"If you love someone, you say it, right then, out loud. Otherwise, the moment just passes you by."

- My Best Friend's Wedding

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~ A D V I K ~

"You've ruined me beautifully, Aarohi Advik Oberoi."

The words had barely left my mouth when-

"OH MY GOD."

Both of us snapped apart instantly.

Chaya stood several feet away near the shore looking absolutely scandalized while Yash beside her looked profoundly exhausted with life.

"A minute," Yash said flatly. "I leave you idiots alone for ONE minute."

Aarohi immediately stepped backward in the water, face burning red while I casually dragged one hand through my wet hair pretending I hadn't almost kissed my wife in the Mediterranean Sea like a man possessed.

"Nothing happened," I announced smoothly.

Yash looked at me with deep disappointment. "Your hand is still on her waist."

I blinked once.

Then very slowly removed it.Traitorous body.

Meanwhile Aarohi looked seconds away from drowning herself voluntarily.

Chaya clutched her chest dramatically. "You both looked SO romantic."

"No we didn't," Aarohi said instantly.

"Yes you did," Yash replied calmly. "It was disgusting."

I pointed toward him immediately. "You applied sunscreen to my face thirty minutes ago. Sit down."

"That was skincare." Yash says, "That was intimacy."

"Can we all stop talking?" Aarohi groaned while covering her face.

I laughed softly before glancing toward her again.

Big mistake.

Because her wet hair clung against her cheeks now, lips still slightly swollen from laughing earlier, clothes soaked from the ocean-

And suddenly my brain restarted all the dangerous thoughts again.

Abort mission immediately.!!!

"Alright," I cleared my throat. "Everyone go change before pneumonia attacks."

"Yes," Yash agreed instantly. "Especially these two hormonal disasters."

"Rude," I muttered.

"Accurate," he corrected.

Aarohi smacked my arm lightly before walking ahead toward the private changing suites near the resort.

And naturally......My eyes followed her again.

Yash noticed.

Of course he noticed.

"You're down catastrophically," he said quietly beside me.

"I'm managing beautifully."

"You nearly kissed her in public."

"In my defense," I replied honestly, "she exists very adorably"

Yash physically rubbed his face.

"God help you."

Too late for that. Completely too late.

The private changing area sat slightly away from the main beach beside a quieter wooden pathway lined with palm trees and cabanas.

Aarohi walked ahead beside Chaya while Yash took a phone call nearby.

I stayed a few steps behind automatically. Not intentionally.

Just instinct.

Then I noticed them.

Three men standing near the changing corridor.

Tourists maybe. Mid twenties. Drunk. Loud.

And staring. Directly at Aarohi and Chaya.

My expression changed instantly.

One of them muttered something in French under his breath while another laughed quietly.

I didn't understand the full sentence. I didn't need to.

The tone alone was enough.

Something cold slid quietly into my chest.

Aarohi slowed slightly beside the entrance, clearly noticing them too.

Immediately I stepped forward.

"Go inside," I told her calmly. My hand instinctively reached towards her back. As if shielding her.

Her brows furrowed faintly. "Advik-"

"I'll stand outside."

My voice stayed light. Controlled.

But she knew me enough now to hear the steel underneath it.

For one second she hesitated.

Then nodded quietly.

The moment both girls disappeared safely inside the suite corridor-

I turned.

The men looked away instantly.

I walked toward them slowly.

Measured. Calm.

The most dangerous version of anger.

One of them smirked slightly when I stopped in front of them.

Big mistake.

"problème...?" he asked lazily.

I smiled faintly.

"la prochaine fois," I said softly, ".tu fixes ma femme comme ça...."

(The next time, you stare at my wife like that...)

My gaze flicked between all three of them.

"....Faites-le plutôt depuis votre lit d'hôpital......"

(Do it from hospital bed instead....)

The smirk vanished immediately.

Good. Another one scoffed under his breath. "..nous cherchions juste..."

(We were just looking.)

"And now," I replied pleasantly, "you're done."

I should've walked away then. Probably.

But one of them muttered something else again while glancing toward the changing rooms.

And suddenly......

the last thread of my patience snapped.

Fast. Violently.

I grabbed his shirt instantly and slammed him hard against the wooden wall beside the cabanas.

The sound cracked sharply through the air.

"What the hell-!"

"You don't look at her," I said quietly.

