The sterile white walls of the hospital room blurred as Manasi slowly blinked her eyes open. A dull ache throbbed at the back of her head, a stark reminder of what had happened. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and reached for her phone. Without wasting a moment, she dialed Daniel’s number.
The call connected almost instantly.
“Manasi?” Daniel’s voice carried both relief and urgency. “Are you okay?”
“I just regained consciousness,” she said, rubbing her temple. “Daniel… Aryan hurt me. And it was because of her.” Her voice trembled with barely concealed fury.
Daniel exhaled sharply. “Something isn’t right. Why would Aryan go that far for her? Who is she, Manasi? There’s more to this than we know.”
“I don’t know,” Manasi admitted, gripping the sheets tightly. “But I swear, I won’t let her go unpunished.”
Daniel’s tone turned firm. “Not now. Don’t act impulsively. Give it time, and let’s find out everything about her first.”
Manasi took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “Hmmm… okay,” she muttered. “I’ll be back at work in two weeks. If you find anything about her, let me know.”
Daniel hummed in response before disconnecting the call.
Manasi’s fingers curled into a fist as she lay back against the pillows, her mind racing. She wouldn’t rest until she uncovered the truth.
The cafeteria bustled with employees chatting, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. Pavithra spotted Sanjana walking towards her and waved her over.
Sanjana dropped into the chair across from her, crossing her arms. “Pavi, why did you call me? It’s not even lunchtime yet.”
Pavithra grinned mischievously. “Nothing serious. I was just thinking… shall we go have some ice cream?”
Sanjana’s eyes lit up like a child being offered candy. “Woww, of course! I’ll join you in a heartbeat!”
Pavithra chuckled. “You like ice cream that much, huh?”
“You have no idea. If you let me, I’d eat an entire tub—no, make that tubs!” Sanjana declared dramatically.
Before Pavithra could respond, Ranjith appeared and casually slid into the seat opposite them.
Without paying much attention to him, Pavithra got up and returned with two bowls of ice cream. Sanjana wasted no time digging in, her expressions of pure joy making it clear how much she was savoring every bite. She licked the spoon clean, her eyes sparkling with delight.
What neither of them realized was that Aryan was watching her.
Through the camera feed on Ranjith’s phone, Aryan’s eyes remained glued to the screen. She was eating with such innocence, such childlike happiness, that a flicker of warmth stirred in his chest. He had seen this expression before, had been enchanted by it once before. His mind slipped into the past.
Flashback:
The sky had been painted in hues of orange and pink as Aryan walked along the shoreline, the waves kissing his feet. The salty breeze brushed against his skin, but none of it occupied his thoughts.
Then, he saw her.
She was standing near an ice cream cart, talking animatedly with her friend.
“Heyyy, I want Blackcurrant!” she chirped excitedly.
Her friend laughed. “I want Chocolate.”
Sanjana huffed dramatically. “Fine, then I want Chocolate too.”
“Hey! That’s too much!” her friend protested.
“No, I want it,” Sanjana insisted, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Aryan found himself watching her, completely enthralled. She held the ice cream like it was the most precious thing in the world, savoring every lick. Every now and then, she’d break into laughter, the sound reaching her eyes, making them glow with happiness.
A strange, unfamiliar smile tugged at Aryan’s lips. He wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.
“Ranjith,” he said quietly, still watching her. “Find out who she is.”
“Yes, sir.”
From that day forward, Aryan had known everything about Sanjana, her routines, her habits, her joys, her sorrows. He had never looked away since.
Flashback Ends:
Aryan’s gaze returned to the screen. She was still there, still eating her ice cream with the same unfiltered joy.
The corner of his lips twitched.
Sanjana… she had always been like this. And yet, she had no idea how deeply she had been watched, how much someone had memorized her every move.
Sanjana stood up from her seat. “Pavi, I should get back to work.”
Pavithra grabbed her wrist, stopping her. “Hey, wait a second! Tell me… what did Aryan say?”
Sanjana rolled her eyes. “Pavi, don’t you have work to do?”
Pavithra smirked. “Nope. This is my most important work right now.”
