Lot's of love my Support System for 25k reads.. (m crying) ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

'*****' marks the beginning and end of flashbacks so don't get confused...

Now enjoy darlings and bombard your emotions ༽

"The groom's name was also Ishan. I think I should remind Aunty to get you married soon." Hearing Ishan's groan of annoyance through the phone earned a laugh from Mishika.

"Let me enjoy being a bachelor for some more years." Shaking her head she pursed her lips to suppress her laughter to not annoy her best friend any further.

"Do you think I'll get a cab back ? I don't have driver uncle's number and I don't want to disturb Yami Maa at this hour." While her lips were expressing her concern, her eyes darted to the sky, where the moon was shining strong and proud in the vast duvet of darkness.

Automatically a smile curled on her lips reminiscing Ishan's words that made her honey brown orbs gleam under the moonlight.

"It won't be safe since it's past midnight and reaching your apartment will take around two hours." Voicing out his worry, he let out a thoughtful breath. "Should I come to pick you up ? You can stay here for the night."

Before Mishika could come up with an answer, her phone was snatched from her hand by someone from behind. Baffled by the intrusive act she swiftly turned around.

"We are going to my penthouse." He quipped and in the meantime his fingers skillfully disconnected the call. And before she could even interject, he spoke again "I'm bringing the car. Wait at the exit gate."

And like that he was gone, leaving Mishika with a frown and knitted eyebrows. She would have defied him but right now she had no option. Waiting for Ishan to come and pick her up will exhaust her and him both, considering it will still take more than an hour.

"Beggars can't be choosers." Pacifying herself, she reluctantly marched to the exit gate.
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Dark with mysterious calmness and totally his type is what Mishika came upon after running her eyes across the lavish penthouse.

"Follow me." her eyes rolled when Aarav's impassive voice arrogantly interrupted her admiring session. And watching him making his way upstairs without waiting for her made her internally groan in annoyance.

The door knob clicked and Aarav stepped inside and sparing no glance at the girl behind him, sprinted inside the washroom.

Cluelessly and uncomfortably, Mishika decided to roam her eyes around the spacious room which looked very tidy as if someone has been using it frequently.

As if having brains of their own, her feet automatically walked closer to the shelf at the corner of the room. Her hands in daze surfed across the books on the shelf and stopped at a particular one when recognition crossed her eyes.

With a fast pacing heart she pulled that book out with the very familiar cover page. Ruffling through the pages she stopped at a particular page where lies a dead and wilted rose flatten between the pages. And beneath the dead rose lies a beautiful illustration of a thriving rose in the book's page which was torn from between. And the memory of Aarav tearing it was still fresh in her memory.

**F L A S H B A C K B E G I N S**

"You are again reading the same book." The book she was holding slipped out of her hands when the very familiar voice of the intruder reached her ears.

Whereas on the contrary Aarav looked very composed and satisfied by the reaction she gave out on his sudden appearance. Even his reflexes were quick and he caught the book before it could meet the ground.

Turning around she quickly scooted a few steps back to generate some space between them since both were standing between the groove pathway of the bookshelves.

Her inner consciousness kicked in again and her eyes automatically fumbled everywhere except his which were as always pointed at her like a hawk. And those hawk eyes didn't fail to notice the slight easiness in her body posture.

Lately she had been crossing paths with him a lot and that was intriguing to her and even made her feel uneasy. Though she eventually grew habitual to it since he would just exchange a few words here and there and then leave or let her leave. And then she didn't protest, sensing no danger from him. But only if her puny self knew what she was getting herself into.

"I want to read it and understand its depth." Staring at the book in his grasp, her eyes were gleaming with curiosity. "But I couldn't find it in any bookshop."

For some strange reason he didn't like the helpless sigh that vented past her lips. His arched eyebrows eases as an idea popped in his brain that was indulged with hooliganism.

Without giving much thought he opened a random page and tore it down the middle. Mishika gasped at the scene and started shaking with the thought of the librarian restricting them from entry and charging them with fines.

"This is on me." He assured her. "Wait for me outside."

Pacing back and forth in the corridor Mishika was cursing herself for leaving him all alone to go through the librarian's wrath.

Her body jolted when he again appeared in front of her abruptly and was now holding the book in her direction. "Here"

"I'm not much of a reader so you can have it." Seeing her confused face he tried to explain. "I've spent double of its price along with the fine. Don't make my money go in waste."

On his words her eyes widened in incredulity and before she could deny him, he was already gone leaving her with the book and ferment of emotions.

She didn't even know his name yet and his personality was very incomprehensible and abrupt but today she found him cute. The thought brought a smile on her lips.

She was thinking of him as a gust of wind, unaware of the fact that he is the upcoming storm of her life.

**F L A S H B A C K E N D S**

And that time she had no idea that like the permanent scar he had given to the illustrated rose, he would be leaving a permanent scar on her too.

The memory of her returning him the book back when things went up the spout was still as green in her memories as the memories of the ugly things she had to go through because of him.

The adorable bond they had once started to develop was long dead like the rose she had once kept while reading the book.

Giving him the book back was a sign from her side that she doesn't want anything to do with him anymore. When she thought this would be the end, it proved to be the beginning of the miseries awaiting her.

Holding the same book in her hand, she couldn't hold her mind back from raising the doubt. "Why does he still have it ?"

"Bad habit, Mish." Him suddenly snatching the book out of her hold left her startled. "You shouldn't go through others' stuff without permission."

