♔ Aarav ♔

          A few minutes after I have knocked on Eva's loft door, she answers and lets me in. "Is everything okay?" I ask at once, for her message asking me to come to her place had been cryptic.

She nods walking towards the living room as I follow. "Yes, didn't think you'd want to wait till tomorrow for this." I notice a male sitting on her couch having a sip of water. His back was facing me but he turns to face us as if hearing our footsteps. "Aarav, meet Aarush Rawal."

Seeing his build and the way he stands up commanding discipline in his form, I connect at once that this is her friend from the army she had called for help regarding Jhanvi's security. I imagined him to be a bit older, at the same age as Eva. She had mentioned he was only a year younger to her but still, he looked a lot younger than his age.

"Aarush, this is Aarav Raizada."

At the introduction from Eva, the two of us lock eyes. Neither of us being the first to forward our hand for a hand shake. It was as if I was silently testing him. But perhaps, he was doing the same. Almost as if he was judging whether or not to take his job by assessing his to-be employer. That itself made me want to respect him for some reason.

He wasn't bowing down, cracking first. He was showing he isn't inferior. And I get the feeling he could very well be doing something more important with his time with one of army assignments rather than lend his hand here. He wasn't seeking my approval and that must be the reason I deemed him capable in less than a minute.

Eva clears her throat, silently demanding both of us to stand down. Though, I had not been the one sending daggers his way. I was merely testing him. It was only right to do so, correct? If I am to hand over Jhanvi's entire security matters to him, I had to trust he was up for the job and was more than capable of keeping her safe.

Still, taking it a notch down, I walk around to sit at the couch. "I take it Eva's filled you in on the details?"

He nods in response while Eva too sits and when he just stands there, she swats his nearest limb - his leg. "You aren't standing in front of your superiors, Rawal." He takes the hint and follows, sitting beside her. She then looks at me, "He'll do it but..."

"But?" I question her hesitance as her gaze travels to Aarush.

With his arms crossing over his chest, he laid the terms himself - speaking for the first time in the last five minutes. "I don't work in teams."

I counter, "You can't very well be the head of security without having a team to lead."

He, however, remains fixed on his only rule unwilling to compromise. "I don't need to lead a team to do my job. They'll just get in the way."

I raise a brow, leaning in on my knees to look intimidating but not a single twitch on his facial expression. I doubt he even is the slightest nervous around me. "And, you expect me to put all my trust in a complete stranger?" My point was, what was my proof that he couldn't come around to stab us in the back?

"Trust me. Don't trust me. I don't truly care for that. My job is to protect the Raichand Heir until the culprits of her parents' murder are behind bars - not to earn your trust." He clarifies and while I consider he could have a point that, I somewhere wonder if this stubbornness and pride of his could cost me dearly. He blinks towards Eva, "Let me know if I should plan on extending my stay."

Without waiting for a response from both of us, he stands up and walks himself out. I question Eva, "This is the guy you trust?"

She inhales, knowing herself that this man is difficult. Yet, she continues to vouch for him, "Aarav, I've trained with him. Yes, he can be beyond rigid with the way he works, but it works. I'm telling you, there can be no one better than him. I've told you. I trust him with my life. You should trust him with Jhanvi's."

I am still conflicted. There was a determination in his eyes but with it, I could also spot something haunted. I imagine any person in the army would have seen things but his... I couldn't shake the feeling that he has a past. "But just him? I don't understand that."

She tries her hand at explaining his perspective, "When he takes an assignment, he sees it through and the way he works, he does not trust anyone more than himself. That way, he doesn't have to think about consequences."

"Consequences?"

"Yes, Aarav. Consequences. In a team, it's not just your life on the line. It's every member of the team as well and he does not gamble with that. He won't think twice before putting himself between danger and Jhanvi but for that, he needs that freedom. He can't be worrying about his team's safety and Jhanvi's."

Well... I don't know how to feel about this. More respect or fear? If I give him this... can he really handle it all? The way he had held his own in front of me, I was tempted to say he could. He hadn't deterred from his way to accommodate for my assurance. "One-man army, is that it?"

She chuckles to my grim words, "Something like that." I nod, giving her my answer. She reaches for my hand to squeeze them. "This is the best you can do for Jhanvi, believe me."

"Yeah," I answer hoping this wouldn't turn into a wrong choice.

Aarush Rawal... whoever you are, you better be as good as Eva claims.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          The next day, I hear from Eva that Hiten, her fiancé, has come to Mumbai. It shouldn't make me upset that he came all the way to see her. Why shouldn't he? They're engaged. No matter how many logical reasoning I pull to convince myself, I cannot not be disturbed. Even when I push myself into work – which isn't hard given I have a full schedule for the week – it keeps coming back to bother me every time I see her around the office.

The day after is Friday. I tell myself it will be a good thing to have a break with the coming weekend as I won't have to be around her majority of the time I am awake.

