27.

Abhiraj's POV

"And security?" I ask on the call to Varun.

"Yes, sir. Security checking is also done" he replies.

I nod to myself and give him more instructions about the event before ending the call.

Tonight is the party for launching our clothing line in the market. Only employees and business partners are invited. I have checked everything carefully.

Right now, I am sitting inside my home office. I came home early from work today. I gave all the employees a half day off so they could get fresh and ready for the event.

Suddenly, Zar comes running inside my office. I look at him. His white fur shines under the light. He comes closer and grabs onto my pants with his big paws. His blue eyes stare up at me, full of urgency.

"What happened, my boy?" I ask running my fingers through his soft fur.

He doesn’t roar or growl. Instead he looks outside the office door.

"You want me to come with you outside?" I ask.

He nods his head cutely making me smile. Then, he turns around and starts walking ahead of me. His tail sways side to side and he jumps a little, almost like a playful cat.

Ever since Mira and Jiya came to live with us, Zar’s personality has changed a lot. He doesn’t behave like a fierce tiger anymore. Instead he acts like a spoiled house cat.

I follow him as he leads me toward Mira and Jiya’s room. The moment I step inside, he runs straight into the closet.

Did my baby call me here?

"Babe?" I call out looking around.

"Yes! Come!" Mira’s voice comes from inside the closet.

I walk towards it and step inside, only to find her standing there.

Her face is tense. Worry is clear in her deep brown eyes. I look around. Dresses are hanging all around us, covering the walls of the closet.

Something is bothering her. I can see it on her face. I take a step closer. "What’s wrong?"

"Sit" she says pointing at the chair.

I sit down, smiling at her cute face. She looks annoyed but still adorable.

Zar walks over and sits right in front of me. His big blue eyes stay fixed on his mumma. He tilts his head slightly as if trying to understand her mood.

"Why did you call me, sweetheart?" I ask, my voice soft. She turns to me with an angry face. Ahh, now what have I done?

"You know what? You are of no use!" she says suddenly walking toward me. Her irritation is clear on her face.

I blink at her, confused. "I’m really sorry for that but please tell me what’s the matter?" I ask gently.

Her expression changes. The anger fades a little, replaced by tiredness.

"I’m not able to select a dress for tonight" she sighs, looking frustrated. I shake my head at her words.

Yesterday, I was giving instructions to one of my best designers about making a dress for her. But my baby overheard me and strictly warned me not to order anything new because, according to her, she already has tons of dresses.

"I have selected these four. Choose one from them" she says, pointing at the dresses. I look at them carefully.

"The second one" I say pointing at the long peach gown with delicate embroidery on the neckline.

"This one?" she asks, stepping closer to look at it properly. Then, suddenly she shakes her head.

"No I can’t wear this. It’s too long" she says, moving the dress aside. I sigh. This is going to take a while.

"Now choose from these three" she says, folding her arms. I look at the remaining dresses.

"The fourth one" I say confidently. She stares at the dress for a moment then shakes her head again.

"I don’t like this one" she says, making a face. I stare at her in disbelief.

She was the one who put it there, right? Then why is she rejecting it now? But it’s okay. If my baby doesn’t like it, she doesn’t like it.

"You know what?" she suddenly says, her voice getting louder. "You and your son are both useless!"

I raise an eyebrow, amused.

"Dev helped Jiya select a dress and he didn’t even take more than five minutes! And here you and your son...." she gestures toward Zar, "I’ve been asking Zar for half an hour and he’s not helping. And now you!"

She shouts at me like I’ve committed a crime.

Zar looks at me with big, innocent eyes, as if saying, See? She’s doing the same thing to me.

I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing. She’s just frustrated about the dress. I should help her before she explodes completely.

"We are really sorry for that my lady. Right zar?" I said and zar nodded his head. I take steps towards her.

I cup her soft cheeks gently. She looks at me with those big, beautiful eyes, full of expectation.

"Select one for me, please" she says pouting.

I gulp.

Her pink, plump lips move slightly as she speaks, making my heartbeat go wild.

Focus, Abhiraj. Focus.