"For your knowledge, we are married." Not giving much thought she blurted out the first remark that reached her lips and it made him smile impishly.

On instinct she pulled her step away as he took a step closer. "And I'm very much willing to play husband wife. Hnn hnn."

His intense gaze raking up and down her figure draped in the golden sequin saree, which was highlighting her curves, made her shudder on her spot. But the very next moment she jumped on her place, scared and startled, since he let out a grunt of deprecation.

"Give it back, Misha." Scared by his animalistic growl her eyes followed the line of his stiff gaze and then realised that it was zeroed on the dead rose in her clutch.

She didn't know where she got the courage from or what provoked her to do so, but defying him she shook her head. "That book is yours. This is mine."

Seeing her stubbornness only infuriated him further and within blink of eye she was whimpering in his grasp as he had her arms twisted behind her back. Involuntarily her eyelids were forced close when he growled once again and that too on her face. "Don't fucking test me. It is mine. Only mine."

Like a dry leaf her body began to shake in his hold. And she exactly can't comprehend what was scaring her most ? Him caging her in his animalistic grip or the tone of dark possession in his words ?

"Why ? Wh_at is in this dea_d rose ?" With a quivering voice she let her question knit through the words. Scared, though, she was but she didn't want herself to fall weak in front of him.

"Believe me Honey-eye, you don't wanna know it." Her skin burned under his touch as the pad of his thumb stroked her quivering lower lip. "Don't entice me to replace it with the actual one."

She was too caught up in the moment to even interpret the hidden diabolical promise behind his words. He was close. So close that she was afraid to even breathe properly. Too damn much close that even with closed eyes she could feel the warmth of his lips almost above hers.

"So now be a good wife. Get yourself comfortable, change into whatever clothes you find and go to bed." Like a predator coaxing his prey, he patted her cheeks as if she was a little kitten.

Without wasting any further second she rushed inside the washroom as soon as he let go of his frightening grip from her. Whereas his eyes left her trail and now focused on the dead rose in his clutch.

With so much delicacy his fingers were caressessing it but by the devil's grace, those dark eyes of his were glistening with possessiveness.
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The red spark of the cigarette was flickering a few inches away under Aarav's nose. Out of habit he let it tucked between his lips and held it captive between his fingers. The midnight breeze passed stroking his naked torso but he stood unfazed and motionless.

He liked the loneliness where he can remain motionless as long as he desires without any bound to make any move and prove that he is still very much alive. He liked losing himself in the darkness where he didn't have to watch his actions and could be reckless.

And as much complicated it sounds, he has chosen it, he has embraced it and he is obstinate to preserve it all over.

There is no explanation why he is like this and why he likes things which are too complicated and twisted for human liking. Maybe because his soul is too much astray-ed in the abyss that all he could think about is the allure of darkness.

Taking a deep puff he let the smoke blow out of his parted lips and watch it wash away with the cool gusts.

The motions happening behind him in the room darted him away from his unfazed state. Inadvertently he turned around only to find his breath hitched at the very next second.

Mishika walked across the room till the switchboard and in meantime she stopped and leaned to reach to fold the trouser end which was too long for her. The t-shirt around her neck hung low, providing a sore view of cleavage making his blood run cold and his veins heated up by the insane pace.

Gulping on his own saliva, he showed no attempt to look away and as if sensing the heated gaze upon her, she straightened up with furrowed brows. Instantly her face heated up as she shifted on her spot uneasily. It was a part of Mishika's nature that she would easily get flustered under someone's gaze.

"Stop staring." She stated, her voice meek and it only earned a soundless growl from him.

Aarav's pov
Fuck! If only you knew sweetheart what you're asking for ?

She isn't the most beautiful lady I've ever come across with but even Satan knows that no other woman has ruled my mind like this girl.

I jerked the cigarette away when I felt it burning my fingers since I was too caught up to notice it sooner.

I caught her wrist while she was busy trying to gain my attention towards my blaring phone in her clutch. Switching the stupid device on silent I shoved it in my trouser pocket meanwhile taken aback by my action she instantly struggled to get herself out of my grip.

"Let go." She exclaimed, frustrated and too eager to get away. "What do you want ?"

This innocent seductress here have no fucking idea how much she tempts me to do all sinful things to her.

Not able to resist anymore I pulled her flush over my bare chest taking her by surprise. "Seeing you, my little wife, in my clothes only wants me to rip them off your sweet honey body and ravish you over and over."

I saw her face growing pale and her struggles intensifying, as always my words and actions have pushed her buttons. Ignoring her struggles in my grip, I focused on savoring the moment of having her so fucking close to me.

My emotions, my desires, my cravings, everything gets heightened in her presence as if I'm a fucking vampire and she is the blood that the monster in me needs to survive.

It took every ounce of control in me to not grab her neck and kiss those damn sweet lips, which were taking out whimpers, to get away from me. Or else I just wanted to fulfil my promise I made the other day and eat her breath out.

The person in my arm is no longer just the naive teen girl but now a grown up woman, which any man would desire. And knowing that she is my wife, practically bounded with me, only acts like a lethal dose in my crumbling controlled obsession.

Desiring her is far-fetched, I will gouge their eyes out of the sockets even if anyone laid their gaze on her.

"Aarav, leave me."

Her body turned stiff as I inched my face closer to hers. "Too late darling. You yourself signed your life with the devil for the next seven lives."

Chapter Word- 2372

Hoi lovelies, hope you liked the chapter ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡
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Healthy and developing criticism is totally invited ━⁠☞

Signing off
~T.R