The room stayed silent after Meher fell asleep.
Soft rain continued outside.
Dim bedside light glowing faintly across the room.
And Aarav still sat beside her quietly—
her fingers loosely wrapped around his hand even in sleep.
He should have moved by now.
Should have changed clothes.
Should have checked a few pending calls.
But honestly?
He didn't want to leave the bed.
Didn't want to disturb her.
Because Meher looked too peaceful sleeping like this.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Trusting him completely.
And Aarav had become dangerously weak when it came to her comfort.
After a while—
he finally shifted carefully beside her on the bed.
Trying not to wake her.
But the second he settled down—
Meher moved instinctively in sleep.
Closer.
Her hand searching for him automatically.
Aarav froze immediately.
Then softly—
almost unconsciously—
she pressed herself closer against his chest.
Like her body already recognized where comfort was.
"Aarav…"
His eyes softened instantly hearing his name in her sleepy voice.
"Hm?"
Still asleep—
Meher lightly frowned and tugged his shirt again.
"Closer."
That one word completely destroyed him.
Aarav stared at her for a second—
then quietly opened his arms wider.
And Meher immediately moved into them fully.
Comfortable.
Trusting.
Her face resting against his chest now.
One arm loosely around him.
Like this was the most natural place in the world to sleep.
Aarav's heartbeat slowed instantly.
Peace.
Actual peace.
His hand moved gently through her hair slowly.
Careful not to wake her.
But Meher only relaxed more.
Soft sleepy breaths against him.
Tiny movements closer whenever he loosened his hold even slightly.
Possessive even in sleep.
And honestly—
Aarav loved it too much.
After a few quiet moments—
Meher suddenly whispered sleepily again,
"Don't go."
Aarav's chest tightened painfully softly.
Because she sounded genuinely afraid he might leave.
Immediately—
his arms tightened around her protectively.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Even half asleep—
Meher visibly relaxed hearing that.
Then slowly—
her fingers curled lightly into his shirt.
Holding on.
Aarav closed his eyes briefly.
Completely gone now.
Because every soft thing she did affected him too deeply.
Then unexpectedly—
Meher tilted her head slightly upward in sleep.
And her forehead bumped softly beneath his chin.
Tiny sleepy accident.
But somehow—
Aarav smiled instantly.
A real smile.
One nobody else ever got to see.
Then quietly—
he pressed a soft kiss against the top of her head.
Lingering there for a second.
Protective.
Affectionate.
Mine.
The rain outside grew heavier.
Cold night.
Warm room.
And beneath the blanket—
Meher stayed tangled around him comfortably.
While Aarav held her like letting go would physically hurt him now.
At some point during the night—
Meher sleepily whispered again,
"Love you…"
Barely audible.
Probably unconscious.
But Aarav heard it.
Clearly.
His entire body went still instantly.
Slowly—
very slowly—
he looked down at her sleeping face.
She was still asleep.
Completely unaware of what she just said.
And for the first time in years—
Aarav Malhotra looked genuinely speechless.
Then softly—
almost like something sacred—
he pulled her even closer and whispered back near her hair,
"I love you too."
Quiet.
Honest.
Real.
And somehow—
the storm inside him finally felt like home.Morning sunlight slipped softly through the curtains.
Warm.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
And for once—
Aarav was already awake.
Not working.
Not checking calls.
Not thinking about danger.
Just lying there quietly—
watching Meher sleep in his arms.
Because sometime during the night—
she had completely wrapped herself around him.
One hand against his chest.
Leg tangled slightly with his.
And honestly?
Aarav hadn't moved even once.
Didn't want to disturb her.
A tiny smile stayed on his lips remembering last night.
That sleepy little confession.
Love you…
God.
He was still affected by it.
Completely.
Then slowly—
Meher stirred awake.
Soft sleepy blinking.
Confused expression.
And the second she realized she was practically glued to Aarav—
her eyes widened slightly.
"Aarav…"
"Hm."
Why did he sound so calm?!
Meher immediately tried sitting up—
but Aarav's arm around her waist tightened slightly.
Not letting her escape that easily.
"Good morning," he murmured lazily.
Meher looked away instantly.
"Morning…"
Something felt strange.
Very strange.
Because Aarav kept looking at her differently today.
Softer.
Almost amused.
Suspiciously amused.
Meher narrowed her eyes immediately.
"What?"
Aarav blinked innocently.
"Nothing."
Liar.
Absolute liar.
She stared at him harder.
"You're hiding something."
"No."
"Aarav."
That tiny smile appeared again.
Dangerous smile.
And suddenly—
Meher's brain replayed flashes from last night.
Rain.
Sleepiness.
Holding him.
Then—
her eyes widened completely.
Oh no.
OH NO.
Very slowly—
Meher looked at him in horror.
"Aarav…"
"Hm?"
"…did I say something last night?"
Aarav stayed silent for two seconds.
Then calmly answered,
"Many things."
Meher's soul nearly left her body.
"What things?!"
Aarav looked thoughtfully toward the ceiling.
"You called me comfortable."
"Aarav!"
"You told me not to leave."
Meher covered her face instantly.
"STOP."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
But he wasn't finished.
Not even close.
Then softly—
he leaned slightly closer and murmured near her ear,
"And then…"
Meher's heartbeat stopped.
"…you confessed to me in your sleep."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Meher froze entirely.
Bright red instantly.
Actually speechless.
While Aarav looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"I did NOT."
"You did."
"No!"
"Yes."
"AARAV YOU'RE LYING."
"I can repeat the exact words."
Meher immediately grabbed a pillow and hit him with it repeatedly.
"DON'T YOU DARE."
