Unlawfully yours - Chapter 14: Chapter 14
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Ishani tossed and turned in the unfamiliar bed, her mind racing. Aarav’s words still echoed in her head.
"Main seekh raha hoon."
The way he had said it, the way his voice had dropped just a little—it wasn’t just about romance. He was learning her. Watching her. Reading her in ways that no one else ever had.
She sighed, pulling the blanket over herself. Damn him for making her think about this when they were supposed to be focusing on the case.
The apartment was silent, except for the distant hum of the city outside. Just as she was about to drift off, a noise from the living room made her sit up.
She slipped out of bed, padding toward the door.
Aarav was still awake.
He stood by the window, staring at the night sky, his phone in hand. The glow from the screen cast sharp shadows on his face, highlighting his tense jaw and furrowed brows.
For the first time, he looked… restless.
“Tum soye nahi?” she asked softly. (“You didn’t sleep?”)
Aarav didn’t turn. “Tum bhi toh jaag rahi ho.” (“You’re awake too.”)
She stepped closer, hugging herself. “Kuch soch rahe ho?” (“Thinking about something?”)
Aarav finally looked at her. His gaze was unreadable. “Hamesha.” (“Always.”)
There was something different about him tonight. He wasn’t his usual cocky self, nor was he the cold, calculated lawyer she was used to.
Ishani hesitated before stepping beside him. “Aarav… tu thoda relax bhi kar sakta hai.” (“Aarav… you can relax sometimes.”)
Aarav huffed a small laugh. “Relax karne wale log survive nahi karte.” (“People who relax don’t survive.”)
Ishani frowned. “Tumhe hamesha itna defensive rehne ki zaroorat nahi hai.” (“You don’t always have to be this defensive.”)
Aarav turned fully toward her now, his eyes sharp. “Aur agar yeh meri survival ka tareeka hai?” (“And what if this is my way of surviving?”)
The room felt smaller suddenly. More charged.
Ishani swallowed. He wasn’t just talking about this case.
She didn’t break eye contact. “Phir bhi… kabhi toh kisi pe bharosa karna padega.” (“Still… at some point, you’ll have to trust someone.”)
Aarav’s gaze flickered down to her lips for just a second before meeting her eyes again.
“I do.”
Her heart stuttered. “Kispe?” (“On whom?”)
Aarav didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
The air between them shifted—heavy, electric. Ishani suddenly became very aware of how close they were standing, how the city lights outside reflected in his dark eyes, how his breathing was just a little heavier than before.
And then—his fingers brushed against hers.
A soft, fleeting touch. Barely there. But it sent a shiver up her spine.
Ishani’s breath hitched. She knew she should step back, should break the tension, should say something sarcastic to lighten the moment.
But she didn’t move.
Neither did he.
Aarav exhaled slowly. “Ishani—”
Before he could finish, a loud buzz broke through the silence.
Her phone.
The moment shattered.
Ishani blinked, stepping back as she grabbed her phone. A message flashed on the screen.
Unknown Number: You were warned.
Her blood ran cold.
Aarav saw the message over her shoulder, and just like that, the softness in his eyes disappeared—replaced by sheer, cold fury.
“Pack your things.” His voice was sharp, commanding.
Ishani looked at him, startled. “Kya?” (“What?”)
“You’re leaving the hostel tomorrow. You’re shifting to a flat.”
Ishani hesitated. “Aarav, tu overreact kar raha hai.” (“Aarav, you’re overreacting.”)
Aarav turned to her, his expression dark. “Overreact tab hota jab koi warning sirf ek baar aati.” (“It would be overreacting if it was just one warning.”)
Ishani hated that he was right.
She sighed. “Aur agar flat bhi safe nahi raha toh?” (“And what if even the flat isn’t safe?”)
Aarav’s jaw clenched. “Toh tu mere saath rahegi.” (“Then you’ll stay with me.”)
The words hung between them, heavy, charged.
Ishani felt something warm spread through her chest. Not fear. Not anxiety. Something else.
She bit her lip, tilting her head. “Tu mujhe apne saath rakhne ke bahane dhoond raha hai, hai na?” (“You’re just looking for excuses to keep me with you, aren’t you?”)
Aarav smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes—only determination.
“Main sirf ye ensure kar raha hoon ki tu safe rahe.” (“I’m just making sure you stay safe.”)
Ishani raised an eyebrow. “Aur agar mujhe tujhe rokna ho?” (“And what if I want to stop you?”)
Aarav stepped closer, voice dropping. “Phir koshish kar ke dekh.” (“Then try and stop me.”)
