Kira's P.O.V
This is the last document to sign, and I'm finally ready to leave. As Ankush stands in front of my desk, Rahul is once again bothering him—messing with his hair and the glasses he wears for work.
Ankush is exceptionally disciplined about his job, much like Rahul, but Rahul is far more carefree and blunt—the exact opposite of Ankush.
The minute I sign off on the final folder, a sharp knock on my office door alerts all three of us. "Can you stop bothering him and go check who that is?" I ask Rahul.
Rahul snickers and opens the door to reveal Naveen invading my office. What is he doing here?
"Hey," he says warmly, leaning over my desk to greet me.
I never quite know what to feel whenever I see him. We are supposed to get married soon, yet he always feels somewhat distant.
"Are you leaving for home now?" he asks, his blue eyes bright and charming.
"Yeah. What brought you here?" I inquire as he pulls up a chair to sit across from me.
"It's been days since we last spent time together. Since you didn't reach out, I thought I'd come to you." His words make me feel a wave of guilt.
"I'm sorry. Work has just been overwhelming lately." I motion for Rahul and Ankush to leave.
"It's fine. Why don't we have dinner together tonight?" Naveen asks affectionately, leaving me little room to decline.
A short while later, Naveen opens the car door for me as we arrive at my house. Aunty notices us from the hallway and offers us drinks while we settle into the main room.
"Aunty, we'll have dinner served upstairs," Naveen mentions with a polite smile, and she nods before heading to the kitchen.
Naveen is sweet, attentive, and understanding. So why do I feel so indifferent toward him? I brush the thought aside as I glance around the house, noticing no sign of Moksh.
He's probably in his room, which is for the best. I don't want any unnecessary complications, especially with Naveen here.
Moksh's P.O.V
I saw her arrive with a man last night, though I have no idea who he is.
"What are you thinking about?" Aunty's voice pulls me out of my thoughts as I walk toward the kitchen counter.
As she does every morning, she is preparing breakfast for Kira.
"Nothing," I reply quietly, pouring myself a glass of water. "Aunty... can I ask you something?"
She looks up with a gentle smile as I set the breakfast tray down. "Who was the man Kira brought home last night?"
"Mr. Naveen? He's her fiancé. They've been engaged for a while now."
"F-fiancé?" The word catches me off guard.
"Child, don't let things here get to your head," she adds softly, her eyes lingering on me.
I pick up the breakfast tray and head upstairs. When I knock on the bedroom door, I expect Kira to answer, but it's Naveen who opens it, dressed casually with a relaxed smile.
"Are you bringing breakfast?" he asks politely.
I step inside to set the tray on the table. Kira emerges from the adjoining room, her hair still damp. Her eyes lock onto mine, instantly hardening into a look of cold authority.
"You can leave now," she orders sharply.
The coldness in her voice isn't new, but seeing how relaxed and natural she seems around Naveen sends an unexpected sting through me.
Two days pass, and she continues coming home late. Aunty mentions she's busy with firm matters, but it feels like she's deliberately avoiding me. Every time I serve her meals, she barely acknowledges my presence and tells me to return to my room. With every passing hour, a strange, restless knot grows in my chest.
Kira's P.O.V
It's past midnight, and I expect the house to be quiet, but when I step into the main hall, Moksh is sitting there waiting, just as he did days ago.
I've been wondering what shifted in him. Why has he become so quiet, so compliant? The way he looked at me that morning when Naveen was here—what was that about?
"Follow me," I command coldly, turning toward my study.
He follows quietly behind me. Once inside, I shut the door and turn to face him. "Sit."
He hesitates, looking uncertain. "W-what?"
"Sit down," I repeat firmly.
He takes a seat on the edge of the chair, his posture rigid as I step closer, folding my arms.
"What is going on in your head?" I ask, searching his eyes. "Why are you suddenly acting so obedient? You used to glare at me like you wanted to tear this house down. What changed?"
He keeps his gaze fixed on the floor, his lips pressed into a tight line.
"Answer me," I demand, my tone dropping to a sharp whisper. "What brought on this sudden change of heart?"
"N-nothing," he stammers, trying to keep his composure. He looks up slightly, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. "If I tell you... will you answer something for me too?"
I narrow my eyes at his nerve. "You want to bargain with me? Fine. Speak."
He swallows hard, his voice trembling as he asks, "Are you really going to marry him?"
Moksh's P.O.V
I've been wanting to ask her this for the past two days, but her constant avoidance made it impossible.
Her expression shifts instantly from cold curiosity to sharp irritation. "Why are you asking about my personal affairs?"
"I just... I don't understand," I say, my hands trembling as I push further. "You keep me trapped here under your strict rules, acting like you control every part of my life, while you go off and plan a life with someone else. It's hypocritical!"
Before I can finish, she steps forward and grabs me forcefully by the collar, backing me against the wall.
"Who do you think you are to question me?" she growls, her grip tightening as her eyes burn with rage. "You are a dependent in this house! You don't get a say in my life, my marriage, or my choices!"
"I... I can't breathe—" I choke out, pulling at her wrists.
"Did you honestly think my leniency meant something more?" she snarls, glaring down at me. "Have you forgotten your place entirely? You are here because I brought you here, nothing more! Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you matter to me!"
"I'm... I'm sorry!" I choke out, struggling against her grip. "I'm sorry!"
She abruptly lets go of my collar, shoving me back as I stumble and catch my breath, coughing heavily.
"Get out," she says coldly, turning her back to me. "Get out of my sight."
I gather myself and rush out of the room, my chest heaving as the door slams shut behind me. What was I thinking?