CHAPTER 5 :

Slowly… painfully slowly… Darika turned around.

And the moment she did, her breath caught again.

Now that the embarrassment had settled enough for her to actually look at him properly, she realized something dangerous—

Dhruv Dhariya was unfairly handsome.

Tall enough to make his presence overwhelming without effort.

Broad shoulders stretched beneath the black shirt he wore casually, the sleeves folded neatly around his forearms. Expensive watch. Sharp jawline. Calm posture.

Everything about him looked controlled.

Composed.

Untouchable.

But it was his eyes that unsettled her the most.

A strange shade—beautiful enough to hold attention without permission.

And cold enough to make someone look away immediately after.

Those eyes didn’t soften.

Didn’t hesitate.

Didn’t reveal.

They simply watched.

And somehow that was worse.

Dhruv tilted his head slightly, studying her silence.

“So,” he said calmly, “I look like a secretary?”

Darika pressed her lips together instantly.

“And you threatened to complain about me…”

A pause.

“To me.”

Her embarrassment deepened.

But he wasn’t done.

“And earlier,” he continued smoothly, “when your hair got stuck in my suit button, you said you would kill me if I moved.”

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Seriously?”

Darika wanted the earth to split open beneath her feet.

“I’m really sorry,” she blurted quickly. “I’m an idiot.”

“You seem to do that often.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

Okay. That was rude.

Annoyance flickered across her face for the first time.

Still, she inhaled slowly, trying to stay calm.

“Look,” she said, forcing patience into her voice, “I already apologized. I didn’t know you were Dhruv… or whoever you are.”

Dhruv’s expression remained unreadable.

“I’m serious,” she continued quickly. “How was I supposed to know? I’ve never seen you before.”

She crossed her arms tightly, frustration slowly replacing embarrassment.

“And honestly… everyone in this house looked warm and welcoming.”

Her eyes lifted toward him for one second.

“You didn’t.”

Silence.

“You looked cold,” she admitted bluntly. “And you were standing near the car like you were waiting for someone, so I thought you were the secretary or something.”

A beat passed.

“I didn’t even look at you properly before speaking. So yes, I made a mistake. And I said sorry.”

Dhruv stared at her quietly.

Then, without emotion, he said—

“I don’t accept your apology.”

Darika blinked.

“What?”

“I said,” he repeated calmly, “I don’t accept it.”

For two seconds she simply stared at him.

Then disbelief took over.

“I have literally apologized like seven— no, ten times already!”

A faint spark of irritation entered her voice now.

“What is wrong with your attitude?”

One of his brows lifted slowly.

“Attitude?”

“Yes, attitude.”

A dangerous silence settled between them.

Dhruv took one slow step closer.

“Interesting,” he said quietly. “I don’t think I’m the one with the attitude here.”

Darika rolled her eyes before she could stop herself.

Unbelievable.

Absolutely unbelievable.

“Fine,” she muttered. “I think staying in the guest room is a better option than staying here with—”

She turned immediately toward the door and grabbed the handle.

Twisted it.

Nothing happened.

Her brows frowned.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

Dhruv watched silently from behind.

Darika pulled harder this time.

The door didn’t move.

Slowly, she turned back toward him.

“…Why is this not opening?”

For the first time since entering the room—

Dhruv smiled.

Small.

Dangerously calm.

And somehow that smile felt more threatening than his coldness ever did.

Before Darika could say another word—

The doorbell rang.

A sharp sound cutting straight through the tension between them.

Both of them looked toward the door at the same time.

Dhruv exhaled once, slowly, before walking toward her.

“Move.”

The single word was calm.

But somehow it still sounded like an order.

Darika immediately stepped aside, pressing herself awkwardly near the wall as he reached past her and opened the door.

And standing outside—

Was his grandmother.

The moment the elderly woman stepped inside and saw them standing together near the entrance, her entire face brightened instantly.

“Oh my God,” she gasped dramatically, placing a hand near her chest. “You two look so good together.”

Darika blinked.

Dhruv closed his eyes briefly like he already regretted opening the door.

And strangely enough, it felt true—

In this entire mansion, she was probably the only person genuinely happy seeing them together.

Grandmother walked inside without waiting for permission, elegance and authority somehow existing together in every step she took.

She sat comfortably on the large couch like she owned not just the mansion, but the air inside it too.

Which, technically, she did.

Dhruv and Darika followed awkwardly behind her.

The distance between them felt visible.

Almost physical.

But Grandmother either didn’t notice it—

Or chose not to.

“You really look beautiful together,” she said again warmly, her eyes moving between them with satisfaction. “I hope things work out between you two.”

Darika forced a small smile.

Dhruv stayed silent.

Then Grandmother turned toward Darika completely.

“Look, child,” she said softly, “Dhruv is actually a very good man. He will never do anything wrong to you.”

