Page 67 of ARIDHI: His Never-Ending Desire

Aridhi was changing.

I didn’t know wae. But one thing was sure that something was eating her up from inside.

We went shopping to buy clothes for me but I did it—as my first priority—to lighten up her mood.

When I thought she was finally smiling at the end of our little date, I was wrong.

She was like this—dull, exhausted and something I couldn't name since that message.

She said it was just a client but is my Aridhi forgetting that I could read her eyes and body language better than a book?

I knew she was hiding something. But I didn’t label it as her lack of trust in me.

It was simply her stubborn habit since childhood. She was so independent to worry me about her problems.

But I needed her to do exactly that.

I wanted to spoil her, to carry all of her problems, to always shield her.

But instead, I could feel her pulling inward—like she was building walls I couldn’t see.

The same walls she’d always used to keep the world out.

Not because of me. Because of the person she was changing. And I couldn’t see her like this.

I may respect her decision of not telling me yet but I needed to remind her that I was still here. For her. Always.

And that’s wae I prepared eight bouquets of variety of flowers—that conveyed my various definitions of love for her.

Rose: Love. Passion. Romance.

Tulip: Declaration of perfect love.

Honeysuckle: Devotion. Sweetness. Affection.

Camellia: Gratitude. Admiration. Perfection.

Forget-me-not: Remembrance. True love. Loyalty.

Sunflower: Adoration. Loyalty. Longevity.

Chrysanthemum: Friendship. Abundance.

Lily of the valley: Happiness. Purity. Humility.

And yes, before making this bouquet, I studied the language of flowers which took my whole night.

Because I also made a guitar tuning for her. And since I took Abhir’s guitar for that, I needed to pay him a favour.

And then, I ordered her favourite chocolates.

I needed everything perfect for my perfect woman.

In the morning, she left for her work—she said she wanted to check on her site. She couldn’t sit just because of an accident.

I took that opportunity to decorate her room, keeping the bouquets on the bed in a circular motion and chocolates inside that circle.

Then I had our pictures printed, pasting them all around her room.

Other minimal decorations were already in their place.

?

“Welcome home, sweetheart.”

She came back from the office, wearing a tux and a tired expression when I opened the door for her and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

She smiled faintly at me, enveloping me in a brief hug.

Before I could wrap her closer around me, she pulled away, “I am going in my room to rest.”

As she informed me and was ready to walk towards the stairs, my fingers circled her wrist, tugging her back.

“Not until you let me hug you properly.” I demanded, my voice firm for not having a further interrogation.

“Ruvit, I–” Her words died in her throat when my hand met her waist. Her eyes widened as I pulled her in a hug, placing my chin on her head.

She didn’t react for a few seconds but when she came into her right senses, she gradually wrapped her arms around my torso.

“That wasn’t so hard.” I teased as she scoffed. “You are safe because I love you.”

“I love you more.” I mumbled, inhaling her sweet scent. “I have a surprise for you.” I kissed her forehead once again.

Her eyes blinked up at me, “What surprise?” Her brows etched with curiosity.

I pretended to think when I finally said, “Give me a kiss and I may show you.”

She rolled her eyes before reluctantly crashing her lips on mine. I held her tightly, kissing her back with fierceness.

God, how much I missed her.

She was something I needed more than breathing.

Her arms were wrapped around my neck, our bodies pressed against each other.

I ravaged her mouth like a goddamn hungry man, who can’t get enough.

The time was so overrated to be cared about when we were so close, our bodies together, our lips against each other, our breaths mixing.

I was about to let go but then she moaned in my mouth.

Oh, damn. Wrong move, Ardhangini.

Her melodious sounds broke free around us as I heightened the kiss and thank god, no one was there in the mansion except us.

I felt her soft, warm hand patting my shoulder, indicating that she was out of breath.

But I wasn’t ready to let her go because she was fucking nirvana.

“Agh,” I hissed as she bit on my lower lip.

We pulled away, staring at each other with sizzling intensity.

Her finger traced my lips where she just had her teeth. “You look good with my mark.”

A smirk lifted my lips, “Then let me also show you how gorgeous you look with my marks.”

“Is it?” Her face mirrored mine. “Then show me. But first, become capable of that.”

Before I could process her words, she ran past me. I turned around to see her looking back at me.

“Catch me if you can, Mr. Rathore.”

“You are playing a dangerous game, my soon-to-be Mrs. Rathore.”

I took small steps in her direction when she sprinted away towards the stairs.

The nostalgia of Joota Chupai Rasam hit me like nothing better.

I chuckled as I followed her with my wide steps.

She ran as fast as she could, but she couldn’t surpass the former captain of the school’s football team—which I joined because she once said:

“Men in sports are the hottest.”

It was not meant for me—she was talking about it with Nandini. I just happened to hear it.

Well, she didn’t need to know about that minor thing.

I shook my head, following her. When I reached the top of the staircase, I saw her room’s door open.

Oh, shit. I forgot about that.

I rushed inside the room, where she was standing with a hand on her mouth, her back to me.

She didn’t say a word when I walked in and quietly stood behind her.