Ishani’s breath caught.
"Main seekh raha hoon."
The way he had said it, the way his voice had dropped just a little—it wasn’t just about romance. He was learning her. Watching her. Reading her in ways that no one else ever had.
She sighed, pulling the blanket over herself. Damn him for making her think about this when they were supposed to be focusing on the case.
The apartment was silent, except for the distant hum of the city outside. Just as she was about to drift off, a noise from the living room made her sit up.
She slipped out of bed, padding toward the door.
Aarav was still awake.
He stood by the window, staring at the night sky, his phone in hand. The glow from the screen cast sharp shadows on his face, highlighting his tense jaw and furrowed brows.
For the first time, he looked… restless.
“Tum soye nahi?” she asked softly. (“You didn’t sleep?”)
Aarav didn’t turn. “Tum bhi toh jaag rahi ho.” (“You’re awake too.”)
She stepped closer, hugging herself. “Kuch soch rahe ho?” (“Thinking about something?”)
Aarav finally looked at her. His gaze was unreadable. “Hamesha.” (“Always.”)
There was something different about him tonight. He wasn’t his usual cocky self, nor was he the cold, calculated lawyer she was used to.
Ishani hesitated before stepping beside him. “Aarav… tu thoda relax bhi kar sakta hai.” (“Aarav… you can relax sometimes.”)
Aarav huffed a small laugh. “Relax karne wale log survive nahi karte.” (“People who relax don’t survive.”)
Ishani frowned. “Tumhe hamesha itna defensive rehne ki zaroorat nahi hai.” (“You don’t always have to be this defensive.”)
Aarav turned fully toward her now, his eyes sharp. “Aur agar yeh meri survival ka tareeka hai?” (“And what if this is my way of surviving?”)
The room felt smaller suddenly. More charged.
Ishani swallowed. He wasn’t just talking about this case.
She didn’t break eye contact. “Phir bhi… kabhi toh kisi pe bharosa karna padega.” (“Still… at some point, you’ll have to trust someone.”)
Aarav’s gaze flickered down to her lips for just a second before meeting her eyes again.
“I do.”
Her heart stuttered. “Kispe?” (“On whom?”)
Aarav didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
The air between them shifted—heavy, electric. Ishani suddenly became very aware of how close they were standing, how the city lights outside reflected in his dark eyes, how his breathing was just a little heavier than before.
And then—his fingers brushed against hers.
A soft, fleeting touch. Barely there. But it sent a shiver up her spine.
Ishani’s breath hitched. She knew she should step back, should break the tension, should say something sarcastic to lighten the moment.
But she didn’t move.
Neither did he.
Aarav exhaled slowly. “Ishani—”
Before he could finish, a loud buzz broke through the silence.
Her phone.
The moment shattered.
Ishani blinked, stepping back as she grabbed her phone. A message flashed on the screen.
Unknown Number: You were warned.
Her blood ran cold.
Aarav saw the message over her shoulder, and just like that, the softness in his eyes disappeared—replaced by sheer, cold fury.
“Pack your things.” His voice was sharp, commanding.
Ishani looked at him, startled. “Kya?” (“What?”)
“You’re leaving the hostel tomorrow. You’re shifting to a flat.”
Ishani hesitated. “Aarav, tu overreact kar raha hai.” (“Aarav, you’re overreacting.”)
Aarav turned to her, his expression dark. “Overreact tab hota jab koi warning sirf ek baar aati.” (“It would be overreacting if it was just one warning.”)
Ishani hated that he was right.
She sighed. “Aur agar flat bhi safe nahi raha toh?” (“And what if even the flat isn’t safe?”)
Aarav’s jaw clenched. “Toh tu mere saath rahegi.” (“Then you’ll stay with me.”)
The words hung between them, heavy, charged.
Ishani felt something warm spread through her chest. Not fear. Not anxiety. Something else.
She bit her lip, tilting her head. “Tu mujhe apne saath rakhne ke bahane dhoond raha hai, hai na?” (“You’re just looking for excuses to keep me with you, aren’t you?”)
Aarav smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes—only determination.
“Main sirf ye ensure kar raha hoon ki tu safe rahe.” (“I’m just making sure you stay safe.”)
Ishani raised an eyebrow. “Aur agar mujhe tujhe rokna ho?” (“And what if I want to stop you?”)
Aarav stepped closer, voice dropping. “Phir koshish kar ke dekh.” (“Then try and stop me.”)
Ishani’s breath caught.
End of Unlawfully yours Chapter 14. Continue reading Chapter 15 or return to Unlawfully yours book page.