Precap: Arav clutched Mira’s waist in possessiveness. Arav pinched her waist immediately. Mira felt nervous and let out a soft moan. His touch was warm,rough and tempting.

Mira woke before dawn, long before the mansion stirred with servants or rituals or responsibilities. A faint grey light seeped through the curtains, softening the shadows in the room.

For a moment, she forgot where she was.

Then her eyes landed on him.

Aarav.

Asleep on the couch.

One arm resting over his chest, the other hanging loosely at his side, his long frame barely fitting on the narrow length of the sofa. His sherwani dupatta had slipped halfway to the floor, his hair slightly tousled, jaw tight even in sleep—as if even dreams didn’t let him relax.

He looked… human like this.

Not the intimidating Rathod heir.

Not the powerful businessman.

Just a man who didn’t belong to softness yet somehow shared a room with it.

Her room.

Their room.

She blinked again, surprised at the pull she felt toward him.

Something unsteady.

Something warm.

Something dangerous.

She slowly sat up, careful not to wake him. The silk sheets rustled softly.

Aarav’s eyes snapped open.

Sharp. Alert.

Like he’d been trained never to sleep deeply.

He sat up immediately, scanning the room before resting his gaze on her.

“You’re awake early,” he said, voice rough from sleep.

“I… couldn’t sleep,” she admitted.

His eyes softened for a fraction of a second—there, then gone. “Nightmares?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Just… nerves.”

Aarav leaned his elbows on his knees, studying her with that unreadable intensity he carried like armor. “If anyone in this house makes you uncomfortable today, tell me.”

There it was again—that quiet protectiveness that felt more intimate than touch.

“But everyone here respects you,” Mira whispered.

“They respect me,” he corrected. “Not necessarily my decisions.”

Her heartbeat fluttered.

Was marrying her a decision he didn’t want? Or one he wouldn’t let them question?

Before she could speak, he stood and walked toward her slowly.

Too slowly.

Like he was giving her time to step back.

Like he knew she wouldn’t.

He stopped at the edge of the bed, looking down at her as if trying to decipher something in her eyes.

“Mira,” he said quietly, “last night… I didn’t sleep much.”

“Why?” she asked before thinking.

His gaze deepened. Darkened.

“Because I was aware of you,” he said simply.

Honest.

Unfiltered.

Her breath stalled.

“I’m not used to sharing my space,” he went on, voice low. “Not with anyone. And especially not with someone who…” He stopped himself.

“Someone who what?” she whispered.

His jaw tightened. “Someone who looks at me the way you do.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “I wasn’t—”

“You were,” he said softly. “And it’s fine.”

Fine.

He said it in the way that made it sound anything but fine.

Almost like he felt it too.

His fingers brushed the edge of her dupatta—and stopped. Held. Just that. Touching nothing except the fabric, but the moment sparked in her like a match against dry air.

“Mira,” he murmured, “you should know something about me.”

Her pulse roared in her ears.

“I’m not an easy man. And I don’t share well.”

She swallowed. “Share… what?”

His eyes dropped to her lips for a split second—barely there, but enough to make her skin prickle.

“Attention,” he said quietly. “Trust. Space. Time.”

Then, lower: “You.”

Her breath caught.

Possessive.

Blunt.

Dangerously honest.

Yet not a hint of force in his voice.

Just a truth he couldn’t hide.

Before she found her voice, there was a knock on the door.

“Bhaiya! Breakfast is ready!” a young male voice called from outside.

Aarav exhaled sharply, stepping back. “Five minutes.”

The footsteps retreated.

Mira’s pulse didn’t.

Aarav ran a hand through his hair, composing himself.

“You’ll stay close to me downstairs,” he said, tone back to that controlled calm. “There will be too many eyes. Too many questions. It helps if you’re with me.”

She nodded slowly. “Alright.”

He stared at her for a long moment. “Good.”

He walked toward the wardrobe—but halfway, he stopped and turned back again, his voice lower, rougher:

“And Mira… don’t look at anyone the way you looked at me last night.”

Her eyes widened. “Aarav—”

He held her gaze with a dark, quiet intensity that rooted her to the spot.

“It won’t end well,” he finished.

Then he walked away, leaving her breath shallow, heart racing, and mind spinning with a truth she had no idea how to handle:

He didn’t want this marriage.

He didn’t want a wife.

He didn’t want closeness.

But he wanted her attention.

And he wasn’t willing to share it with anyone.

Not even his own family.

That morning, as they stepped out of the North Wing together, Mira realized something unsettling and exhilarating—

Aarav Rathod wasn’t just quiet.

Or mysterious.

Or mature.

He was a man who loved control…

…and was already losing it around her.

In the breakfast table, Arav was sitting with Mira, his eyes are only on her. Mira was in a pink lehenga, her slim waist was exposed which tempted Arav.

Everybody greeted their Yuvraj Arav and Mira. Everybody was happy for them. Mira felt out of place because she never saw such a huge royal palace before. She belonged to a middle-class family. Arav was the owner of the Rathod estate and company and was a billionaire. Mira barely knew them as she was forced to get married to Arav by her aunt after her father died one month ago.

Arav's cousin Rudra was looking at Mira. He was amazed by her beauty and charm. He was looking at her chest and waist. Mira felt uncomfortable. Arav saw it. He was burning with jealousy. Arav clutched Mira’s waist in possessiveness. Arav pinched her waist immediately. Mira felt nervous and let put a soft moan. His touch was warm,rough and tempting.

Mira whispered at Arav saying,"They will see it!"

Arav,"They won't and even if they , let them see it, its my right to claim my wife".

Rudra could sense it and immediately lowered his gaze.

When the both returned to their room Arav said,"I told you before, I cannot tolerate if anybody looks at my possessions, I will destroy them immediately".

Mira said,"But nobody was looking".

Arav said,"Don't pretend, I saw Rudra looking at you. I couldn't tolerate it. I cannot see anybody looking at my jaan".

Mira replied,"Jaan?" She was amused. She never saw any man showing so much of love and possessiveness on her.

Arav said,"Yes you are my Jaan. He saw your waist so I claimed it with my hands, if somebody touches you I'll kill them and claim you again and again to make you mine."

Mira froze their. She was nervous and thrilled by this man's words.

Arav handed over a black midi dress to her and said,"Meet me at the terrace at 10.00 pm."

Mira was confused. She doesn't even knew where the terrace was. She was perplexed by the huge walls of the Rathod mansion, the luxurious beds, carpets, jwelleries, furnitures and the people. She will ask her maid where was the terrace. She saw the black dress she never wore such a revealing dress before. She was nervous.

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