Kabir.
He was standing there.
His hand tightly gripping Navya's wrist mid-air.
His jaw clenched.
His eyes—
Burning with anger.
A kind I hadn't seen before.
"How dare you…" his voice was low, deadly, "touch Aaira?"
The room went still.
He shoved her hand away harshly.
Navya stumbled slightly, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as pain shot through her wrist.
Kabir didn't even look at her again.
His eyes shifted to me for a brief second—
Checking.
Making sure.
Then back to her.
"Don't ever touch her again," he said, each word heavy with warning. "Or you won't like what happens next."
Kabir's eyes were burning with anger, yet there was an undeniable hint of concern in them for me as well.
It only confused me further. If he cared, then why was he keeping me locked here?
Navya, in a sharp and cold tone, stepped forward and asked,
"Why are you being protective for her? And why is she being kept here in the premium side of the brothel?"
Kabir replied instantly, his voice firm and controlled,
"Who are you to question me? I hold 80% authority in this brothel. That gives me the power to decide."
Navya let out a caring voice .."What authority??? It belongs to uss !! We are getting married soon, Kabir?"
I felt slightly shaken when heard this but i couldn't do anything
, but Kabir didn't respond to her words.
Instead, he turned his attention back to Navya and said,
"You are not allowed to enter this room again
. And from today onwards, you will not hurt Aaira. Understand?"
There was a strange kind of calm authority in his voice that somehow comforted me…
yet at the same time, it raised another question inside me —
Was Kabir my protector… or the one controlling my life?
Navya glared at me one last time before turning around and walking away.
Kabir turned toward me and asked, "Are you okay?" His tone remained cold, unreadable.
I simply nodded, "Hmm."
After a pause, he added, "Do whatever Amma tells you." He was referring to the auntie.
Then he called one of the workers. The worker arrived carrying three bags.
Kabir said, "These are your essentials. If you need anything, inform Amma."
I looked at him and said softly, "I feel scared here."
"Of what?" he asked immediately.
"Of the noises… of Navya… and…" I hesitated.
"And what else?" he pressed.
I lowered my gaze. "Of you… when you get angry."
His eyes softened for a brief moment, a flicker of guilt passing through them. Then his gaze shifted to my shoulder—the place where I was hurt, where he had held me too tightly earlier
.
But he quickly regained control over himself and said, "There's nothing to be afraid of."
After a pause, he added, "And don't go alone to that side of the brothel. Always go with a worker. If you need to go anywhere, do it with someone."
His eyes then pointed toward my shoulder. "And this injury… is it fine now?"
I nodded quietly. "Hmm."
"Where is the ointment?" he asked next.
"I'll apply it myself," I replied softly.
His voice turned sharper, yet still controlled. "Answer only what I ask you. Just tell me."
He made me sit on the edge of the bed without saying much.
The room felt unusually quiet after everything that had happened, like even the air was careful not to disturb us. Kabir stood for a second, looking at me, then slowly moved closer.
There was something restrained in him—like he was forcing himself to stay controlled, to not show too much.
Without asking again, he gently rolled up my sleeve.
His fingers paused for a moment on my skin. Not because he was unsure of the action, but because something in him hesitated—like even this small act of care came too naturally and that scared him more.
When the fabric finally moved up, my injured shoulder was exposed. I felt his gaze drop immediately to the bruise.
For a second, he didn't speak.
Then he picked up the ointment and started applying it.
His touch wasn't soft in a delicate way—it was careful in a controlled way. As if he was holding back too much force, too much emotion, too much of himself.
The silence between us felt heavy, but not empty.
When the ointment stung, I flinched.
He noticed instantly.
His hand stopped.
Then unexpectedly, he leaned in slightly and blew gently over the bruise. It was instinctive, almost involuntary.
"Sorry…" he murmured. Then again, quieter, "Sorry…"
For a moment, I saw him differently. Not the intimidating, controlled Kabir who commanded rooms—but someone else underneath that layer. Someone human. Someone conflicted.
And then his eyes lifted.
They moved from my shoulder to my face, slow and deliberate, as if he wasn't supposed to look at me for too long… but couldn't stop himself either.
The way he looked at me wasn't loud or expressive. It was quiet—but heavy. Like there were words he would never say, emotions he didn't allow himself to feel out loud.
And I didn't even realize when it happened—but I stopped thinking properly.
Everything around me faded for a second. The fear, the confusion, even the reason I was here… it all blurred.
It was just that moment.
Just him.
Just me.
And then—
A sudden sound came from outside.
Sharp. Real. Breaking through whatever silence had wrapped around us.
We both pulled away at the same time.
His hand withdrew instantly. My gaze dropped immediately.
The moment Kabir said, "It's done now, rest," he turned slightly as if to leave the room.
But just then, the lights went off.
Everything around me disappeared into darkness in an instant.
My breath caught. My body froze.
Nyctophobia hit me all at once—the fear of darkness, the rising panic I could never control.
My heart started racing so fast it felt like it was beating in my throat.
I let out a sharp scream, "Kabir!"
His voice came immediately from the darkness. "What happened?"
I ran toward him without thinking. I couldn't see clearly, I just followed the sound of his presence. The moment I reached him, I clutched onto him tightly and buried myself against him.
