In Aaron's Bedroom

When Aarvi realized Naomi left, she raised her head to face Aaron pulling his chin down to look him in the eye, "Open your eyes.." She asked and saw his gentle smile appearing.

She doesn't even remember the past two years of him smiling, now she gets to see his varieties of his expression. "Why are you smiling?"

"Am I? Oh..." But the smile widened pinching her cheek until she shrugged his hand off and asked what she wanted.

"Why don't you like somebody who loves you? Don't you think I am selfish for not reciprocating your feelings completely when you are trying to spoil me?"

Aaron shook his head resignedly before asking, "You felt as selfish hence you want me to be selfish?"

Aarvi promptly asked, "When did I say I am feeling selfish?" Then she continued to tease, "Aren't you already taking advantage of me for twenty minutes? I am thinking it standing in your shoes."

He behaved as though he took her words seriously and he couldn't believe she thought he was taking advantage of her. He mused, "You really think I am taking advantage of you?" Then he sighed, "You are the one who is standing on my feet. The pot called the kettle black.."

Aarvi had thought he would leave her hearing it but the man amused her by identifying her words accurately. She chuckled but didn't respond to wait for him to respond.

Aaron didn't stop his slow movements to music as he responded caressing her head looking at her eyes which were ready to capture any lie if said, "Why should I like somebody who loves me when I already have the one who I love and who likes me back?"

Aarvi nodded and again tried in different methods, "Like and Love is different. Like is Want whereas Love is Need. Hmmm.. Just like how I wished to hear gramophone, it was just 'a want', I could ignore it and move on. But you can't just move on with the need, there will be emptiness. Why are you fine with my want when you could be somebody's need?"

Aaron smiled hearing her. Even though he was ready to live with just her 'Want', just by being happy with her 'Like', he knew well he will be delighted being her 'Need'. Of course, it wasn't the need that makes one dependent on another, but the craving to have him in her life just like how he yearns for her.

An irreplaceable place just for him.

He didn't answer, instead asked, "Why? You don't want to love me?"

Aarvi pouted for earning a question back, "Not like that. I don't want to fake or push myself into something I couldn't give justice. It would be further unfair for you."

Aaron used the standard line leaving her at a loss of words, "Everything fair in Love and War."

'Undoubtedly, Naomi is behind my life.' She thought and gave a death glare for him to respond promptly.

"Aarvi Evans, don't you think what you said has the answer in it? I don't want to be with somebody as their love other than yours even if you can only like me."

Aarvi chided him, "Lovestruck fool!" Then she went back to embrace him resting her head below his chin while the curved lips didn't settle down.

Aaron peeked at her and saw her closed eyes with a happy little face. He doubtfully asked to know her response, "What will you do if you fall in love with somebody else?"

Aarvi opened her eyes hearing him, she tried to imagine somebody else holding her, hugging her, and even kissing her forehead but nothing synced, other than Aaron being in each imagination.

"Nope, this life I want to be selfish." She loved her family but was betrayed in the end leaving her hurt every time so she will definitely be selfish. "I want to be with someone who loves me, no one else."

Then she raised her head to face serious Aaron who was still waiting for her response to his question, "You might say that unknown somebody might love me but I don't believe in anybody's love other than yours."

Even if somebody says they love her, she wouldn't believe it because they will have a reason to love her and love needs no reason. If love needs reasons to put down in words then a book wouldn't be sufficient to fill it.

Probably the slightest hesitation he had whether she could really love him and make him one in her world, completely erased hearing her. He was very content as though she confessed her love. He was placid as a duck pond easing all his worries.

Wrapping his arms tighter, he planted a kiss on her forehead resting her back in his embrace saying no word.

It wasn't ten minutes, he realized she dozed off when her body leaned to his arm with steady breathing as her hands loosened around him. He didn't know one could actually sleep in a standing position until he witnessed it.

He tried to carry her but she woke up, "Ahh.." He stilled to ask her to rest guessing she might be awake last night due to nightmares, "Sleep... sleep.."

