Recap: Aryan take care of Sanjana from her nightmares

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After a long sleep, Aryan gently woke Sanju, his voice soft yet firm.

"Sanju, come, let's go down and have food. You must be hungry," he coaxed.

She stirred but clutched his shirt tightly, shaking her head. "No, I don't want to go."

Aryan sighed, understanding her reluctance. "Hmm... alright, I'll get your food here."

As he moved to leave, she tightened her grip on him. "Don't go. Please..." she whispered.

Without hesitation, Aryan called Kousalya and asked her to bring the food to Sanju's room. Then, he turned to her, his gaze steady.

"Sanju, I know you're scared, but you need to be strong. No matter what happens, you must learn to face any problem in life," he said gently.

She nodded weakly. "I understand... I just need some time."

"Take all the time you need. No worries, I'll be with you through every up and down," Aryan assured her.

By evening, he took her to the garden, where they sat together, watching the orange hues of the setting sun. Sanju remained lost in thought while Aryan kept talking, his voice a soothing rhythm against the quiet evening. Slowly, she leaned against his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her protectively. It wasn't the sun's warmth that comforted her, but Aryan's presence, his words seeping into the cracks of her wounded heart. In him, she found solace.

When they returned to her room, Sanju noticed maids moving in and out, carrying things. Her eyes widened as she stepped inside, seeing Aryan's office desk moved into her space and the room set up differently.

"Why are your things kept here?" she asked, turning to him with confusion.

Aryan met her gaze calmly. "Because we are going to stay together in this room."

Sanju stared at him, questions swirling in her eyes.

Reading her silence, Aryan spoke again. "Don't worry. I'm not taking advantage of the situation. I know you're vulnerable right now, and you need support. I'll be happy if I can be that for you. But if you don't want this, no problem. Everything will be put back the way it was in an hour. Do you want me to clear it off?"

Sanju thought of all the ways Aryan had cared for her—the way he had protected her, never crossing any limits, even when she was at her weakest. His warmth, his patience, and his unwavering support melted something inside her. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to stay in his embrace, to feel safe in his presence.

"No," she whispered.

Aryan nodded but added firmly, "But you need a transformation, Sanju. I want you to be strong. Just trust me, I'll take care of you."

She took a deep breath. "Hmm..."

"You can rest for a week, and then you'll get back to work. I won't let you be alone this time," he promised.

Sanju hesitated before asking, "Will you stay with me at home until I'm ready to go back?"

"If that's what you want, then I will," Aryan said, but his voice grew serious. "But Sanju, you need to bring yourself back. You know, women are stronger than men—not just in body, but in mind. So how can you let yourself break like this? Do you think you deserve to sit back and cry? You are capable of so much more. And from now on, you will face even greater challenges. I want you to be brave. Remember, with every step you take forward, I'll be right behind you. You don't have to be scared anymore. Get ready to face the world."

Sanju's eyes filled with tears, and in a moment of raw emotion, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Aryan held her close, gently caressing her hair before pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head.

"Cheer up, sweetheart," he murmured.

That night, Aryan took her down for dinner, keeping her close, making sure she ate properly. After returning to their room, they both changed into their nightwear. Sanju slipped under the covers, and Aryan pulled the duvet over her, pressing a light kiss to her forehead.

"Good night, darling. I have some work to finish. You sleep," he said.

She looked at him sleepily. "Good night, Aryan."

A smile touched Aryan's lips at the way she said his name. It felt... right.

He settled at his desk, focused on his work, but every now and then, his eyes drifted to Sanju, checking if she was sleeping peacefully. When he finally finished, he lay down on the couch, exhausted.

The next morning, Sanju woke up to see Aryan still asleep on the couch. She sat up, watching him. His brows were slightly furrowed, his face showing the discomfort of an uneasy sleep. She felt a strange warmth in her heart as she realized just how much he had done for her.

With a small smile, she got up and prepared to start her day, her mind already set on making sure Aryan wouldn't have to sleep on that couch again.

Aryan stirred as the harsh sunlight streamed through the windows, hitting his face. Blinking against the brightness, he turned his head and saw Sanju sitting on the bed, already awake.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he greeted, his voice still laced with sleep.