"I'm scared of the dark…" my voice broke. "Please…"
He didn't hug me back at first.
His body stayed still, as if he didn't know what to do with my sudden fear.
"Don't be scared," he said calmly. "The lights will come back."
But I was already shaking. "I get anxiety… I can't— I can't breathe properly in the dark…"
My words broke in between. My breathing became uneven, panic rising in waves.
"Aaira… are you okay?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly.
I couldn't answer properly. I was just trying to breathe.
And then suddenly, his arms wrapped around me.
Firm. Protective. Real.
"Calm down," he said, his voice lower now.
"I'm here. I'm right here with you."
But i was just panting..
Then he cupped my face with his hands and moved gently to wipe my tears, steadying me.
"Feel this… Feel me....I'm here. You're not alone."
That simple touch, that presence—it anchored me.
I again clunched his chest tightly and cried in, holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
And for the first time, the panic slowly started to fade.
I felt safe.
Truly safe.
Even if it was just for that moment.
Then suddenly, the lights came back on.
But neither of us moved.
We were still holding each other, caught in the same silence.
And then—
A worker entered the room.
"Sir, some people have arrived—"
The words broke the moment instantly.
We both pulled away quickly, awkward and flustered, stepping back like nothing had happened.
Kabir adjusted himself, avoiding eye contact.
I looked down, my face burning red, still trying to steady my breath… still feeling the echo of his arms around me.
After that, I went and sat near the bed again.
My eyes fell on the three bags placed there.
Curiosity slowly took over my mind. I reached out and opened the first one.
Inside, there were clothes… all for me. So many outfits, neatly packed, like someone had thought about every possible need. Dresses, casual wear—everything.
Then I noticed something that made my face instantly heat up. There were undergarments too.
My eyes widened slightly.
"Kabir bought this…?" I thought, completely embarrassed.
And then another thought followed immediately—how did he even know my size?
"Haww… does he… look at me like that?" I muttered under my breath, half shocked, half flustered. "Pervert…"
But even as I said it, I couldn't stop the small blush forming on my face.
I quickly opened the second bag to distract myself.
This one was completely different.
Skincare items… body care products…
toothbrush, essentials, creams—everything I had never properly used in my life before.
Even sanitary pads and other necessary items were there, carefully selected.
For a moment, I just stared at it silently.
It wasn't just "things." It felt like someone had noticed what I never even took care of about myself.
Then I moved to the third bag.
And my breath stopped for a second.
Inside were all my NEET books… notebooks… test papers… study materials arranged properly.
There were colored sketch pens too, and even a diary. A few self-help books were placed on top.
It felt unreal.
My heart softened as I looked through everything slowly, almost afraid to touch it too roughly.
Then I picked up one book—Teenage Drama and Anger Control.
I stared at it and then let out a small breathless laugh.
"Haww… so he thinks I'm a drama queen?" I said, pouting slightly.
I hugged the book to my chest and muttered, half annoyed, half emotional, "If he gives me anger problems books, then obviously I'll get angry!"
A worker walked in after that, carrying several battery-operated lights in his hands.
I looked at them and said, "There are already enough lights here."
He shook his head politely. "Ma'am, these are battery lights. Even if the power goes out, they won't turn off."
I hesitated for a moment and said, "Maybe install them later… I'm not scared right now."
But he quickly stepped forward, slightly nervous. "No, no, madam… please let us install them. Otherwise Kabir sir will get angry."
That made me pause.
Kabir again.
I watched silently as the worker began fixing the lights around the room. My mind felt tangled, unable to understand anything clearly.
What exactly did Kabir want?
Was he trying to hurt me…
or was he trying to protect me?
I took a pause but then i felt my pads leaking !
I decided to take a bath.
My thoughts felt heavy, but my body felt worse.
My period discomfort had been getting stronger because of my condition, and I just wanted a moment of relief !
I told one of the workers to close the door properly once the work outside was done.
The water hit my skin, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a little calm.
Like everything outside—confusion, fear, tension—was slowly washing away.
The pain in my body eased slightly under the warmth.
I just stood there for a while, letting the silence and water take over everything.
When I finally finished , wrapped in a towel, reality hit me suddenly.
Just to hide my stain i rushed to the washroom without bringing clothes.
I froze for a second.
"Oh… Aaira, you idiot," I whispered to myself, staring at the empty space around me.
The room had gone quiet outside.
After a few moments, I heard soft voices fading away—everyone had left.
Carefully, I opened the washroom door a little and checked. The room looked empty.
Relief hit me.
I quickly stepped out, still wrapped in a towel, moving fast toward the clothes....!
I was just about to reach them—
when suddenly the door slammed open.
I froze instantly.
"Where are you ??? Kabir said as he was looking for me.... !
But then his gaze shifted towards me ....!
For a split second, he didn't react at all. It was like his brain had stopped processing what he was seeing.
His entire body went still—like a statue.
His gaze shifted downward and then away again, as if he was forcing himself not to look.
"AAAA!" I screamed, instantly turning away and clutching the towel tighter, completely frozen in embarrassment amd rushed to the bathroom !
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