The car ride was silent.
Not the calm kind.
Not the comfortable kind.
But the kind that felt like a storm waiting to break.
Meher sat by the window, her gaze fixed outside, but her mind wasn't on the mountains anymore.
It was on him.
On the way his hand had gripped her wrist.
On the way his voice had dropped—
cold, controlled, but dangerously close to losing control.
She pressed her lips together slightly.
A small smile threatened to form.
So he does feel something.
That thought shouldn't have made her feel anything.
But it did.
Beside her, Aarav sat still.
Too still.
His jaw was clenched.
His eyes dark.
His hands resting calmly on his lap—
but the tension in them was visible.
He hadn't said a word since they left.
And somehow—
that was worse.
The car stopped in front of a beautiful wooden cottage surrounded by snow-covered mountains.
The place looked peaceful.
Warm.
Almost like a dream.
But the moment they stepped out—
that peace shattered.
Aarav walked ahead without waiting for her.
Meher followed slowly, watching him.
Studying him.
Inside the cottage—
the silence returned.
She closed the door behind her.
The soft click echoed louder than usual.
"Aarav—"
"Why?"
His voice cut her off.
Sharp.
Low.
She frowned slightly.
"Why what?"
He turned around slowly.
And the look in his eyes—
It made her heartbeat stop for a second.
Dark.
Burning.
Uncontrolled.
"Why were you standing so close to him?" he asked.
She blinked.
"That's what this is about?" she said, almost surprised.
"Answer me."
His tone wasn't loud.
But it didn't need to be.
She crossed her arms.
"He's my best friend."
"That doesn't answer my question."
She tilted her head slightly.
"And what exactly do you want to hear?"
"That you don't do that with anyone else."
Silence.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Excuse me?"
Aarav took a step closer.
"I don't like it."
She let out a small laugh.
"You don't like it?" she repeated. "So what?"
His jaw tightened.
"So you don't do it again."
That did it.
Her expression hardened instantly.
"You don't get to decide that," she snapped.
"I do."
"No, you don't!" she shot back. "You forced me into this marriage, not my feelings!"
A pause.
Then—
"Your feelings will change."
Her breath hitched.
"You're unbelievable…" she whispered.
Aarav stepped even closer now.
"And you're testing my patience."
Her heartbeat picked up.
"Maybe I am," she said, lifting her chin slightly.
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
That question surprised her.
"Why what?"
"Why are you trying to make me jealous?"
Her breath caught.
Because he knew.
Of course he knew.
She looked away for a second.
Then back at him.
"Maybe I wanted to see if you feel anything," she said honestly.
A pause.
His eyes didn't leave hers.
"And now you know."
Her heart skipped.
"Yes," she whispered.
Another step.
Closer.
Too close.
"And you still did it," he said.
Something in his voice changed.
Not just anger.
Something deeper.
Something almost… hurt.
That caught her off guard.
"I was just talking to him," she said, softer now.
"You were smiling at him."
That sounded worse.
Her brows furrowed.
"So?"
"I haven't seen you smile like that with me."
Silence.
That hit differently.
She didn't have an answer for that.
Because it was true.
Aarav looked at her for a long moment.
Then suddenly—
he grabbed her wrist.
Not harsh.
But firm.
Pulling her closer.
Her breath hitched.
"Aarav—"
"Don't," he said quietly.
His face was inches away now.
"Tumhe idea bhi hai…" he murmured.
"…tum kya kar rahi ho?"
(Do you even have any idea… what you're doing?)
Her heart pounded.
"Leave me," she whispered.
But she didn't move away.
Didn't pull back.
Aarav noticed.
Of course he did.
"Tumhe pata hai…" he continued softly.
"…mujhe gussa kam aata hai."
(I don't get angry easily.)
A pause.
"But jab aata hai…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"…toh control karna mushkil ho jata hai."
(When I do… it becomes hard to control.)
Her breath became uneven.
"Then control it," she said quietly.
He looked at her.
Deeply.
"I'm trying."
Silence.
For a moment—
everything slowed down.
The distance between them.
The tension.
The air.
And then—
"Mat kiya karo aisa," he said softly.
"…pasand nahi aata."
(Don't do that… I don't like it.)
Her heart softened slightly.
Just a little.
"Why?" she asked.
A pause.
Then—
"Because I don't like sharing what's mine."
There it was.
That word again.
Mine.
Her breath caught.
"I'm not yours," she whispered.
Aarav leaned closer.
"Abhi nahi…" he murmured.
"…par ho jaogi."
(Not yet… but you will be.)
Her heartbeat raced.
But this time—
she didn't argue.
Didn't fight.
Because something inside her—
felt different.
Confused.
Conflicted.
And dangerous.
Aarav slowly let go of her wrist.
But his gaze didn't leave her.
"Stay away from him," he said finally.
Her expression shifted again.
"Or what?" she challenged.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"Try me."
Her breath hitched.
Silence filled the room again.
But this silence—
wasn't empty.
It was filled with something new.
Something that neither of them could ignore anymore.
Later that night—
Meher stood by the window, looking out at the snow-covered mountains.
Her mind replayed everything.
His words.
His anger.
His… jealousy.
She touched her wrist lightly.
Where he had held her.
Her heart skipped again.
"Why does it affect me…" she whispered.
She didn't have an answer.
Because somewhere—
deep down—
She knew.
This wasn't just fear anymore.
And that scared her more than anything.
Across the room—
Aarav stood watching her.
Silent.
Observing.
His expression unreadable.
But inside—
everything had changed.
Because for the first time—
He wasn't just controlling the situation.
He was feeling it.
And that made him dangerous.
Even to himself.
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. Hope you will like this chapter and next chapter is fire for you all I request you to encourage me and motivates me with your votes your comments your suggestions I hope you will understand this and couldn't make me feel worthless and also this week the BONUS CHAPTER will be your favourite chapter and you will love it✨