Page 82 of Forbidden

‘You were valuable to me so far, but something important really needs my attention to turn you into the most precious and priceless piece of my life. Let me finish this and then I am all yours. Reminding you again. - don’t leave. We need to speak.’

Uff. He wants to speak? And why is he speaking in code languages? Valuable, precious, priceless? Huh!! Looks like I’ll really have to wait until he comes and sheds some light.

Discarding my clothes, I get under the shower, and thoughts of Aarav tickle my head again. I might have been reluctant to accept this connection between us, but I can’t ignore it anymore. He’s shown me a totally different personality in London and won my heart. I think he deserves a fair chance to have a family, which he never enjoyed when he was young. No one has pampered Aarav after his mother and God knows I wish to do that. I want to see him smile, laugh, and spend the rest of his life without hatred. He has longed for love and, for some reason, I want to be the one to shower it on him in abundance. Yes!! I, Jhanvi Sikand finally admit that I have fallen deeply and madly for the Forbidden son of the Raichands and he’s about to know that once he is here.

Of course, last night I put a condition to choose between me and his revenge, but now I think it wasn’t fair on my part to do so. Becoming his life partner does not mean I can support his wrong decisions, but that also doesn’t imply I cannot stand with him and try to change his mind. Whatever his decision be, I do not want it to come in our relationship henceforth.

I dress up and survey myself in the mirror. Aarav had bought two dresses for me out of which I chose this black satin dress hugging my body. It’s a sleeveless bodycon and very casual for daily wear. I like how the dress has a silver belt showing up the curve of my waist. I pat dry my hair, brush them and when I stare in the mirror again, it’s his reflection I see behind. Aarav is back!!

His gaze pierces through me as I turn around and face him. Leaning at the door with his hands in pockets, he looks edible and God knows how much I suddenly want to have his bite. It doesn’t look like he is going to change that position anytime soon. Aarav likes admiring me and this time he’s doing so openly, bringing additional goosebumps on my body.

"Hi”

That’s all that comes from my mouth. I had plans to apologize to him for knocking at his doorstep, uninvited and full of jealousy last night. I even want to tell him I am ready to give this maddening chemistry between us a chance, but his one intense gaze and words choke in my throat like forever.

“I thought you would wear red.”

Thank God he spoke.

“We are not celebrating anything, are we? I kept it for later.”

He grins at my reply. “Maybe we are celebrating.”

Aarav strides leisurely inside the room. I don’t understand the celebration thing he said, neither I cross-question. Instead, I thank him.

“Thanks for… letting me sleep here.”

What am I saying? I should say sorry first. Aarav’s domineering gaze and stride always confuses me.

“This room belongs to your husband, Jaan. You are most welcome to sleep here whenever you desire to.”

He circles me and stands very close behind. I feel his hot breath lingering on my nape and fanning my hair.

“Or are we still discrete?” he whispers.

Goosebumps erupt on my skin as I inhale. This closeness between us has always affected me. But today I want him to know what my heart feels so rest all we can deal with later. I turn around.

“Aarav, I…”

Aarav shuts my mouth with his finger.

“You said enough last night. Now it’s my turn.”

Oh!! Is he hurt? Angry? It’s so hard to gauge his mood.

“You asked me to choose, Jhanvi.” He takes his finger off my lips. “Between you and my revenge.”

Yes, I did. And that’s exactly what I was going to explain now, but he doesn’t let me speak.

“And I have made my decision.”

No!! I swallow painfully. I’m very much aware of what that revenge means to him, but I don’t want him to push me away. Not when he’s the one who proved what we both might have between us and we can be together in the future. Tears brim in my eyes as I pray silently that he doesn’t reject me as I did with him every single time. I don’t think I am prepared for that. But in a second, Aarav scoops my cheeks in between his palms and pulls my face closer to his.

“I choose you, Jaan. I choose you over every damn thing that exists in this universe, including my urge to revenge the other Raichands. I choose you. I always will!!”

Did he really say that? The tears that I had been holding so far roll down my cheek, but Aarav’s thumbs catch the drops as they fall.

“Why the Tears?” he asks. “If you still hate me that much, I won’t mind choosing revenge instead.”

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