•○•○•○•○•○•○•

Ranbir's  POV

"Ranbir! Come here! Help me!" Alia shouted from the kitchen. I rushed to her side, leaving Raha momentarily with whom I was playing till now. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?" I asked, concern etched on my face.

"No...the pancake is burnt. What should we do now?" Alia pouted, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I chuckled, my heart melting at her adorable expression. "You're so cute when you're angry," I teased, wrapping my arms around her waist. "You light up my life, Alia."Ah! What a cutie she is. It melts my heart man!

She was standing there in front of the shelves. I went towards her and hugged her from behind. I couldn't resist pecking her ears. Her ears were immediately burning. She was blushing!

"You're distracting me from the pancake crisis," she playfully scolded.

I smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You don't know how hot you look when you're angry, Mrs. Kapoor?" I whispered seductively.

She lowered her face and turned around at me. I raised my eyebrows in a confounded look and wanted an approving look.

"Sure Mrs. Kapoor?" I asked seductively. Instead of speaking any words, she wrapped her arms around my neck and filled the gap between us.

I picked her up in a bridal style and went to our room only to make her lie down in the bed. I snuggled into her neck leaving traces of our intimacy.

"Wai-wait.." Alia spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, showing her red tinted cheeks.

"Raha?" She asked innocently.

"I made her sleep. She won't want to hear her mother cry. Would she?" I asked smirking and gently removing the clothes exploring every part of the body to hear my name for the umpteenth time from her mouth.

》《》《》《》《》《》《

Trigger Warning: The following scene contains themes of harassment and trauma.

□■□■□■□

Author's POV

A little girl, around 12 years old, struggled against the unwanted advances of an older man. "No...please no..." she begged, her voice trembling with fear.

"Please leave...NO!" A little girl of around 12 years of age said struggling. She knew something that was going on  was making her uncomfortable but she didn't know exactly what to tell and how to stop this horrible act. The touch, the presence of that man felt terrible.

She said no but he didn't listen. He never heard or gave any heed to that tiny little voice. She used to push him although the strength was never enough. He showed his masculine strength and ego. He didn't see those eyes of the girl standing there helpless.

Even at times when she walked through barren streets, she always had the feeling of being watched which could never shook off since she was 12 years of age and it haunted her every night.

She remembered the old man who would often visit their neighborhood. He would smile and offer her candies, but his eyes would linger on her in a way that made her skin crawl. At first, she had tried to avoid him, but he seemed to be everywhere.

One day, he had cornered her in a deserted alley, his breath hot against her face. She had frozen, unsure of what to do. But somehow, she had found the courage to push him away and run.

Similarly that day, she refused, she thought she could manage but he crossed his limits. He didn't listen and ruined the life of that tiny little girl providing a trauma for her.

"Please move." She said gathering a lot of courage. She was trembling in fear.

The more she refused, the more he came closer. Finally the terror took place.

She ran. Ran further off. Ran away as far as she could.

Suddenly a man came and shook her. She was shaking uncontrollably and woke up.

"It was a dream?" She asked wiping beads of sweat formed on her forehead. The corner of her eyes were dried with tears. He held her hand close to him.

"Wh-what happened? You look frightened." He asked with concern evident in his eyes. He saw tears forming in her eyes. He hugged her tightly giving her comfort as much as he could.

"You know, I love you...then why? Why are we drifting apart Kiara? I can'tbear this pain anymore." Sid asked his voice was filled with pain.

She pulled herself back from his embracing and turned around to sleep wrapping herself with the blanket. Sid sighed and went from her room.

》《》《》《》《》《》《

Kartik's POV

"He-hello?" I greeted her nervously on the phone call.

"Hi. I heard, your day 1 shoot was over?" I heard the bright and confident voice of Kriti. She was never like this? She...was soft, tender. When did she change so much?

I smiled, feeling a mix of emotions. "Yeah, it was great. I missed you, though."

Kriti's tone changed, her voice taking on a surprised quality. "You missed me?"

I quickly clarified, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. "I mean, we all missed you."

Kriti's response caught me off guard. "You sound hot when you're nervous."

I stuttered, taken aback by her comment. "Wh-what?" My eyes widened at her statement clearly not expecting things would turn a 360°.

Kriti chuckled, her voice husky. "Nothing. Bye." It made me come back to reality. Things were not going to be so easy as it seemed so.

"Uh...Kriti?" I stammered wishing her to stay longer.

"What?" She said in a cold voice.

"How many days more?" I asked confidently yet a feeling of longing stayed in my heart.

"Umm..another 2 weeks." She said aching my heart.

As we ended the call, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something had shifted between us.

•○•○•○•○•○•○•

Hope you guys liked the chapter.

What were your views on it?

It will be appreciated if your presence is felt, I mean agar aap thoda like wagera Kar dete toh *sleepishly smiles*

Yours,
Author.

♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