There aren't many chapters left so I request, please bear with me for some more time

Thanks for all the good wishes. I'm feeling fine now. <333

Aarav's pov
A tinge of heavy tension lingered in the air as I sat opposite to my wife who was at the adjacent side of her father. The only source of comfort was my mother-in-law, who earlier invited me for lunch after she coincidentally found me dropping Honey-eye a block away.

I faked a cough and quickly picked a glass of water upon receiving a sceptical look from my father-in-law. In a fleeting moment, my eyes latched with my wife's concerned gaze and I eyed towards her neck, signalling her to cover the love bite.

As much as my insides surge with possessive blaze on seeing my mark on her, at this moment it could work against me and could make my chances more slim to get my father-in-law's acceptance. And I'm sure my sweet wife wouldn't want that.

The lunch proceeded and it was better than I imagined. Although my father-in-law wanted to leave no stone unturned in evincing about my bothersome presence, however my mother-in-law's incessant look of disapproval worked in my favour.

"I should leave now." Though I don't want to and fuck! I saw Mish's eyes reflecting the same.

"Keep visiting, beta." I shot my mother-in-law a smile, a genuine one, which I've learned in the past few months.

"Papa, cab would take longer. Aarav would rather give you a ride."

A scowl emerged on my father-in-law's face and he looked as if he was about to protest, however my mother-in-law intervened, telling that sounds like a good idea.

"Actually his scooter is gone for servicing. I hope you won't mind." Her eyes shone with hope and her words carried a secret signal of urgency. And I was quick to nod my head.

My father-in-law pulled mother-in-law at another corner, his fights of disapproval unfolding while he stubbornly tried to coax his wife to break her resolve.

Grasping this chance, I threw a calculative gaze around before slithering my way to my wife. Her beautiful eyes widened in astonishment and frisson as I landed a quick peck on her lips.

"What are you doing ?" She screeched in a muffled voice.

My shoulders shrugged. "Dads and I never go well together. I can use some of my lady luck charm."

"Does that even make sense ?"

"Oh my sweet sweet wife. You should have figured it out by now."

I was forced to create some gap between us when my father-in-law decided to let us know about his sore throat. For Satan's sake! He makes it feel as if I'm not her husband but her boyfriend, whom he is so hell bent to not approve.

Plastering a diabetic smile on my face, I walked to him. "After you_" His glaring eyes forced me to second guess how to address him, "Sir ?"

He waved goodbye to Mish and mother-in-law and when his eyes fell on me, his smile fell and the same scowl returned. I threw a quick glance behind, where my wife and my mother-in-law were giving me thumbs up, and then quickly followed the trail of my scowling father-in-law.

In no time, I found myself stuck between the confines of my car along with my father-in-law, who may or may not be planning the ways to murder me in his head.

Even in the blasting A.C, cold sweats broke through at my nape while my fingers drummed on the steering wheel in trepidation. The fuck I'm feeling nervous.

"Sir_" Finally mustering up to break through the eerie silence, I spoke up, "Should we stop at any pharmacy ? I guess you're having some issues with speaking."

Well done Oberoi. Applauds. I was just trying to come out thoughtful, then why the fuck it sounded so rude ?

Even my annoyed father puts up with me, although my sweet wife's extra sweet father just neglected me like the way we ignore doormat.

"Preeti is very protective for Mishu." Him suddenly speaking dumbfounded me enough that for a moment I thought he was talking to ghosts. "You must have worked hard to win her acceptance. And even though my daughter is sweet and kind, she knows which people to cut off from."

Of course, she does. That's why she broke her friendship with me. And I'll be damned if I let my marriage break.

"But that doesn't go with you. You still don't trust me ?"

"You wouldn't understand. You're not a father."

A tantalising shiver wrecked throughout me, bolting my muscles taut. The tormenting feeling began to gnaw back at my skin as my thoughts drift to Arshu. I had to clench around the steering wheel more tightly to refrain the surging pain in my chest from reflecting on my countenance.

"How does_" Taking a secret breath, I tried to curb the trembling in my voice. "How does it feel ?

"What ?" His scrutinising gaze was trying to unpuzzle my expressions, but I refused to let him.

"To be a father ?"

There was pause, and I took it as an opportunity to mask my vulnerability. "Overwhelming at first but beautiful. As if you've won the world."

His words eventually settled in and I was left wondering. Did my father feel that way too? Would I feel the same while welcoming Arshu's siblings ?

Another moment of silence followed. Longer than before and a much needed one.

"What if my daughter couldn't keep up with the glamorous life being an Oberoi calls for ?"

I would have laughed on this absurd excuse of his, but I'm very much aware that Lara fucking bitch and her stupid scandal has created more obstacles for me.

"I've been living without my usual luxury in that apartment with my wife for four months. And I'm sure I'll be fine for another forty years too."

Father-in-law looked taken aback for a moment, not expecting such a response.

"Easier said than done. Words are usually hollow."

"I've one of the city's talented lawyer just a call away. You just have to word it out and I'm ready to sign wherever you want."

Without waiting for his response, I instructed the AI device in the car to call Vyom.

"A smart businessman would never make such a hasty decision." He quipped, his tone calculative.

"But a wise husband would know better than to let his woman go."

The beep indicated that the call was now connected and soon enough Somani's voice rumbled through the device. "What do you want, Oberoi ?"

