34) Is he under some spell?

This is definitely one of my favourite chapters everrr!

Have fun reading, you lovely people ❤️

Kiara's POV

"I'm driving."

Whipping my head to the familiar voice, my face lit up like a small child being offered their favourite candy and I started bouncing on my heels as Arjun approached us.

My hands pressed against my mouth, my face splitting into a Cheshire cat grin.

He came!

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squealed in joy, my voice getting shrill with each word as he came to a halt near me.

"Don't think I'm doing this for you." Arjun spoke monotonously, tying a watch on his wrist.

"Of course not." I responded in a high-pitched voice, a wide smile stuck on my face, not really caring about his words because despite whatever he said, he was here. And that was more than enough.

Rohan and Sid stood there stupefied, like Arjun just confessed that he liked to cuddle with a teddy bear in his sleep.

"I think my eyes are deceiving me." Sid rubbed his eyes, his mouth agape.

"Pinch me." Rohan extended his hand to Sid, his eyes not leaving Arjun and then yelped when Sid actually pinched him.

Arjun rolled his eyes at his friends. "Are you all done over-acting? Get in the car, we will be late."

"No, I'm not done." Sid exclaimed loudly. "Since when did you start accompanying us to the orphanage?"

"Since now, any problem?" Arjun cocked his head to the side.

"Is he under some spell?" Rohan narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Arjun.

"No, I think he is high. Or drunk." Sid replied, his face still unbelievable.

"I can still hear you." Arjun's deadpan voice rang in air, his blank face staring impassively at them. "Get inside." He instructed taking out his phone.

"I have to make an important call first." He asked for the car keys and Rohan tossed them to him, still in a daze.

While Arjun went to talk on phone, Sid and Rohan came near me, their eyes still stuck on Arjun's pacing figure.

"Is...is this happening for real or am I dreaming?" Sid asked in a disoriented voice, blinking furiously.

"I think someone mixed something in my morning coffee." Placing a hand on his temple, Rohan shook his head a bit while all the time, I couldn't seem to wipe off the stupid grin that was stuck on my face.

Sid snapped his head to me. "How did you convince him? I begged him for months. I even promised not to irritate him for a month. A month! Can you believe that? And he still didn't agree." He stressed on each word, his hands flying around to emphasize his point.

Coming from Sid, that was definitely a big deal.

"And if that wasn't enough, I even offered to buy his favourite sports car."

"You're a fucking magician, you know that?" Rohan whisper-yelled at me and I giggled, opening the car door. We all sat inside, me in the front and Sid and Rohan in the back. While we waited for Arjun, Sid asked me to switch on the radio and I did so.

"That's my jam!" Sid shrieked from the back as soon as the music started playing and I cheered with him, bobbing my head up and down and humming along the tune.

A few moments later, that included me, Sid and Rohan singing a chorus and putting every band to shame, I looked through the window to find Arjun putting his phone back in his jeans pocket and walking to the other side of the car. We were on the verge of creating our own band and start doing live performances when he sat in the driver seat and turned off the radio.

"Hey!" Sid and I exclaimed at the same time.

"I don't like noise." He said non-chalantly.

"It's not noise, it's music." I frowned. "A blessing to your ears."

He ignored what I said and I turned on the radio. "We're listening to this."

"We're not listening to this bullshit." He shot back, turning it off.

My mouth parted open and I narrowed my eyes, pressing my lips in a thin line. "We are." I switched it on, rather forcefully this time.

"Are not." He switched it off.

"We are."

"Are not."

"We are."

"Are not."

I switched it on, he switched it off.

I switched it on, he switched it off.

"Guys, that's my new car." Rohan spoke from behind. "Be gentle."

We ignored him, glaring at each other. This guy had me worried for a whole day that he was angry on me and now he had the audacity to act as if everything was completely normal.

Oh no, Mister. You don't get to do that.

I wasn't going to back down this time. Nope.

"Can you feel it?" A loud whisper came from behind.

"Feel what?" Another annoying whisper sounded in the car.

"The sexual tension."