My grip tightened.

"tu ne parles pas d'elle.."

(You don't speak about her.)

The other two moved forward immediately.

Then another voice cut through coldly behind us.

"Bad decision."

Yash. Of course. Perfect timing.

He stepped beside me calmly while rolling his sleeves slightly upward, phone still in one hand.

The man in my grip looked between both of us nervously now.

Good instinct.

"We don't want trouble," one of them said quickly.

"Interesting," Yash replied flatly. "Because you found it anyway."

The drunk idiot shoved against my chest suddenly.

Tiny mistake. Microscopic mistake.

My fist connected with his jaw before my brain fully processed it.

One punch. Clean.

He stumbled backward directly into the sand cursing loudly.

Yash exhaled slowly beside me. "...That meeting with the Martins really relaxed you emotionally."

"He insulted my wife."

"Yes," Yash nodded thoughtfully. "I gathered that from the attempted homicide."

The other two immediately dragged their friend backward while muttering apologies rapidly now.

Smart men.

I stared at them coldly until they disappeared further down the beach.

Only then did the adrenaline begin settling properly.

And somewhere beneath the anger...

something heavier hit me harder.

My wife.

The word echoed strangely inside my chest.

Not fake anymore. Not contractual. Not temporary.

Mine.

Dangerous realization.

Beside me, Yash glanced sideways quietly.

"You love her." He observed.

I looked away toward the ocean instantly.

"No."

"That wasn't a question."

Silence.

Because the terrifying part?

For the first time-

I couldn't deny it properly anymore.

.......

"You got into a fight?" she whispered softly.

I shrugged once.

"You were uncomfortable."

Like that explained everything.

To me.... it did.

The wind moved quietly around us while the waves crashed somewhere behind the cabins.

Aarohi stared at me for another long second.

Then slowly... her expression changed.

Not anger. Not shock.

Something softer. Something infinitely more dangerous.

God.

I looked away first.

Bad idea standing this close to her right now.

Especially when she was looking at me like that.

Yash sighed dramatically beside us. "Well. Since Oberoi here has fulfilled his daily quota of violence, can we leave now..?"

"I barely hit him."

"You nearly broke his bone"

"He deserved character development."

Chaya snorted somewhere behind us while Aarohi finally rolled her eyes softly.

"There's blood on your hand," she murmured again quieter this time.

"It's nothing."

"It does not look like nothing."

I flexed my knuckles once. Okay. Slightly painful.

Still worth it.

Then before I could stop her..Aarohi stepped closer.

Close enough that I could smell saltwater and sunscreen again.

Her fingers wrapped gently around my wrist.

Careful. Soft.

And suddenly my entire nervous system forgot how functioning worked.

"This is going to sting," she murmured while pulling a small sanitizing wipe from her beach tote.

I frowned immediately. "Why do you carry hospital supplies to the beach?"

"Because unlike you, I possess survival instincts."

Rude. Accurate. But rude.

I stayed still while she cleaned the split skin across my knuckles carefully.

The sting barely registered.

Because honestly?

Her touch was worse. Much worse.

Yash looked at us once before muttering toward Chaya, "We should leave them before we witness another kiss"

"We never kissed..." I replied automatically.

"No," Yash nodded. "You just punch men and stare at your wife like a dying Victorian Loverboy..."

Aarohi immediately looked all red.

I glared at him. "You are remarkably alive for someone this annoying."

"Chaya protects me."

Smart man.

A few minutes later we finally headed back toward the parking area as sunset melted across the horizon behind us.

The beach slowly disappeared in the rearview mirror while warm orange light stretched across the roads of Nice.

And somehow despite the chaos, despite the fight despite ,the emotional

instability currently destroying my internal organs...

I felt strangely calm.

Because Aarohi walked beside me quietly the entire way.

Close enough that our shoulders brushed occasionally.

Close enough that every accidental touch felt intentional

By the time we started the drive back to Paris, exhaustion had finally settled over everyone.

Chaya sat in the front passenger seat beside Yash scrolling lazily through photos from the trip while soft music played quietly through the speakers.

Meanwhile Aarohi sat beside me in the backseat.

At first she tried staying awake.

Tried.

Keyword: tried.

For approximately twelve minutes.

Then gradually,

Her head tilted sleepily against the seat.

And eventually...

she fell asleep beside me completely.

I looked down quietly.

