Moksh's P.O.V
I still remember her eyes on me. The firm pressure of her hands still lingers on my skin, and the terrifying coldness in her expression has abruptly shifted into something troubled and restless.
She avoids even looking at me now, and I have been keeping my distance from her as well. She was right. Why was I intruding into her personal life?
I can't find the answers to my own questions.
I shake off my lingering thoughts as I wipe down the kitchen counter. Aunty had to leave for a few days to handle matters regarding her house in her home village. Since she is all alone, Kira had previously persuaded her to come live here permanently.
It is already so late, and Kira hasn't arrived home yet—just like every other night. Why is she always so busy nowadays? Whatever. I'm going to sleep. She'll have to ask the other servants to handle her food since she prefers not to see me anyway. Not that I care.
The buzzing of my alarm wakes me up the next morning. I had half-expected her to show up knocking on my door last night, but she never did, and I eventually fell asleep waiting.
Since when does she eat alone? The last time I checked, she hated taking her meals by herself. Did she call another servant to serve her?
I need to stop overthinking. I quickly take a shower and head downstairs for breakfast. But when I reach the kitchen, the rest of the staff is gathered together, whispering nervously.
"What happened?" I inquire.
Everyone looks terrified, but no one is willing to speak up. They all know the tense situation between Kira and me, so they ignore me, assuming that associating with me will only draw her wrath onto them.
I try to press for an answer, until one of the housekeepers finally steps forward. "Ms. Kira—she's sick. But no one here is brave enough to step inside her room. She hates being disturbed when she isn't feeling well."
"Usually, Aunty takes care of her, but she isn't here, so we don't know what to do!" She looks thoroughly frightened.
"But Kira needs to take her medication," I say, my anxiety spiking—especially after learning that she hasn't eaten anything since yesterday evening.
"I'll go," I offer, stepping forward when no one else is willing to enter the lioness's lair.
I expect her to yell or snap at me the moment I walk in, but nothing like that happens when I step through the door.
She is weak and unstable, lacking even the strength to sit up. I approach her bed anxiously and check her temperature as she twists uncomfortably under the sheets. Her skin is burning and damp with sweat as she lets out a soft groan of discomfort.
"Are you okay?" I ask softly.
Kira's P.O.V
I can barely move or speak, but I hear his voice asking if I'm fine. He sounds worried—or is he? I can't tell anymore.
A cool, damp cloth is gently placed on my forehead, bringing a wave of immediate relief before everything blacks out again.
"Get up. Slowly. You need to eat something."
He carefully helps me sit up, feeding me broth as if I were fragile. His face shows nothing but genuine care and concern for me. It has been a very long time since I've seen anyone look at me with that kind of warmth.
With his attentive care, a full day passes, and I finally begin to feel like myself again. Yet, as my strength returns, he goes back to avoiding direct conversation with me. Maybe I intimidated him too much before.
"Can we talk?" I ask softly as I rest against the headboard. He was just about to leave to refill the water bowl for the damp sponge, but he freezes upon hearing my voice.
He hesitates, visibly debating with himself, his expressive face giving away every thought.
"I'm not going to get angry. I promise."
Instantly, the atmosphere in the room shifts. What is happening between us?
He slowly sits back down on the chair beside my bed—the same chair he sat in all night to watch over me. He even slept there. I can hardly believe him.
"Thank you," I state quietly.
It is enough to catch his attention, but not enough to make him speak.
"I know I was harsh before," I continue, wasting no time. "But... I want to know."
"What are you talking about?" he asks softly.
"I won't get angry, I promised. You did step into the lioness's lair, after all."
He flinches slightly, looking as if he's been caught doing something wrong, which brings a brief, faint smile to my face.
"What changed, Moksh? What made you soft toward me?"
He stares down at his hands, thinking deeply before exhaling a heavy breath.
"Aunty," he says quietly, avoiding eye contact. "She told me about the accident. I... I think that's why I started feeling sorry for you at first. But I don't know what happened after that."
"Did she tell you everything?" I chuckle bitterly.
"Everything?" he asks, confused.
"I was the one driving that day. I bet she didn't tell you that. Because in her eyes, I didn't kill them. But I did." I look away, refusing to make eye contact at all costs. I refuse to see pity in his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" he asks, his full attention on me now.
"I wasn't a good driver, but I thought I could manage it. My brother and my parents were in that car." My voice tightens. "They died because of my arrogance. When I brought you here... I thought maybe I could do one good thing."
I pause, taking a slow breath. "My father always wanted me to be a better person and help others. So I bought your freedom. But then, I failed at that too."
"Because you pushed me away, and that caused you to treat me like this?" he asks, tears welling up in his eyes.
I hold back my own, giving a tight nod.
"You can leave if you want to," I tell him firmly. "But if you want to stay, I won't stop you either. I'm not sure what you feel, but you have to stop it."
"Because of Naveen?" he demands. He doesn't bother hiding his reaction, nor does he deny his feelings.
"The engagement between us was a promise my father made to his. It was his last wish, and I intend to honor it. I don't want to fail at this too."
His emotional demeanor suddenly disappears, replaced by a strange, sharp resolve.
"Even though you don't love him?" he remarks, catching me completely off guard.
"Who says I don't love him? I do."
He lets out a soft, faint laugh. "You can't lie to me. I know you better than that."
I am stunned by his unexpected change in attitude. He is showing an unusual amount of determination.
"As I said, you can live here for as long as you want," I repeat coldly, "but I want you to stay out of my life."
Two days have passed since I was sick, and despite my harsh words, he continues to check on me and make sure I am taking care of myself.
And that day when he finally left my room, he did something entirely unexpected—he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek.
What was that supposed to mean? I might be reading into it, but I took that gesture as a quiet challenge.
"What are you thinking about? Your eyebrows are all scrunched up like this—" Rahul jokes, mimicking my expression with his fingers.
I am sitting at my office desk, completely distracted because of Moksh, running scenarios over and over in my head. What on earth is he planning?
"Sit down," I tell him, before laying out everything that has transpired between Moksh and me.
Rahul's eyes widen in disbelief. "Wait, wait, wait... so you and that fragile-looking guy actually have something going on?"
"Rahul!"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!" He tries to hide his laughter as he takes a seat across from me. "Look, it was fine when it was just tension, but now he's actually softening toward you?"
"He's falling for you," Rahul adds, watching my serious face.
"I'm trying to find a realistic solution here!" I snap, slapping my palm onto the desk.
"Okay! Why are you even treating this like a crisis? It's not your problem. Let him feel whatever he wants. Or better yet, send him away!"
"I can't. Remember when I was sick? I already told him he could stay here as long as he wants." I sigh, brushing off his blunt suggestions.
"Hmm. Then we need a real solution. And sorry for not coming over when you were sick, by the way." I already know where he was—slacking off as usual.
"Whatever. But I think I have a way out—I'm just taking a leap here," I state.
"What are you thinking?"
"Let's just do it," I say, my decision surprising even myself. "Inform Naveen. We'll set the wedding for next week."
Rahul stares at me in shock. "Wait, what? Calm down! Moksh isn't such a massive issue that you need to rush into a marriage!"
"I know," I insist. "But Naveen and I have been engaged for a long time anyway. What's wrong with finalizing it now?"
Rahul leans forward, his gaze narrowing as he looks at me intently. "Wait... do you feel something for Moksh?"