Both Arjun and I snapped our heads to Sid and Rohan at the same time. Sid immediately shut his mouth while Rohan whipped his head to the side, gazing out of the window. My glaring eyes zeroed on Sid in a warning while his wide-as-saucer ones glanced back and forth between me and Arjun. Rohan was too busy admiring the view outside. Still glaring at Sid, I pressed the radio button again as Justin Bieber's Baby song started playing.

Do I like Justin Bieber?

No.

Was I going to play his song just to irritate the hell out of Arjun?

Hell yes.

"Fuck, no." Arjun growled. "No one is going to play Justin while I'm in the car." He pressed the button quite aggressively, muttering like an angry child. "I'd rather hear a duck quacking for hours."

"Fine." My hands raised in air in defeat and I huffed.

This guy was impossible.

I pursed my lips together scowling, my hand already on the car door. "I'll go sit in the back with Sid and Rohan then."

Have fun with your brooding silence.

I hadn't even stepped out when a hand wrapped around my elbow, pulling me back in my seat. My eyes followed the arm and focused on black orbs, glaring at me. His face set in a stubborn look, his jaw locked tight as he left my elbow and switched on the radio, Bieber's voice filling the silence in the car.

I blinked at him in surprise.

Did he just...?

Arjun stared back at me with such intensity that it had me shivering for some unknown reason as I tried comprehend what just happened. Our intense eye-lock was cut off by a loud gasp and my eyes flitted to Sid who was glaring at Arjun accusingly. "You asshole, you never let me play any song in your car."

"Why, are you my wife?" Arjun gave him a vague glance through the rear-view mirror.

I snapped my head to Arjun in shock, so fast that I almost sprained my neck and found him already looking at me. My heart thudded loudly in my chest and I averted my eyes shyly from him, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Rolling my lips in my mouth, I suppressed a grin and gazed at my lap as I toyed with my wedding ring, my body surging with joy.

He called me his wife. His wife!

Not directly though. But it still meant a lot to me. Thinking that he was the same guy who had declared that I was nothing to him a few weeks ago. I could hear Sid grumbling something in the background but my mind was in a different space altogether.

"Kiara." My eyes flickered to Arjun questioningly when he called my name.

His lips formed a word but my eyes were too focused on his oh-so-plump-and-luscious lips that I completely missed what he was saying.

Just kiss me please.

Okay, what?

It was official. I had lost my mind.

He spoke again but I was too caught up with my inner monologue to focus on his words. My face scrunched up in confusion, my mind too fogged up with my irrational thoughts to process any words coming out of his mouth.

Sighing at my bewildered face, he leaned towards me, his hand reaching out. Keeping an arm on my headrest, he came closer and my eyes bulged out as I pressed myself against the car seat. His other arm went past me and he closed the car door.

Oh.

He turned to me and my eyes widened even more, his mint breath hitting my face when he leaned closer, his other hand coming near my face.

What was he doing? Sid and Rohan were in the car with us.

So, you would have been totally fine with whatever he's doing if Sid and Rohan were not there?

Uh...what?

I didn't say that. Stop tricking me!

His face came dangerously close to mine and I sucked in a sharp breath, cowering away from him, his dark eyes boring into mine.

I was only thinking of him kissing me! How did he hear my thoughts?

"Oh, I can definitely feel the sexual tension." Rohan's amused voice broke me from my reverie and I flinched lightly, bumping my forehead into Arjun's. His eyes shifted to Rohan, turning into a glare as his hand went past my head and he did my seatbelt.

Oh.

I slumped in my seat discreetly, trying to control my breaths.

I don't think a seatbelt would protect me from the little heart attacks that he kept giving me from time to time.

"I was just doing her seatbelt." Arjun leaned back, putting the car into motion.

"Right." Sid drawled with a smirk. "Because she wouldn't have been able to do it on her own."

Actually, I wouldn't have been able to even if I wanted since all my senses were haywire.

Arjun drove onto the road, choosing not to reply to Sid's taunts and Rohan's background singing, which I might add was horrible than Sid's.

Turning a deaf ear to their suggestive remarks, I trained my eyes on the road as they performed a chorus on 'Love is in the air' and pointedly ignored those chipmunks for the rest of the ride, mentally face palming myself.

