Kira's P.O.V
After a minute of waiting, I am met with his decent face. His innocence reflects through his loose, casual clothes. "You asked for me."
I am able to look at his face clearly now that he is all cleaned up. His hair is a bit long, and his dark eyes glimmer, pairing remarkably well with his pale skin. He is quite a bit taller than me, though still looking malnourished. His features complement his gentle aura, contrasting sharply with his husky voice, which immediately captures my attention.
"I—I wanted to talk to you." His cold, frightened voice evokes a conflicting mix of sympathy and frustration in me.
"Let's eat first. We can talk after." I take a seat on the couch near the bed while examining the pristine room. He has made no mess with any of his surroundings.
He remains standing, fidgeting with his hands tucked behind his back. His white shirt and short pants reveal his many unhealed wounds.
"Sit. Moksh, right? That's your name." I welcome both him and the maid who brings in our food. "I heard you haven't eaten anything. My aunty cooks the best chicken. You'll see once you try it."
His eyes fill with unease as he watches me scoop out servings for both of us. "Why are you still standing? Come, sit here." He appears feeble and timid, yet surprisingly stubborn.
"Why are you doing this?" His tone is harsh. He speaks rapidly, setting his spoon down abruptly.
"What do you mean?"
"Trying to be nice. I know who you are. Just tell me why you bought me and drop the act."
"You know me?" Though his tone is stern, he hasn't completely provoked me yet.
"You're just another rich brat. All you care about is money."
Scoffing, I reply, "Huh. A typical assumption about rich people."
"Is that not what it is? You brought me here just to control someone, didn't you?"
I step forward, intending to leave, but his sharp words cut through the room.
"Tell me, why am I here? Are you going to destroy me? Just the way you killed your parents?"
"What did you say?"
Before I even realize what I am doing, I step in and grab him by the collar, backing him against the wall. He looks terrified, but he stands his ground.
"Aren't you the one who caused it? I heard it on the news. It was you, and you're going to do the same to me."
Moksh's P.O.V
Her expression shifts instantly from calm to terrifying. Her forceful grip tightens at my words.
"You think I'm a monster?" she whispers, her voice dangerously quiet. "You think you know what I'm capable of? Then stop pushing me."
She shoves me back onto the floor, looking down at me with cold, sharp hatred. The calm facade she maintained moments ago is completely shattered.
"You wanted to know why you're here? This is it. You belong to this household now, and you will follow my rules until I decide otherwise. You don't question me, and you certainly don't speak about my past."
She turns on her heel, leaving with the sharp thud of the door slamming behind her.
I stare at the door, catching a glimpse of pure malice in her eyes. What else did I expect?
Kira's P.O.V
"Are you listening, ma'am?" Ankush's demanding question jolts me back to reality.
I decided to work from home today after an exhausting past few days. "Ye—yes. What was it?"
"You have a dinner meeting with Mr. Naveen today. That's the last item on your schedule." He informs me, walking alongside Rahul toward my room.
When I let out a deep sigh, lost in my thoughts, Rahul asks, "Are you okay? You look restless."
"No—I mean, yeah, I'm fine. I just forgot about the dinner with Naveen today."
Rahul is usually cold toward everyone, but he always shows genuine concern when it comes to me.
"I'm not just talking about that," he insists, following me inside as I look through my wardrobe for an outfit. Ankush remains standing quietly by the doorway.
"It's nothing. I'm just tired. It's been a long week." He nods, though his expression remains somewhat suspicious.
As we walk down the main hall of the house, Rahul speaks up. "When will you be free later?" His voice carries down the corridor, catching the attention of Moksh, who is standing near the kitchen speaking with Aunty.
He is actually smiling at her.
"What is he doing here?" My voice comes out harsher and drier than intended.
Everyone freezes. Aunty stops mid-movement, Moksh's smile vanishes, and the other house staff step back nervously.
"I said, what is he doing out here? Who allowed him out?"
Everyone looks toward Aunty's calm face.
"I did, beta," she says gently. "I thought it would be useful if he helped with the house chores. He shouldn't just sit in a room all day."
I silence myself for a moment before replying, "Fine, Aunty. You're in charge of him anyway—do as you see fit. Make sure he works hard."
"Sure, beta. Have a safe trip," she says with a subtle smile, turning back to her work as I catch
Moksh's watchful eyes on me.
What are you looking at?
Moksh's P.O.V
"Thank you, Aunty, for covering for me," I say quietly after Kira walks away.
She helped me step out of that suffocating room today by making up an excuse to keep me occupied. I felt like I was losing my mind staying locked inside.
"It's alright. You can't stay cooped up in a small room all day," she replies with a gentle laugh as I help her dry and arrange the dishes.
I watch Kira leave through the main entrance, her stern expression unchanged.
"Aunty... why is she like that?"
"Like what?" she asks, focusing on washing the plates.
"So bitter. So cruel. How do you all deal with someone like her every day?"
"She wasn't always like this."
"What?" I pause, holding a plate in my hand.
"She used to be bright," Aunty says softly. "Soft-spoken, gentle, and always cheerful. She brought so much life and laughter to this house. But then... the accident happened." Her hands slow down.
"The one where her parents died?" I ask cautiously.
"Yes. She was the one driving. I don't know everything that happened that day, but it broke her. I haven't seen her smile once since then."
Her tone turns somber as the sound of clinking dishes fills the quiet kitchen.
It is remarkable—and terrifying—how completely a person can change into the exact opposite of who they used to be.