I clear my throat and make her sit on the chair. Then, I turn toward her dress section.

I can feel her and Zar’s continuous stares on me. Their eyes are burning into my back as if I am making the most important decision of my life.

I step inside her closet. My eyes scan the hanging clothes. There are not enough dresses. I should buy more for her. I make a mental note to do that soon.

As I continue looking, my eyes fall on a dress tucked away in the last corner of the closet. It looks perfect. I take it out and turn toward her.

"This one" I say holding it up and waiting for her reaction.

She stands up and walks toward me. Her delicate fingers take the dress from my hands.

Her eyes scan it carefully. For a moment, she says nothing. Then suddenly...

"Yes! It’s perfect!" she says excitedly.

A bright smile spreads across her face. She holds the dress close to her, admiring it. Then, she turns toward me.

"Thank you so much for this! I love it!" she says happily. And before I can react....

She places a soft kiss on my cheek. I freeze. My mind stops working. My heartbeat skyrockets.

It’s like my heart is hosting a concert, playing the loudest beats possible.

If this is the reward for selecting one dress then I swear, I’ll select a dress for her every single day!

"Aww my baby also wants a kiss?" her sweet voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

I look at her.

She is sitting in front of Zar, cupping his big furry face. Then, she leans forward and places a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Zar grins, showing his sharp teeth. His big tail sways happily behind him.

"I’m really sorry, Mumma troubles you a lot na?" she says, looking at him with soft eyes.

Zar shakes his head quickly and rubs his face against her hand.

I smile.

Watching them together like this fills my heart with warmth. What more do I want in life than this?

"Abhi" I hear her sweet voice calling me.

"Yes, baby?" I respond instantly.

She looks at me and signals me to come closer. I don’t waste a second and walk towards her.

Then, she points at the floor, asking me to sit behind her. I sit down, our bodies close. She moves slightly and shows me her footwear collection.

"Which one?" she asks her eyes focused on me, waiting for my choice. I scan the options carefully.

"This one" I say pointing at a sandal with small heels. I don’t want her to wear high heels. They might hurt her feet.

"Okay, this one is done" she says, placing them aside. Finally, the dress and shoes are selected. She lets out a deep sigh.

"You know I was so worried about the dress" she says softly.

Then, before I can say anything, she leans back, resting her body against my chest. I smile and wrap my arms around her.

"Why are you worried when I’m here?" I say hugging her closer.

She tilts her head, looking up at me. Her soft, warm eyes hold mine. Then, out of nowhere, she leans in and places a kiss on my cheek again. She pulls back and smiles at me.

"I love you and you are the best in this entire world" she says, her voice full of warmth. Hearing her say this fills my heart with pride.

I cup her face gently. "I’m yours, my lady" I whisper pressing a soft kiss on her temple.

A peaceful silence settles between us. Then, suddenly she looks at me again her expression serious.

"Do you love me, Abhiraj?" she asks. I blink. Her gaze is steady, waiting for my answer but I didn't know what to say.

"Do you feel scared when you think about losing me?" she asks again, her voice softer this time. My arms tighten around her instantly.

"Yes" I say, my voice deep with honesty. "I feel like my body is being torn into two pieces. I feel like someone is ripping my heart out"

She holds my gaze the entire time. Then, at the end she smiles.

"Do you feel jealous when I talk to other men or anything like that?" she asks her tone teasing. I nod my head without hesitation.

"Yes, I feel jealous. I feel like killing the person on the spot" I say bluntly.

She chuckles at my words. Her laughter is soft but it does something to my chest.

"Do you feel anything… like joy or butterflies in your stomach when I kiss you or flirt with you?" she asks, her voice playful.

I nod my head fast. She laughs again, her face glowing with happiness.

"I feel like something happens to my body when you do those things" I say struggling to put my feelings into words. "I feel a kind of… you know…"

I trail off, not knowing how to explain it.

She giggles "Yes yes I know my love" she says, her voice filled with amusement. I smile, feeling warmth spread inside me.

"Do you feel peace around me?" she asks her voice softer than before. I don’t even need to think about it. I nod immediately.