On instinct, I sneaked a glance at Arjun. As if sensing my eyes on him, his lips twitched in a smile while his eyes were still straight ahead and I quickly looked away, a pink hue on my cheeks.s

"And we are here." Sid announced cheerfully when Arjun pulled into the driveway of a big house fifteen minutes later. It had a homey feeling to it.

I could see Arjun's parents standing on the front porch with a lady in her forties and some people who were dressed in the same uniform.

We got out of the car and Mr. Singhania looked at us with a smile, doing a double take when he noticed Arjun, the surprise on his face evident. Mrs. Singhania's mouth dropped open as she witnessed her stepson getting out of the car.

"Arjun?" Mr. Singhania exclaimed, walking towards us, his eyes flitting to Rohan as they shared a meaningful look. Rohan nodded back at him with a small smile.

"Hey, dad." Arjun shrugged casually, hands in his pockets.

"I am glad you could come." Mr. Singhania said, his voice overwhelmed. "Come." He patted Arjun on the back and we followed him.

On the front porch, Mr. Singhania introduced us to the manager, Mrs. Mehra and some workers and she escorted us inside.

"The children will be very happy to see you all. They always wait for your visit." She said.

"Roshni and I will go and check the budgets with Mrs. Mehra first. You kids go inside, we will join you later." Saying this, Mr. Singhania turned right, the two said women following him.

We reached a big hall filled with children of every age, from babies who were learning to walk to teenagers. Everyone was busy, some playing, some studying while some simply chatted with each other. The hall further opened into a big garden with a fountain in the middle.

"And here are my favourite people!" Rohan announced loudly, catching the attention of a few kids. He got happy shouts in response as they ran towards him, almost knocking him out.

I glanced at Arjun, his posture stiff and face passive as his guarded eyes surveyed the place.

"Hey." I nudged Arjun, his eyes flickering to me. "Loosen up a bit."

He looked away, uncrossing his arms and I sighed.

Sid came beside me, pretending to be searching for someone as he asked in a loud voice. "Where's my girlfriend?"

Creasing my eyebrows, I observed his actions in amusement as he bent a little keeping his hands on his knees.

"Sid!" A cute shriek followed his question and I saw a bundle of blue colliding with his legs.

A small girl, around 5 years old, stood there hugging Sid and he picked her up, twirling her around, her laughter resounding in the hall.

Sid pressed a kiss on her chubby cheek and she blushed, giggling.

Aww.

"Here's my beautiful girl!" Sid tickled her sides and she laughed loudly, squirming in his hold.

"You're here!" She squealed loudly, throwing her arms in air.

"Yes, and I've got a surprise for you."

"Yay!" She jumped out of Sid's arms and held his hand, bouncing away happily to where Sid was taking her.

I smiled warmly at them as the little girl literally danced her way to the opposite side of the hall.

"Can't believe I'm doing this." Arjun muttered beside me, rubbing his palms, reluctance shining in his eyes.

I didn't know if it was meant for me to hear or not so I kept quiet and looked around.

Rohan was distributing gifts among children as they huddled around him, their faces happy and excited.

Sid was busy with his little girlfriend as he obediently listened to what she said, with wide eyes and animated expressions. They, too, were surrounded by small girls as they added their input into the conversation every now and then and Sid listened to each of them like he was in an important board meeting.

Some children were out in the garden, playing and running around. I was going to walk there when I felt a tug at my jeans. I looked down to see a boy, merely 6 years old, with a robot toy in his hand.

"Who are you?" He frowned, his lips forming an adorable pout.

I smiled at him and sat on my knees.

"I am Kiara."

"And who is he?" He pointed at Arjun, his doe-like eyes peering at me inquisitively. Arjun, who had a blank mask on his face till now, looked startled as I held his wrist and pulled him down so that he was sitting beside me now.

"He's Arjun, my...husband." My eyes wavered to him for a second and then focused back at the boy standing in front of me.

The child nodded solemnly, thinking hard as he pursed his lips and then looked at Arjun, patting his knee. "Good choice, buddy."

Arjun's mouth hung open at the non-chalant tone the kid used and I clamped a hand over my mouth, guffawing.

