Next morning I wake up to an empty bed, stretching lazily and yawning. Reaching out, I find only cool sheets where Ashtram should be. Confusion crosses my face as I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.Then I thought that he must have gone back from the balcony before anyone could see him.
A soft pink blush spreads across my cheeks as I recall the passionate encounters with Ash the previous night. I bite my lower lip, suppressing a giggle, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. I murmured to myself, "he was so gentle, so caring... I've never felt so loved, so cherished."
I glance down at myself, still dressed in his shirt that falls loosely around my body. The fabric carries his familiar scent, causing another flutter in my heart. I hold the collar of the shirt to my nose, breathing in deeply. "This shirt... it smells just like him."
As I steps down from the bed, my bare feet touching the cool floor, I notice a folded note placed on the bedside table. Curiously, I pick it up, my name written neatly on the outside.
Jaan,
Sorry I am leaving without telling you. As you were looking very cute while sleeping so I did not wake you up angel. I know if someone sees me then there will be a problem for you so I am leaving. See you at the tonight party.
Your Ash....
My heart swells with love as I read the note, a small smile playing on my lips. I bring the note close to my chest, hugging it tightly. The thought of him watching me sleep makes my blush even deeper.
As I enter the bathroom, the cool tiles beneath my feet are grounding me. I turn on the shower, stepping under the warm water spray. As I wash, I try to push away the thoughts of Ashtram and focusing on getting ready for the day ahead.
After the shower, I dresses in a simple yet elegant salwar kameez, the soft fabric against my skin. As I tie my hair back into a neat bun, there's a knock at the door. "Niru!" Megha calls out from the other side.
I open the door, finding Megha standing outside with a warm smile on her face. "Niru, everyone is waiting for you in the dining room," Megha says, "Breakfast is almost ready."
I say, "Oh, okay. I am coming,"
"Niru, what's this on your neck?" Megha suddenly asks, gently touching the mark.
I quickly glance at my reflection in the nearby mirror and blushes intensely, remembering Ashtram's passionate gestures from the previous night. I say, "Oh, um... it's just a bite mark from the mosquito that must have flown in last night while I slept."
Megha gently tilts my head to the side, examining the mark more closely. "A mosquito bite? Yai toh mosquito bite se jyada love bite lag raha hai," she teases, a playful grin spreading across her face.
My blush deepens, giving her away. I tries to laugh it off, "Megha, stop being ridiculous. Yai mosquito bite hi hai," I insists, turning away from my friend's scrutiny. "You're imagining things."
Megha grabs my arm and pulls me back around to face her. "Niru, I know you too well. And right now, you're blushing harder than a tomato. So, spill it."
Megha's persistence eventually gets to me, and I find myself surrendering. "Fine, okay! Ashtram was here last night," I admits, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it's not what you think, Megha. He was just... checking on me, that's all."
Megha's eyes widen with excitement, and she starts giggling mischievously. "He was 'checking on you' at midnight? Niranya, please tell me you two finally... you know..."
I shake my head, trying to downplay the situation. "No, nothing like that happened, Megha. He brought me some chocolates and... and that's it," I insists, trying to maintain a straight face. "Stop reading too much into it."
Megha points at my neck. "Then explain this love bite, huh? You expect me to believe that Ashtram sir just 'checked on you' and left without...?
I say, "aisa kuch nahi huwa hai jesa tu soch rahi hai ."
Megha crosses her arms and gives me a knowing look. "Niru, are you saying that even with Ashtram Sir right there, in your bedroom, at midnight... Nothing happened?" She pauses dramatically. "Not even a little kiss?" Then she leans closer, whispering.
I hesitate for a moment before confessing in a low voice. "We... we did spend some time talking. He brought me a box of expensive chocolates and we just... talked for a while. But that's all, Megha. Nothing more happened."
Megha looks at me with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Just talked? For hours at midnight? With him sitting next to you in your room?" She chuckles. "Niranya, you're either the strongest person I know or the biggest liar."
I look flustered, trying to maintain my composure. "What? No, really, Megha! He... he was just being gentlemanly," I stammer, fingers tracing the mark on my neck subconsciously. "And I think we should get ready for breakfast now."
Megha sighs dramatically, shaking her head with a smirk. "Fine, I'll let you off the hook. For now. But don't think you're fooling me, Niru. The mark on your neck is screaming a different story!" She playfully pokes my arm.
My cheeks flushing red. "Megha, stop it! You're imagining things," she protests weakly, avoiding eye contact. "I already told you, nothing happened!" I tried to change the topic.
I hurriedly draped my dupatta around my neck, creating an intricate wrap to conceal the mark completely. I smooths out the fabric, then glances back at Megha, hoping to divert attention. "Better? Now, shall we go down for breakfast before it gets cold?"