Aarvi mumbled trying to rub her eyes, "We have to go downstairs.." She didn't feel it was right to have him next to her in his family mansion while other guests were there.

Aaron quickly sat on the daybed by the window, placing her carefully on it while her upper body leaned on him. He stopped her actions circling her hand around him and caressed her head, "Nap for a little time, we will go downstairs for lunch."

Aarvi tried to get up but Aaron's arms caged her and the sleepiness overtook soon. When Aaron arranged pillows for his back to lean, she snuggled to a comfortable position and dozed off clutching his shirt without bothering about the daylight from windows.historical

After watching her sleeping face a little time, he took his mobile out and started checking his office mails.

....

After about twenty minutes, a sneaky cat entered the room grinning widely, "My Little heart looks dumb plus cute." He was ready to poke her nose but Aaron slapped his hand away.

"Bro-" Shawn quickly toned down and took a deep breath to talk in a low tone, "You cuddle your Cupcake here, downstairs they are talking about your marriage with that fake faced girl. How dare you promise another girl to marry when you love Cupcake?"

He was trying to provoke Aaron and as he guessed, Aaron's face turned dark and the warmth he had vanished into thin air, "Shawn." He warned him to tell what was happening.

Shawn took a step back and reported promptly, "It's not me, Fiona Knox. All are waiting for you."

'Fiona Knox.' Aaron tried to remember if he had met her before the gym day but got nothing to remember.

Shawn continued, "I will be here with Little heart, you better go and clear it out. You are dead if Little heart misunderstands."

'Misunderstand?' There was nothing to misunderstand but Aaron's first concern was, Aarvi would wake up if he moved. Just then Aarvi yawned completing her short nap and saw Shawn teasingly grinning waving his hand.

She didn't move but extended her hand, cuing him to go near, and pinched his cheek. Shawn innocently went near assuming she thought it was a dream but then "Ahhhh... Little Heart.. Little Heart.." He groaned trying to pull her hand away.

Aarvi didn't leave until his fair skin turned delicious red, "Oh, I am not dreaming." She lied when she certainly knew it wasn't a dream.

Shawn: "..." He rubbed his cheek like a bullied little one putting on a distressing look.

Sitting up, she quickly realized Aaron's mood is cloudy, "What's the matter?"

Shawn spoke before Aaron could utter a word, "Little heart, it's time to handle a b*tchy b*tchier b*tch and show your power." He held his fist up to encourage her when she didn't even know who was 'b*tchy b*tchier b*tch'.

Shawn didn't give her time either, he held her hand and forced her to jump off from the daybed over Aaron to take her out.

"Let me wash my face.. Shawn.. My sandals.. Shawn.." Aarvi pulled him back from running out and wore her heels when Aaron went to them in composure.

Sliding her foot in her pumps, she asked Aaron patiently, "Who is this girl who pissed off our Prince to call her b*tchy b*tchier b*tch?"

Shawn waited until she was stable on the floor with heels and again pulled her out, making her jog while he strode ahead saying, "Little Heart, don't think, just punch her in the face... You could also shove the shoes to her mouth. How dare she?"

Aarvi: "..."

She really wanted to know who could make Shawn so irritated that he was ready to use such language for a girl.

Shawn didn't leave her hand until they stood at the corner of the surrounded luxurious couches in the living hall. He held her shoulder and announced, "Ms. Knox, She is my sister-in-law, get that straight in your twisted useless brain." He snorted, earning a glare from Jordan and Megan cuing him calm down.

Unbeknown, Aarvi blankly watched them before turning to Aaron who stood another side of her. He straight went to the point without wasting a second, "Ms. Knox, have we met before or at least spoken to each other before today?"

Fiona stood up in rage hearing Aaron and pointed her finger at him which then moved to Aarvi who looked groggy, "You- How could you forget your own promise and put this tramp in my place?"

'Pak'

'Pak'