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“Aunty, now I realize why Maya is so beautiful. She got your genes,” Dhruv praised.
Caught up in his laptop work, Ranveer shot a quick glance at his brother. Dhruv's observational skills were known, but Ranveer wasn't expecting comments about Maya. Garima chuckled.
“I used to be better in my younger days. All these wrinkles were not there,” she replied, gently touching her skin.
“I am sure,” Dhruv agreed. “You should join a self-defense class like me. Beautiful women like you can be in danger, you know.”
Garima nodded in agreement. “My days are gone, Dhruv. And Maya already has a strong protector,” she said, pointing at Ranveer, who accepted the compliment with a smirk.
Dhruv shook his head and glanced at his watch.
“Oh, I should be leaving. Had promised Dad to have dinner together,” he announced, getting up.
“Are you sure? Won't dine with us?” Ranveer inquired.
“Some other time, Bro. When Maya becomes fine, I will come to eat something she can cook,” Dhruv explained.
Garima agreed, “My daughter is a great cook. You should try her Pasta.”
Ranveer continued to listen, unaware that his heart was quietly absorbing every detail whenever there was talk related to Maya.
“Pasta it is, then. Do convey my wishes to Maya again. Will leave now. Bye, Bro. Bye, Aunty.” Dhruv bid farewell.
Garima gave Dhruv a quick hug. Ranveer watched the easy rapport growing between them. Though he knew Garima better, she'd never hugged him as she did Dhruv upon his departure. He realized he wouldn't mind such a gesture from her daughter, though. Just thinking of Maya in his arms made Ranveer's body stiffen with desire. She was so close now, yet still out of reach. How would he handle this exquisite torture? He had indulged in countless fantasies of making out with Maya in his dreams, longing for those ethereal moments to materialize into reality. Why were his hormones acting so weird whenever he thought about her?
“I'll wake, Maya,” Ranveer volunteered later, setting his work aside.
Ranveer entered Maya's room, finding her peacefully asleep while cuddling the pillow. Standing by the bed, he couldn't help but admire her face, even with the noticeable bruises on her forehead. The lingering bruises didn't diminish her beauty. Maya looked heavenly, and utterly kissable. Lost in the moment, he watched her with passionate eyes, unaware of the time slipping away. Garima finally approached, catching him in the act.
“Ranveer,” Garima gently shook him, snapping him out of his trance. “You were supposed to wake her,” she gently chided, seeing his besotted gaze. Ranveer was speechless at being caught out.
“Yeah, I was.”
“Never mind,” Garima smiled softly. “I can see the fondness in your eyes for Maya. I wonder how you both did not end up meeting before.”
Ranveer sighed, knowing they hadn't met before, yet he managed to alter her past.
“I have seen Maya slogging all these years for me. But since she has met you now, I am sure her hardships are over,” Garima murmured.
Ranveer understood and saw hope in Garima's eyes. The question lingered: could he sustain those hopes indefinitely?
“Maya was broken after someone destroyed her modeling career,” Garima spoke nervously.
Ranveer tensed with shame at making an innocent woman endure such horror.
“She had locked herself in her room for more than 24 hours. I was so worried for her. How can a man be that cruel? He sent her purposely to the wrong place, where women were auctioned. Didn't he think of the consequences? What if Maya had failed to escape from that place that night? I cannot even imagine what would happen to her.”
Swallowing hard, Ranveer's fingers clenched together. He wished he could undo the pain he had inflicted on her.
“Maya has been through a lot in her life. I couldn't give her more, Ranveer,” Garima held Ranveer's hand. “But I have full faith in you. I know Maya will get all the happiness she deserves because she has you in her life now.”
Ranveer realized the depth of trust Garima was placing in him and gripped her hand in return.
“I won't let any more damage happen in her life, I assure you that,” he confessed.
Their gaze shifted back to Maya, still sleeping peacefully on the bed, and the two decided to let her sleep for a little longer.
Dinner at night…
