Los Angeles , California

The warehouse faded behind them as the black SUV sped through the quiet streets of Los Angeles. City lights flickered past the windows, but inside the car, the world moved slower.

Aris sat in the driver’s seat, one hand gripping the wheel, the other gently resting over Priyanshi’s hand, which lay quietly on her lap. He didn’t say much. She didn’t either.

But there was a quiet understanding in the silence between them.

Her eyes gazed out the window, as her free hand instinctively cradled her baby bump.

The same woman who had stopped a bullet just moments ago, now leaned back with tired eyes, unaware of the storm she was slowly becoming part of.

“Are you okay?” he finally asked, his voice low and unrecognizably soft.

She nodded faintly, but her hand squeezed his for a moment enough for him to understand she was shaken.

He glanced at her. Her hair had come a little loose, the soft strands framing her delicate face.

“You shouldn’t have come there,” he said, not in anger, but in concern.

“You know that place wasn’t safe.”

She turned her head slightly, her voice barely a whisper.

"And if I didn’t come? You would’ve killed him."

He exhaled slowly, jaw tightening not out of irritation, but out of helplessness.

"I don’t want you to see that side of me." he muttered, pulling the car into the underground parking of his private mansion. The moment the engine shut off, he turned to her.

“You’re all I have that’s... clean,” he added, eyes locking with hers.

"Don’t stain yourself with my darkness."

She blinked at him unsure how to respond, unsure how to define this strange yet undeniable bond between them. He got out, walked over, and opened her door himself.

"Come on, mi amor. You need to rest." he said gently, offering his hand.

She took it trusting. Always trusting.

The quiet click of heels echoed faintly as Aris and Priyanshi entered the grand hallway of the mansion. The space was dimly lit, serene. As they crossed the living room, Priyanshi froze. Her eyes landed on a single burning candle placed on the center table its soft flame dancing calmly. But to her, it wasn’t calm. Her breath caught. Her heartbeat quickened. Her fingers curled tightly around Aris’s coat. And without a word...without even knowing why...she rushed behind him, hiding as if the flame would leap and swallow her whole.

"Hey...hey," Aris said, surprised, turning halfway to her. She didn’t speak just trembled slightly, clutching the back of his coat like a frightened child.

Her lips quivered. Eyes wide. And that same nightmare she never understood flickered in her mind a blaze, scream , suffocating heat but no memories. Only fear.

Aris turned. He saw the candle And his eyes darkened instantly.

"WHO THE HELL LIT THAT CANDLE?" he shouted, voice thundering through the silence.

Two housekeepers flinched, rushing from the hallway.

"I SAID NO FIRE" he roared, pointing towards the flame.

"I TOLD YOU NOT EVEN A SPARK NOT EVEN A FUCKING MATCH IN THIS HOUSE"

He grabbed the candle himself and blew it out violently, slamming it into a drawer. She was still trembling behind him. He turned to her immediately...anger gone, replaced with worry.

"Look at me" he said, gently cupping her face. Her eyes were moist, far away, lost in something even she couldn’t understand.

"It’s gone, mi amor. Nothing’s burning. You’re safe," he whispered, voice now like velvet.

She closed her eyes for a second, steadying her breath. "I… I don’t know why I’m so scared" she murmured.

"You don’t need to know,"he said softly. "You just need to know I won’t let anything hurt you. Ever."

"Thankyou best friend" she smiled softly. He slightly smiled back at her.

That night, Aris turned the entire kitchen into a no-entry zone for her.

He ordered every flame-based appliance locked, every candle removed, and not a single light in the house to flicker. No one questioned it. Because in this world of guns, blood, and shadows Priyanshi was the only thing Aris D’Angelo bowed to.

Mumbai , India

The living room of Malhotra Mansion was unusually lively that evening

Sanchi, sitting cross-legged on the couch with a juice glass in one hand and a loud opinion in the other, was on full volume.

Sanchi: Main keh rahi hoon ki yeh sab  items outdated ho chuke hain. Aaj kuch accha banao yaar thak gayi hu mai Roz ka ek hi menu kha ke. Kuch chatpata banao aap

Everyone laughed, including Ridhima and Rajesh, who hadn’t smiled properly since they arrived. Even the maids near the kitchen chuckled under their breath.

And just then the front door opened.

Adhyant walked in, his eyes tired, his kurta slightly dusty from the road, and his expression unreadable. The laughter faded slightly as everyone looked at him. Sanchi was the only one who didn’t tone it down.

Sanchi : Dekho bhai aagaye! Tabhi toh itna silence ho gaya… kya bhai, kaunsi meditation se aa rahe ho?

Adhyant just gave her a look and nodded at the rest of the family.

Prerna stood up from the dining area and gave him a small, hopeful smile.

Sanchi, still not done, clapped her hands.

Sanchi: I have the best idea! Bhai aur bhabhi ko ek chhoti si trip pe bhejte hain. Akele. Quality time, bonding, thoda romance aur Instagram-worthy selfies.

The entire room lit up with interest. Except for one person.

Adhyant’s voice was cold. "No"

The sharpness in his tone sliced through the air.

Everyone went silent again.

Sanchi (murmured) : Okay, Romeo has logged out.

To change the topic, Ridhima turned to Prerna and said softly,

"Beta, tu mere saath Rajasthan aa ja. Kuch din rehna."

Prerna, without hesitation, replied:

Nahi maa... mujhe Adhyant ke saath rehna hai. Hum… zyada waqt nahi bita paaye ab tak.

