DIVYA
I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the subtle curve of the new weight. As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, a sigh escaped my lips. In just two weeks, my once lean figure had softened, gaining a few noticeable kilos. I wasn't exactly fat, but it was surprising how quickly the change had happened.
People often say that when you're surrounded by love and happiness, you tend to gain weight. I had never believed it until now. The love Aunty Nandini showered on me, paired with her delicious cooking, had certainly played a role in this transformation.
I twirled in front of the mirror, a smile creeping onto my face as I thought about the bond I'd formed with Aunty Nandini in such a short timeâa bond I had never managed to create with my own parents in twenty years. And then there was Raghav. His dangerous, silent aura was intimidating, yet it made me feel strangely protected.
In his presence and within the walls of this house, I felt a safety I had never known. Over the past two weeks, I'd become more carefree than ever before. But a wave of sadness washed over me as I realized that soon, I would have to leave this place and return to my old life.
I would truly miss this place and the people here, especially Raghav. The thought of him made me blush as memories of a particular night surfaced. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I reminded myself that as much as I loved being here, I couldn't stay forever. Life had to move on.
With that resolve, I stepped into the bathroom. I undressed and placed my clothes in the laundry basket. My eyes fell on my reflection, and my hand instinctively caressed the fading scar on my stomach. Shrugging off the lingering memories, I filled the bathtub, adjusted the temperature, and slipped into the warm water. The body wash foamed as I scrubbed away, the bath leaving me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
After drying off, I wrapped myself in a towel and headed to the closet. I chose a light blue off-shoulder top and a white skirt, pairing them with flats and minimal accessories. I tied my hair into a ponytail and stepped out of the room, feeling ready for the day.
As I entered the dining room, the delicious aroma of food hit me, and my stomach grumbled in anticipation.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Come, have breakfast," Nandini Aunty greeted me with a warm smile. I nodded and quickly sat down, hurriedly filling my plate with food before she could serve me. She chuckled at my behavior. As I was about to eat, my eyes drifted toward the staircase, searching for a familiar face. But he wasn't there, and I felt a pang of disappointment.
"You eat, he will join you soon," she reassured me with a kind smile. I nodded and started eating my food silently, but he never showed up.
Eating breakfast alone felt awkward and strange. I had grown accustomed to his presence. He hadn't joined me for dinner last night either, and I had assumed he was busy. I realized I needed to break this habit of relying on company while eating because, ultimately, I would have to face the world alone.
I wiped my face with a napkin and stood up, heading out of the house towards the beautiful garden. There, I saw Danny, the gardener, already at work.
"Good morning, Danny," I greeted him. He gave me his sweetest smile. In his mid-forties with a few white hairs, Danny was a gentle and kind man, someone who felt like a father figure to me. His caring nature was something I had always wanted from my father, who had constantly failed in that role.
I crouched beside him and noticed he was planting new tulip bulbs.
"You brought tulips?" I asked.
"Yes, you like them, so I thought to plant some," he replied, smiling gently.
"Isn't he sweet?" I thought to myself.
"So, what's today's tip?" I asked eagerly. Ever since I discovered that Danny was a gardener, he had been sharing his gardening tips with me. Gardening had always been my hobby, but my mother had disapproved of me getting dirty and had banned me from it. After leaving home, I never had the time or skill to pursue it. But now, with time on my hands, I could learn from Danny.
He smiled and started explaining everything in detail, and like a good student, I listened attentively, helping him as he talked.
As I was listening to Danny and helping him with the tulips, I suddenly felt a dangerous aura behind me. From the corner of my eye, I saw him emerging from the forest, taking slow, deliberate steps toward us.
I tilted my head and saw his white fur gleaming under the sun's rays. He fixed me with a glare before sitting down just a few meters away from us. I couldn't help but smile at him, amused by his stoic presence. I gave him a smile and ignored him, just like his owner.
