3

The mansion had too many rooms.

Mira noticed it the next morning when she woke up before sunrise. The silence was unnatural, almost intimidating. In their old apartment, she had always heard vendors calling from the street, pressure cookers whistling from neighboring homes, children laughing in the corridor.

Here, all she could hear was the distant sound of waves crashing against the rocks beyond the estate walls.

She got dressed quietly and walked downstairs.

The kitchen was already awake.

Savitri was preparing breakfast while two housekeepers arranged fresh flowers in crystal vases.

“You’re up early,” Savitri said with a gentle smile.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“That happens to everyone on their first few nights here.”

Mira looked around.

“Does he always keep so many people working in this house?”

Savitri’s hands paused for a second.

“Mr. Malhotra rarely stays alone.”

The answer felt incomplete, but Mira didn’t ask again.

She helped set the table despite Savitri insisting she didn’t have to.

For a few minutes, she almost forgot where she was.

Then footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Aarav entered the dining room without looking at anyone.

He was dressed in a charcoal suit, his expression as cold as ever.

One of the staff members immediately pulled out a chair for him.

Mira remained standing.

“Sit,” he said.

“I’m fine.”

“That wasn’t a request.”

She looked at him sharply.

“I’ve heard that sentence before.”

Aarav ignored the comment and began reading a file while eating breakfast.

His phone rang.

He answered in a calm voice.

“No. Delay the shipment.”

A pause.

“I said delay it.”

Another pause.

“If they refuse, cut the deal.”

He ended the call and continued eating as if he had been discussing the weather.

Mira stared at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You were staring.”

“I was wondering how someone can sound so calm while threatening people.”

He placed his cup down.

“I wasn’t threatening anyone.”

“You literally said, ‘Cut the deal.’”

“That’s business.”

“Right.”

The sarcasm in her voice was impossible to miss.

Aarav looked at her for a long moment.

“You have classes today.”

She frowned.

“How do you know my schedule?”

“I had it sent to me.”

“You had no right.”

“You’re staying under my roof.”

“That doesn’t make you my guardian.”

“It makes me responsible for your safety.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“We’ll see.”

She pushed her chair back.

“I’m leaving.”

“You’ll be driven.”

“I can take a bus.”

“No.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

For the first time that morning, a faint smile appeared on his face.

“You’re learning.”

Mira walked out before she said something she would regret.

An hour later, a black SUV stopped outside her university.

Students immediately began whispering.

“Who is that?”

“Isn’t that Aarav Malhotra’s car?”

“She got out of it.”

Mira wanted the ground to swallow her.

She hurried toward the campus building, pretending not to hear the gossip.

Her best friend, Riya, spotted her near the library.

“Mira!”

Riya hugged her tightly.

“I’ve been trying to call you for days. Where have you been?”

Mira forced a smile.

“It’s a long story.”

Riya looked concerned.

“You’ve lost weight.”

“I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not.”

They sat on a bench under a large banyan tree, and Mira told her everything—her father’s death, the debt, losing the apartment, and being forced to stay in Aarav’s mansion.

Riya listened in stunned silence.

“You’re living with him?”

“With my mother.”

“That’s insane.”

“I know.”

“What is he like?”

Mira laughed bitterly.

“Imagine someone who thinks the whole world belongs to him.”

“That bad?”

“Worse.”

Riya hesitated.

“I’ve heard stories about him.”

“So have I.”

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

Before they could continue, a black SUV pulled up outside the university gates.

Mira closed her eyes.

“Don’t tell me…”

Riya followed her gaze.

“He came himself?”

Aarav stepped out of the car.

Students stopped walking.

Conversations faded.

Even professors turned to look.

He walked across the campus as if he owned it.

Mira stood up immediately.

“What are you doing here?”

“You’re late.”

“My class ended five minutes ago.”

“You were supposed to leave when it ended.”

“I’m talking to my friend.”

“You can talk tomorrow.”

Riya looked between them nervously.

Mira crossed her arms.

“I’m not leaving right now.”

Aarav’s expression remained unreadable.

“Mira.”

“No.”

“You’re creating a scene.”

“You created it by coming here.”

Several students had already taken out their phones.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

“She’s arguing with him.”

“Does she know who he is?”

Aarav stepped closer.

“You have thirty seconds.”

“To do what?”

“To get in the car.”

“Or what?”

His voice became quieter.

“Don’t test me.”

Mira felt anger rise inside her.

“I’m not one of your employees.”

“No.”

“I’m not someone you can order around.”

“I know.”

“Then stop acting like you own me.”

The words echoed across the silent courtyard.

For a brief moment, Aarav’s jaw tightened.

Then he did something unexpected.

He turned around.

“Five minutes,” he said without looking back.

He walked back to the car and waited.

Riya stared at Mira in disbelief.

“He actually listened to you.”

Mira looked equally surprised.

“I don’t think he’s used to hearing ‘no.’”

Five minutes later, she got into the SUV.

The drive back was silent.

When they entered the mansion, Aarav spoke without turning toward her.

“Don’t stay behind again.”

“You embarrassed me.”

“I protected you.”

“From what?”

“Attention.”

“I can handle attention.”

“You don’t understand the kind of people who watch my life.”

She looked at him carefully.

For the first time, his voice didn’t sound controlling.

It sounded… tired.

“I don’t need your protection,” she said more softly.

Aarav looked out the window.

“You will.”

Mira didn’t answer.

She still hated him.

She still wanted to leave that house forever.

But for the first time, she wondered whether the walls around Aarav Malhotra were keeping other people out—

or keeping him trapped inside them.

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