First of all, did you guys noticed the new characters I highlighted in past few chapters after the second phase started ? ✧⁠\⁠(⁠>⁠o⁠<⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠✧

Now, don't keep me starved for comments even after this early update

Aarav's pov
There are thoughts. A lot of thoughts. Loud, deafening and agonising thoughts. No matter how much I thrash to get a string for even a narrow escape, they still haunt me. The mere thought was enough to gnaw at my skin for months but when I lived my terror, it gained power to torment me down to my sleep, curbing me under its mercy.

Red has always been a colour that intrigued me, until I held her in my arms like a bleeding rose and felt like it was me who had been plucked out of breath. And ever since the same red, which took away Arshu, the same red who, like a bitch, mocked on my face as it had my Honey-eye draped in it, has forced me to endeavour to get an ounce of peaceful sleep.

Bubbles erupted in the water and no longer could I hold on to my breath, forcing my mind to succumb out of oblivion. With a jerk, I forced my body to straighten against the tub walls, craning my neck out of the chilled water to finally allow oxygen to grace within my lungs. Bobbling my head in a frantic shake, I ran a hand down my face to get rid of the extra water.

Stretching my arms on either side of the tub, I once again eased my body to slip inside as I tried to use the void filled water around me to silence the same poignant thoughts, the same poignant picture that had been plaguing my peace.

This has been repeating like a cycle for months and nothing I can do will stop it. The remorse, the guilt has been scorching me painfully and this is the kind of pain I couldn't relish. But I've embraced it because for the first time I want to feel. Feel it all. It provides me with a sense of being somewhere close to my Arshu.

Time ticked away and I found myself standing in the balcony, with just a towel secured around my waist, my hair still damp. Plopping my elbows against the railing, I stood holding my bodyweight, clutching the cigarette between my fingers as the fresh air surrounding me amalgamated with the addictive yet deadly smoke.

Watching the dark dawn sky, desperate yet cocky, slithering its way to the light as it held its hand, scorching in the passion of dichotomy. Stark hues commenced to spread across the dark sky, like a teasing seductress slyly indulging in her dance to captivate her lover, marking the emergence of something addictive yet strikingly exquisite.

That is what my Honey-eye is for me. Even she has no comprehension of the power she holds over me neither can I fathom the gravity of her authority that have me possessed.

On my black slate, she is the beautiful strokes of red chalk, forbidden but still sacred. Something that can't be erased. Something that is engraved in my existence.
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"You don't need to come to pick me up everytime." Her gaze met mine as I rounded the car after closing the door for her and hopped on the driver's seat.

"Consider your husband to be your personal chauffeur, sweetheart." Leaning in, my hands took over the seatbelt from her as I buckled it for her, an excuse to stay in her vicinity. "Although you can always count on me for other services too."

Her eyes remained latched with mine for an extra second and a diabolical crescent etched across my lips as I saw heat climbing on her face. The entire ride was spent in silence since she refused to speak after she looked away.

As she stepped out of the car, pure anticipation morphed her facial features while in meantime she took in the surroundings.

"Clicked something ?" I whispered in her ear, my voice hoarse and I felt her shiver in my arms.

Her lips quivered attempting to form out a reply from among the tremors of the emotions and memories resurfacing within. "Why are we here ?" She voiced out.

My palm, which was already resting on her waist, motioned in soft caresses to ease the turmoil wrecking her. "To take a stroll."

It wasn't entirely a lie though I don't intend for just a stroll.

We both took in our surroundings. So much has changed over the years, still nothing has changed. It was the same place where I first gave her an ice-cream treat which soon developed into a habit. And right at this moment, we are both surged by the deep sense of Déjà vu.

I grasped her forearm, our eyes meeting in the moment, mirroring everything swirling within as I ushered her to the icecream parlour. Moments later, we were both savouring her usual preference, sitting closely on a bench nearby. Meanwhile we watched the red hues in the sky getting embraced by the forthcoming darkness of the twilight.

"Why don't you order something that you like ? My lips quirked up in a faint twist, pleased that rather than ignoring me she is finally easing up around.

"I don't like ice cream, sweetheart."

Surprise morphs her face. "You don't ?" I shrugged my shoulders, taking another bite. "Then why do you eat it ?"

"Anything to spend an extra moment with you, Honey-eye."

The impeding noise in our surroundings camouflaged as her honey browns fused into my charcoal orbs, and in that fleeting moment, something deep and unsaid transpired between us.

Minutes rolled on in tranquillity enveloping us but if she thinks I didn't notice how she has been fiddling with her fingers, then she is mistaken. Sensing her tangled in her own turmoil, I stood up from my spot and outstretched my hand to her. Her eyebrows furrowed however without questioning anything, she accepted it.

In the open, amidst bustling twilight, it wasn't a great escape to spend some private moments with my precious wife. We walked into her apartment and I let out a loud sigh. Damn! Attachment wasn't something that fit into my dictionary. But I miss this place.

The place is very tidy since I've hired people to keep it intact.

After opening the balcony door to let the evening breeze access inside, she walked back inside the living room.

"I_" She cleared her throat and my eyebrows shot up, cueing her to go on. "I wanted to talk about Lara di."

Without realising a scoff resonated past my throat, boredom marrying my expressions. "If you're so interested in killing time then I suggest you take a nap, Mish."

On my suggestive remark, a scowl etched across her face.