One hand still loosely curled near her lap while soft evening light moved across her face through the car window.

Her curls were slightly messy from the beach. Tiny droplets from her damp hair still clung near her neck.

And somehow even asleep she looked beautiful enough to physically irritate me.

I exhaled slowly before reaching for the blanket lying beside us.

Carefully I pulled it over her shoulders.

She shifted slightly in her sleep at the movement.

Then unconsciously leaned closer.

Directly against me.

My heartbeat immediately betrayed me.

Fantastic.

Her head rested softly against my shoulder now while the car continued moving through the fading sunset roads.

Warm. Trusting. Comfortable.

Like this belonged to her naturally.

I stayed very still afterward.

Almost afraid moving would wake her.

From the front seat, Yash glanced once into the rearview mirror.

Then smirked.

That observant bastard.

I narrowed my eyes immediately.

He looked deeply entertained.

I ignored him immediately and looked back down toward Aarohi.

Her breathing remained soft and even against my shoulder while the city lights gradually disappeared behind us.

Three...hour drive back to Paris.

Normally I hated long drives.

Tonight?

I silently hoped traffic got worse.

....

By the time we finally reached Paris, it was close to midnight.

The city glittered outside the car windows in soft gold and silver while exhaustion settled heavily into my bones.

The drive had been quiet for the last hour.

Mostly because Aarohi was still asleep against me.

Completely unconscious to the emotional warfare she was causing.

This woman could sleep through a famine.

My personal Kumbhkaran

(Sleeping monster)

Her head rested near my neck now instead of my shoulder somehow, curls tickling lightly against my jaw every few minutes whenever the car moved over uneven roads.

And every single time- my stupid heart reacted..

Pathetic.

Yash parked near the private entrance of the hotel before turning around slowly.

"We're here."

I nodded once carefully. Aarohi didn't move. Still asleep.

Chaya smiled instantly from the front seat. "Aww."

I narrowed my eyes.

Yash unbuckled calmly.

"Well," he announced while opening the door, "good luck."

"With what?"

He looked at me like I was intellectually disappointing.

"Sleeping Beauty attached to your shoulder."

Traitor.

A few minutes later we stepped out near the hotel entrance where staff immediately rushed forward to help with luggage.

Cold Paris night air brushed against my face while I carefully adjusted slightly in the seat.

Still Aarohi barely stirred.

God. She was exhausted.

I looked down at her quietly for a moment. Then sighed once.

"Fine."

Before my brain could reconsider...I slid one arm carefully beneath her knees and the other around her waist.

And lifted her gently into my arms.

The second her body settled instinctively against my chest..

my heartbeat lost structural integrity.

Fantastic.

Aarohi shifted softly in her sleep, one hand automatically curling against the front of my shirt while her face tucked lightly near my neck.

Comfortable.

Behind me, Chaya physically melted. "Oh my God."

Yash looked deeply entertained. "He's gone."

"I can still dropkick you."

"You won't," he replied calmly. "Your hands are full carrying your wife..."

I ignored him and started walking toward the hotel entrance instead.

.

Because frankly? If I acknowledged how terrifyingly right he was... I might actually lose my mind.

The lobby lights reflected softly against the marble floors while staff greeted us politely.

And unfortunately..

every single person we passed smiled knowingly at the sight of Aarohi asleep in my arms.

One elderly receptionist even sighed softly. "Très romantique."

(Very Romantic)

The elevator ride upstairs remained quiet.

Just me. Her. And the dangerous warmth of her curled against my chest.

I looked down once. Big mistake.

Because even asleep she looked unfairly beautiful.

Soft breathing. Relaxed expression. One hand loosely fisted near my collar like she trusted I wouldn't let go.

And God help me....

that trust affected me more than it should have.

The elevator doors opened onto our suites floor.

I carried her quietly toward the suite before entering carefully.

Dim warm lights illuminated the room softly while Paris glittered outside the massive windows beyond the balcony.

Still asleep.

Not even slightly aware.

I walked slowly toward the bed before lowering her carefully onto the mattress.

The second I tried pulling away-

her fingers tightened weakly against my shirt.

My entire nervous system stopped functioning instantly.

"Aarohi," I murmured quietly.

No response.

Just sleepy instinct. Still holding onto me.

I swallowed hard.

Dangerous woman. Even unconscious she was dangerous.