I couldn't hold it anymore as I burst out laughing at the priceless look on Arjun's face. He looked like someone had asked him to talk continuously for an hour.

"Raj! Raj!" A small girl marched towards us, frowning angrily. Coming to a stop in front of the boy, who I was assuming was Raj, the girl propped her hands on her waist, glaring at him.

Raj gave her a sheepish smile in response.

"You left." Her eyes narrowed in an accusing look.

"I don't want to play that game." Raj groaned, stomping his feet on the ground.

"Okay." She huffed and turned around to leave. "I will find another friend to play with."

"Fine, I'm sorry." He stopped her, holding her wrist. "I will play with you."

She grinned mischievously and her eyes fell on us. I was watching their adorable interaction with a creepy smile while Arjun was just...staring. Like someone stares at a rock.

"Who are they?" She asked Raj.

"They are my new friends."

"Since when?" Arjun looked at me with a scowl on his face.

I elbowed Arjun, glaring at him with wide eyes. "Since now. So, shh."

Raj introduced her to us. "This is my best friend, Kriti."

"Hi." She spoke shyly, her pigtails swinging as she tilted her head at us.

Awww. I wanted nothing more than to pull her cheeks, she was so cute!

"Hi. I'm Kiara and this is Arjun." Facing my personal hulk, I tried to send mental messages to him to act civilly in front of the children. Rolling his eyes lightly, he waved at them with a tight-lipped, miniature smile.

"Would you like to play tea-party with us?" Kriti asked us, jumping up and down.

"Tea party? Wow." The huge grin on my lips started to falter and I turned to Arjun who rewarded me with his 'don't-you-dare-say-yes' look.

Thinking that I had tortured him enough for the day, I turned back to Kriti. "How about you go and start playing, we will join you later."

"Okay." Kriti held Raj's hand and they both skipped away from there.

"Aww, they are so cute. Don't you think so?" I clasped my hands together, making heart eyes at those two and leaned my head against Arjun's shoulder without thinking. We both froze at my action and I immediately sat upright.

Why did you stop here? My conscience mocked. Lay your head in his lap and talk about how beautiful stars look in the night while he softly caresses your hair. How does that sound?

Clearing my throat, I gushed over Raj and Kriti, hoping that Arjun would miraculously forget the stunt I just pulled off. "I wish they marry each other one day."

"Wha- They are just kids!" Arjun gave me an expression of horror and incredulity.

"I was just saying." I pouted with a small shrug, glancing around the hall as my eyes locked with a girl. She waved at me and I waved back at her.

She came to me running a second later. "Will you help us build our doll house?"

"Sure!" I grinned at her and she took my hand, making me stand up and dragging me to the corner of the room where several girls were huddled together. I peeked back at Arjun as he stood up quickly, his expressions panicked.

"You're not leaving me with them alone." He spoke as if these children were going to give him a communicable disease.

"I mean, if you want to build a doll house with us, you're more than welcome." I shrugged and bit my lower lip at his terror-struck expression.

"On second thoughts, I am good here."

"Great!" I grinned, waving at him. "See you later."

The girl pulled me along to the corner and I sat down with her and her friends, ready to build the doll house.

Every now and then, my eyes would automatically trail to Arjun on the other side of the hall. He looked awkward standing there in the middle as children ran past him and he gingerly avoided them. I knew he was uncomfortable here but he was slowly warming up.

As I was helping setting up the kitchen of the doll house, I saw Kriti and Raj approaching Arjun. Kriti seemed to be upset about something as she sniffled and Raj showed Arjun his robot toy that he was carrying around earlier. I think it was broken. Arjun kneeled down to their level, inspecting the robot and said something, his expressions soft.

Wait a second, he never talked to me like that!

The kids nodded at what he said and he smiled, sitting there cross-legged, Kriti and Raj on his either side as he fiddled with the toy, probably trying to fix it for them.

Oh lord. My poor heart.

Hot guys are one thing. Hot guys with cute children are the cause of premature deaths in women.

The doll house was long forgotten as I quickly took out my phone, opening the camera. Feeling like a creepy stalker, I clicked a snap of the three of them. It was perfect and I couldn't stop staring at it.

