The ballroom lights dimmed slightly as softer music began playing.
Couples slowly moved toward the dance floor.
Elegant.
Calm.
Romantic.
Meher watched quietly from beside Aarav while people started dancing.
And honestly—
she thought they would leave soon.
Because Aarav hated crowded attention.
Especially tonight.
Especially after getting jealous every five minutes.
But then suddenly—
Aarav placed his glass down calmly.
And turned toward her.
Meher blinked.
"What?"
"Dance with me."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You dance?"
A tiny smirk appeared on his lips.
"You sound shocked."
"I am shocked."
Aarav held out his hand toward her anyway.
Patiently waiting.
And somehow—
that simple gesture made her heart beat faster again.
Because despite his dangerous side…
Aarav always treated her gently.
Meher slowly placed her hand in his.
The second she did—
his fingers closed around hers securely.
Warm.
Certain.
Then he guided her toward the dance floor.
Ignoring every stare around them.
Ignoring everyone except her.
The music softened further as Aarav pulled her close carefully.
One hand resting at her waist.
The other holding her hand gently.
Meher looked up at him nervously.
"You better not step on my foot."
Aarav looked offended immediately.
"Insulting me before the dance starts?"
"Yes."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Then slowly—
he started moving with her.
Smooth.
Controlled.
Like even dancing with him felt protective somehow.
Meher stared at him in surprise.
"You actually know how to dance."
"Hm."
"There's that annoying hm again."
"And yet you still stay."
Meher tried hiding her smile.
Failed instantly.
The music wrapped softly around them while they moved slowly together.
And gradually—
the rest of the ballroom faded away.
Because Aarav kept pulling her attention back toward him.
The way he looked at her.
The way his thumb brushed lightly against her waist.
The way he stayed slightly too close on purpose.
Possessive.
But gentle about it.
Then suddenly—
Meher noticed a few people nearby watching them again.
Mostly because nobody had ever seen Aarav Malhotra like this.
Relaxed.
Soft.
Looking at someone with open affection.
She leaned slightly closer and whispered teasingly,
"See? Now people are staring at you."
Aarav didn't even glance away from her.
"Let them."
His answer came instantly.
Because unlike before—
he didn't care if people looked at him.
He only cared when they looked at her too much.
Then quietly—
he leaned closer near her ear.
"But you…"
Meher's breath caught slightly.
"…only look at me."
That sentence alone nearly destroyed her composure.
"Aarav…"
He smirked faintly seeing her blush again.
Then slowly spun her once beneath the warm lights.
Careful.
Elegant.
And when she returned close to him again—
Aarav's hand settled firmly at her waist once more.
Like she belonged there.
Safe with him.
The music slowed further.
And this time—
Meher relaxed fully against him.
Her head resting lightly near his shoulder.
Aarav immediately softened.
His hold around her becoming gentler.
Protective without even thinking.
For a few quiet moments—
neither of them spoke.
They simply moved together slowly beneath the lights.
Comfortable silence.
Healing silence.
Then softly—
almost too quietly to hear—
Aarav murmured,
"You look beautiful tonight."
Meher looked up at him instantly.
No teasing.
No smug smile.
Just honesty.
And somehow—
that affected her more than every dramatic line before.
She smiled softly.
"You've said that already."
Aarav's eyes stayed on hers.
"Still true."
Her cheeks warmed again immediately.
And Aarav looked unfairly pleased about it.
Because honestly—
nothing in that ballroom compared to the way she looked blushing in his arms.The music ended slowly.
Soft applause echoed lightly through the ballroom as couples stepped away from each other.
People returned to conversations.
Drinks.
Business smiles.
But Aarav didn't move.
At all.
His hand remained firmly at Meher's waist.
Still holding her close against him.
Like the dance hadn't ended yet.
Meher blinked up at him.
"Aarav…"
"Hm."
"The song finished."
"I noticed."
"…then why are we still standing here?"
Aarav looked at her calmly.
Then very casually answered,
"I'm comfortable."
Meher stared at him in disbelief.
Around them—
people were literally walking past.
And Aarav still refused to release her.
Completely shameless.
"Aarav!"
"What?"
"You can let go now."
"No."
That answer came way too quickly.
Meher's cheeks warmed instantly.
"You're impossible."
A tiny smile appeared near his lips.
"Still here."
She lightly hit his shoulder.
Which did absolutely nothing.
If anything—
his arm around her tightened slightly afterward.
Like punishment for trying to escape.
Meher looked around nervously.
"People are watching."
"Let them."
Again with that answer.
Always calm.
Always unconcerned when it came to himself.
But the second someone looked at her too much—
jealous Aarav returned immediately.
Then softly—
he lowered his head slightly near hers and murmured,
"You relaxed against me."
Meher blinked.
"What?"
"During the dance."
His voice had become quieter now.
"You stopped overthinking."
Her expression softened slightly hearing that.
Because he was right.
For those few minutes—
everything felt peaceful.
Safe.
And somehow—
being in Aarav's arms had started feeling natural now.
Dangerously natural.
Aarav watched her quietly for a second.
Then suddenly—
instead of letting her go—
he pulled her even closer.
Meher gasped softly.
"Aarav!"
"You smell nice."
Her entire brain immediately stopped functioning.