"I feel home when I’m close to you" I say. And that’s the truth.

"Do you remember me when I’m not around you? Do you miss me?" she asks her voice soft but curious. I nod my head immediately.

"Yes, I remember you every single time when you are not around me. I feel like I should keep you beside me for my entire life. I feel like not letting you go away from me" I say my voice deep with honesty.

Hearing my words, she suddenly moves away from my chest. She sits in front of me, her eyes wide with excitement.

Then, all of a sudden.....

"Congratulations, Mr. Rajvansh! You are in love with me! These are all signs of love!" she shouts loudly, her voice filled with happiness.

And before I can even react.....

She jumps on me, hugging me at the speed of light. I lose my balance. My back hits the floor and she lands right on top of me.

I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her. So these are all the signs of love?

But I feel more than that.

Much more.

She didn't ask me about the extent of my jealousy.

I don’t just feel jealous. I feel a level of jealousy that could make me kill a person if needed. But she takes it as a joke.

I don’t just think about her.

She is all I think about.

My mind is occupied by her....only her. When I say I want to keep her with me, I don’t mean it in a casual way.

I mean it literally. I want to keep her close. Hide her from the world. Protect her from everything.

Aren’t all these signs of obsession?

Does this mean I’m madly in love with my lady?

"Mira" I whisper but before I can say anything else, she snuggles closer.

"Abhiraj Singh Rajvansh, you are in love with this Mira Rao" she says, her voice muffled as she buries her face in my neck.

A smirk tugs at my lips.

"Yes… madly in love" I confess.

I lift my eyes and notice Zar sitting nearby, watching us with a soft smile on his face. A genuine, pure smile.

"Come here, my boy" I say, opening my other arm for him.

Mira looks at him too, her eyes warm. Zar stands up and walks toward us. Then, he joins us pressing his huge body against us as we wrap him in our hug.

And at this moment With my boy and my lady in my arms. I feel complete.

"I love both of you so much" Mira says, pressing a soft kiss on Zar’s head before placing another on mine.

I feel warmth spread through me and when I look at Zar, I see that he is also looking at her with the same shy smile that I have on my face.

Mira chuckles at our reaction, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She opens her mouth to say something....

But suddenly.....

"OH. MY. GOD!"

A loud, dramatic voice echoes in the room.

"What are you both doing?! And that too without closing the door?! And that too in broad daylight?! And that too in front of Zar?!"

We hear Jiya’s loud, shock voice.

I turn my head and see her standing at the closet’s entrance with Dev beside her.

Both of them have their mouths hanging wide open, their eyes filled with exaggerated shock.

Mira immediately scrambles off me and I stand up beside her, fixing my t-shirt. These two just ruined our moment. But no worries....

I’ll take my revenge.

Dev crosses his arms and looks at us with fake disappointment.

"Guys, have some shame! You are doing all these things in front of Zar!" Dev says, shaking his head dramatically. Then he calls out.....

"Zar, come here! Leave them alone. Don’t stay too much with them or you’ll become like them!"

And the worst part?

Zar actually listens to him.

My tiger walks toward Dev like we were really doing something inappropriate.

I glare at Dev. just wait. I’ll kill this guy someday. But honestly....

It would feel even better if we were actually doing something.

Ahh, shut up, Abhiraj.

Mira, still flustered, tries to say something.

"It’s not like that… it was just… we were… you know, I…" she stutters her face turning redder with every word.

Jiya and Dev smirk at each other before saying in unison....

"Yes yes we know Mira. We know"

I roll my eyes. I cross my arms and look at them seriously.

"So what if we were doing anything?" I say making their smirks freeze for a second.

"I belong to her. She belongs to me. What’s the harm in this, huh?" I say, glaring at them. Immediately they start making dramatic noises.....

"Ooooooooh!"

"Somebody call the fire department! Abhiraj is spitting flames!"

"True love confession alert!"

Mira groans and buries her face in her hands. Her face is now redder than a tomato.

"Guys stop!" she whines, clearly embarrassed. Jiya smirks.

"Yes, yes we’ll stop" she says raising her hands in surrender.