Very gently I loosened her fingers from my shirt before pulling the blanket over her carefully.

She shifted slightly against the pillows afterward, curls spreading softly around her face.

Then quietly-

she murmured something half asleep.

I leaned down instinctively. "What?"

Her voice came barely above a whisper.

"...i want to eat macarons....."

I burst out a quite chuckle. This woman and her obsession with sweets...

I stayed still beside the bed for another second too long before brushing one strand of hair gently away from her face.

My fingers lingered.

Mistake.

Because the second I touched her-

that dangerous softness returned again.

The kind that made me want impossible things.

Home. Peace. Her.

I stepped back immediately afterward.

Need distance. Need sanity.

But before walking away...

I looked at her one last time sleeping peacefully beneath the soft Paris lights.

Against all logic, against every defense mechanism I had built for years....

There was this quite realisation....

I should've slept too. It's late.

Instead, I was standing near the window again, hands in my pockets, pretending I hadn't constantly remembered how it felt to be that close to her.

Or punching that guy because he looked at her wrong.

Or when Yash pointed out about me being in love...

I said 'no' instantly. Defense mechanism.

Even though it just unsettled me more.

Behind me, the bed shifted.

Aarohi's voice came a few seconds later, rough with sleep.

"Advik..."

I turned slightly. But she was already snoring soundly.

Asleep after ruining my every thought.

Love.

The word came uninvited.

I didn't even like it.

Not because I didn't understand it.

And understanding it meant knowing exactly how it destroys people like me.

People who don't know how to hold something gently without eventually breaking it or themselves.

This wasn't new.

I had seen attachment before.

I had seen myself being attached to people before.

And I had promised myself .

No chains. Not for anyone. Not for anything.

My gaze shifted back to Aarohi.

She looked... calm.

Like she had no idea she was slowly becoming something I could lose control over.

Someone I could depend on.

That was the problem.

I exhaled slowly. Freedom.

That was what I had chased all my life.

Freedom from control.

Freedom from my father.

Freedom from a life that was never mine.

But now, freedom has started to feel less like flying...and more like falling without anything to hold onto.

A memory flashed.

Her hand in mine. Me chasing her on the beach. My hand on her waist. My forehead touching hers.

Wrong. This was worse.

Because attraction could be resisted.

Desire could be ignored.

But care?

Care couldn't be pretended .

I took a slow step back from the bed.

I needed distance.

Not from her presence.

From what she was doing to me and what she was becoming for me.

"She makes you soft,"

"You love her" my mind warned.

No.

"Stop spiralling!!"

Love wasn't something I do . I don't take responsibility. It's just the recent events and the proximity messing up my mind .

"You're overthinking." I warned myself.

Maybe it all started because I was being present from the start.

Caring too much. Protecting her too much. Maybe because that was who I was. Comic? Sarcastic?

And now suddenly, it wasn't "just" anything anymore. It wasn't just caring for her or protecting her. It was deeper.

It was everything.

And I was losing control. And I never lose control.

I wasn't in love right..? I was just getting attached.

Maybe because she had consoled me. Maybe because we shared the same bed. Maybe because joking with her was easy. Teasing her and making her go all red was easy.

Maybe it was just an attraction.

Because love sounded poetic.

Attachment sounded like responsibility.

Like obligation.

Like losing yourself slowly and calling it devotion.

I turned slightly toward the window.

I used to think leaving everything behind meant freedom.

But standing here now, I felt something unfamiliar tightening in my chest.

Realisation.

If I let this grow...

If I let her become part of my life...Then leaving would no longer be simple.

And I couldn't no longer stay in this life anymore. Because my father was already planning something.

The inheritance. The company. The family.

I don't want it.

I couldn't trade my freedom for someone like her???

Even if I wanted to.

Especially if I wanted to.

My gaze dropped one last time to her.

"I can't do

this," I told myself .

But the problem was... I should leave.

She should not concern me.

Yet, nothing in me actually moved to leave.

And that was the first real crack.

I turned away from the bed slowly, like distance could still fix what proximity had already started.

And that scared me more .

Because she felt worth my freedom.

Worth breaking every wall I had ever created around myself.

Worth sacrificing myself.

And that was dangerous territory.

____

____

DENIAL IS A RIVER Mr. Advik Oberoi.

How long will you last denying that this isn't just an attraction anymore.