"Fine" My hands raised in surrender. "Whatever my little wife wants."

Patting the space beside me, I extended my hand in her direction and after using a moment of contemplation, she finally gave in and walked to the sofa, holding my hand. A startled gasp echoed from her lips when with a tug I pulled her on my lap.

"What ?" Her beautiful eyes widened like saucers, shooting me with a glare while she wriggled to unbolt from my arms.

Although all her attempts drained away when I bit her earlobe. "Now take this one seriously." My sultry breath aerating around her ear and neck, teased the goosebumps lining her skin. "I'm not in the mood to take a cold shower so I suggest you to not wriggle unless you're signalling otherwise."

It must have taken a jify for her to decode the meaning in my words as I saw how flustered she got in the moment. "So baby, you better sit straight without any unnecessary movements like a good wife, hmm ?"

Her eyes narrowed in my direction however sensing my obstinacy to not let go, she didn't evoke any further attempts to protest.

"Now we are good to talk."

She ignored my cocky countenance and rather focused on what she wanted to discuss. "Were you and Lara di close_ umm in any way ?"

That caused me to grimace. "I've gotten involved with many ladies in the past. Why would you specifically ask about her ?"

"Because you weren't getting married to all of them. And none of them were my cousins either." By her replies I could sense that her responses were rather driven by impulse than being calculated. And I'm already getting bewitched by this unfiltered side of hers.

As I ran my knuckles along the softness of her cheeks, I heard her sucking in a breath. "She and I were just a business deal." Seriousness took over my voice. "Whereas you my baby, you are the woman I don't deserve, the woman I always desired and fortunately I turned out to be one lucky bastard to have you as my wife."

If I'm not mistaken then I saw something flickering in her eyes and it boosted me to make her realise the gravity of my words. "Your presence itself is charismatic over the entire existence of this stupid universe. Your reign over my existence is ineffaceable"

I noticed how visibly she gulped the lump forming in her throat, and those soft and very kissable lips of hers trembled.

"I never touched. Fuck! I would have never touched her." I took a pause before I continued. "A deal means a deal. No strings attached. Neither emotional nor physical. My eyes wouldn't even glance her way whereas they search for you everytime and everywhere."

My addiction for her runs deeper than I could find words to describe it. It is terrifying how lethal it turns with every passing second, like it has been injected inside my system and dissolved into my veins.

"Why me, Aarav ?" A chuckle vibrates upon that absurd question from her. Ohh my so naive Honey-eye.

"It's either you or no one, Honey-eye." Every syllable leaving my lips was making chords with the heating air enveloping our environment. "My eyes explore the forbidden heaven as the void thronged black holes of mine indulge in every sacred brown of yours."

Her mouth parts as I flattened my palms on her thighs, giving it a soft squeeze before motioning soft strokes on her skin. Thanks to the dress she wore which made my movements accessible. The feeling of her soft skin under my touch made the inner devil inside me roar with desire. It was taking every ounce of me to not act on the carnal thoughts clouding my head.

A whimper frees through her lips when I sink my teeth in the crook of her neck, my tongue following suit to ease the sting. "You're such an addiction." I hissed against her skin. "It makes me feel alive and would shove me to death too. And I am fucking intoxicated, too high to be brought down."

"Aarav, it will work, right ?" Her voice came, muffled and thronged with uncertainties and insecurities.

"It will." I enunciated, my tone firm. Her silky locks enticed me to caress my palms against them and so I did. "I'll make it work. I fucked it up and now I'll clear the whole mess out."

My body inadvertently stiffened as her body, with no sign of discomfort so far, leaned further in my embrace, her palm coming upon to rest on my chest and her head nestled under my chin. Fuck! Did the organ behind my ribs just stopped functioning ?

"Your heart_" Her breath tickled above my skin, teasing my control. "It is pounding so fast." I, even when I tried, couldn't speak since her palm was softly stroking on my shirt, right above where that stupid organ is supposed to be.

Her head tilted up, her confused eyes found mine. She must have sensed how taut my body went when she embraced me. Ignoring the drumming of that stupid organ in my ears, I brought my body to ease down, savouring the moment.

My eyes fluttered open once I felt her patting my cheeks and shaking my shoulders. I stared down at her with droopy eyes as I let out a yawn. It feels so fucking good to have her in incarcerated in the realm of my arms. My head craned down however before I could have the chance to seal her lips, her forefinger poked on my nose pushing my head back.

"It's late. I should leave." Her eyes darted to the balcony where darkness was spread like a quilt in the sky. A discontented growl rumbled through my chest when I heard her softly giggling. I fisted her hair, not tight enough to cause pain, and ventured her face closer to mine, our lips brushing.

"Now you're being a tease, my sweet sweet brownie." The hint of the teasing smile on her lips got replaced by a flustered curve, her eyes widening innocently due to nervousness. I'm so fucking much tempted to crumble that innocence and corrupt her soul.

Bringing my face closer, I gave a soft bite on the corner of her lips causing her to let out a whimpering mewl of surprise. "Once I get my hands on you, you wouldn't be teasing rather wriggling while my head would be dipped in every forbidden nook and crook of your body, devouring the heavens."

Chapter Word- 2200

Okay, so this for those who said he was getting everything too easily and had no remorse for what happened...

Do you think I rushed the rhythm of their relationship..?

Signing off
~T.R