Rayaan's pov:

I reached home later than usual.

The interview had left me on edge all day not that I'd ever admit that to anyone. Especially not her. I didn't even know why I was still thinking about Arvi's trembling hands, the flicker of fear in her eyes, or the way she still stood her ground anyway. It wasn't supposed to matter.

I went straight to my room, peeled off the day, and let the hot water drown the noise in my head. When I walked out, towel in hand, hair damp, I just wanted peace. A quiet dinner. Solitude.

No such luck.

I stepped into the living room and froze.

They were all there.

Aleesha and Arekha curled up on the big couch with popcorn bowls and matching evil smiles. Vanisha was sifting through cards, and Vivaan had some dumb board game box in his hand.

And right in the middle, tucked between cushions like she belonged there, was Arvi.

Her hair was in a lazy braid over one shoulder. She was in a soft lavender kurti. Her eyes widened when she saw me but just for a second. Then she looked away.

Good. She is better.

"Rayaan bhai!" Vanisha chirped. "You're finally home. Come sit!"

"No," I said flatly. "I'm going upstairs."

"Nope," Aleesha grinned. "You don't get to escape. You grilled us for an hour last night about studies. Tonight, you sit. Arvi's playing too."

Of course she is.

Arekha patted the empty spot next to her. "Come on. We're doing 'rapid fire questions.' Fun ones."

I looked at Arvi. She still wouldn't meet my eyes. Good. Or annoying. I couldn't tell.

I sighed. "Fine. Ten minutes."

I sat on the armrest, arms crossed, ready to be as un-fun as possible.

"Continue," I said simply.

No one dared refuse.

"So," Aleesha said, voice light, nervous, "we were just talking about Arvi's type."

My eyes flicked to her.

Arvi's cheeks flushed.

"She said she likes quiet guys," Vanisha grinned, clearly amused, "honest, respectful, tall..."

"Sounds like Vivaan," Arekha joked.

Vivaan laughed, but when I looked at him, he quickly looked away.

"She didn't say funny," Arvi added softly.

Everyone laughed. Everyone except me.

"Okay okay," Aleesha leaned closer to her. "Real talk have you ever liked someone at your workplace?"

Arvi blinked. "No."

"Come on, you must've had a crush on someone. Chef? Manager? That cute waiter guy?"

I didn't blink. Didn't move.

But something coiled tight inside me.

Arvi chuckled. "They were mostly rude or married."

"And what about now?" Vanisha asked innocently. "Anyone in this house caught your eye?"

Arvi looked stunned. "What? No!"

I could feel heat rising inside me, curling in slow, angry tendrils.

"She's blushing!" Arekha squealed. "She totally has a secret crush!"

"I don't," Arvi said quickly.

Vivaan leaned in like an idiot. "Fine, describe your dream guy. No names."

Arvi hesitated, then sighed like she was giving in. "Okay... he should be calm, not loud. Someone who can handle his anger. Who doesn't shout when things go wrong."

My jaw locked.

Someone who can handle his anger?

"He should be gentle. With words. And not... cruel," she added, voice softer.

Every word was a dart, aimed straight at me.

"Sounds like she's describing the anti Rayaan," Arekha giggled.

The room went still.

No one laughed after that.

I tilted my head slightly. "Say that again?"

Arekha paled. "I..I was joking, bhai."

I looked at Arvi. "Is that true?"

Her eyes met mine. She didn't speak.

It was enough.

I stood.

"Vivaan," I said. "Walk with me. NOW!!."

Vivaan scrambled to his feet, stammering, "Y-yeah. Of course."

As I walked away, I didn't look back.

But her words stayed behind like thorns under my skin.

He should be gentle.

Not cruel.

She feared me.

And yet, she laughed with them. Let them ask questions. Let them imagine her smiling with someone else.

Not me.

Never me.

And somehow, that made it worse.

.

.

.

.

The corridor outside the living room was quiet.

Too quiet for how loud the thoughts in my head were.

Vivaan walked a few steps behind me, pretending not to feel the tension crackling in the air. I stopped near the large window by the staircase. The evening light cast a long shadow across the marble floor.

I didn't turn to face him.

"Vivaan," I said calmly.

"Hmm?"

"What's with all those questions back there?"

He blinked. "Just harmless fun."

"Fun," I repeated. "It didn't look harmless."

He gave a careful chuckle. "It was just... cousins teasing someone new. Like always."

"She's not one of you."

"She's been living here for a while now, bhai."

I turned to him slowly. "And that makes it okay to ask if she has a crush on someone in this house?"

Vivaan raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with the question... or the answer?"

I didn't reply.

He scratched his neck, nervous now. "You're mad because she said she likes calm, gentle people?"

I said nothing. Just stared.

Vivaan smirked slightly. "You're not calm. Or gentle. But that doesn't mean-"

"She was talking about me." My voice was low.

Vivaan paused. "Maybe. Or maybe she's just trying to protect herself."

"She laughed," I replied. "With all of you. She blushed. She played along."

Vivaan folded his arms. "You know what I saw, bhai? A girl trying very hard not to offend you. Even when she was laughing. Even when she was teasing."

"She doesn't need to fear me."

"You gave her a reason to," he said, blunt for once. "From day one."

I looked away, jaw tight.

"You don't like her laughing with us," he added quietly. "You don't like anyone asking her questions. You want her quiet. Invisible."

"I didn't say that."

Silence.

Heavy. Dense.

"Go back to them," I said finally.

Vivaan nodded slowly, then turned to walk away. But just before he left, he added over his shoulder:

"She might be scared of you, bhai... but she doesn't hate you. If she did, she wouldn't care what you think of her."

And with that, he left me alone with my thoughts.

With the soft echo of her laugh still stuck somewhere in the back of my mind.

And the unsettling truth that maybe just maybe I didn't want her to be afraid.

Authors pov:

I've been pouring my heart into this story and updating regularly, hoping to connect with you all but it's been a little quiet on your end lately. I won't lie, it's disheartening to not see any votes or comments, especially when I'm giving it my all.

If you're reading this and enjoying the story, even a small comment or a single vote would mean so much to me. It keeps me going and reminds me that this story is reaching someone out there.

Thank you to those silently reading I see you too. But I'd love to hear your voice.