands.
Arjun laughed.
Actually laughed.
Not the polite business smile.
Not the controlled public smile.
A genuine laugh.
The entire group stared.
Rohan pointed.
"There!"
Everyone turned toward Arjun.
"What?"
"You laughed."
"So?"
"You never laugh."
"I do."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Not like that."
Arjun immediately regretted speaking.
The teasing only got worse.
Meanwhile, Kabir looked entirely too pleased with himself.
Arjun turned toward him.
"If you knew everything..."
Kabir immediately looked innocent.
A very bad sign.
Arjun narrowed his eyes.