Page 74 of Forbidden

“That’s the day I decided to use you as a pawn in my revenge whilst also fulfilling the wish of our fathers.”

I am about to retort when Aarav presses my hand over the table again.

“Believe me, I accept my faults now. I had no right to screw your life like that. Had it not been the necessity at that time, I would have wooed you before making you my wife.”

And just like that, my body heats again at his confession. I wonder how Aarav would have wooed me? He wouldn’t have to do much. All he had to do was talk nicely and throw a few intense dialogues and make me feel like his queen. A little respect and lots of love, plus committing me a lifetime with him was all that I ever expected from my husband.

“Can we do some work now?” I changed the topic. He doesn’t leave my hand though.

“Why are you this warm?”

I squirm and flush, knowing he is simply teasing. Aarav knows well that his intense dialogues in that husky tone are enough to change my body temperature.

“That’s because I am hot,” I mock, shrugging my hand off his.

He grins and I can’t help grinning back.

“That you are,” he admits, staring at my face like he wants to cup my cheeks and kiss me thoroughly. I squeeze my thighs together to keep that warm feeling in my stomach from moving to my lower body.

Luckily, his phone buzzes, diverting his attention. He excuses me and walks out to attend the call. Sure, it had something to do with his revenge because that’s the only thing he never discusses in front of me.

********************

The next day I get down from my car, at the premises of ‘Only Hope’ Organization, which primarily houses around 50 single mothers with their children and provide them jobs, food and basic medical facilities. Aarav was supposed to meet me here at around 10:00 and I thought I was the one who was late. Sure, he might have gotten engrossed in other work. Tom, the manager of this organization, greets me and welcomes me inside. He then briefs me on how they operate this place and coordinate everything, including the education which the children here get free of cost. It’s really commendable the way they have operated so far with so little support. Now they don’t have to worry much as we are going to offer a lot more than they had desired from Charity Trust like us.

“This place has such a great atmosphere.” I take off my sunglasses as we reach the garden before the building and the play area where a few kids are playing. “Let my partner reach and we will complete the rest of the formalities.”

“Oh sure. But he is already here,” Tom replies.

“What? Aarav is here?”

“Yes, Ma’am. He came an hour ago and even got lots of bakery stuff for everyone. We insisted that he have breakfast with us and he obliged. Such a great man. His love for kids is not hidden either and seems like the kids here love him too. He was playing with them a while ago. Now he is inside. Oh, there he is.”

My mouth hangs as Tom points out at the window where I see Aarav talking fondly to a few women who are holding their toddlers in arms and speaking to him. He looks so adorable when one baby tries to get to him and Aarav holds the baby boy in his arms, kissing his face and then brushing his rough stubble gently over the boy’s cheeks. That makes them both giggle and I think this little gesture of Aarav makes him own a fraction of my heart already. Never imagined I would get to see Aarav Raichand so fond of kids and playing with them. The boy keeps playing with his shirt while he speaks to those women.

I walk inside with Tom, and Aarav’s eyes shift to me. It’s really hard to predict what he thinks at this moment because he smiles at me, then looks at the boy and kisses him and then turns to me again. Does he want to tell me indirectly he wants to have a future like this with me? A baby? God!! I blush furiously and walk slowly, hoping I don’t reach him any sooner until my blush is gone.

By the time I reach them, I gape at Aarav with that kid as if that’s the most fascinating sight of my life. Aarav kisses the baby boy’s cheek again and hands him to his mother. I speak with those women too and touch and talk with a few babies, lightening up my mood. I never thought coming here would bring so much joy to my day. Once the women disperse and Tom promises to return with the paperwork, Aarav and I are left alone. I see a wet circular mark of the baby’s saliva on Aarav’s shirt over his shoulder blade.

“You need to clean up,” I say quickly, taking out a tissue from my purse and trying to rub that mark.

Aarav takes a step closer and holds my wrists, his action so gentle and smooth that I’m lost in his angelic eyes.

“You like babies?”

Oh my God!! What kind of question is he asking me? I swallow.

“Almost as much as you like them. They are cute and a big responsibility, of course. But I love them. A lot.”

His mouth twists into a grin as if he is already planning our family. Damn!! I haven’t even agreed to accept him in my life yet and what the hell are we doing and imagining? This is crazy. The remaining two hours we complete the formalities and then head back to my car.

“Can you drop me at my hotel?” he requests.

I stare around and realize he might have asked the hotel car to drop him off. He didn’t drive himself here.

“Sure.”

We get inside my car and I start the engine. This is the first time I am driving with Aarav next to me. After a silence of a few minutes where I try hard not to focus on him but keep my eyes on the road, Aarav suddenly speaks up.

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