Passing Danger

Dinner ended, but the air between them didn’t.

For the next thirty minutes, Aaragya Rathore did everything possible to act normal.

She listened to Armaan.

She nodded when needed.

She even forced out a few small smiles.

But her attention was ruined.

Because no matter how hard she tried to focus on her brother’s jokes or the dessert menu in front of her, she remained painfully aware of one thing.

Jaswant Singh Rajput was still in the same room.

She hated that awareness.

Hated the way his presence seemed to settle over the restaurant like something dark and expensive. Hated the way people became quieter around him without realizing it. Hated that he didn’t even need to move to be noticed.

And worst of all.

she hated that she had looked at him more than once.

“Where did your revolutionary confidence go?” Armaan asked, cutting into his dessert while watching her with amusement. “The girl who drags politicians online is suddenly very interested in her water glass.”

Aaragya shot him a flat look. “I’m not interested in him.”

Armaan smirked. “I didn’t say his name.”

She glared.

He laughed.

That should have lightened her mood, but it didn’t.

Because across the room, Jaswant had risen from his table.

And somehow, without doing anything dramatic, he instantly changed the rhythm of the space around him.

His associate stood. The manager hurried over. Security straightened. The polished floor reflected the sharp movement of black shoes and silent authority.

Aaragya looked away immediately.

Too quickly.

She hated that too.

“Come on,” she said, picking up her handbag. “Let’s leave.”

Armaan raised a brow. “Running away?”

“Leaving,” she corrected coldly.

“Hmm.”

“Armaan.”

“Fine, fine.”

They stepped away from the table together, Aaragya adjusting the fall of her blazer as they walked toward the private exit corridor.

The restaurant was quieter there dim lights, marble walls, the faint scent of expensive perfume and polished wood. A long hallway led toward the valet section and underground parking.

Aaragya exhaled once, relieved to be away from the dining hall.

That relief lasted exactly three seconds.

Because the moment she turned the corner.

he was there.

Coming from the opposite side of the corridor.

Jaswant Singh Rajput.

Closer now than he had been all evening.

For one stunned second, both parties slowed.

No one spoke.

The corridor suddenly felt too narrow.

Aaragya’s steps paused almost involuntarily, and Armaan, walking beside her, immediately noticed. His body shifted just slightly protective, alert.

Jaswant noticed that too.

Of course he did.

He walked with the same unhurried, controlled pace, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other holding his phone loosely. His expression gave nothing away, but his eyes.

those cold, unreadable eyes.

landed on Aaragya first.

And stayed there.

She had expected distance to make him less intense.

It didn’t.

If anything, standing this close only made him more dangerous.

He was taller than she had thought. Broader. Sharper. His silence wasn’t empty it was loaded. Like he didn’t need words because the world had already learned how to react to him.

Aaragya lifted her chin instinctively.

If he expected nervousness, he would not get it.

If he expected her to lower her gaze, he could keep waiting.

So she looked right back at him.

Steady.

Unimpressed.

Even though her heartbeat had begun doing something extremely annoying inside her chest.

Jaswant’s gaze flickered very briefly over her face as if registering not just her presence, but her refusal.

Then to Armaan.

Then back to her.

No greeting.

No smile.

No courtesy.

Just that same heavy, dangerous stillness.

The distance between them narrowed further.

One step.

Then another.

Until they were close enough for Aaragya to catch the faint scent of his cologne clean, dark, expensive and suddenly she was absurdly irritated that she noticed.

Armaan’s jaw tightened.

Jaswant’s security remained a few feet behind, silent and watchful.

The entire moment lasted barely seconds.

But it felt longer.

Much longer.

Then, without touching her, without brushing against her, without saying a single word.

Jaswant passed by her.

And somehow, that was worse.

Because even after he moved ahead, the air he carried seemed to remain behind.

Aaragya stood frozen for half a heartbeat before turning ever so slightly to look back.

At the exact same moment.

Jaswant did too.

Just once.

A brief glance over his shoulder.

Their eyes met again.

Then he kept walking.

No expression.

No acknowledgment.

Nothing.

But the message had still been delivered.

He had seen her.

Properly this time.

And somehow, Aaragya knew with complete certainty.

this would not be the last time their paths crossed.

Beside her, Armaan let out a slow breath.

“I don’t like him,” he said flatly.

Aaragya stared at the now-empty corridor for one second longer before turning away.

Neither do I, she wanted to say.

But the words didn’t come out.

Because dislike wasn’t the only thing she had felt in that hallway.

And that was the real problem.

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