Sanjana groaned. “I’m leaving.”
“Okay, okay, fine!” Pavithra pouted. “But if anything happens, you have to tell me first. I deserve it!”
Sanjana sighed, shaking her head with a smile. “Get lost, Pavi.”
She walked away, but Pavithra’s words lingered in her mind.
Sanjana knocked on Aryan’s cabin door before stepping inside, holding a folder in her hands. She walked up to his desk and placed the documents before him.
Aryan barely glanced up. “What file is this?”
“These are the new partnership deal documents. You need to sign them,” she informed him, her voice steady.
Without another word, Aryan picked up his pen and started signing. His focus remained on the papers, his brown eyes scanning through each page with precision.
Sanjana had seen him a hundred times before. She had argued with him, gotten frustrated at him, even yelled at him. But for some reason, today, she was noticing him differently.
The way his soft, slightly messy hair fell over his forehead. The sharp arch of his thick eyebrows. His well-trimmed beard that framed his face perfectly. His muscular arms stretching beneath his crisp, fitted formal shirt. The way his long fingers held the pen so effortlessly, every movement controlled yet powerful.
A shiver ran through her body before she could stop it.
Sanjana’s Mindvoice: Sanjana, what are you doing? Why are you even looking at him like this?!
Sanjana’s Heart: What’s wrong with looking? He’s looking at you too.
Mind: He only knows how to irritate you!
Heart: No… he takes care of you. Yes, he’s short-tempered, but he still looks out for you.
Mind: When he’s angry, he doesn’t even seem human.
Heart: Oh, is that why he saved you yesterday? Because he’s not human?
Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized Aryan had been calling her name. When he received no response, he put down his pen and lifted his head, only to find her openly staring at him.
He bit the inside of his cheek, fighting back the amused smirk threatening to spread across his face. But when she didn’t snap out of it, he finally spoke, his voice sharp this time.
“Sanjana!”
She jolted back to reality. “Yes, Aryan?”
Sanjana’s Mindvoice: Oh, God! What did he just ask? This is so embarrassing! This is all because of Pavi!
Aryan leaned back in his chair, smirking. “What exactly were you dreaming about?”
Sanjana straightened her posture, forcing her face into a neutral expression. “I wasn’t dreaming.”
His smirk deepened. “Sure.”
Trying to move past the moment, she cleared her throat. “I’ll send the signed documents to the dealer.”
“Hmm.” He nodded, handing them back to her.
Before she could leave, a knock on the door interrupted them.
Aryan’s Mindvoice: First time she looks at me like that, and someone has to ruin the moment.
“Come in,” he said, a flicker of annoyance in his tone.
Daniel stepped inside, his eyes flicking towards Sanjana before settling on Aryan.
“Aryan, we’re launching our new cosmetic line tomorrow,” Daniel reported. “The market is already showing great anticipation after our promotional campaign.”
Aryan nodded. “Hmm, okay.”
“All our ads have received an overwhelmingly positive response.”
“Good.”
Daniel waited, expecting Aryan to discuss further, but when he didn’t, he took the cue. “Alright, sir. I’ll leave now. Let me know if you need anything.”
Aryan gave a slight nod, dismissing him.
As Daniel turned to go, his gaze lingered on Sanjana for a second before he stepped out.
Sanjana exhaled softly. “Shall I leave too?”
Aryan tilted his head, studying her. “I don’t mind if you stay.”
Her breath hitched, but she quickly composed herself. Without another word, she grabbed the folder from his desk and hurried out of the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Aryan leaned back in his chair, a grin tugging at his lips.
She had looked at him. Not with irritation. Not with indifference. But with something else entirely.
He stood up and walked towards his relaxation room, stopping in front of the mirror. He ran his fingers through his beard, his smile growing. A hint of color crept onto his face.
Aryan’s Mindvoice: Aryan, today is a lucky day, man.
Meanwhile, as Daniel stepped out of Aryan’s office, he pulled out his phone and dialed Manasi.
The call was answered almost immediately.
“Yes, tell me, Dany,” Manasi’s voice came through.