That stunned the room more than the rejection. Adhyant didn’t say anything. Not a single word. He just turned… and walked away. Up the stairs. Silent. Detached. Unseen by the others, his hand trembled slightly as it grazed the banister. Not from anger.

But because every time she looked at him with that hopeful smile…

He wished it was her. The one who knew him. The one who didn't need time to understand him. His Precious.

As time skipped to the night , Akshat was sleeping peacefully hugguing muffin in his room when out of nowhere Amulya jumped into his room from the window.

She looked at him and murmured. "Kumbhkaran kahika. Dekho to kaise so raha hai meri Muffin ko molest karke."

He changed his position in a sleepy state and was about to fall off from bed. She quickly ran towards him and pushed him slightly on the middle of the bed. She carefully release Muffin from his grip and made her sit on the coach.

He smiled in sleep.

Akshat : haha....meri basanti.

Amulya : wtf.

Akshat : basanti in kutto ke saamne mat naachna.

She laid down beside him and smiled admiring him while sleeping. "Agar basanti nahi naachegi to Jaana tum hi naach lo."

Akshat : Amu naa...Kabir ykw mere bhai.....

He then stopped and started snoring. She raised her eyebrow trying to understand what he is dreaming about.

He again murmured. "Kabir......dil...hi toh hai. Isme maarna kya mere bhai. Mai Tera bhai. Tu meri behen."

"Teri behen."

"Meriii"

Her cheeks burned pink. "Mere sapno me ye aata hai aur iske sapno me Kabir bhai...wahh."

He moved in sleep and his lips pressed on her cheek. "Darling...I..."

Her eyes widened and she touched her cheek in pure shock. She placed her finger on his lips. "Shhhh Shanti se nhi so sakte kya meri raton ki nind to uda hi di hai tumne"

His eyes flickered as he finally felt that someone is near him. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

He shook his head and smiled. "Kya yaar Amulya...chain se Sone to do."

She punched on his stomach. "Maine kya kiyaaaaaa."

He gulped and pinched her arm.

She shouted. "Ouchhhhh...nalayak."

He placed his palm on her mouth. "Check Kar raha tha." His eyes widened realising. "Matlb sachme tum hi ho? Tum yaha mere bed par kaise aayi?".

Amulya : chal ke.

Akshat : nahi matlb kaha se aayi ho Amulya.

Amulya : window se.

Akshat : you okay na? Mujhe batana tha mai aa jata. Raato ko bhutni jaise ghumne ka shauk hai kya?

Amulya : mujhe nind nahi aa rahi...aur voh Trisha.

Akshat : voh kya usne kya kiya?

Amulya : toxicity kar rakhi hai usne.

Akshat : to tum yahi shift ho jao... aao idhar.

He tapped in lap : idhar sar rakho. Sulata hu main.

She grinned and kept her head in his lap. "Akshar bana caretaker."

He chuckled. " ban jaayenge aap hukum karo bas." He started caressing her head. "Ab batao madam what that bitch do."

"She...chhodo na. Acchi acchi baatein karte hai. Usko kyu yaad karna hai?"

Akshat : I won't leave any thing that is linked to you Amulya. But as of now let's keep that aside. Kyuki raat ko acchi aur romantic baatein karte hai. Chalo batao fir shaadi when?

Amulya : Haha jab mera pasandeeda mard baraat leke aaye.

Akshat : batao fir kon hai aapke sapno ka Rajkumar.

Amulya : aapko kyu batau? Top secret hai.

Akshat : aree...chalo thik hai. I respect your privacy. Anyways...

She got up from his lap and looked at him. "Jaana tumko nahi Sona kya?"

Akshat : tumne jaga diya baby doll.

Amulya : Mai to Shanti se leti hui thi. Maine kaha jagaya?

Akshat (winked) : aao firse leto Shanti se. Aawaz Mai karalunga.

She squinted her eyes. "Nalayak kahika."

Akshat : hawww...izzat do pati vali. Nalayak kahike aise bolo.

Amulya : voh to apne pati ko dungi na.

He smiled sarcastically. "Amu ab aise time par aayi ho to fayda to uthaye na ham."

Amulya : case kar dungi mai tumpe. Gandi Gandi baatein mat karo mere saath.

He chucked. "Gandi baatein nahi karunga chalo. Let's play dirty."

In a swift motion , he pinned her beneath him.

Akshat : Batao amu should we start the manufacturing for our product.

He caressed her cheek with his thumb. For a moment she stared into his eyes , her stomach fluttering from the closeness.

She slightly pushed him but she herself was about to fall off the bed as he didn't moved an inch. He encircled his arm around her waist and pulled her extremely close to himself. His fingers pressed on the delicate skin of her waist , her breath hitched due to that touch.

He smirked and traced his fingers on her bare waist while making some patterns using his index finger. She gasps and gripped his shirt in her fist tightly.

Akshat : Ek number , tujhi Kambar.

(Translation : top class , your waist)

She gawked at him.

Amulya : Nihayati besharam ho tum dur hato

Akshat : koi Shaq?

Amulya : Akshat I swear tumhare biwi ke hisse ki flirting bhi tum mere sath hi karlo haina.

He left her and moved his fingers from hairs looking away.

Akshat : tumhe hi bhagake le jaunga.

Amulya : bhaga me kaha le jaoge?

Akshat : Apni duniya dikhane.

To be continued...