Morning felt… softer.
Aakrati woke up slowly, the sunlight slipping through the curtains, her body still a little tired—but her mind oddly calm. For a second, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling, taking in the quiet.
And then—
The smell reached her.
Fresh. Warm.
Food.
She frowned slightly, pushing herself up carefully, her foot still a little sore. The moment she stepped out of the room, she paused.
Arsh was in the kitchen.
Cooking.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
For a few seconds, she just stood there, watching him.
There was something about this scene that didn't feel real.
Too calm.
Too perfect.
"You're staring," he said without turning.
Aakrati blinked, instantly looking away. "I'm not."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Hmm."
She walked closer, leaning slightly against the counter. "Since when do you cook?"
"Since I decided you won't survive on your own," he replied casually.
She rolled her eyes. "Excuse me, I can survive very well."
He finally turned, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah? Yesterday didn't look like that."
She opened her mouth to argue—
Then stopped.
"Okay, that was one time."
"Sure," he said, not even trying to hide his smile.
A few minutes later, he placed the plate in front of her.
"Sit."
The tone wasn't harsh.
Just… certain.
Aakrati sat.
Quietly.
Watching him.
She picked up the spoon, but before she could take a bite, Arsh took it from her hand.
"Arsh—"
"Relax."
And just like that—
He fed her.
At first, she hesitated, her eyes flickering between him and the spoon.
"This is not necessary," she muttered.
"I know."
"Then why are you doing it?"
He shrugged lightly. "Because I want to."
That shut her up.
She took the bite.
And then another.
And another.
At some point, she stopped arguing.
Stopped questioning.
Just… let it happen.
Between bites, he kept making small comments—teasing her about how quiet she had become, how she wasn't arguing like usual.
"Where did all that attitude go?" he asked.
Aakrati glared at him slightly. "It's still there."
"Doesn't look like it."
She huffed softly, but there was no real annoyance in it.
Just a small smile she couldn't hide.
Everything felt… light.
Easy.
For a moment, it almost felt like nothing complicated existed.
No confusion.
No past.
No Krish.
No distance.
Just this.
Aakrati leaned back slightly after finishing, watching him as he casually cleaned up, like this was routine.
"Why are you being so nice?" she asked suddenly.
He paused for a second, then looked at her.
"Who said I'm being nice?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Then what is this?"
He walked closer, stopping right in front of her.
"This," he said quietly, "is normal."
She barely had time to stand before Arsh caught her by the waist and, in one smooth motion, made her sit on the edge of the dining table.
"Arsh—what are you doing?" she said, half surprised, half flustered.
He stepped closer, standing right between her knees, hands firm at her waist, not letting her move away. A slow smirk played on his lips.
"You've had your breakfast…" he said quietly.
His gaze dropped for a second.
"Now let me have mine."
Before she could respond, he leaned in—his lips finding hers again, deeper this time, unhurried but intense. Aakrati's hands came up to his shoulders, gripping lightly as she tried to steady herself, her breath catching in between.
The kiss lingered, stretched, pulling her in until she stopped resisting altogether.
And then—
He moved away from her lips.
But not from her.
His hold shifted, one arm wrapping around her from behind as his lips trailed slowly along her jaw, making her freeze instantly.
"Arsh…" she whispered, already knowing she wasn't stopping him.
He reached her neck—
Paused for just a second—
And then bit down lightly.
"Ah—Arsh!" she gasped, her fingers tightening in his shirt as she pulled back slightly. "What's wrong with you? You bit me!"
He pulled back just enough to look at her, that same smirk still there.
"Now everyone can see," he said calmly, almost teasingly, "you're mine."
Aakrati stared at him for a second—
Then narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Oh really?" she said, a hint of mischief slipping in. "So I should also do that?"
He didn't even hesitate.
"Yeah," he replied, leaning closer again, his voice lower now. "Why not?"
A pause.
"Wherever you want. Whenever you want."
His gaze didn't leave hers.
"I'm all yours."
For a second, she just looked at him—
And then let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head slightly, her fingers still resting on his shoulders.
"Shameless," she muttered.
But she didn't move away.
Not even a little.