His massive paws were adorned with sharp claws that gleamed slightly in the sunlight. The tiger yawned, revealing long, curved canines, and then settled its head on its paws, never breaking eye contact. I could feel the intensity of his gaze, a mixture of curiosity and something that felt almost like understanding.
A shiver ran down my spine, and my hands trembled as I felt his intense gaze on me. Though my fear had lessened since our last encounter, it hadn't disappeared entirely. I knew I should get used to his presence, given that he emerged from the forest every morning for his walk and to play with his owner. I'd watched Arctic and Raghav from a distance, lacking the courage to approach these majestic beings.
One thing was clear: Raghav seemed genuinely happy when he was with Arctic. They shared a unique bond.
"Go and meet him. You should get used to his presence by now," Danny urged. Why would I need to get used to his presence? I thought to myself. Itâs not like I'll see him after leaving this place. The thought filled me with a sudden sadness.
"He won't hurt you unless you pose a threat," Danny reassured me. I nodded, considering that this might be the last time I saw Arctic. I longed to touch his soft fur, but my fear held me back. Today, I resolved to overcome that fear. This could be our final encounter.
I turned and saw Arctic still lounging, his eyes fixed on me. Licking my lower lip nervously, I stood up and dusted off my hands, then slowly made my way toward him.
As I approached, he watched me with curiosity, then narrowed his eyes, possibly perceiving me as a threat. Kneeling in front of him, my heart pounded in my chest. Saying I was scared would be an understatement.
I lifted my trembling hand and gently placed it on his head, caressing him. He closed his eyes, enjoying my touch. I'd seen him react this way with Raghav, which meant he was comfortable with me and wouldn't harm me. The thought brought a smile to my face, and my fear melted away.
Soon, I was stroking his fur without hesitation, and he seemed to enjoy it. He moved closer and rested his head on my lap. For a moment, fear surged through me, but I realized this big, furry creature craved love and care, just like me.
"You're so cute," I whispered, cupping the side of his face. I giggled when he rubbed his face against my palm. Heavy footsteps approached, and a dangerous aura enveloped us. Arctic stepped away from me, looking behind.
I turned and found Raghav standing there in his black three-piece suit. He looked undeniably handsome, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. His hands were in his pockets, and his hair was slicked back. His grey eyes seemed to pierce through my soul. Unintentionally, I bit my lower lip, feeling a strange sensation as he stared at me.
Embarrassed by my thoughts, I tilted my head down. Internally, I sighed with relief at finally seeing him. My eyes had been longing for a glimpse of this dangerous man. But my reverie was broken when I heard his hoarse voice.
"Arctic, did you forget that I am your owner and decided to befriend a stranger?" Raghav's voice cut through the air, and Arctic looked at him with a blank expression.
I gasped in shock. "A stranger?" I quickly stood up and glared at him.
"I am not a stranger to him," I said angrily.
"Then what are you?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"A friend," I said confidently.
He chuckled. "So when exactly did you two become friends?" He smirked, mocking me.
I refused to back down. "When you were too busy and forgot to give some attention to your pet," I shot back.
His smirk deepened. "Attention? He is not a cat that needs attention. He is a white tiger. A ruthless one."
"Animals need love," I countered, smirking. "I know love is a foreign language to you."
His eyes darkened at my words, and I instantly realized my mistake. "I... I mean... they need care and love. Your pet needs some attention from you," I stammered.
He clenched his jaw in anger, and I gulped nervously. Then he looked me over from head to toe. "What were you doing that you got so muddy?" he asked.
"Gardening," I replied instantly.
"You like gardening?" he asked, and I nodded happily.
He chuckled at my response. "Sometimes you really surprise me, Ms. Aggarwal," he said, then turned to leave.
I glared at his retreating back, puzzled by his words. Surprise? Why would I surprise him? I thought to myself.