"This is a serious call, Somani. Let's meet in my office at five."

After he responded with a fine, I instructed to disconnect the call before parking my car. "We are here." I announced. "I'll inform you once the papers are ready, though it wouldn't take long. Let me know if you've other conditions in mind."
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Mishika's pov
The gifts we brought were all distributed to the kids and while everyone was busy with lunch, I excused myself.

On my way, my eyes fell on maa and papa ji, who were sitting among the kids, feeding them. Their smiles couldn't cloak the pain in their eyes.

After wandering around for some time, I finally spotted Aarav sitting alone on the round platform under the shed of the large tree. As he usually does, he wasn't wearing black or white or grey but lavender, like he asked me last night to wear. His demeanour appeared calm as he stared in space, however I knew he was anything but calm.

"Should I bring you lunch here ?" My voice was soft as I took a seat beside him.

"I'm not hungry, sweetheart. You should go and eat."

Shifting a little closer, my head rested on his shoulder. "I thought everyone in our family is keeping a fast. Even maa and papa ji didn't eat."

He lets out a sigh. "Let's eat together, hnn ?"

I quickly gave a light nod and then followed his line of sight while tranquillity spread its arms in the ambiance.

"Isn't God so irrational ? Everyone says God punishes the wicked. Then why would he take away my little sister ?"

I could understand where he was coming from. It wasn't sudden, but it was the years long pain, grief and complaints he had kept buried inside him.

Instead of words, I opted for the gestures to console him by intertwining our fingers together. And our eyes met.

Aarav Oberoi has always been an enigma for me. And no matter how intrigued I'm, I couldn't fathom the gravity and intensity he has shielded away in the abyss of those charcoal orbs of his.

"Tell me something about her." I urged, peering at him.

So far I only know that his sister's name was Arya and it's her birthday today. She wore a lavender frock on her last birthday before she passed away, so Aarav urge to wear lavender on her every birthday.

"If adorable had a face then it was her. Cute, chubby and the most innocent expressions that could even melt a rock."

As if deeply indulged in reminiscing those memories, his eyes sparkled in a way I've never seen before.

"At first I was so upset when I heard mom and dad decided to bring another kid home. I couldn't bear the thought of mom's divided attention. But the first time I picked Arya in my arms, the protective brotherly instinct naturally bloomed."

I couldn't help but smile. This is the sight that would be imprinted forever in my head. No matter how aloof he represents himself, there's this part of him that would always make him cherish his family.

"She was around two when we brought her home. Her birth parents abandoned her because since birth she had a rare heart condition. We tried for four long years but no treatment could help us from losing her."

Life truly is irrational in many ways. Her parents left her because they thought she had no future. And maa and papa ji brought her in because they envisioned a future for her, with them as a family.

"You know sweetheart, what is the thing I'm scared of the most ?"

I matched my gaze with him, tenderly rubbing his arm.

"Death" His jaw clenched, his eyes retreating away. "No money, no power in this world could provide me the luxury to bring anyone back I would or could lose to death."

I sucked in breath, not knowing what to say that would actually make him feel any good. We all are scared of death and we realise its gravity when we face it approaching. I did. Twice.

However, somewhere I feel the devastation rooted within Aarav against it is not similar to mine.

I know by evening he will go back to his usual self, where he will again disguise his vulnerability. But now thinking about it, I guess it's his coping mechanism.

Minutes ticked away in utter silence until my phone buzzed. Maa was calling us to have lunch. I stood up, forwarding my hand for him to hold. My lips curved into a smile as his gaze travelled from my outstretched waiting hand to my eyes.

"You sure are extremely cute at moments." Holding hands, we fell into steps.

"Since you've been so honest with me today. Let me be a little honest too." I could feel his gaze on me but I didn't turn to look at him, knowing well that his eyes make me nervous.

"This emotionally expressive side of you has become one of my favourites." My words halted as I chewed on my inner cheeks in nervousness. "And I guess I've started to fall_"

Out of the blue, being flushed against his robust chest took me off-guard and I couldn't help but gasp in surprise. The intensity gleaming in his charcoal orbs made my entire body visibly shiver in his arms. And my heart began to palpitate.

"Don't finish that, Honey-eye." His fingers tucked away the tendril falling on my cheeks. "That word makes me uncomfortable."

My nose scrunched up in distaste, my eyes narrowing at him.

As his face inched closer, I found my breath hitching. "I may not give you those words, but I will show you through my actions. I will submit all of myself at your feet."

Aarav Oberoi is no angel disguised as a devil. He is the devil who has disguised the fact of having a heart. A heart which is capable of emotions, something forbidden for the devil.

And I'm too far astray in the abyss of the devil's infernal blackholes to have my way back. And I don't think I want a way back anymore.

Swaddling my arms around his neck, I raised myself closer to his ears. "I don't mind if you can't say it. Let me say it until you get comfortable."

His hold tightened around me whereas his eyebrows arched up, not expecting such a response. "Would you stop after that ?"

A smile tugged at the seam of my lips. "Not happening, husband."

Chapter Words- 2201

This chapter was about their emotional intimacy.
And there's one more topic left of emotional aspect. I'm in a dilemma how to pen it down that will do justice

Some of the readers said, they've lost the touch with this book and I know I'm responsible for it. But I can't roll out my real life here so please forgive me

Signing off
~T.R