Unlawfully yours - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

The night had settled into a hushed silence, broken only by the distant hum of the city. Aarav and Ishani remained in the penthouse, the air between them charged with something neither of them had dared to name until now.
The weight of Aarav’s words still lingered. "If everything ended today, the first thing I’d do is marry you."
Ishani’s heartbeat was erratic, her fingers gripping the fabric of her sweater as she processed what had just happened. Was he serious? Had he really just said that?
“Aarav…” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
He tilted his head, his intense gaze fixed on her. “Kya?” ("What?")
She swallowed, trying to find the right words. “Tu aise kaise keh sakta hai? Shaadi? Yeh sab toh…” ("How can you just say something like that? Marriage? This is all...")
Aarav leaned closer, resting his arm along the back of the couch, effectively caging her in. “Sach hai.” ("It's true.") His voice was steady, calm in a way that made her nervous. “Main jo bhi karta hoon, soch samajh ke karta hoon, Ishani. Aur tere saath jo hai, woh mazak nahi hai.” ("Everything I do, I do with thought, Ishani. And what’s between us—it’s not a joke.")
Ishani exhaled shakily, suddenly hyper-aware of the heat radiating from him. The air between them was thick, suffocating yet electric. She felt her resolve slipping, the wall she had built around herself crumbling under the weight of his presence.
Aarav’s fingers brushed against her cheek, featherlight but enough to send a shiver down her spine. His touch was deliberate, slow—like he was memorizing every detail.
“Tu kab tak mujhse bhaagti rahegi?” he murmured. ("How long will you keep running from me?")
Ishani’s breath hitched. “Main… main nahi bhaag rahi…” ("I... I'm not running...")
Aarav’s smirk was almost lazy, but his eyes told a different story—dark, hungry, and intense. “Toh fir ruk kyun nahi jaati?” ("Then why don’t you stop?")
Her resolve snapped.
Before she could overthink, before she could let fear take over, she moved.
She grabbed his collar and pulled him down, crashing her lips against his.
Aarav froze for a split second, as if caught off guard, before responding with equal, if not more, intensity.
His hand slid behind her neck, his fingers threading through her hair as he deepened the kiss. His other hand gripped her waist, pulling her onto his lap, eliminating any distance between them.
Ishani gasped against his lips, and Aarav took full advantage, tilting his head, claiming her with an urgency that sent fire through her veins.
She clung to him, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as he kissed her like she was the only thing keeping him alive. It was desperate, raw, a silent confession of everything they had left unsaid.
Aarav’s lips moved to her jaw, leaving slow, lingering kisses, his breath warm against her skin. Ishani felt lightheaded, her body betraying her as she tilted her head back, giving him more access.
“Aarav…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers, his breathing uneven. “Bol.” ("Say it.")
Ishani opened her eyes, getting lost in the storm swirling in his.
“Main tere bina nahi reh sakti.” ("I can’t live without you.")
Aarav’s smirk returned, but this time, it was softer. More dangerous. “Mujhe pata hai.” ("I know.")
And then, he kissed her again—slower this time, deeper, as if sealing a promise.
Ishani didn’t care about the world outside this moment. All she knew was him.
And she didn’t want it to end.
The first rays of sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a golden glow inside the penthouse. Ishani stirred, her mind still clouded with sleep and the remnants of last night’s confessions.
Her fingers grazed against something warm, and she blinked, realizing she was still curled up against Aarav on the couch. His arm was draped protectively around her, his grip firm even in sleep.
For a moment, she let herself take it in. The rise and fall of his chest, the steady rhythm of his breathing, the way his jaw relaxed when he wasn’t guarded.
He looked peaceful—something she rarely saw in him.
Ishani reached out, lightly tracing a finger along his jawline. She wasn’t sure what they had stepped into last night, but she knew one thing for certain—there was no going back now.
Aarav shifted, his eyes fluttering open. The moment he saw her, his lips curled into a lazy smirk. “Subah ho gayi?” ("Morning already?")
Ishani rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. “Haan, aur tujhe jaane ka mann nahi kar raha, hai na?” ("Yeah, and you don’t feel like leaving, do you?")
Aarav stretched, his arm tightening around her for a brief moment before he let go. “Nahi.” ("No.") He sat up, running a hand through his hair. “Lekin humein jaana hoga.” ("But we have to.")
Reality hit her like a cold splash of water. They were still in the middle of a war.
Ishani sighed. “Toh ab kya?” ("So now what?")
Aarav’s expression turned serious. “Ab Rudra Seth humein dhundhne wala hai.” ("Now, Rudra Seth is going to come looking for us.")
She frowned. “Tu itna pakka kaise hai?” ("How are you so sure?")
Aarav leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Kyuki maine use invitation bhej diya hai.” ("Because I already sent him an invitation.")
Ishani’s eyes widened. “Aarav, tu pagal hai?!” ("Aarav, are you crazy?!")
Aarav chuckled. “Haan. Tere liye.” ("Yeah. For you.")
Ishani groaned, rubbing her temples. “Mujhe nahi pata tha ki pyaar mein log apni akal kho dete hain.” ("I didn’t know love made people lose their minds.")
Aarav smirked, leaning in close. “Pyaar nahi, junoon.” ("Not love, obsession.")
Her breath caught at the intensity in his gaze. Aarav Malhotra was a man impossible to resist.
And now, she wasn’t sure if she even wanted to.