Daniel didn’t waste time. “I just saw Aryan blushing for the first time.”
There was silence for a second before Manasi’s voice turned sharp. “What?”
“I went into Aryan’s cabin. Sanjana was already there, and when I looked at Aryan… his face was completely flushed.”
Manasi’s grip on her phone tightened. “That bitch.” Her voice dripped with venom. “It’s been only a few days, and she’s already started using her charms?”
Daniel didn’t respond.
Manasi’s eyes darkened. “I don’t care if Aryan won’t be mine. But he cannot be hers. I know what to do.”
Daniel hesitated. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll know soon. Wait for my call. And I need you to meet someone.”
Daniel frowned slightly. “Hmm… okay. Take care.”
Manasi ended the call.
A slow, dangerous smirk spread across her face as she dialed another number.
When the call connected, a deep voice spoke from the other end. “Who will be loyal enough to work for me?”
Manasi’s lips curled. “Daniel can. He wants Sanjana for himself. He’ll do anything you say.”
There was a pause before the voice responded, “Tell him to contact me. I’ll give him his task.”
“Hmm. Okay,” Manasi said, ending the call.
Aryan Mansion:
Aryan and Sanjana sat across from each other at the dining table, quietly having their dinner. The only sound between them was the soft clinking of cutlery against plates—until Sanjana’s phone rang, lighting up with Pavithra’s name.
She picked up the call, placing a piece of food into her mouth as she answered.
“Yeah, tell me, Pavi.”
Pavithra’s excited voice came through. “Sanju! Let’s go for a movie tomorrow.”
Sanjana didn’t even hesitate. “No way. You go ahead, I’m not coming.”
“Heyy! It’s the weekend! What else will you do anyway?” Pavi whined.
“Nothing, Pavi, but you carry on, please.”
Before her friend could argue further, Sanjana ended the call and got up from the table. Without another word, she walked to her room.
Aryan, who had silently observed the entire exchange, finished his dinner and followed her. He found her sitting on the bed, immersed in a book.
Leaning casually against the doorframe, he asked, “Who called you?”
Sanjana didn’t even glance up. “How does that matter to you?”
Aryan smirked at her defiance and shrugged. “Fine, I’ll leave then.”
Just as he turned to go, she sighed. “Pavi called me.”
He stopped. “What for?”
“She wanted me to go to a movie with her tomorrow.”
He studied her for a moment before asking, “Hmm… do you want to go?”
She finally lifted her eyes from the book, raising an eyebrow. “Are you actually asking me that? Would you even let me go if I wanted to?”
Aryan’s lips curled at her challenge. “Fine. Go. Join her.”
Sanjana blinked, stunned. “Are you feeling okay?”
He chuckled. “Why?”
“You always want me to stay home. But today, you’re ready to send me out… without you?” she questioned, her suspicion evident.
In an instant, Aryan closed the distance between them, stepping so close that she instinctively held her breath. Her fingers tightened around the book, her heart hammering.
His voice dropped to a soft, deep murmur. “Darling, I’m not as bad as you think. Whatever I say or do… it’s only for your good. You’ll understand that soon.”
Before she could respond, he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. Then, slowly, he brushed his lips against her earlobe.
Sanjana gasped. Her entire body tensed, her mind blanking out. She took a step back, her fingers trembling slightly.
Aryan smirked, amused by her reaction. Without another word, he turned and walked to the door. Just before stepping out, he called over his shoulder,
“Call Pavithra and tell her you’ll be joining.”
With a satisfied smile, he disappeared into his room, leaving Sanjana standing there, frozen.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and her fingers involuntarily brushed against her earlobe.
What just happened?
After what felt like forever, she finally snapped out of her daze and grabbed her phone.
Pavi picked up instantly. “Sanju?”
“I’ll come,” Sanjana said, her voice slightly breathless.
“Yay! Let’s meet at the mall for shopping, lunch, and then the movie!” Pavi chirped.
Sanjana nodded to herself before replying, “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
As she ended the call, she took a deep breath, her mind still swirling with the warmth of Aryan’s touch.
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[…] Chapter 11 […]