"Unspoken Confessions and Silent Comforts"

Aditya cut off the call, his mind clouded with worry and confusion. What had happened to Ananya? The urgency in her voice, the desperation in her plea not to tell Avira—it all unsettled him. His thoughts raced back to the day he had witnessed Avira's panic attack. The raw fear in her eyes, the way she gasped for breath as if the walls were closing in on her, had left an imprint in his mind. He had known then that she was carrying burdens too heavy for her fragile frame. But now, he wanted to know more—he needed to know about her past, her sufferings. And he knew exactly who could tell him. Ananya. But he would wait until she stabilized; she had already been through so much tonight. One thing was certain: that bastard who hurt her would not be left unpunished. A dangerous fire of vengeance burned within Aditya's eyes as he clenched his fists.

On the other side, Ananya sat curled up on the couch, her mind replaying every horrifying second of the night. The way her boss's hands had forcefully grabbed her, his repulsive breath suffocating her, his cruel laughter echoing in her ears. Her hands trembled as she absentmindedly held the blanket close to her chest. What if Raj hadn't been there? A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. But…how had he known where she was? She was lost in her thoughts when Raj walked in with a glass of water and a painkiller.

"Take this. It'll help with the pain in your leg," he said gently, kneeling beside her.

Ananya didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, and silent tears kept rolling down her cheeks. Raj watched her, his heart aching at the sight of her vulnerability. He couldn't bear to see her like this. He reached for her hand, his touch warm and comforting.

"Ananya…" he whispered, squeezing her fingers lightly.

That was all it took. She broke down completely. A choked sob escaped her lips as she suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. She clung to him desperately, her body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably. Raj held her close, his arms tightening protectively around her.

"I was so scared, Raj…" she cried. "What would have happened if you weren't there? He—he was going to—" Her words got lost in her sobs.

"Shh…nothing happened, and nothing ever will," Raj reassured her, his voice firm yet soothing. "I'm always here for you, Ananya. No one will ever touch you again."

Her sobs gradually subsided as she pulled back slightly, looking up at him with teary eyes. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and sniffled.

"Raj… but what were you doing there?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Raj exhaled deeply, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I heard your conversation when you called Avira," he admitted. "I was with her, discussing something. The moment I heard your voice, I knew something was wrong. I went to your office, but you weren't there. When I asked around, someone told me you had resigned."

Ananya looked at him, startled. "You were looking for me?"

Raj gazed into her eyes, his voice holding an unshakable certainty. "Of course, I was searching for you," he said softly. "Because you're my everything, Ananya."

Her breath hitched at his words.

"The moment I saw you for the first time, I knew you were different. I don't know about you, but I've loved you from the very beginning, from the bottom of my heart."

Ananya stared at him, speechless. She wasn't sure what to say. She had never thought about her feelings for Raj in that way. The weight of the night, the intensity of the moment—it was all too much. She lowered her eyes, feeling overwhelmed.

Raj chuckled softly. "Don't stare at me like that, Miss Ananya. I know I'm handsome, but this is making me nervous."

A small, tired smile ghosted her lips. Without another word, she took the medicine he had brought for her and lay back down. Raj pulled the blanket over her gently, making sure she was warm. As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.

"Raj… please don't go," she whispered. "I don't want to be alone."

Raj's heart clenched at the vulnerability in her voice. Without hesitation, he sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. He stroked her hair gently, humming softly as she drifted into a much-needed sleep.

The next morning, Raj drove Ananya home.

Meanwhile, Avira was anxiously waiting outside the house, pacing back and forth. She had been worried sick. She had called Ananya multiple times, but each time, the call went unanswered. Frustrated, she had even called Raj, but he hadn't picked up either. Her mind was racing with worst-case scenarios.

Then, suddenly, her phone rang. She picked it up instantly.

"Avira, Ananya is with Raj," Aditya's deep voice reassured her from the other end. "She's okay. Don't worry."

Avira's eyes darkened. "Mr. Aditya Singh, if he does anything to her, I swear I will kill him myself."

"Trust me, Avira," Aditya said calmly. "She's with the right person."

Avira exhaled shakily, feeling slightly relieved but still restless. She cut the call and sat down, hugging her knees. The house felt too empty, the silence too loud. Fear gripped her heart as the memories of her past crept in, making it impossible to sleep.

Just then, her phone rang again. This time, it was a video call. She frowned and picked it up.

"What now, Mr. Aditya Singh?" she muttered.

Aditya's face appeared on the screen, his expression serious yet gentle. "Don't you dare cut the call," he ordered. "Just sleep."

Avira scoffed. "What do you think this is? A bedtime story?"

"Do what I said," Aditya said firmly. "Or do you want to come to the office tomorrow with swollen eyes?"

Avira's lips parted slightly, taken aback. He knew. He knew she wouldn't be able to sleep alone tonight. She swallowed hard, suddenly feeling exposed.

"I know Ananya isn't there with you tonight," Aditya continued. "But I am. You can talk to me if you want. If not, just sleep. Let me admire my sleeping beauty."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. For a moment, she just stared at the screen, not knowing how to respond. Then, she quickly snapped out of it.

"There's no need for this. Good night, Mr. Aditya," she said hastily and cut the call.

She tried to sleep, but the shadows of the past loomed over her. The empty house felt colder, lonelier. She hugged her pillow tightly, willing herself to sleep. But before she could drift off, the doorbell rang.

Her eyes widened in alarm. Her pulse quickened as she cautiously peeked out the window. When she saw who it was, she immediately opened the door.

"Sir?! What are you doing here at this hour?" she asked in shock.

Without answering, Aditya stepped inside, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her straight to the bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed and lay down beside her.

"I'm sleepy. Good night," he said casually.

Avira sat up, flustered. "What are you doing, sir?!"

Aditya smirked. "This isn't the first time we're sleeping together, Miss Avira. Or… do you want me to kiss you good night?"

Her face turned crimson. "No! I'm sleeping!" she squeaked, quickly burying herself under the blanket.

Slowly, as the night passed, she drifted into a peaceful sleep in his presence. Aditya watched her, a soft smile playing on his lips. He wrapped a protective arm around her and closed his eyes, savoring the comfort of having her close.

For the first time in a long time, they both slept peacefully.