"Yes and we’re leaving. You guys continue your business" Jiya adds with a wink.

Before she can turn to leave, Mira quickly pushes her away and storms out of the closet, her cheeks still burning.

"You guys are too much!" my baby huffs, pouting.

Jiya and Dev just chuckle, finding her reaction hilarious.BDev suddenly turns to me, his expression shifting to something serious.

"Let’s go. I have something urgent to tell you" he says. I nod. But before leaving....

I turn back and look at my baby one last time. She’s still pouting, her arms crossed, her face full of frustration and embarrassment.

Too cute.

At night

I am helping Zar get ready. I am already dressed but Zar wants to look the most handsome tonight. He wants to impress his mumma with his charm.

He has already changed ten ties, finding each one boring. Now he is sitting on his chair, looking at another tie in my hand.

"This is the final one" I say firmly, holding the tie in front of him.

Zar looks at the tie and then at me, tilting his head as if he is judging my choice. I kneel down in front of him, carefully wrapping the tie around his neck and fixing it.

"Mumma party me jaisa kahe gi waise hi karna" I remind him softly.

(Do whatever Mom says at the party)

He nods his head obediently like a well behaved child. Then, he turns to the mirror, wagging his tail in excitement.

"How is it?" I ask, watching his reaction.

Zar shakes his tail happily,

letting me know he likes it.

"Let's go now. Uncle must be waiting for us" I say, standing up.

The moment I step outside the closet, I see my baby standing near the door, about to knock. She looks surprised to see me.

"I came to call you" she says, stopping mid action.

I meet her eyes and for a second, we just stand there, looking at each other. She looks so beautiful...like always. No matter what she wears, she always manages to take my breath away.

Unable to resist, I step closer, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her inside the room. She stumbles slightly but ends up against the wall beside the door.

She gazes at me with wide eyes but instead of resisting, she slowly circles her arms around my neck.

"You are looking perfect, Mr. Rajvansh" she says with a teasing smile, her voice soft and sweet.

"And you are looking mine, Mrs. Rajvansh" I murmur, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A shy smile forms on her lips, making my heart race.

"Won't you give me a reward?" I ask, my voice dropping slightly.

She blinks in confusion. "Reward?" I nod, stepping even closer leaving no space between us.

"A reward for choosing the dress for you" I explain, smirking.

She chuckles, shaking her head. "What do you want?"

"I'm okay with any reward" I say my fingers lightly tracing her waist "as long as you're the one giving it."

She cups my face gently and I lean down to match her height.

Her lips press against my right cheek—soft and warm. Then the left. Then my forehead. Then my nose tip. And finally just below my lips.

She lets her lips linger there for a few seconds, teasing me, before slowly pulling away.

"Is this enough?" she asks, looking into my eyes.

"More than enough" I say, my voice slightly rough with emotion. I am about to say something else when....

"Mira bhai, come fast! We are getting late!" Jiya’s loud voice interrupts us.

"Oh, shit!" She gasps, realizing why she had come here in the first place. "I came to call you! Let's go we're late!"

She quickly grabs my hand and pulls me out of the room.

Mira's POV

"Let's go" I say the moment I step down the stairs.

Jiya is already waiting for me. The moment she sees me, she crosses her arms and gives me a teasing smile.

"Why did you take so much time?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

I ignore her question. She is teasing me too much today but no worries soon, my turn will come.

"We both are going in our car" Jiya announces.

I simply nod and start walking toward the exit of the mansion with her. As we step outside, the cool night breeze brushes against my skin. The mansion’s grand entrance glows under golden lights, making the whole place look magical. Expensive cars are parked in a neat row, their polished surfaces gleaming under the moonlight.

Zar looks at me with his bright, eager eyes. I smile and bend down to his level.

"My baby is looking so handsome" I say gently adjusting his little bowtie.

The moment he hears my words, he closes his eyes shyly, his tail wagging just a little. I chuckle at his adorable nature.

Jiya and I get inside my luxury car, while Dev, Abhiraj and Zar take another car. The soft leather seats feel comfortable as I settle in. The smooth purr of the engine fills the air as we drive out of the mansion gates.