"Good morning," she replied softly.

"I'll freshen up," he said, stretching as he sat up.

Sanju nodded. "Hmm."

Aryan disappeared into the bathroom and emerged minutes later, his bathrobe loosely tied around his waist. Water dripped from his damp hair, trailing down his collarbone, disappearing beneath the fabric. Sanju swallowed, her gaze flickering to him for a moment before she quickly looked away.

Unbothered, Aryan walked to the closet, pulling out a pair of tracks and a tee. After changing, he turned to her.

"Shall we go down for breakfast, or would you rather have it here?"

Sanju hesitated briefly before answering. "We'll go down."

"Good."

They made their way downstairs, and as Sanju took her seat at the dining table, Aryan strode toward Ranjith, who was standing near the living area.

"Good morning, sir," Ranjith greeted. "I've checked Daniel's personal and official mobiles. There's nothing suspicious. He only spoke to Manasi on the day she was admitted to the hospital and once more the next day. No calls after that."

Aryan's eyes darkened slightly. "What did he say?"

"He claims he drugged Sanjana on his own and that he spoke to Manasi purely as a colleague."

Aryan crossed his arms. "And what if he has secret numbers we don't know about? How is his condition now?"

Ranjith's expression turned grim. "He's burning with hormone-induced pain, losing his sanity. The entire cell echoes with his roars."

Aryan's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "If my guess is correct, Manasi played a role in this. Do one thing,  double the dosage of his drug and bring Manasi in front of him. Ask him whatever you need to. He'll have no choice but to answer then."

Ranjith hesitated. "Won't it be too cruel to hand her over to him if she's not involved?"

Aryan's tone remained cold. "If she is involved, I couldn't care less if he burns her alive. But we won't actually give her to him, just make it look like we are. Keep her unconscious so she doesn't know about Daniel's condition or our cell."

Ranjith nodded. "Understood, sir."

Aryan's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Once he spits out the truth, I'll show him what real hell looks like."

Meanwhile, at the dining table, Kousalya looked at Sanju with concern. "Sanju, how are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine, Ma," Sanju assured her.

Kousalya sighed. "I was so scared when I saw Sir carrying you in his arms. He never slept, barely ate. He stayed by your side the entire time."

Sanju's gaze flickered toward Aryan. He was deep in conversation with Ranjith, running a hand through his already well-set hair, exuding effortless authority.

Moments later, he returned to the dining table, noticing Sanju waiting for him.

"Why were you waiting for me?" he asked, sitting down.

She shrugged. "Just like that."

Aryan arched a brow but didn't press further. They ate breakfast together before spending the rest of the day watching movies, TV shows, and sports. Occasionally, Aryan stepped away for work calls or business matters.

As night fell, they entered the bedroom. Sanju stood by the bed, hesitating.

Aryan, already settling on the couch, noticed her reluctance. "What? Are you not sleeping?"

She fidgeted slightly. "Hmm... Why do you always sleep on the couch?"

Aryan smirked. "Where else should I sleep?"

"You slept on the bed the night before," she pointed out.

"You were scared, having nightmares. I thought you'd be more comfortable if I stayed close," he said simply.

She hesitated again. "Aren't you uncomfortable on the couch?"

Aryan let out a low chuckle. "Are you suggesting I share the bed?"

Sanju glanced away but nodded. "Would that be a problem?"

Aryan leaned in, closing the space between them until she could feel his breath against her skin. Gently, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"What if I take advantage of you?" he murmured, his voice teasing.

Sanju met his gaze without flinching. "You won't."

Aryan's smirk deepened. "You trust me that much?"

She gave a small nod. "Hmm."

His fingers lingered against her cheek for a second before he whispered, "I may not be good all the time, sweetheart. Don't trust me so easily." He placed a soft kiss on her temple.

Sanju's eyes widened slightly at his words. Aryan simply chuckled at her reaction.

"Go to sleep," he said, stepping back. "I have work to finish."

Taking his phone, he walked toward the balcony, shutting the doors behind him. Whatever conversation he was about to have, he clearly didn't want her to hear.

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A/N:

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