Page 102 of Lawfully Yours
“We’ll tone it down next time,” Rajveer said with mock seriousness. “Don’t want to traumatize the neighbours.”
Kushal chuckled, but his eyes slid back to Arundhati.
She wasn’t laughing.
She was staring at the couple with something close to disbelief and maybe even longing. These were the same two people who had once nearly torn each other apart, who hadstood on the edge of divorce with clenched jaws and tired eyes... and now? They were on fire. Passionate!
And she had seen it. She had seen them from the other side of the tower, had stared into that intimacy like it was a life she could never touch. If this was what second chances looked like... was she making a terrible mistake by not giving her and Kushal a chance?
Rajveer continued, “Anyway, we’re flying to New York next week. For at least a year. The apartment’s being renovated, and my business is finally launching there. So yeah, this is our last stretch in that penthouse for a while.”
He grinned at Kushal. “You’re welcome, by the way. We’re saving you from the torture.”
Kushal lifted his drink, swirling it slowly before taking a sip. He didn’t say anything at first. Then he turned his head slightly, catching Arundhati’s gaze across the rim of his glass.
She was already looking at him.
That same moment played again in her mind—him standing with her by the glass wall of the penthouse, pointing out the couple in the distance. She remembered every word.
“Every night I stand here thinking that should’ve been us.”
“I want what they have... the love, the fire, the ache. But not with anyone else. With you. Only you, Aru.”
“I’m done pretending. I want you back. In this home. In my bed. In my goddamn arms.”
She blinked, heart thudding hard.
Those weren’t just words he’d said in the heat of the moment. They were confessions. Wants. Needs.
And now, as the warmth of the firelight danced over Kushal’s face and laughter echoed from the garden games, all those words hit differently.
Rajveer leaned across the table, nudging his glass toward Kushal with a mischievous smile. “Come on, let’s refill.”
Kushal nodded, rising with him. As he stood, his eyes drifted instinctively toward Arundhati. “You want anything?” he asked, casually, but there was nothing casual about the look they shared in that moment.
She shook her head slowly.
“I’m fine. And don’t forget, we still have games to win. Don’t drink too much,” she added, raising one brow in challenge.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with mock obedience, eyes lingering longer than they should have.
Ananya caught it all…the electricity, the awareness, the heat…and she grinned silently as Arundhati watched him follow Rajveer toward the bar. The moment she realised Ananya was watching her, she quickly looked away, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
“So,” Ananya said, folding her arms on the table with an all-too-knowing smile, “I heard you two are working together again on Anant Mukherjee’s case, right?”
Arundhati nodded. “Yes. That’s... the reason we’ve been in touch and together.”
Ananya raised a brow, unconvinced. “Is that theonlyreason?”
“We’re not reconciling, Ananya, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Really?” Ananya tilted her head. “Don’t insult my intelligence, Arundhati. Because I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And I’ve seen howyourespond to him. I’m not blind. And I’ve been there.”
Arundhati’s hands clenched as there was no witty retort on her tongue, at the moment.
Ananya reached out, gently placing her hand over hers. “I know it’s scary. To let yourself trust when your mind screams not to. To gamble with something as fragile as your heart, especially when it’s been broken before. I lived through thatsame war. Every night, I told myself it was safer to walk away. But I didn’t. I stayed. I gave it another chance. And it changed everything.”
“Look at me,” Ananya continued. “Think about it... Someone like me, all ambition and plans, ready to put everything on the line for one man. And not because I was weak, but because sometimes, loveasksfor that. A bit of sacrifice. A leap of faith. Total honesty and real effort from both people. If you and Kushal even have afractionof that between you... Don’t walk away from it. Don’t let fear talk you out of something real. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”