Aarav was literally laughing now—
fully laughing seeing her panic.
Which only embarrassed her more.
"You're evil!"
"You said 'love you' first."
"STOP REMINDING ME."
Aarav finally caught the pillow gently.
Then slowly pulled her closer again before she could run away.
And this time—
his teasing softened.
His forehead resting lightly against hers.
"You know what my favorite part was?"
Meher refused eye contact completely.
"…what."
"You sounded safe."
That answer immediately quieted her.
Because there was no teasing in his voice now.
Only honesty.
Aarav brushed her hair softly behind her ear.
"You said it like you trusted me completely."
Meher's expression softened instantly.
And suddenly—
the embarrassment faded a little.
Because somehow—
he wasn't making fun of her confession.
He was cherishing it.
Then quietly—
almost shyly herself now—
she whispered,
"…you said it back?"
Aarav's eyes softened deeply.
"Yes."
Just one word.
But enough to make her heart melt completely.
Silence settled between them again.
Warm silence.
Then slowly—
Meher moved closer on her own this time.
Resting against him comfortably.
And Aarav immediately wrapped his arms around her again.
Automatic.
Natural.
Like home.
Then softly—
very softly—
Meher whispered against his chest,
"…I meant it."
Aarav closed his eyes briefly hearing that.
Then kissed the top of her head gently.
"I know."
And somehow—
that quiet morning felt bigger than every dramatic moment before.
Because this time—
it wasn't fear holding them together.
It was love.Something was wrong with Aarav.
Very wrong.
Meher realized it within the first hour of the morning.
Because Aarav Malhotra—
the cold terrifying man feared by half the city—
looked ridiculously happy today.
Not smiling constantly.
That would be too obvious.
But there was something different.
Something lighter.
Softer.
And honestly?
It was suspicious.
Meher stood near the dining table sipping coffee while secretly watching him.
Aarav sat across from her checking messages on his phone calmly.
But every few seconds—
a tiny smile appeared on his lips for absolutely no reason.
Then disappeared again.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Meher narrowed her eyes.
"What's wrong with you?"
Aarav looked up innocently.
"Nothing."
Liar.
Complete liar.
Because two seconds later—
his phone buzzed again—
and somehow the smile returned.
Meher stared harder.
"You're smiling at emails now?"
"Hm."
"There's that hm again!"
Aarav looked entirely too pleased hearing her complain.
Which only increased her suspicion.
Then suddenly—
his phone rang.
One of his managers.
A normal business call.
Meher expected serious Aarav to return instantly.
Instead—
the poor manager on the other side experienced something horrifying.
Happy Aarav.
"No, move the meeting to tomorrow," Aarav said casually.
Pause.
Then unexpectedly—
"No problem. Relax."
Meher nearly dropped her coffee.
Relax?!
Aarav voluntarily told someone to relax?!
The manager was probably crying from shock.
Even Aarav's bodyguard passing nearby looked confused.
Very confused.
The call ended.
Meher stared at him in disbelief.
"…who are you?"
A tiny laugh escaped Aarav.
"You're overreacting."
"No, you're terrifying me."
Aarav placed his phone down calmly.
Then leaned back in his chair slightly.
Still looking far too content.
Meher crossed her arms suspiciously.
"You've been smiling since morning."
"No."
"Yes!"
A pause.
Then Aarav casually answered,
"You confessed to me."
Silence.
Meher instantly turned red again.
"AARAV."
"There it is."
"What?"
"That face."
He looked genuinely satisfied.
Like her blushing itself improved his mood.
Unbelievable.
Meher covered her face dramatically.
"You're never letting this go, are you?"
"No."
At least he was honest.
Then somehow—
throughout the entire day—
it got worse.
Much worse.
Every staff member in the mansion noticed something strange.
Because Aarav was being…
nice.
Actually nice.
One servant accidentally dropped a tray.
Normally everyone would panic.
Today?
Aarav calmly helped pick up the fallen spoon himself.
The servant almost fainted.
Even Meher stared at him like he had transformed into another person.
Then later—
while walking past the study—
she heard one bodyguard whisper nervously to another:
"Sir smiled at me today."
"…may God protect us."
Meher burst into laughter hearing that.
And unfortunately—
Aarav heard her laughing too.
Immediately his attention shifted toward her again.
Like always.
He walked toward her slowly—
hands in pockets—
that annoyingly soft smile still on his face.
"What are you laughing at?"
"You."
"Hm."
"There's the hm!"
Aarav stepped closer.
Too close.
Then quietly murmured,
"You love the hm."
"I absolutely don't."
"Liar."
Meher opened her mouth to argue—
then stopped.
Because Aarav was looking at her again like she personally fixed every broken part inside him.
And suddenly—
his happiness didn't seem suspicious anymore.
It seemed real.
Like he genuinely couldn't stop feeling lighter after hearing those three words from her.
Then softly—
without warning—
Aarav leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Right there in the hallway.
Again.
Meher looked around instantly.
"AARAV people are here!"
"I know."
"No shame at all?!"
"No."
That calm answer made her laugh again.
And Aarav's expression softened immediately hearing it.
Then quietly—
he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her closer beside him.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Like he physically needed her near him now.
"Aarav," Meher whispered suspiciously.
"Hm?"
"…you became clingier after I said I love you."
A pause.
Then very calmly—
"Yes."
Meher stared at him.
"You admit things too easily now."
A tiny smirk appeared.
"Because you're not leaving anymore."
That sentence hit her heart so softly—
she forgot how to respond for a second.
And Aarav?
Aarav looked entirely too happy realizing that now—
he didn't have to hide loving her anymore.