“Grandma,” Dhruv interrupted immediately, already sounding exhausted, “okay. Enough.”

But she ignored him effortlessly.

“You must be running out of clothes,” she continued thoughtfully. “Tomorrow you should go shopping.”

Darika looked up slightly.

“Shopping?”

“Yes, of course,” Grandmother said casually, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Buy whatever you need. Clothes, dresses, makeup, skincare, nightwear, robes—everything.”

Darika nearly choked on air.

Beside her, Dhruv looked like he was physically losing patience with every additional word.

Grandmother continued proudly, completely unaware—or maybe fully aware.

“You’ll stay here for nine months after all.”

Darika didn’t even know how to respond anymore.

“…Okay,” she said weakly.

Dhruv rubbed his forehead slowly.

“Grandma.”

“What?” she asked innocently. “I’m just helping.”

Helping.

Right.

The room had become so awkward that even breathing felt noticeable.

Finally, after another few instructions and unnecessary teasing smiles toward them, Grandmother stood up.

“Alright, I’ll leave you two alone now.”

Darika’s soul nearly left her body hearing that sentence.

Dhruv looked equally disturbed.

Grandmother smiled knowingly before walking toward the door.

And then—

Click.

The door shut behind her.

Silence.

Immediate.

Heavy.

Awkward.

Darika stood near the couch, suddenly hyperaware of everything again.

The room.

The quiet.

Him.

Dhruv walked toward the wardrobe without saying a word. He removed the expensive watch from his wrist and placed it inside a drawer carelessly before loosening the top buttons of his shirt.

Darika instantly looked away.

Why is this so awkward?

She sat stiffly on the couch, hands folded together nervously.

Dhruv disappeared inside the bathroom.

A few seconds later, the sound of running water filled the room.

Darika sat there unmoving.

Her thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning.

Nine months.

One room.

One stranger.

No escape.

The bathroom door finally opened after some time.

And unfortunately—

That somehow made everything worse.

Dhruv walked out wearing black boxer pants and a sleeveless shirt, water still glistening faintly along his neck and arms.

Darika looked away so quickly she almost gave herself whiplash.

Meanwhile Dhruv seemed completely unaffected.

Calmly drying his hair with a towel, he glanced toward her.

“I think we need to talk.”

Darika immediately straightened.

“Oh… okay.”

She stood from the couch slowly.

“What do you want to say?”

Dhruv tossed the towel aside before speaking.

“Look,” he said directly, “I really don’t want to get engaged to you.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

“And I have no plans of marrying you,” he continued calmly. “Or anyone else.”

Something inside Darika tightened quietly.

It shouldn’t hurt.

This arrangement wasn’t real.

Even she didn’t want this marriage.

And yet—

Hearing someone reject her so effortlessly still stung somewhere deeper than pride.

For one small second, an ugly thought crossed her mind.

Nobody actually wants you.

But she buried it instantly.

Instead, she lifted her chin slightly.

“Well,” she said carefully, “I don’t want to marry you either.”

Dhruv looked at her silently.

“You know why I’m here?” she continued. “If I stay here for nine months, I’ll get ten crore rupees.”

That caught his attention immediately.

His brows pulled together faintly.

“What?”

Darika frowned slightly.

“The contract.”

“What contract?”

Now it was her turn to look confused.

“The one your family made.”

Dhruv stared at her for a long second before realization slowly darkened his expression.

“…They’re paying you?”

Darika crossed her arms.

“It’s compensation.”

Dhruv gave a short, disbelieving laugh.

“Compensation?”

“Yes.”

He touched the space between his brows like a headache was forming.

“What exactly is going on in this house…”

Then his eyes lifted back toward her.

“Ten crores is a huge amount.”

Darika shrugged lightly.

“Staying with a man like you for nine months? Honestly, I think I deserve twenty.”

For the first time—

Dhruv looked genuinely surprised.

“And maybe thirty,” she added coldly. “Ten crores feels too little for tolerating your personality.”

Silence.

Then unexpectedly—

Something flickered in his eyes again.

Not anger.

Not amusement either.

Something stranger.

But it disappeared too quickly to understand.

Finally, he spoke flatly.

“Whatever this arrangement is… you’ll sleep on the couch .”

Darika’s expression fell slightly.

“And I don’t want unnecessary drama,” he continued. “You already seem like a dramatic person.”

Her confidence weakened a little at that.

Still, she nodded quietly.

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “I won’t bother you.”

Dhruv leaned back slightly against the desk behind him.

“Good.”

The next sentence came colder.

“I should barely feel your existence in this room.”

Silence.

“I don’t want problems in my life because of you. Understood?”

Darika didn’t answer immediately.

Because strangely—

That hurt more than the rejection earlier.

Not wanting marriage was one thing.

But being treated like someone whose existence itself was inconvenient—

That was different.