I looked at Arctic, who was watching his owner walk away. "I know, your owner is weird. But we can't do anything about it. At the end of the day, he is your owner," I said. Arctic looked at me as if he understood, which seemed impossible but still felt nice. I gave him a final pat on the head and walked back inside the house.
As I entered the room and caught sight of my reflection in the mirror, I gasped in shock. To say I was dirty would be an understatement. My white skirt was muddy, my hands were filthy, my hair was a mess, and I had mud on my face. I couldn't believe Raghav had seen me in this condition. Embarrassed, I decided to take a shower.
By the time I finished showering and changed into black cotton shorts and a tube top, it was already time for lunch.
I grabbed a quick bite, not very hungry after my heavy breakfast, but I couldn't skip lunch since Nandini Aunty had spent hours cooking for me. I yawned tiredly and rubbed my stomach as I entered the room. I was full and tired, so I decided to take an afternoon nap.
My stay here had really spoiled me. I had developed a bad habit of afternoon naps, and I had no idea how I would break it once I resumed work. Shrugging off those thoughts, I went to sleep.
I woke up around 5 PM and stretched like a lazy cat. Slipping out of bed, I ran my fingers through my hair to smooth it. I tied my hair in a messy bun and walked downstairs.
"You woke up at the right time. I just put tea on the stove," Nandini Aunty said when she saw me coming downstairs. Soon, I was served hot tea with some cookies, and I had to literally force Nandini Aunty to join me.
After my evening tea, I decided to relax a bit in the living room. It was still early, and Raghav wouldn't be home until after eight, so I had some time to unwind. Usually, when Raghav is around, I stay in my room, maintaining my distance. But when he's not, I roam freely, avoiding only the restricted areas. Aunty Nandini brought me some fresh grapes.
"Thanks," I said, taking the bowl from her hand. I leaned back against the armrest of the sofa, crossing my legs as I stretched them out. Placing the bowl on the coffee table, I started eating grapes one at a time while scrolling through reels on my phone.
Popping a grape into my mouth, I savored its sweetness, scrolling through reels on my phone. Laughter bubbled up from my chest as I watched a particularly funny video, the sound echoing softly in the spacious room.
Heavy footsteps echoed, but I ignored them, assuming it was just Aunty Nandini managing the large mansion. I laughed at a funny reel when I suddenly felt the sofa dip beside me, as if someone had sat down. Before I could react, someone gently pulled my legs onto their lap and began stroking my toes in a soothing manner.
I gasped, a shiver running down my spine. Slowly lifting my eyes from my phone, I met a pair of grey eyes. My phone almost slipped from my hand in shock, but I quickly tightened my grip on it.
My cheeks flushed as I realized what he was doing. His hand gently stroked my foot, which now rested on his thighs. His eyes darkened, sweeping over me from head to toe, and I became acutely aware of how short my shorts were, offering him an unimpeded view of my legs.
I swallowed nervously and bit my lip, unable to form any words as his caress continued. Butterflies erupted in my stomach, a mix of excitement and anxiety.
I glanced at the clock and realized it was only 7 PM, which meant Raghav had come home earlyâan unexpected surprise. No wonder he had found me like this, lounging carefreely on the sofa.
I shifted my gaze to Raghav, who was already staring at me. His eyes were devoid of any emotion, making it impossible to read his thoughts. My heart skipped a beat as I tried to gauge his reaction, but his impassive expression gave nothing away.
His grey eyes locked onto mine, unwavering and intense. He didn't even blink, and for some inexplicable reason, I couldn't look away either. The intensity in his gaze made me clench my thighs, stirring a sensation within me that no other man had ever evoked.
Before I could say anything, a sudden ping shattered the tense atmosphere. I glanced down at my phone and saw a new message. Quickly unlocking it, I gasped as I read the words, a lone tear escaping my eye. Still in shock, I stood up abruptly, hoping the message would somehow change with a second glance, but it didnât. My hands trembled, and the phone slipped from my grasp, hitting the ground with a thud.
Thud!