"I'll love you enough for you to give your all to me."

Aahana's injuries had played cupid, which though painful, was a blessing. Of course, they weren't the perfect husband and wife. They had boundaries of their own but they were comfortable with each other which was enough, for now.

For the past few weeks, they'd been attached to each other like flesh and bone. And though Atharva never confessed his love to her, his actions showed what he felt. And she was indeed falling for him more and more every second of their time spent together.

He was really different. His exterior toughness was just a cover-up to cocoon the real him from the world. Avoid and ignore was his defence mechanism which he'd learnt over the years from his experiences.

The world saw him as a cold man who didn't give a fUck. He never smiled and he never got close. He didn't play with girls and he didn't do clubs. Friends and family were a lost cause because all they knew was the billionaire mogul, Atharva Saxena, not him.

But Aahana, she wasn't just anyone. She was able to go beyond his walls and see right through his soul. And now that she knew his past so well, she could read every inch of his thoughts and expression without him having to utter a word. And why did he even need to speak when his eyes were the avalanche of emotions which reflected in Aahana's, and she could feel him like her own feelings swirling within her.

She saw him smile umpteenth time now and it made her insides melt like chocolate. She could never stop herself from smiling back. The corners of his eyes would crinkle and the twinkle in his eyes always managed to show her stars in the daylight. His right cheek formed a hollow, and that dimple made him look even more boyish and young. Talking about his laughs, it never failed to amaze her. That deep, husky sound filled her senses and her heart would start doing somersaults. Always.

He was a real charmer, effortless that too. His handsomeness was beyond any man and woman.

"You are staring at me again."

Aahana blinked with a shocked expression and chuckled nervously. "Oh please, how do you know?"

Atharva turned off the stove before turning in her direction.

"It's too intense to not feel the burn of your gaze digging holes into the back of my head," he stated with a smirk as he approached her.

Aahana rolled her eyes. "Don't give yourself too much credit. You are not very good-looking anyway."

"Eh?" He arched a brow and damn, did he look sexy in his gray trousers and white shirt. She could literally see the contours of his body through the thin material of the shirt and despite the scars on him, he was sinfully gorgeous.

"Yup, I was uh...thinking."

"If you say so."

"Seriously, I was thinking about my fracture. My leg feels fine. Maybe we could take the cast off?"

Atharva spoke, "Let it heal first."

"C'mon," She huffed and stood up from the dining stool. "See I can walk on my ow- ouch!" She tripped on her own foot but luckily, Atharva's reflexes were fast enough to grab her by her shoulder and steady her.

"I told you." He chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"No, I can walk." She pushed him away and had taken just a few steps but Atharva snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest with a disapproving look.

"Nope, you can't stress your leg, okay?"

She whined in his hold as her palms pressed on his chest. "Please?"

"No Aahana, wait for the Doc's appointment which is next week," he said in his dismissive voice with a stern look.

She gave him the puppy eyes, her peachy lips jutting out to form a pout. He groaned and buried his face in her neck. "No no no. Not that look."

"Is it working?" she asked him sweetly, her hands sliding up his broad chest and wrapping around his neck.

"No."

"Are you sure?" she whispered in his ear, purring the words.

"Okay fine, We'll go to the doctor tomorrow. Let's see what he has to say."

"Aww, Thank you so m—"

She was cut off when silence around them was suddenly filled with loud shouts, then the door burst open, leaving them stuck on their spot as they stared at Urvashi.

The guards followed, their gaze lowered to the ground. "I'm sorry, sir. We stopped her, but she didn't listen to us." His voice quivered with fear.

Atharva broke away from Aahana and gestured for them to leave while nodding.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you." She smiled but she didn't look fine. Her eyes were glazed and she looked kind of high.

"Didn't I make it clear already?"

"I know, but I miss you Atharva. I miss the old times. So, I'm here. I have had enough of your wife. I want you back. Come to me baby, come back to mama." She was giving a wide smile, her pearly white teeth on full display as she neared him.

He stared down at her in disgust and pushed her away. "I hate you."

"You don't mean that. You are mine baby, only mine." She didn't care if Aahana gaped at her with a horrified look. She just wanted him and nobody would stop her.

"Shut the fUck up and get out of my house," he spat and grabbed her arm forcefully, dragging her to the door.