Suddenly, yesterday seemed to be a better day, however, when she barges into my office looking pissed as ever. "I have a question and I want you to answer honestly."

Without looking up or stopping my typing, I lightly scold her, "Ms. Raichand, you should knock on the door before entering someplace.

She walks up to the desk and places her palms atop the surface. "Is there a clause in the will that says I can't have what's mine until I am married?"

I briefly stop typing hearing the question. There is no way she heard this from Mr. Sheikh. He knows better than to reveal this information to her yet. To show it isn't as important a question, I resume typing to finish the sentence. When I glance up, her nose is fuming with anger – finding my lack of response disrespectful.

I lean back into my chair, "Who did you hear this from?"

"Doesn't matter." She insists, "Just answer my question."

I ask another, "Why are you asking me?"

"I certainly don't know Mr. A. Who else would I ask?" She points out straightening up to cross her arms.

I hold back my panic on thinking she knows who her guardian her. "Mr. A?"

"My guardian who insists on staying anonymous."

I find myself nodding and smiling at the same time. It's amusing, but if only she knew that the A she thinks for Anonymous could also stand for Arnav, my dad.

"Are you smiling?" She questions, baffled. "I'm serious! I want an answer."

"Ms. Raichand, neither am I your Mr. A or Mr. Sheikh. Why do you suppose I would know the answer to your question?"

"True, but you do know Mr. A, don't you? He's the one who asked you to train me after all."

"Yes," I answer honestly. As much as possible, I have been trying to not lie to her. I may give her indirect answers, when unavoidable, but it's the best I can do. "I do know your Mr. A and no, I cannot tell you who he is." Her shoulders sag in disappointment and I continue, "As for your initial question, I don't know where you heard this from, but if I were you, I'd trust Mr. A."

She swallows before speaking out loud, "So he lied to me."

"Who lied to you?"

"Hiten." She glances at me and adds, "My fiancé," as if I don't know. Well, according to her I shouldn't know so I pretend like it's the first time I am hearing his name. She questions, "But why would he lie to me about this?"

I walk around to stand in front of her. "Did he say where he got this information from?" I pull out a chair and motion for her to sit while I lean back onto the desk.

"Uh, he's a cop. He had a lawyer friend look into my dad's will."

"I won't tell you to not trust him because he is your fiancé, but I will tell you that an Australian lawyer, no matter how well connected he is, does not have the authority to check into a private case here in India."

She nods and I wish I could tell what she was thinking. She usually expresses herself through her eyes but right now, I am clueless. Her face is entirely blank as if multiple things are going through her mind.

"I'm sorry for barging in like this." She apologizes, in control of her emotions. "May I take an early lunch break?"

"Sure." I figure she is going to go meet him. "We don't have a meeting until 2."

"Thank you." She is so distant in her replies, it worries me. Is this how she gets when she is hurt? I have no idea.

But, I also no longer trust Hiten. He cannot be just anyone if he knows this marriage clause of the will.

"Before you go, come with me? There is something else you need to know since you brought this up." I suddenly stop her from leaving. I was hoping I would have more time to tell her so she would know me and wouldn't flip out. Now, I realize I will have to tell her. Not knowing will put her in danger and I can't risk that for her.

She nods and I walk past her. She follows me and we take the elevator up to the 34th floor. It's a secluded floor and only those with keys can get in, and those keys are only with the members of our family. I briefly glance at the secretary, "Is he in?"

The secretary answers, "Yes, but he's in a meeting."

I still reach for the door and knock before pushing it open. Dad glances up from the laptop screen. Seeing the two of us, he puts things together and excuses himself, "Gentleman, I have another matter to attend to. Send the minutes of this meeting to my secretary and I will get back to you with a proposal by next week."

I step inside and move aside to let Jhanvi in. "Jhanvi, meet Mr. A."

She looks back at me in shock before looking back at my father, "Uh, hello sir. It's-it's a pleasure. Sorry, I had everything planned on what I'd say to you when I'd meet you but now, I'm just..."

Dad smiles and walks around the desk to greet her, "Relax, Jhanvi. No need to be nervous around me. Come, sit. If Aarav brought you here, then I am sure you have questions that I need to answer." He then glares at me in a scolding, "A little warning would've been nice."

"When have I ever given you a warning?" I comment pulling out a chair and taking a seat.

Jhanvi questions me, "I don't understand. Just minutes ago, you said you wouldn't tell me who Mr. A was."

"That was before you told me Hiten gave you half-truth to manipulate you into marrying him."

"Wait, what?" She asks in confusion, "You told me there was no marriage clause."

"No, I said you do not need to marry to claim your inheritance."

She grows flustered, "Okay, cut this out right now and stop talking indirectly."