A few people in our circle have noticed that something is going on between me and Abhiraj but no one dares to question him about it. Not that they would get any answers.

As we drive, my eyes fall on Dev, sitting in the other car. He is wearing a stylish black suit with a butterfly brooch pinned to his chest. My lips curve into a knowing smile as I glance at Jiya.

"I see someone is giving brooches to others huh?" I tease, nudging her shoulder playfully.

Jiya immediately looks down, avoiding my gaze. A shy smile spreads across her lips as she tries to hide her face.

Soon, we arrive at the venue.....a luxurious resort owned by Abhiraj. We come outside. The media is already waiting, probably here for Abhiraj.

The entrance of the resort is breathtaking...massive chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a golden glow over the marble floors. The scent of fresh flowers fills the air and the soft sound of instrumental music plays in the background.

The party is being held at the back of the resort, in an open area surrounded by fairy lights. The entire space is decorated with luxury items....golden candle stands, crystal wine glasses, and elegant floral arrangements in tall glass vases. The tables are covered with silk cloths, and every chair is perfectly placed.

Everything looks perfect.....grand, rich and flawlessly arranged.

We walk towards a large table where our colleagues are sitting. They are waiting for us. The moment we approach, they turn to look at us.

"Hello, everyone" Jiya and I say together, smiling at them.

One of my colleagues, leans back in her chair and scans us from head to toe.

"Oh my goodness, who are these beautiful ladies?" She exclaims dramatically, looking at both of us with admiration.

"You are more beautiful than us" Jiya says, her voice soft and sincere.

The moment the words leave her mouth, she smiles shyly, as if realizing what she just said. I chuckle at her innocence.

We take our seats with our colleagues. The atmosphere is warm, filled with quiet chatter and laughter.

"Take something" Jiya says, gesturing towards the table.

Right then, a waiter arrives, dressed in a crisp white uniform, carrying a silver tray. He gracefully places tall glasses of fresh juice in front of us. The glasses sparkle under the golden lights, the chilled liquid inside looking refreshing.

We take slow sips, feeling the coldness slide down our throats and start talking. The conversation flows naturally from the stunning decorations to the luxurious arrangements of the party. Everything is grand and flawless, a perfect display of wealth and elegance.

"Mr. Rajvansh is here" Sahil suddenly announces, his voice bringing everyone's attention to the entrance.

We immediately turn our heads.

The media swarms around Abhiraj, flashing cameras in his face, bombarding him with nonstop questions. But he remains unaffected. His face is cold...void of any emotion. Right now, he is not Abhiraj. He is ASR.

Sometimes, I wonder how quickly he changes. The man who holds me with warmth, who teases me with his deep voice, is completely different in public. He switches his personality like flipping a switch...from my Abhiraj to the ruthless ASR.

Zar stands beside his father, his tiny chest puffed up with pride, looking like a true son of a successful man. his expression serious as if he, too, is used to this attention.

And then there’s Dev...standing beside Abhiraj with the same cold, unreadable face. Both of them look untouchable, powerful, like kings ruling over an empire.

"You know what, guys?"

A sudden voice pulls us back into the conversation. We all turn towards one of our colleagues, curiosity sparking in our eyes.

"What?" we ask in unison, eager to know.

"There are over 100 dishes on the menu!" she exclaims licking her lips as if she can already taste the food.

Laughter erupts at the table. Jiya giggles while lightly hitting Sahil on his arm. But he doesn't react. He doesn’t even look at her.

My smile fades a little. He has changed.

Sahil used to be so open with us..... always joking, always talking freely. But now, he seems distant, as if something is weighing him down.

Jiya notices it too. Her brows furrow slightly as she turns to him.

"Why are you ignoring me?" she asks, her voice holding a mix of concern and hurt.

Sahil looks down, avoiding her eyes. He stays silent for a moment before finally whispering, "Nothing"

But I see it. The stiffness in his posture. The hesitation in his voice. There is definitely something.

Before I can say anything, a woman's voice cuts through the noise.

"Hey, you’re Mira right?"

I turn around, my brows knitting together. Why is she asking about me?