"W-What kind of sentence is that?!"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
And Meher realized something horrifying.
Aarav became more affectionate whenever he was relaxed.
Much more affectionate.
Usually he controlled himself.
Stayed composed.
But tonight?
Tonight he looked too content standing with her like this.
Then softly—
his fingers brushed lightly against the side of her waist.
Small movement.
But enough to make her heartbeat stutter.
"You're blushing again," he murmured.
"Whose fault is that?!"
"Hm."
"There's that hm again!"
This time Aarav actually smiled properly.
Warm.
Rare.
And seeing that smile that close—
Meher forgot every complaint for a second.
Then quietly—
she rested her head lightly against his chest again.
Mostly because fighting him was becoming impossible.
But the second she did—
Aarav visibly relaxed.
Like this was exactly what he wanted.
To hold her close after all the chaos they survived.
To stand here a little longer.
To feel something soft instead of danger for once.
His chin rested gently against the top of her head.
And after a long moment—
he whispered softly,
"Can we stay like this a little longer?"
That question alone melted her completely.
Because Aarav never asked for things.
He commanded.
Protected.
Controlled.
But with her—
sometimes he sounded almost careful.
Almost vulnerable.
Meher smiled softly against him.
"…five minutes."
Aarav immediately answered,
"Liar."
She looked up at him confused.
"What?"
"You'll stay longer."
Meher narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"And how are you so confident?"
A tiny smug look appeared on his face.
"Because you like being here too."
Silence.
Meher opened her mouth.
Closed it again.
Because unfortunately—
he was right.
And Aarav looked entirely too satisfied after realizing it.The party ended much later than expected.
Mostly because people kept stopping Aarav for conversations.
Business discussions.
Handshakes.
Meetings.
And through all of it—
Aarav never once let Meher drift far from him.
Not even slightly.
Sometimes his hand stayed at her waist.
Sometimes their fingers remained intertwined quietly beneath the table.
And every single time someone kept her attention too long—
jealous Aarav silently returned again.
By the time they finally left the hotel—
Meher was exhausted.
Completely exhausted.
The soft heels.
The loud crowd.
The late night.
Everything together drained her energy fully.
Which meant—
by the time they reached home—
she was barely awake.
Aarav noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
The second they entered the mansion—
Meher quietly leaned against his arm while walking.
Sleepy.
Barely opening her eyes properly.
Aarav looked down at her instantly.
"Tired?"
"No," she mumbled weakly.
A complete lie.
Aarav almost smiled.
Then a few seconds later—
he stopped walking suddenly.
Meher blinked slowly.
"What happened…"
Instead of answering—
Aarav bent slightly and lifted her into his arms without warning.
Meher gasped softly.
"Aarav!"
"You're half asleep."
"I can walk!"
"You were walking into the wall two seconds ago."
Meher frowned sleepily.
"…the wall moved."
That finally made Aarav laugh quietly.
Warm.
Soft.
Then he adjusted her more securely against him and started walking upstairs.
And honestly?
Meher was too sleepy to argue properly anymore.
So instead—
she simply curled closer against his chest.
Comfortable.
Trusting.
Aarav's expression softened instantly feeling her relax in his arms.
His hold around her became gentler automatically.
Like he carried something precious.
The hallway lights stayed dim around them.
Quiet house.
Quiet night.
Only the sound of Aarav's footsteps echoing softly.
Meher rested her head near his shoulder sleepily.
Then mumbled softly,
"You're too possessive."
A tiny smirk appeared on Aarav's lips.
"And yet you're not complaining."
"Too tired."
"Hm."
"There's that hm again…"
Her sleepy annoyance made him smile again.
God.
Everything she did felt adorable lately.
When they finally reached their room—
Aarav carefully placed her down on the bed.
But the second he tried pulling away—
Meher instinctively grabbed his shirt lightly.
Still half asleep.
Aarav froze immediately.
His eyes dropped toward her hand holding him.
Then toward her sleepy face.
"Meher?"
She blinked slowly.
"…stay."
One tiny word.
Barely audible.
Yet somehow—
it hit Aarav harder than anything else tonight.
Because after everything—
after all her fear and nervousness in the beginning—
she was asking him to stay beside her now.
Willingly.
Aarav sat beside her quietly.
Then gently brushed her hair back from her face.
"I'm here."
Meher relaxed instantly hearing that.
Still holding his shirt loosely.
And Aarav realized something dangerous.
He never wanted to leave moments like this again.
Never wanted distance.
Never wanted coldness.
Just this.
Her trusting him enough to fall asleep in his arms.
Then softly—
he helped her lie down comfortably beneath the blanket.
But before he could move away—
Meher sleepily reached toward him again.
"Aarav…"
"Hm?"
"Kiss."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Aarav stared at her in genuine shock.
Because sleepy Meher apparently became bold.
Very bold.
And she didn't even realize it.
His expression softened instantly.
Then slowly—
he leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
Warm.
Lingering.
Protective.
Meher smiled sleepily afterward.
Satisfied.
And within seconds—
she was already falling asleep.
Still holding onto his hand lightly.
Aarav looked at her quietly for a long moment.
Then finally whispered softly,
"You've ruined my life completely."
But the tiny smile on his face betrayed the truth.
He had never been happier about losing control.