**Chapter 10: *The Man Behind the Smile***
The apartment had been quiet for two days. Not just normal silence—but a loaded, tight-lipped tension. Like a thread pulled taut, ready to snap.
Aanya didn't text Raghav again. She deleted his contact. Deleted the chat.
But the damage had been done.
Arjun hadn't touched her. Not even a brush of his hand across her back as he passed by. He ate separately. Left early. Came back late. Spoke only when necessary.
But his eyes?
His eyes said everything.
He was angry.
He was hurt.
He was… afraid.
***
Aanya tried studying, but nothing stuck. Mock test scores dropped. Her head buzzed with guilt, resentment, and confusion.
She found herself watching the clock again.
Waiting.
And when the door finally opened at 8:47 PM that night, she didn't even hesitate.
"Arjun," she said, standing as he walked in.
He didn't look at her.
She stepped forward. "Can we talk?"
He walked past her, dropped his laptop bag, and headed toward the fridge.
"Please."
He paused.
And that's when the doorbell rang.
They both froze.
Aanya glanced at him, but his expression was unreadable.
She opened the door.
And her heart sank.
"Hi, Aanya."
It was Shruti. Wearing lipstick. Holding a bottle of wine.
She breezed in like she owned the place.
"I figured it's been forever since we had a sibling catch-up."
Aanya blinked. "You texted me this morning saying you were busy all week—"
Shruti smiled sweetly. "Plans changed."
Arjun was still by the fridge, frozen.
Shruti turned to him. "Hi, jiju. Long day?"
Arjun didn't smile. "Shruti."
He nodded once, then walked into the bedroom and shut the door without another word.
Aanya didn't miss the flicker of amusement in Shruti's eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Aanya asked, arms crossed.
Shruti plopped on the couch. "Checking in on my brother-in-law. He seems… tense."
"Why are you really here?"
Shruti leaned back. "I figured you could use a reminder that not all women get a man like him."
Aanya frowned.
"You complain," Shruti continued, "but you have no idea what it's like to want someone who doesn't look at you twice. He doesn't even smile at me anymore. Ever since the wedding."
The air went still.
"What are you saying?" Aanya asked slowly.
Shruti shrugged. "Just that… if I had what you have, I'd fight harder to keep it. Not throw it away for someone like Raghav."
Aanya's jaw tightened. "So that's what this is about."
Shruti's smile faltered, just slightly. "I'm just saying. You didn't even want the marriage. And yet, he's obsessed with you. Do you know how rare that is?"
Aanya stepped closer, voice low. "Leave."
Shruti blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I said, get out."
Shruti scoffed. "You're kicking me out?"
"Yes. And if you ever try to stir things between me and Arjun again, I won't be this polite."
For a beat, Shruti's expression twisted. Hurt. Then anger. Then something else—resentment.
She grabbed her purse and bottle.
"Fine. Enjoy your perfect possessive prince," she snapped, storming out and slamming the door.
***
Arjun stepped out five seconds later.
He'd heard it all.
"She still likes you," Aanya said quietly.
"I know," he replied.
"She came here to see if she could break something."
"I know that too."
"And you didn't stop her?"
His eyes locked with hers. "I wanted to see what *you'd* do."
Aanya swallowed. "And?"
"I'm still trying to decide if you're fighting for us or just… fighting."
She sat down, suddenly exhausted. "I deleted Raghav. That has to mean something."
"It does." He joined her on the couch. Not touching. Just close enough.
"But that doesn't fix the fear," he added. "You still run. You still stay quiet. You still think of leaving."
"I think of surviving," she whispered. "Every day."
He looked at her. "You think I don't?"
She turned her face to him.
And for the first time in days, they really saw each other.
Not as enemies.
Not as strangers.
But as two people—hurt, flawed, stuck in a marriage neither had chosen, but both were trying to survive.
"I hate that I want you to fight for me," she said.
He exhaled. "I hate that I don't know how to make you stay."
Then his hand reached for hers.
She let him hold it.
Only this time, she didn't pull away.
***
The next morning, a message popped up on her phone from an unknown number.
> *"You're making a mistake. I was never just a friend. And you knew that."* —Raghav
She stared at the screen.
Then pressed *block*.
And deleted it.
Without hesitation.
Arjun walked in minutes later, towel around his shoulders, hair wet from a shower.
He saw her face. "Everything okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Just… deleting the past."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't push.
She stepped toward him. "You said you don't need a perfect wife, right?"
"Right."
"I'm not even close."
His eyes softened. "Neither am I."
Then, like slow lightning, she reached up and brushed his damp hair back.
His breath caught.
"You don't have to win me overnight, Arjun. But don't stop trying."
And with that, she left for class.
And for the first time in days—
He smiled.
---
**[End of Chapter 10]**