A wailing cry snapped me from my not-so-decent thoughts and I found a small toddler sitting a few feet away from me. She was dressed in a cute pink dress and her curly hair were styled in a ponytail.

"What's wrong?" I asked the girls that were present there.

They told me that she was hungry so I picked the baby in my arms, pulling her cheeks softly as she seemed to calm down a little. "Come on, then. Let's get you something to eat."

Spotting a worker nearby, I made my way towards her, being extra careful. I couldn't risk falling with a child in my arms. Why do you think I was never allowed to babysit my relatives' kids? Because no one would like to come home to see their house accidentally set on fire and their kid lying upside down on the couch with a broken hand and food all over their face.

But then again, when did my body parts co-operate with me? My eyes missed a toy carelessly lying on the ground and I tripped over it.

A loud squeal left my lips as I flew forward, losing my balance. My eyes shut closed and I held the girl tightly but before I could touch the ground, arms came around me, holding me in place.

Thank god.

My eyes opened one by one; my breathing heavy as I craned my head to come face to face with my not-so-pleased-knight-in-shining-armor. Ignoring Mr. Angry Pants for a second, I examined the girl in my arms, checking if she was alright. She giggled at me, patting my cheeks. What was she so happy about?

Arjun took the girl from my hold, his face marred in a scowl. "Who the hell decided it was a good idea to give you a child?"

Handing the little girl to the worker, he told her. "I don't want any child in 5 feet of her radius without any adult supervision."

Excuse me?

My mouth hung open and I scowled at him, crossing arms over my chest. Meanie!

"I've seen you trip over a plain surface more times than I've seen Sid getting in trouble. And that says a lot. So, don't give me that look." He said and I gaped at him, offended.

Arjun was going to walk away from there when the baby cried out, extending grasping arms towards Arjun. His eyes widened a fraction, flashing in surprise as he gazed at the girl alarmingly who was now trying to reach to him.

"She's not going to eat you alive." I joked as I nodded to Arjun, signaling him to go ahead.

His hesitant eyes fixed on my face and I gave him a reassuring smile. Reluctantly, he took a step forward, extending his hands and she willingly came into his arms, squealing in joy. One of his hands went around her knees, while the other rested on her back protectively, his expressions gentle as if he was holding a fragile glass doll in his hands.

If someone could arrange a hospital bed for me. Cause my heart won't be able to handle this much cuteness.

"I think she likes you." I whispered softly, brushing away the brown curls falling on her forehead.

"What's not to like?" His narcissistic comment made me roll my eyes but a fond smile was plastered on my face nonetheless.

"Isn't she cute?" I asked as she tried to squish Arjun's cheeks and it took a lot of self-restraint to not laugh at his fish face.

Arjun hummed in response.

"What's her name?"

"Sapna." Arjun whipped her head to the worker, his face paling.

"W-what?"

"Rajveer Sir named her when she came to our orphanage a year back."

I was confused as to why he reacted like this, then I remembered Sapna was his mother's name.

All of a sudden, Sapna started crying and Arjun panicked. "What did I do?"

"Nothing, she's just hungry." The worker chuckled lightly and took Sapna from Arjun, bouncing her lightly.

"She gets cranky when she is not fed. I will go and make sure she eats properly." With that, the worker walked away, patting Sapna on back and humming to her, trying to quieten her cries.

After they left, Arjun was still deep in thought when a new voice joined us.

"So, you're finally here."

A teenage boy leaned against the wall opposite us. His eyes were fixed on Arjun, his face devoid of any emotions.

Arjun furrowed his brows bewildered and then his face flashed in recognition. "Aditya? Hey. How are you?"

"Wouldn't you want to know?" Uncrossing his arms, he walked away from there, sitting on the steps that led to the garden.

Boy, he got a temper.

I peeked a look at Arjun from the corner of my eye.

Ah, he learnt from the best, didn't he?

"Who is he?" Arjun faced me when I asked that, his face lost and troubled.

Shaking his head to himself, he told me. "When I used to come to the orphanage earlier, I met Aditya. His parents died in a car accident and he landed here. He was different from other children. Couldn't mix with them, didn't want to. So, I made friends with him. We were close and I promised I won't leave him like his parents. I was the only friend he had here." He became quiet.

