"All I see is you when I close my eyes."

Atharva felt a soft warm hand caress his cheek, sliding down to his jawline and resting there. Only one name crossed his mind and he jolted upright, pulling away from the person in front of him.

Startled, Aahana lay a hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "It's me. Aahana."

He was still sleepy as he looked at Aahana with wobbly eyes, haziness blurring his vision. She was sitting not too far away from him with a small smile.

Aahana had thought she would stay with him for a while in his room before going to bed but seeing him asleep, looking like that- innocent and cute, she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone, plus she got to admire him all night with no interruption, taking in every bit of his flawed perfection.

His eyes widened and he blinked twice, lowering his gaze to his fingers.

He was ashamed of himself. He could never forget yesterday night but oblivious to him, Aahana shifted closer to him and placed a light kiss on his temple. When she pulled back, their eyes locked.

"Are you okay?" she asked him, her voice soft and gentle.

"Yes," he whispered, peering at the clock.

"Okay, I'll make breakfast." She followed his eyes and looked back at him, smiling.

She hadn't realized her mistake of sitting on an uncomfortable, rocky chair but now as she stood up, she felt her muscles ache in protest. Two nights with no proper sleep. Phew.

He nodded and got out of the bed, running his fingers through his untamed hair before walking to his closet and pulling out his clothes. Meanwhile, Aahana made his bed and parted the curtains of the windows, letting the sunlight peek inside, giving a soft orange glow to his room.

She sighed and was about to leave when he called her. "Aahana."

Damn the morning voice, She thought. It was ridden with sleep, deeper and huskier. And she resisted the urge to swoon when his voice worked her name so smoothly.

She turned around and hummed, her eyebrow raised questioningly as she tried to act nonchalant when inside her heart was doing somersaults.

He hesitated, his hand flying to scratch the back of his neck. "Thank you." The way he said it with so much passion, she felt her knees weaken. She let out a shaky breath and held the door handle for support before nodding quietly and scurrying away.

He stood there staring at the closed door and sighed. Is she for real?

After what happened yesterday, he thought she would look down upon him but she didn't. She is so different.

Should I tell her everything?

He shook his head and headed to the washroom.

She had helped him, twice now, but he couldn't trust her. His awful history with women didn't let him, not so easily.

As the cold water cascaded down his bare body, he felt devastated, realizing the impact of his past on his present.

His knuckles hit against the tiled wall repeatedly and he cursed loudly as rage built inside him.

He had hidden his real self from the world for so many years now, but he wasn't successful in doing so. Aahana had seen him, a glimpse of real him. She had seen his weakness. She now knew how broken he was.

He wasn't a perfect, rich, successful CEO in her eyes anymore. He was a child now, lost and lonely.

He didn't know how he would stand in front of her. He feared to meet her eyes. He didn't want to see pity in them when she would know the truth. Or did she already know? He gulped. No. She couldn't figure it out herself.

Men should be strong, dominating and powerful but here he was behaving like a scared kitten in front of his wife. He was a sad excuse for a man and that angered him even more.

He wished he could have used this anger in his past when he was forced to do what he didn't want to.

Groaning, he turned off the shower and stepped out of it. He dried himself with the towel and dressed quickly.

He was planning to avoid Aahana at all cost, so showing up at the office was a far cry.

He walked out of his room and headed straight to the main door.

Aahana had just changed her clothes after a warm shower and was coming out of her room when she saw Atharva opening the door.

Her eyebrows knitted in confusion and she glanced at the wall clock. It was just 6:00 in the morning. Where was he going this early?

"Atharva!" she called and ran behind him hurriedly. "What about breakfast?"

He stopped and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am not hungry."

"B-but where are you going?"

"None of your business." He snapped and walked away without a second glance her way.

Aahana flinched, taken aback by his response. God, help me. Him and his mood swings.

Atharva drove to the place he called his second home. He stumbled upon this place when he was 18 and since then, he felt very comfortable here, for no one ever disturbed him and let him be himself.

24/7 Bar. If the name didn't make it clear, it was open for 24 hours.

And he could stay here as long as he wanted because the bar owner, Dev, had become a very good friend of his in these couple of years. Though he didn't know anything about Atharva's past, he was someone Atharva could talk to without feeling agitated.

It was early morning now, so the bar was nearly empty. He went inside and headed straight for the drinks. He gulped them down as if his life depended on it. Not one or two but countless vodka shots went down his throat like always and he felt lightweight as dizziness washed over him. The emptiness in him disappeared and he felt free and relaxed.

No thoughts corrupted his mind.

Morning went and night arrived, people were filling in but he ignored the swarm of people and enjoyed his own little life with no botheration.

No mother.

No Aahana.

Just him and his drinks.

He didn't go home and sat on the stool, his elbows perched on the table.

He wanted to stay this way forever but of course, all good things have to come to rest. It was a one-day thing. If he did this daily, his business would go downhill and he didn't want that to happen.

So reluctantly, he left the bar and pulled in front of his house. It was silent and dark, letting him know that Aahana was asleep. He struggled to keep himself up as he swayed to his room and fell on the bed with a soft 'whoosh'.

He was just a second away from passing out when his door swung open and lights flooded his room. "We need to talk."

He groaned in response and waved her off dismissively with the swap of his fingers.

"If we don't, I'll disturb you all night."

Gritting his teeth, he opened his eyes and looked at her. "Fine. Do you want to talk? We will talk but outside. Wait for me, I'll change and come."

She narrowed her eyes but nodded and turned around. And just when she did, he sprinted to the door with as much force he could muster and locked it, leaving her outside.

"Finally," he mumbled and settled on his bed, pulling the comforter over him as alcohol shushed him to sleep.

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