Dad intervenes, "Jhanvi, calm down. I'll tell you everything you need to know and then you'll understand why Aarav didn't tell you everything." Given that he is older, she bites back her anger and politely listens to him. "As I had Mr. Sheikh tell you, you automatically get your inheritance when you turn 25. But, there is a clause if you'd like to claim it earlier. You have to get married."

"What? But you both just said..."

He raises his hand to stop her when she tries to jump to an argument. "The reason we did not tell you is because you are already engaged to Hiten, and the will already mentions the name of the guy your father chose for you to marry if you want it earlier."

"Oh." She lets out on learning this contradiction. "So Hiten didn't lie."

I explain, "He did. There is only one person he could have learned it from and that person knows the guy named in the will. Both of them tried to manipulate that information so you'd agree to get married to him and if that had happened..."

"Then?" She insists when I look at dad unsure if he'd want her to know this.

He makes the decision to tell her, "Then your dad's estate would have by default transferred over to your dad's old business partner."

She gulps hearing this. I expect her to freak out, but she surprises me by grasping up all of the information without an extreme reaction. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Let's just say he's no friend of yours." Dad answers.

"Who... who is the guy dad named on his will?"

Dad questions, "Would you want to claim your inheritance earlier?"

"No, uh no. That wouldn't be possible, right?" She explains, "I'm engaged to someone else and besides, I get it in a year anyway. I'm not ready for it now as it is."

Dad softly explains, "If that's your choice, then I have to respect his wish to not be named."

Perhaps, she would understand why I want to remain unnamed. I don't want her to feel guilty working with me day in and out and face the fact that we won't be getting married. Guilt can be a drowning feeling and I wouldn't want her to go through that.

"Okay, I understand. Um, thank you for telling me all this."

He smiles at her, "Ofcourse dear, I just wish I'd been able to tell you sooner. Then, perhaps your Aunt wouldn't have..."

He trails off noticing her expression fall but try to force an unaffected smile. "Yeah." She whispers out. "Uh, I'll go on that lunch break now."

We both nod at her.

She reaches the door and then suddenly turns, "Oh, I never caught your name?"

"Arnav."

"Thank you, Arnav uncle."

Dad smiles generously at her for calling him uncle as if he were one of her close ones already.

Once the door closes, he turns to me. "That went better than I thought."

I inform, "Yeah, I've noticed she's not one for dramatic reactions."

He chuckles, "The complete opposite from our family, don't you think?"

I sigh though I know it's his attempt to lighten my mood, "It's tough to tell what she thinks."

He offers in a hope, "It can't be easy to learn someone you considered a motherly figure betrayed you. I'm sure we can help her move past it eventually."

I answer uncertainly, "I don't know, dad. I'm all professional and crap around her, but outside of it, I am a person but Jhanvi...she's sort of like that all the time. Just ask Eva."

"Aarav, I told you not to be professional. You two were friends. Can't you meet her as such childhood friends?"

I grimly smile knowing it would disappoint him, "I can't. I don't know how to be friends with her." Suddenly, the back of my mind connects a piece of information. I grab my phone from the desk. "I have to go." I let him know as I leave his office.

Jhanvi left for lunch and it can only mean she went to meet Hiten. If Hiten found out, there is one possibility only where he learned it from and if that man told Hiten, then Jhanvi can't confront Hiten alone.

She's in danger.

Reaching the basement of the building, I walk towards my car. My entourage wants to follow but I wave at them to stay back. I just leave with my driver and my head guard, Vikas, in the front seat for backup. I call Aarush. "Where is she headed?"

With the information he gives me, I direct my driver to drive to the same location.

"Stay here until I say so," I tell my guard and step out of the car. Entering the restaurant, I look around to spot her.

I find Aarush seated a few tables behind them being casual and fitting in as a regular customer in civilian clothes rather than standing out as Men in Black.

The two of them are just sitting there looking at the menus. I am a little confused as to why Jhanvi didn't confront him over his lie. I decide to sit towards the other side of the restaurant to just keep an eye on them and not interfere.

Pulling out my phone, I texted him.

Can you hear what they're saying?

From across the room, he lifts his phone and answers back. Just about what to order.

What is she doing? I wonder. Is she pretending to go along with his lie or is there something going on here that I am missing? Is she going to tell him what she learned, and to what extent does she trust him? I don't even know the kind of person he is.

All I know is that the entire 45 minutes that they spend in the restaurant, I am tensed while they have lunch talking occasionally.

When I sense they are ready to leave, I get up and leave first so she doesn't see me.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

  ∞ authors note  ∞  

Where is everyone? Got only 7 votes... I missed you all! Come back xD

Oh... some more on Hiten and even more coming up! Hope you're ready! The next chapter is quite going to be a focal point and you'll get a glimpse of the Aarav Singh Raizada ;)

QOTC: What is your impression of Aarush? And what do you think is going through Jhanvi's head? Finding out about this clause and questions of Hiten...!

If quick votes & comments on this chapter, I may be willing to update earlier than Friday!