"And then I just stopped coming here."

Since I had met Arjun, it was the second time I was seeing guilt in his eyes. And it bothered me a lot.

"Go talk to him." I said in a soft voice.

His eyes snapped to mine. "Me?"

"Yes. You!" Holding his shoulders, I turned him towards the garden. "Now go."

His eyes shifted from Aditya to me and I saw the doubtful look in them. I nodded at him and watched as he took a deep breath and walked up to Aditya, sitting beside him on the steps.

"Kiara." I glanced at my right to find Mrs. Singhania making her way towards me with a radiant smile on her face.

"Thank you for bringing Arjun here." She placed a hand over my entwined hands.

"But I really didn't do anything."

She just smiled in response, a strange twinkle in her eyes, like she knew something I didn't. "Believe me, you did enough."

I blushed lightly and we talked for some time when Mr. Singhania joined us. He, too, thanked me for convincing Arjun to come here. I was overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed as they praised me when in reality I hadn't actually done much. Hell, I had chickened out like a coward when he sent me his threatening glare, running away like a dog with my tail between my legs.

Mr. Singhania was telling me how this orphanage started when I unintentionally glanced towards the garden. Aditya was nowhere to be seen, however a group of small children circled Arjun who looked terrified like he was standing in water surrounded by sharks.

Mr. Singhania must have followed my gaze as he chuckled. "He was never good with children." He looked at his son with a fond smile. "It looks like he's having a seizure."

Giving me a light push in his direction, Mrs. Singhania laughed lightly. "Go rescue your husband before he dies of a heart attack."

I walked towards them with a small smile playing on my lips. Arjun looked up from the kid who was basically wrapped around his legs, his shoulders sagging in relief as he saw me coming towards them.

As soon as I reached them, Arjun held my arms, pulling me in front of him. "Talk to them."

I turned to him, my face amused. "You want me to talk?"

"Yes. They've been pestering me for the past five minutes to tell them a story."

"Do you want to listen to a story?" I bent down and they cheered, shouting a 'yes'.

I sat on the steps and Arjun settled beside me on my plea, rather begrudgingly. The children quickly sat down on the grass in front of us and I searched for our personal two overgrown kids who were nowhere to be seen. When I couldn't spot them anywhere, I asked Arjun about it. "Where are Sid and Rohan?"

"They are in the ground, playing football with some boys."

"You didn't join them?"

"They didn't let me." He glared at the kids in front of him as if he lost an important deal because of them.

"Hey! Don't scare them like that."

"Yeah. Like they are scared of anything." He scoffed and just then Kriti came bounding to us with a book in her hand.

Handing me the book, she asked. "Can you read this book?"

"Sure, munchkin." I patted her cheek as she smiled and hopped in Arjun's lap, surprising both him and me.

As Arjun blinked at her, Kriti looked up at him smiling and he tried to reciprocate the action but all she got in response was a microscopic smile, a smile that I would've missed if I had blinked at that time. Kriti then went back to playing with her bracelet and I nearly cried out loud at how cute they looked.

"Snow White!" I squealed when I saw the title of the book.

"Great, now I'll be listening to witches and princesses." Arjun muttered and I raised a brow at him.

"Says the one who loves to call me princess." Scoffing under my breath, I opened the book. Even though I couldn't see him, I could already sense the smirk that now adorned his irritating handsome face.

I read the story aloud to the kids and they all listened with attentive expressions as if their life depended on it. But apparently, Arjun didn't like the story as he kept interrupting with stupid remarks like -

'This is ridiculous. No one can talk to animals.'

'Who the hell starts singing when they are being chased by murderers in the middle of a forest?'

'Seriously? She ate the apple? Didn't her mother give her the stranger-danger talk?'

But Kriti got so irritated after the third time that she angrily pressed a finger over his lips, asking him to shush.

This was a sight to watch. A 5-year-old kid asking the mighty Arjun Singhania to keep quiet. And if it wasn't shocking enough, Arjun obediently followed her instructions and didn't utter a single word during the rest of the story.