Megha raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by my desperate attempts to hide the mark. She chuckles softly and links her arm with mine, pulling me towards the door. "Alright, let's go. But I'm not done with this topic yet, Niru."
As we enter the dining room, I keep my head down, trying to avoid any further questioning or teasing from Megha. I take a seat at the table, carefully arranging my dupatta to ensure the mark remains hidden.
Running my fingers through my dark hair with a small smile playing on my lips as I remember the tender moments from last night. My heart warms thinking about how she trusted me completely, how vulnerable yet utterly beautiful she was in my arms.
Suddenly Vedant enters, Vedant's eyebrows shoot up in amusement as he catches me lost in wistful thoughts. "Well, well, what do we have here? Ashtram Raghuvanshi, the most feared Mafia King, reduced to a lovestruck fool grinning at his desk?"
Snapping out of my reverie, my expression hardens, my piercing gaze shifting to Ved. I leans back in my chair, a smug smile on my lips. "And what if I am? It's not every day a man finds his queen."
Ved chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "It's Niranya hm?"
A deep tenderness softens my features at the mention of her name "She's... everything, Ved. Her eyes hold entire galaxies, her smile... it makes my world stop spinning..." My voice trails off, a secretive smile tugging at my lips.
Ved grins mischievously, leaning against the doorframe. "So, you finally made a move, huh?"
I say, "She's a sunrise after the darkest night, a melody that only I understand, a garden of hidden blooms that I'll spend my life exploring."
Ved shakes his head in amusement, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Damn, Ashtram. You're laying it on thick now. Who would've thought the infamous mafia king would transform into a poetic sap?"
My expression darkens dramatically, eyes becoming as cold as ice "Don't misunderstand my love for weakness, Ved. I am still the same man who will raze cities and burn kingdoms for her. My heart may beat for her now, but my hands remain stained with blood for her protection."
Ved asked, "Aur uss shrap ka kya."
A haunted shadow crossing my eyes at the mention of that cursed, "for her, I'll find a way to break it. I've already lived centuries without truly living... but now that I've found her, my sun, my moon, my lifeblood..."
Ved's expression turns somber, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ash, what happens if you can't break the curse? If you're truly doomed to live forever, alone, watching everyone you love grow old and die..."
My jaw clenches, dark eyes flashing with determination. "Then I will bear that pain again, endure another eternity of loneliness... but I must have her, Ved. My Angel is the first light I've seen in these endless, cursed years."
Ved sighs deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I just pray to every deity I can name that you find a way out of this damnable curse, Ashtram."
My voice cracks with emotion, my eyes burning with a fierce love. "Losing her is not an option, Ved. She belongs to me and I belongs to her, and I'll move heaven and earth to keep her. Even if it means bearing this curse alone, forever..."
Vedant gaze falling on me. "Are you prepared for the business party tonight, Ashtram?
"Yes, everything is prepared. But I want triple the security detail tonight. I won't take any chances. No one touches my Angel." My voice drops to a dangerous whisper "Not even to shadow her."
"Send a car to pick up both Megha and Niranya. My Queen deserves the utmost care and consideration." My voice carries a possessive edge, mingled with tender affection.
"Of course, Ash. I'll make sure the car arrives promptly and that both ladies are treated like royalty on their way here." Vedant nods, already making the necessary arrangements.
My eyes narrow slightly, a knowing smile playing at my lips "Come on now, Ved. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at Megha. Speak freely - what's going on between you two?"
He hesitates for a moment before sighing , "It's... complicated, Ash. Megha's an incredible woman, and I can't deny I have feelings for her."
My expression turns serious, my voice taking on a commanding tone, "Listen to me, Vedant. As your best friend, I'm telling you to confess your feelings to Megha. Don't waste any more time being shy or uncertain."
Vedant takes a deep breath, nodding in determination at my words. "You're right, Ash. I'll tell her how I feel, no matter what happens." He stands up, his mind made up. "Thanks for the push I needed."
I watches Vedant make up his mind, a smirk tugging at my lips. I am confident that my best friend will finally confess his feelings to Megha.
After Vedant left, I murmur to myself with a small smile "Soon... very soon, my Jaan... we'll meet again at the party tonight... and I'll hold you in my arms, dance with you, and never let you go..."
I speaks in a hoarse whisper "I need her... more than the air I breathe... she's my everything... my angel who saved this lost soul..."
Impatiently glances at the clock, tapping my fingers on the desk "Hurry up, time... I can't wait any longer to see my Jaan, to hold her, to drown in her beautiful eyes."
A deep, passionate whisper "Just one smile from her... one glance... and I'm completely undone. That intoxicating combination of innocence and fire... how is it even possible for one person to be so irresistible..."
Smirks softly at the thought of my Angel "Of course she is... my Jaan is unique, special... she's the one who can bring a king to his knees......she is my heaven on earth..." My voice becomes tender "And she's mine... all mine..."
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