She just turned, throwing her arms around my neck. I caught her by her waist.

“Thank you.” She murmured against my neck, her little sobs echoing in the silent room. “Thank you, Ruvit. Thank you for not giving up on me. Ever.”

Her voice cracked and I just pulled her impossibly closer, snuggling into her neck. “It doesn’t exist in my dictionary, baby.” I said.

“We are a never-ending thing.”

Her watery eyes met mine. “Wae are you like this?” I caressed her cheeks, wiping the tears. “Wae shouldn’t I?”

I let my forehead rest on hers when she trembled. “I am sorry. I am sorry for not telling you enough how much I love you.”

“You don’t have to.” I replied and cupped her face, gently, kissing her tears.

“You just exist, I do everything.”

She stared at me before tucking out the phone from her pants pocket.

Then, she silently handed me her phone. The glow of the screen cuts through the dark like a quiet scream.

“I have everything. The video. The accident. The truth. If you don’t leave him, I'll release it all.”

The words felt cold in my palm, like a threat carved into ice. “I am sorry for hiding th–”

I pressed a finger on her lips before she could complete her sentence. “Never apologise to me for anything, my goddess.”

Then I read the message once—slowly. Twice—memorizing it. And every time, the same thought pounded in my head.

He was back.

I scrolled down to read all the messages before this.

And no doubt, it was the same unknown number from which Aridhi received that accident video before—months ago, before she and I left for Jaipur.

I remembered the way she’d looked at me then, like the ground had given way beneath her feet.

Like she wasn’t sure who she was fighting anymore. Like she wanted to hate me when she was in love with me.

I’d promised her it was over.

I’d believed it was over.

But he’d just been waiting.

I looked up at her. She was standing close to me, back straight, shoulders rigid.

Eyes that should have been filled with fire were quiet now. They held the same fear from that day.

But I knew her too well.

I knew that behind that calm, her mind was a thousand miles away, already chasing answers, already bracing for the worst.

She wasn’t shaking or crying.

That scared me more.

“Aridhi,” I said, my voice was careful. “Talk to me, baby.”

She looked up, eyes sharp and guarded. “What’s there to say, Ruvit? He has come again. He has always been there, and I didn’t see it.”

Her voice didn’t crack. It was steady.

But that steadiness—it was brittle.

I made her sit on the edge of the bed, kneeling in front of her, taking her hands in mine.

Her fingers were cold, the faintest tremor.

I hated that I noticed it. Hated that I couldn’t make it stop.

“He’s trying to make you doubt everything,” I mused quietly. “That’s what he wants.”

“He has proof.” She said. “It feels like a joke, Ruvit.” Her head shook in disbelief.

“When he sent that video before, it was evident that this day was coming, but I never thought about it. I thought it was all buried.”

I tightened my grip, grounding her. “Then we bury him next.” She almost smiled at that, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Progress, and that was enough.

“Look at me.” I almost pleaded, and when she didn’t, I cupped her face in my hands.

She finally did.

And in that single moment, I saw everything she was trying to hold together—fear, anger, heartbreak.

But I wanted what was beneath it—that same fire that drew me to her from the beginning.

“Don’t make me so vulnerable that I can never see myself in those eyes.”

She stared into my eyes, a blush spreading down her neck.

“You are not alone,” I smiled. “Not in this. Not in anything. Do you hear me?”

She nodded. Slowly. But I knew her too well. I knew she didn’t believe it fully. Not yet.

I pressed my forehead to hers, our noses brushing.

“I won’t let him touch you. I don’t care how deep he’s hidden or what he thinks he has. I will find him, Aridhi. I will end this.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into me like she was finally letting herself breathe.

For a moment, the room felt smaller and quieter.

Just her. Just me.

Everything else could wait.

But in the back of my mind, one truth kept hammering through the quiet.

His target was to separate me and Aridhi. And that’s wae, he’d come again.

And this time, he wouldn’t stop until he had her. But, I wouldn’t let that happen.

I’d burn the world to keep her safe.

To whoever you are, live the rest of your life however you want. But once I find you—you are gonna pay for making my Aridhi like this.

“Let him release them all,” I said. “I don’t care.”

“But Ruvit, what if someone accused you of something you didn’t do. What if they took advantage of that–”

I pecked on her lips. She blinked, her cheeks covered with a red hue.

“Do you trust me, sweetheart?”

“Always.”

“Then prove it.” I winked to which she just murmured. “How?”

“You trust me. You know I didn’t do anything wrong. It was just an accident. It should be him who should be trembling with fear, not you.”

I reassured her, “You didn’t have to be worried about what that video would bring on our families.”

She nodded as I added.

“Your man will handle everything.”

“I know but I cannot stop thinking about it.” She tried to counter when I picked her up in bridal style. A gasp escaped her lips.

“Then let me give you a reason to think about something else.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder. “What are you doing?”

I bring my mouth near her ear as she shivered from my hot breath hitting her neck.

“By tomorrow, all you will be thinking about how deep I was inside you. All you will be concerned about is how to walk properly.”

~·~

Should I give an intense scene

in the next chapter? ??

If I didn’t get any reply, I will just continue with another scene.