I need to take some classes from Kriti.

Though he still didn't refrain from commenting how the Prince was a creep when he kissed Snow White while she was asleep.

I so wish if someone could give him that poisoned apple.

"Is he your Prince Charming?" A girl asked me after the story was over, her eyes wandering from Arjun to me.

Uhh...

"Oh no, he's the devil from hell." I muttered lowly, loud enough for only Arjun to hear, receiving the infamous what-did-you-say Arjun Singhania glare.

Ah, I missed that.

"Is he?" She asked again and I smiled sweetly, keeping a hand on Mr. Charming's bicep.

"Yes."

"It's game time!" Sid barged in the hall with Rohan unannounced, yelling loudly and scaring me half to death. The kids jumped up and ran to them and I laughed at their excitement as Rohan explained the rules of the game.

The game was simple. One person would tie a blindfold on their eyes and try to catch others as they would run around the garden. The first person to be caught would be next to put the blindfold on and the game would go on like this. I asked Arjun if he would like to play and he gave me a glare so cold that made me feel like I was submerged deep in the Arctic Ocean. I even tried to bat my eyelashes at him but that did nothing other than increasing the intensity of his glare. He just sat on the steps along with Mrs. Mehra and other workers. Mr. and Mrs. Singhania had left early due to some emergency.

Everything was going well; we were having a really good time.

But...

My life wouldn't be so easy now, would it?

It was Sid's turn as he desperately turned left and right, his arms flailing around in all directions, trying to get hold of anyone. He had already knocked himself against a tree with that blindfold on and was being a little cautious now.

One time, he was really close to catching me when I swiftly slid away at the last moment. In my haste to get away from there, I didn't notice the fountain behind me and slipped.

Falling straight into the fountain.

My mouth filled with water as I thrashed around wildly, panicking.

Oh no. I was going to drown. I didn't even know how to swim.

This is it. That is how I die. Bye bye, world.

2 seconds later when I was sure my soul was going to leave my body anytime, my brain not-so-politely reminded me that no one drowns in 3 feet deep water.

I finally resurfaced above with a gasp, coughing horribly. Pushing away wet hair from my face, I stood up weakly.

I just want to know what was God thinking when he decided to write my fate.

Coming out of the pool and mumbling curses at no one in particular, I looked down at my clothes, nearly dying when I realized that my white shirt which was completely wet had become almost transparent and was clinging to my body like second skin. The navy-blue bra that I was wearing underneath was clearly visible, a strike contrast to my transparent shirt. My mortified face turned the shade of a parrot's beak as I hastily tried to swipe my hair in the front but it was of no use.

If it wasn't embarrassing enough, all the people were already staring at me since I had not-so-graciously fallen in the fountain.

Shit!

I think even my guardian angel has teamed up with Satan.

My horrified face met Arjun's solemn one, who was already walking towards me in quick strides, taking off his black t-shirt mid-way and earning loud gasps from everyone. Some of the little girls even covered their eyes.

Was this his way of drawing attention away from me? Because it sure as hell was working.

All my thoughts flew out of the window as I drooled over his godly abs, the situation in-hand long forgotten. Coming to a halt in front of me, his broad frame shielding me from others' view, he gave his tee to me wordlessly and I sent him a grateful look, whispering a small 'thank you'.

Mrs. Mehra rushed to us, offering me to show the changing room and I followed her silently.

Wait. Was I hallucinating or did a worker secretly click a picture of a very shirtless Arjun?

I changed and came back after 5 minutes looking like a homeless drug addict. Arjun's tee was loose and my half-dried hair looked like a bird nest that got destroyed in a storm.

As for Arjun, he was wearing a sky-blue shirt now, much to my disappointment. Why was I disappointed over the fact that he had a shirt on was another brain teaser that I didn't want to solve. We spent some more time with the children and I found myself staring at Arjun very often. The flashbacks of him taking off his t-shirt for me kept playing in my mind and I started smiling weirdly at his thoughtful action, creeping out a few kids around.

Also, after his talk with Aditya, it seemed things were back to normal.

Time flew by pretty quickly and before I knew, it was time to go.

