Vyaan ;
As we pull up to the house, the headlights wash over the familiar front gate. My eyes dart to Driti, who's fast asleep beside me. The three-hour drive from the resort in Viratpur wasn't easy, and though I should feel exhausted, all I can focus on is her.
Her lehenga is heavy, and I know it's been irritating her all day. I remember how she fidgeted with it during the ceremony, trying to find comfort in its weight. Now, though, she looks peaceful-soft curls framing her face, her breathing steady.
The guard opens the gate, and I ease the car in slowly. As we roll to a stop, I glance at the entrance where everyone is waiting. I spot Ishaan, her cousin, standing near the doorway, his eyes searching the car for any sign of us.
I kill the engine and take a deep breath. "Mrs.Mehra" I whisper, gently shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, we're home."
She stirs slightly but doesn't wake. A small smile tugs at my lips-of course, she wouldn't wake up just like that.
Not wanting to disturb her anymore, I unbuckle her seatbelt and carefully lift her in my arms, cradling her in a bridal style. The weight of her lehenga feels like nothing compared to the way she snuggles closer to my chest, instinctively finding warmth.
I carry her towards the house, where everyone waits in silence, the night air filled with an anticipation that somehow feels both calming and overwhelming.
As I near the doorway, Maa and Auntie approach us with an aarti thali in their hand, their faces lit with soft smiles. The gentle flicker of the diya reflects in their eyes as they stand ready to welcome us into the home as husband and wife.
"Ayyoo, she fell asleep?" Maa asks, her voice laced with affection and amusement as she looks at Driti, her head nestled against my chest.
I simply hum in response, not trusting myself to say more. I've never been much of a talker, and tonight isn't any different, despite the swirl of emotions running through me. I nod once, acknowledging her, but don't offer anything more.
Maa studies me for a second, then grins knowingly. "Just do whatever you want to do, Maa," I tell her quietly, my tone soft but firm. I know she wants to perform the rituals properly, but right now, I just want to take Driti upstairs, let her rest.
"I'll take her to the room," I add, my voice almost a murmur, but they hear me clearly. Auntie chuckles, stepping aside to let us pass, and Maa gives me a quick nod, her approval unspoken but understood.
I carry Driti up the stairs, feeling the weight of the day-our wedding, the ceremonies, the expectations-slowly start to lift as I focus on one thing: her comfort.
As I climb the stairs, the weight of Driti in my arms feels lighter than the thoughts swirling in my head. One thing I know-I shouldn't be doing this. I should be following tradition, letting the rituals play out. But that's not the only thing wrong tonight.
I glance down at her peaceful face, her lashes resting gently against her skin, her breathing steady. And in this quiet moment, it hits me-hard. I behaved like a jerk today. In the groom's room, just hours ago, I'd convinced myself to hate her. I told myself she wasn't someone I wanted in my life, that this marriage was a burden I hadn't chosen. I'd built walls, brick by brick, determined to keep her out.
But here I am, carrying her like she means the world to me.
It's confusing, this feeling. I don't understand it. But the anger I forced myself to feel seems pointless now, melting away as I walk with her in my arms. I try to cling to that bitterness, to remind myself why I felt it in the first place. But it's slipping, leaving only the undeniable fact that right now, I care more about her comfort than anything else for now.
I don't know why I'm doing this. Taking her to my room, of all places. No one comes in here-not without my permission. Even Maa ,Riya, and Zora know better than to cross that line unless I let them. This space is mine, untouched, uninvaded. No one takes a place here, let alone shares my bed.
But as I lay Driti down on the bed, her lehenga spilling over the covers, I pause for just a second before turning away. I can't let myself think too deeply about this, not right now. I leave her there and head straight for the shower, desperate to wash off the weight of the day.
Under the steady stream of water, my mind drifts. And this is me. The heartless, cold demon-just like everyone calls me, except for my family. I've built a reputation out of being ruthless, detached. It's who I am now. But today... today, something feels different.
Somewhere, somehow, I remember the boy I used to be. The boy I left behind a year ago, after everything fell apart. I thought I buried him deep, locked him away with everything else I refuse to feel. But tonight, carrying Driti in my arms, I felt him stirring inside me.
