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“Great,” I take a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. Wait until we pull this off. And hey, try not to look so serious at the wedding. It’s not a funeral, even if your bachelor days are officially over.”

“Are you done?” I groan.

“Never,” he quips. “Alright, I’ll stop. Good luck, Walia. And don’t forget to send me some wedding sweets.”

“Goodbye, Krish,” I say, hanging up before he can crack another joke. I turn back to Abhay, who’s been watching the exchange with a grin on his face.

“Who was this guy again?” Abhay asks, probably wondering how a serious man like me can even have a playful contact like Krish.

“Ayaan’s best friend and a Director at GLEN,” I reply with a shrug, keeping it short.

“Really?” Abhay raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “From what I could gather from your replies, he sounds like a complete character. I mean, you’ve never rolled your eyes so much in one conversation before.”

“This was just the trailer,” I tease, unable to hide a smile. “Wait until you meet him.”

Abhay smirks, clearly amused.

“Well, looks like we’ve got our solution then. Krish’s team will handle the security system and the CCTVs. Coordinate with him and make sure we are ready for the day after tomorrow.”

Abhay nods, already typing away. I check the baby monitor one more time. Veer is still sleeping peacefully. My mind drifts back to Simran. If she ever finds out what I am planning... well, I’ll deal with it when the time arrives. Keeping her safe is worth any argument that might arise. Even if she doesn’t see it that way.

***************

I return to Simran’s apartment an hour later. The soft glow of the nursery monitor in the corner shows Veer is sound asleep, his tiny body curled up in the crib. A sense of calm washes over me on seeing my son. Then my gaze shifts toward Simran’s bedroom, where the door is slightly ajar. Through the dim light, I can see her silhouette as she finishes up her call and shuts down her laptop. She looks exhausted yet stunning in the soft ambient light.

Before I even realise it, I’m in her room. She doesn’t notice me at first… not until I’m right beside her, and before she can react, I sweep her off her feet. Her surprised gasp fills the air as I scoop her effortlessly into my arms.

“Vishnu! Put me down—I can walk!” she squeaks, squirming slightly in my grip as her hands reach my shoulders for support. “You’ve been carrying Veer all day because I was stuck at work. You don’t have to carry me too.”

I lay her gently on the bed, but my hands linger longer than necessary.

“Carrying you and my son are two very different things, Simran,” I reply. “He’s far too light.”

Her jaw drops, and those expressive eyes narrow with indignation. “Are you saying I’m too heavy?”

“Not heavy. Never too heavy for me. I mean, there’s no comparison.” I can’t help the smirk that plays on my lips. “But there’s another reason too.”

Her brows furrow, curiosity flickering in them. “And what reason is that?”

I let my gaze drift deliberately from her eyes to her lips, then lower to where her dress meets her collarbone.

“Carrying you gives me different kinds of feelings. Dark... dangerous... intoxicating.”

I watch as she swallows hard, her throat moving with the subtle movement. Her body stiffens slightly as my gaze lingers on her lips for a moment too long. With great effort, I pull away before I do something we might both regret—or might not regret at all.

Clearing my throat, I stand straighter.

“Veer’s asleep, and you should be too.”

She shakes her head, her worry written all over her face. “But what if he needs me in the middle of the night? Since he’s teething, I don’t want him sleeping anywhere else but beside me.”

I step closer, gently placing my hands on her shoulders. “I understand that, Simran. I really do. But touchwood, he’s doing better now. His fever’s gone, and he’s been sleeping soundly today. You’ve been overworking yourself, barely taking a moment to rest. You need sleep too.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “Listen, I’ll sleep in the nursery with him tonight. I’ll make sure he’s comfortable. And if he wakes up in the middle of the night feeling hungry or fussy, I’ll bring him straight to you. Okay?”

“Are you sure?” she still hesitates.