Still, after a moment, she nodded once.

“…Okay.”

Dhruv rubbed the space between his brows again, exhaustion visible now more than irritation.

“I hope you cooperate.”

And with that, the conversation ended.

Just like that.

Dhruv sat down near his PC, slipped headphones over his ears, and opened some work files as if none of this mattered at all.

As if she wasn’t sitting there feeling smaller with every passing second.

Meanwhile Darika remained on the couch quietly.

Awkward.Embarrassed.Nervous.

And somewhere deep inside—

Rejected

Even though this marriage was fake.

Even though she never wanted him either.

It still hurt.

Because no girl ever dreams of hearing—

I should feel like you don’t exist.

The silence inside the room stretched for a long time.

Only the faint clicking of Dhruv’s keyboard filled the air while the cold blue glow of his PC reflected against his sharp features.

Darika sat quietly on the couch, trying not to look at him.

Trying not to think about the conversation they had just finished.

Or the words he had said so casually.

I should barely feel your existence in this room.

The sentence still sat heavily somewhere inside her chest.

After some time, Dhruv finally removed his headphones and stood up from his chair.

Darika looked up instinctively.

Without saying a single word, he grabbed a black duffel bag from near the wardrobe along with a water bottle.

His expression remained unreadable.

Cold.

Distant.

Like she wasn’t even important enough to acknowledge.

Then he walked toward the door.

Darika frowned slightly.

“Where are you going?” she almost asked.

But she stopped herself.

Because he probably wouldn’t answer anyway.

The door opened.

And then—

Closed.

The moment he left, the room suddenly felt lighter.

Darika exhaled deeply without realizing she had been holding her breath the entire time.

Relief spread through her almost instantly.

Finally.

No tension.

No intimidating silence.

No sharp eyes watching her every move.

Just peace.

A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door.

A maid entered carrying dinner on a tray.

“Dinner, ma’am.”

Darika gave a small nod and quietly sat near the table.

The food looked expensive.

Too expensive.

Even the plates looked like they belonged in some royal dining hall.

She ate slowly in silence, her thoughts wandering again despite herself.

Nine months.

Nine months in this room.

Nine months with a man who clearly wanted nothing to do with her.

But then another thought entered her mind unexpectedly.

What if things changed?

What if he actually started liking her?

What if one day he looked at her differently?

After all…

She was only one step away from becoming the lady of this mansion.

One step away from having everything.

Wealth.

Power.

A life no one from her world could even imagine.

But then another thought came immediately after.

Maybe he already likes someone else.

Maybe there’s another girl.

Someone prettier.

Someone richer.

Someone he actually wants.

That thought bothered her more than it should have.

Darika pushed the thought away quickly and finished eating.

Soon, the maid returned and collected the plates.

Before the woman could leave, Darika hesitated slightly.

“Can I get a blanket and a pillow?”

“Of course, ma’am.”

A few minutes later, the maid returned with both.

After placing them carefully on the couch, she smiled politely and left the room again.

Silence returned once more.

Darika stood near the couch quietly for a moment before slowly untying her hair.

Then she braided it loosely, her tired fingers moving automatically.

She placed the pillow carefully on one side of the couch and spread the blanket over herself.

The couch was soft.

But not comfortable enough to truly feel like a bed.

Still—

She didn’t complain.

She turned to one side, staring at the faint city lights visible through the balcony glass.

And slowly, exhaustion pulled her under.

Hours later—

The door opened quietly.

Dhruv stepped inside again, slightly sweaty from training, the black sleeves around his forearms dampened faintly.

The room was dark except for one dim lamp near the couch.

His eyes moved toward it instinctively.

Toward her.

Darika was asleep.

Curled slightly beneath the blanket, her braided hair resting over one shoulder, one hand tucked near her face.

For some reason—

The sight irritated him.

Maybe because her existence itself had already started disturbing the balance of his life.

Or maybe because she looked too peaceful sleeping in his room like she belonged there.

Dhruv looked away immediately.

Annoyed for reasons even he didn’t understand.

Without making noise, he walked toward the bathroom, took another quick shower, and changed into fresh clothes.

When he came back out, the room was still silent.

His eyes shifted toward the couch again.

Toward her sleeping figure.

For one brief second, a thought crossed his mind.

Maybe I should’ve asked her to sleep on the bed.

And I could’ve taken the couch.

But the thought disappeared almost immediately.

Why should he?

This was his room.

His house.

His life.

And she was only here because of money.

Ten crores for nine months.

Free money.

She could survive a little discomfort for that much.

That’s what he told himself.

Still, even after switching off the lights and lying down on the bed—

His mind returned to the couch again.

To the girl sleeping there quietly.

And somewhere between irritation, exhaustion, and thoughts he refused to understand—

Dhruv eventually fell asleep.