Kriti held Arjun's hand when he got up to leave. "Don't go. Please." Her voice turning sad with each word.

Arjun kneeled to her level, flicking her forehead playfully and she giggled at him. "Well, how about we meet next month? Only if you promise to be a good girl."

My heart just went into a coma.

"Promise." Kriti pressed a kiss on Arjun's cheek and Arjun smiled, his dimples on display.

Arrange for an ICU immediately. My heart is on the verge of giving out.

Bidding goodbyes to everyone, I took one last glance at the orphanage as I sat in the car with a sad feeling. I really didn't want to go from there.

Facing Arjun who was already seated on the driver seat and drinking water, I leaned my head against the headrest and muttered in a sulking voice. "I want a baby too."

Arjun choked on water, spitting it out all over the dashboard and steering wheel and going in a coughing fit.

"My car!" Rohan screamed like a girl who just saw a lizard, his voice sounding like his heart shattered in a million pieces while Sid roared in laughter, almost falling down his seat as he held on to his stomach.

While I just sat there, gazing at the three of them, confused. My stupid, extremely slow brain, unfortunately, took another 7 seconds to understand the situation and what I had blurted out.

Can I order a replacement for my slow functioning brain?

"N-not like that!" I hissed loudly, my face horrified. "I didn't mean th-that!"

Can I just disappear in thin air?

Arjun was still coughing and I was worried he would choke to death. A few days ago, the thought would have tempted me but now I wanted him to stay alive.

"Too soon, Kia. Too soon." Sid patted my shoulder, still laughing. "I'm too young to bear the responsibility of a godfather."

"Who said you're going to be the godfather of our children?"

There was deathly silence in the car as those words left Arjun's mouth and it was my turn to choke on air.

Did he say our children?

Arjun realized the same, only a second too late and his wide eyes locked with mine, our expressions mirroring each other's while Sid actually fell down his seat with a thump, cackling like a hyena.

Arjun quickly put the car in motion, not even bothering to wipe the spilled water. The ride back home was filled with Rohan's remorseful grumbling and whining on how he would have to send his brand-new car for service and Sid's random laughter fits while Arjun and I were deathly quiet.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the penthouse, we both sprinted out of the car like it was on fire.

"So eager to make babies?" Sid winked at me as he slid into the front passenger seat and I wanted nothing more than to bury him alive.

"Have some patience. Wait till you reach your apartment first." He called out again.

Great, now I wanted to bury myself alive.

"Enough." Arjun glared at him and strode inside the building and I followed, not before throwing daggers at Sid who smiled cheekily in response.

It seemed like the whole world wanted me to keep embarrassing myself in front of Arjun and then spend countless hours drowning in my self-misery.

God and his angels were surely playing a game with me.

5 points for making Kia stutter.

10 points for making her blush like a ripe tomato.

Bonus points if she stumbles in her clumsiness.

The whole elevator ride I was cursing myself and my big mouth. As the elevator dinged open on our floor, Arjun unlocked the main door of the apartment and I rushed to my room. Better, I tried to but didn't succeed because as soon as I stepped inside, two hands snaked around my waist, pulling me in a brick-hard chest. It didn't take a genius to guess who it was. A pair of warm, soft lips pressed against my cheek and I gasped loudly.

"Thanks for convincing me to go there." Arjun whispered in my ear, his slight stubble grazing against my earlobe.

Squeezing my waist lightly (which felt like someone was squeezing my lungs), he stepped back and I was rooted in my place, my jaw dropped on the ground.

He stepped away, intending to go to his room but after taking two steps forward, he stopped and glanced at my shell-shocked figure. His lips quirked up and he retraced his footsteps, standing in front of me. Placing a finger below my chin, he closed my mouth which was wide enough for a bee hive to have a nectar party, his eyes shining with amusement. Those sinful lips played in a smirk, a smirk that was going to be the death of me, that was sure.

He stepped back, his smirk widening with each step and then turned around, marching away as if nothing happened.

My hand came up to lightly touch my cheek, where his lips were a minute before, my eyes blinking furiously in a daze as a loud hiccup left my lips.

This man is hazardous for my health.

Soft Arjun is LOVE 🥹🤌