Chapter 24

Elias Matthews had never been the kind of man who enjoyed waiting. Patience was a virtue he lacked, especially when it came to things—or people—he cared about. And right now, the object of his growing obsession, Arjun Patel, was driving him insane.

For days, Elias had been anticipating a moment, some sign that Arjun would finally acknowledge the unspoken connection between them. His mind, uncharacteristically whimsical, had been running wild with scenarios of how Arjun might confess. Perhaps over breakfast, with his big, shy eyes barely meeting Elias’s. Or maybe during a quiet moment after dinner, where the words would tumble out, raw and heartfelt.

But instead of the anticipated confession, Elias got silence.

Not avoidance. That, Elias could handle—Arjun had a charming tendency to fumble through their interactions, and Elias found that endearing. But this… this was different. Arjun didn’t glance at him, didn’t acknowledge his presence. It was as though Elias had ceased to exist in his world.

Elias fumed in silence as the days dragged on. Every time he tried to catch Arjun alone, something—or someone—blocked his path. Meetings, hospital shifts, even his siblings’ constant interruptions seemed to conspire against him.

One evening, after a particularly frustrating dinner where Arjun had excused himself early, Elias stormed up to his room, slamming the door behind him. His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened at his sides.

“This ends tonight,” he muttered to himself.

---

It was nearing midnight when Elias stationed himself by the staircase leading to Arjun’s room. The house was quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the ears. He didn’t know how long he waited, but his resolve didn’t waver.

Finally, the soft creak of the front door alerted him to Arjun’s return. Dressed in a simple hoodie and jeans, Arjun looked tired, his shoulders slumped as he quietly slipped off his shoes, unaware of Elias’s presence.

“Arjun.”

The low, commanding voice made Arjun freeze. His head snapped up, and his wide eyes met Elias’s piercing gaze.

“E-Elias? What are you doing here?” Arjun stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Elias stepped closer, his tall frame imposing. “Waiting for you. We need to talk.”

“I-I’m tired,” Arjun tried, his voice faltering as he avoided Elias’s intense stare. “Maybe tomorrow—”

“Now,” Elias cut him off firmly. He gestured toward the hallway. “my room .”

When Arjun hesitated, Elias’s hand gently but firmly grasped his arm, steering him upstairs. The silence between them was deafening, tension crackling in the air like an impending storm.

---

Once inside the room, Elias shut the door behind them and crossed his arms, leaning against it. His eyes bore into Arjun, who stood fidgeting by the bed, refusing to look at him.

“Talk to me, Arjun,” Elias demanded, his voice low but laced with frustration.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Arjun mumbled, his gaze fixed on the floor.

“Don’t lie to me,” Elias snapped, taking a step closer. “You’ve been avoiding me, shutting me out. Why?”

“I haven’t…”

“Arjun.” Elias’s voice softened, but the intensity didn’t waver. He reached out, gently cupping Arjun’s face, forcing him to meet his eyes. “Tell me. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

That was all it took for the dam to break. Arjun’s eyes filled with tears, and he shook his head, his breath hitching as he tried to hold back the sobs threatening to escape.

“I can’t,” he choked out, his voice trembling.

“Yes, you can,” Elias urged, his thumbs brushing away the tears streaming down Arjun’s cheeks. “It’s me, Arjun. I’ll handle whatever it is. Just tell me.”

And then, as though Elias’s words had opened a floodgate, Arjun broke down. His knees buckled, and Elias caught him, guiding him to sit on the bed. Arjun sobbed into his hands, his body trembling with the force of his emotions.

“Hey, hey…” Elias murmured, sitting beside him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “It’s okay. Whatever it is, it’s okay.”

“It’s my mother,” Arjun finally managed between sobs. “She called me… She told me about this couple—this gay couple. How their family disowned them. She said… she said it was disgusting, unnatural. And I… I don’t know what to do, Elias.”

Elias’s jaw tightened, his protective instincts surging. “Your mother doesn’t know, does she? About you ,about .. Us?”

Arjun shook his head. “No. But she wouldn’t… she wouldn’t understand. She’s traditional. She’d never accept it. And I… I can’t lose her, Elias. She’s my mother.”

The anguish in Arjun’s voice made Elias’s chest ache. He gently tilted Arjun’s face up, his own eyes softening. “Arjun, listen to me. You don’t have to choose between your family and yourself. You don’t have to choose between them and me.”

“But what if—”

“I will fight for you,” Elias interrupted, his voice firm but filled with emotion. “I will fight with you. No one—no one—gets to dictate how you live your life. Not even your mother.”

Arjun looked up at him, his tear-streaked face filled with doubt. “But what if she disowns me? What if—”

“Then I’ll be your family,” Elias said without hesitation, his voice resolute. “You’ll never have to face this alone, Arjun. Not as long as I’m here.”

Arjun’s tears flowed freely now, but his sobs quieted as Elias’s words sank in. “I’m scared,” he whispered. “I’m so scared.”

“I know,” Elias murmured, pulling Arjun onto his lap and holding him close. “But you’re not alone, Arjun. I’m here. I’ll protect you. Always.”

Arjun clung to him, his face buried in Elias’s chest. For the first time in days, he felt a semblance of peace.

“I… I love you,” Arjun admitted quietly, the words muffled against Elias’s shirt. “I just… I don’t know how to handle this.”

Elias’s heart swelled at the confession. He pressed a kiss to the top of Arjun’s head, his voice a soft promise. “We’ll handle it together.”

---

As the night wore on, Arjun’s tears eventually dried, and his breathing evened out. Elias carefully tucked him under the covers, his movements uncharacteristically tender.

Climbing into bed beside him, Elias pulled Arjun into his arms, holding him close . For the first time in days, Elias felt a sense of peace as he held Arjun close. The man who had been haunting his every thought was finally here, in his arms, in his bed and no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

“He’s finally where he should be,” Elias murmured to himself as he tucked the blanket around them.

Arjun, half-asleep, stirred slightly, his hand clutching at Elias’s shirt.

“I’m scared,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

“I’ve got you,” Elias replied softly, pressing another kiss to his hair. “You’re safe with me.”

Arjun fell asleep moments later, his breathing deep and even. Elias watched him for a long time, a rare, genuine smile curving his lips.

He’s mine, Elias thought as he finally let sleep claim him, his arms still wrapped protectively around the man he loved.

They are together guys finally but as you know much is coming.

Planning to do one shot chapters ,anyone have any hmm particular ideas drop them in the comments