It's unnerving, this pull towards softness. I can't afford that. Not with who I am now. The world knows me as Billionaire Vyaan Mehra-wealthy, powerful, the epitome of success. But that's just the surface. The under world, the one that exists in the shadows, knows me for something much darker. My name alone strikes fear in people. And that's exactly how it has to be.
No one knows what I am. No one knows what happened to me after the accident sixteen years ago. I've spent every day since then searching for answers, trying to remember the girl who haunts the edges of my memory. All I have is this locket, this tiny piece of her that I've held onto all these years. It's the only clue I have, but it's led me nowhere. Still, I keep searching.
Even now, I can't stop.
But for tonight, the mystery fades into the background as I focus on one thing: this strange, conflicting pull I feel towards Driti. I don't understand it, and maybe I don't want to. All I know is that I'm not the man I used to be.
As I dry off and get dressed, my thoughts are still tangled. I don't know where the hell the hate I carried for her went. For years, I've held onto it tightly, convinced that I had every reason to. The Driti I remembered was soft, naive, someone who I thought was unfit for the harshness of the world. She was gentle, almost fragile in a way. I convinced myself that I couldn't stand her.
But now, this Driti-the one sleeping in my bed-is different. Bold, fierce, strong. She's a force to be reckoned with, standing her ground with a fire in her eyes that I never expected. She's soft with everyone else, I've seen it. But with me? She's unyielding. It's like she's built walls just as high as mine, daring me to break through them.
I expected her to be the same as she was before-to still carry that innocence, that softness. But now, the woman I'm seeing is far from the girl I once knew. She's grown into someone who doesn't back down, who isn't afraid to challenge me. And strangely, that's what unsettles me the most.
Somehow, in all of this, I can't find that old hate anymore. It's like it's disappeared, replaced by something else-something I can't quite put into words. And it scares me, because for the first time in years, I'm seeing Driti for who she truly is now.
And I don't know what to do with that.
I shake my head, pushing the thoughts of Driti aside for now. I'll deal with it tomorrow. Whatever this is, whatever confusion she's stirred in me, I'm not ready to confront it tonight. I need space, distance-something familiar to ground me.
I leave the bedroom quietly, closing the door behind me. My feet carry me down the hallway to my office room. It's my private space, a refuge where no one disturbs me. Not even Maa ,Riya or Zora come in here unless I allow it. The house is vast, practically a mansion, with more rooms than anyone needs, but this one-this office-is where I can think, strategize, and be the version of myself that the world sees.
As I step inside and shut the door, the silence wraps around me like an old, familiar cloak. The dim lighting casts long shadows across the sleek furniture and shelves lined with files, reports, and plans. I exhale, feeling a strange sense of relief as I sit behind my desk.
Here, I'm in control. No confusion, no conflicting emotions. Just the sharp focus I'm known for-the one that's made me the man I am today. And tonight, this is where I'll stay, away from the confusion Driti has brought with her.
Tomorrow can wait.
I open the file on my desk, the title "Project: DREAM" glaring up at me in bold letters. My fingers hover over the documents as a wave of familiarity washes over me.
This project has consumed my life for the past eleven years. It's been my driving force, my obsession. No one outside these walls knows what it truly entails-only my heart and I understand the mission behind it. It's something I've kept buried, shielded from prying eyes and curious minds.
As I flip through the pages, the details of the project unfold in front of me-charts, plans, strategies, all meticulously organized. The scope of it is massive, far-reaching, and complex. It's not just about business or power; it's about something deeper, something more personal.
Each page represents a step closer to the goal I set for myself all those years ago. It's a reminder of why I've pushed myself to the limits, why I've built this empire and maintained this façade of cold detachment. It's a means to an end, a way to achieve something I've kept secret from everyone.
Tonight, as I review the files, the noise of the world fades away. The familiar task of going through the documents provides a comfort I didn't realize I needed. This mission, this project, it's my anchor. And as long as I focus on it, I can keep the rest of the chaos-like the emotions stirred by Driti-at bay.
I dive into the details, letting the work absorb me, knowing that as long as I'm immersed in this, I won't have to confront the confusion she's stirred within me. Tomorrow will come with its own challenges, but for now, the files are all that matters.
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