She freed from him and shook her head violently, a stern expression appearing on her feature. "No, I'm not leaving you, not until you give me your time. I know you like it too, don't you? It's been years baby, my body needs you. I want to feel you inside me." She pressed into him, grinding against his lower half.

A sickening feeling blossomed deep within him and a shiver ran up his spine. His head clouded and his past flashed in front of his eyes. A whimper escaped his lips and Aahana couldn't stop herself. She limped to Atharva and pushed Urvashi to the wall.

"How could you?" She yelled with narrowed eyes, her voice laced with anger.

Urvashi had an evil glint, her lips turning up to form a sly smile. "Well, he is mine before yours but ours indeed. So how about we make a deal?"

"What is it?"

"We can share him. He'll be our toy and nobody would know about it. I promise it will be totally confidential."

Aahana's eyes widened as her lips parted in shock. "This is my husband you are talking about, so shut up. I'm not making any shitty deal with you. So do me a favour and leave."

She eyed Aahana's broken state and laughed. "Y'know what? I'll keep him to myself. So now if you'll excuse us,"

"I'll call the police," Aahana warned frantically, not knowing what else to say. Her eyes drifted to Atharva for a brief second and she cursed under her breath. He wasn't okay. His breath was rapid and heavy, eyes squeezed shut like he was in pain physically.

"Like I care Aahana." Urvashi huffed. "Police or anyone can do nothing because you have got no proof against me. So I'm telling you this for the last time, leave him for me." And in one fluid movement, she pushed Aahana who couldn't even blink an eye before she fell on the ground with a loud thud. Her leg twisted and she let out a cry of pain as tears involuntarily rolled down her cheeks.

"FUck!" Atharva's eyes fluttered open and he blinked, a look of complete horror plastered on his face. He stepped towards her and helped her get up but a gasp tore out of her lips and she shook her head.

Atharva tensed. "Shit, I'm so sorry." He cupped her face in his large hands and wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. "Give me a minute, I'll call the doctor."

"If you two are done, I'd like you to come with me, baby."

Atharva shut his eyes at the sound of her voice. For a moment, he'd forgotten she was here. His chest heaved up as he let out a breath to control the rage bubbling within him. "Get out."

"Huh?"

"Guards!" he shouted. "Do not let her come in. Never."

The guards rushed to Urvashi and held her by the arm, pulling her out of the house. She was grinning like a psychotic bitch as she thrashed wildly. "I'll do anything to get you. You have to come to me. Just wait."

"Get the fuck out!" he bellowed furiously before picking up Aahana in his arms.

"It's okay. I'll be fine."

"Shh no." He placed her carefully on the sofa and dialled Yash's number, asking him to come for a check-up.

Atharva was anxious as he waited for Yash to finish. Thankfully, nothing was broken again. Just a little too much pressure for which he gave a spray and told her to not walk for some days. He nodded and thanked the doctor on the way out.

"I'm really sorry Aahana. I should have been more careful."

"It's really okay. It's not your fault."

He gave a tight smile. "Why can't I let you go?"

"Because I don't want you to."

"B-but divorce will do us good."

Atharva realized no matter how hard he tried, he could never win Urvashi. There was no way out. He was wrong. He was indeed tainted and broken beyond repair. He wasn't good for Aahana. He would destroy her too but he didn't want her to end up in darkness.

She sighed and buried her face in his chest. "We already went past this."

"I'll call the lawyer and ready the papers." He pretended to not hear her.

She shook her head with a smile. "Silly, I love you a lot to let you leave me. So try harder because I'm not signing any papers."

"Aahana you don't understand. You don't have to live with me. I'll talk to our parents. They won't mind. Heck, you'll be free. Get a better ma- fuck this is hard." He sighed in defeat and rested his head on hers.

"Listen, Atharva," she cooed softly, as her palm rubbed circles on his back soothingly. "You aren't thinking straight now. Just breathe and relax. Everything will be just fine."

He frowned but obliged. "I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right."

He rolled his eyes and tightened his arms. "I made biryani for lunch."

"Did you?" She looked up at him. "Because I could swallow a horse."

That made Atharva chuckle. He flicked her nose before pulling away. "Well then, biryani will have to do because I don't own a horse."

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