Page 61 of Lawfully Yours

At first, she’d felt deeply embarrassed.

She had always hated how she looked when she slept, sometimes her lips parted slightly, seeking extra breath, her face completely vulnerable in ways she could never control.

It had mortified her, the idea that this was the version of herself her husband was quietly admiring.

Mumbling awkwardly, she’d joked that he must be regretting his marriage if this was what he had to wake up to.

But Kushal...

God, Kushal had just smiled that rare, boyish smile, the one he showed no one else, and said something she had never forgotten:

“If this is what regret looks like, Aru, I hope I never sleep again.”

The words had taken her breath away.

Sensing how overwhelmed she was, he’d chuckled lightly, kissed her forehead, and whispered,

“I’ll move to the guest room. You sleep in peace.”

And just like that, he had picked up some random files and quietly slipped out, choosing to let her rest, even when all he wanted was to stay close.

Now, blinking the memory away ruthlessly, Arundhati simply leaned in and kissed her uncle’s cheek, murmured another “Happy Birthday,” and without sparing Kushal a single glance, turned and walked away.

Raj chuckled, watching her go. “What now? Want me to escort you to the guest room, too?”

Kushal shook his head, slipping off his jacket casually. “No. I’m going to drop you off to yours first. You do look like you need help.”

Raj laughed. “I don’t usually drink this much,” he said, walking with a slight stagger as Kushal guided him toward his bedroom. “But tonight… the occasion…”

“Your birthday,” Kushal supplied.

Raj shook his head slowly. “No, my boy. Not just that. Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I saw something in Aru’s eyes when she looked at you.”

Kushal froze mid-step. His fingers, which had been loosely supporting Raj, tightened slightly.

Raj patted his shoulder affectionately. “There’s still so much feeling in her. Too hurt, perhaps. She won’t easily give anyone a second chance.Especially you.”

Feelings! Arundhati still had feelings for him? He had convinced himself over time that whatever they’d shared was too damaged to salvage. But Raj’s words cracked something tonight.

Raj smiled a little sadly and went on, “She’s always been like that, even as a child. Once something wounds her... she doesn’t go back to it. I remember when she was little, she was crazy about her bicycle. Would ride it around the garden for hours, grinning like it was her whole world. But then one day, she fell. Hurt her knee so badly, she couldn’t walk properly for weeks. Had to miss school, stayed cooped up at home, furious and heartbroken.”

Raj sighed softly, “And after that? She never touched that bicycle again. Never even looked at it. Just left it to rust under the old neem tree. That’s Aru for you. Once something breaks her trust, breaks her spirit... she won’t give it a second chance. Not easily.”

It was now that Kushal realised Arundhati’s refusal to give second chances wasn’t born from pride. It was part of her very nature.

Raj continued, “Remember one thing, Kushal, where there’s this much anger, this much hatred...” he chuckled, “It only means there was once a love even greater than this.”

Kushal’s throat closed painfully at the simplicity of it. Raj made it sound so easy, so black and white. But he knew the tangled mess between him and Arundhati was much more than that. Still, if there was even a crack in her armour... he had to reach it.

He had masked his side of the story for too long. Hidden behind arrogance. Hidden behind silence. Tonight, he didn’twant to hide anymore. Even if he had been wrong. Even if she shredded him with her words. He needed her to know.

Raj must have seen the war in Kushal’s eyes because he smiled again. “I know you’ll use all your mastermind tactics to make her listen. Let’s see if my Aru gives in.”

Kushal smiled wryly. “I hope she listens to what I have to say. She’s tested my patience enough.”

He opened the door to Raj’s bedroom and helped him inside. Raj muttered a fond “Goodnight” before collapsing onto the bed, already half-asleep.

Kushal shut the door softly behind him, making his way out toward the guest room, situated right next to Arundhati’s. Just a wall separating them tonight, not two practically different homes distanced by time and feelings.