Aanya's smile dropped the moment her eyes met Aryan's.
Her heart skipped. Her throat went dry.
He was standing there, hands in his pockets, face unreadable, his gaze sharp.
He slowly stepped forward.
Aanya swallowed.
"Now I'm done… he'll definitely kill me for sure," she whispered under her breath.
Rahul heard it but stayed silent.
Aryan came near to Rahul and asked,"where is she supported to be right now?"
Before Rahul could answer, Aanya said Mr. Aryan actually....
"I wasn't talking to you," he said coldly, eyes still locked on Rahul.
Aanya froze.
Aryan's jaw clenched. "Rahul, where is she supposed to be right now?"
Rahul hesitated. "Sir… the waiting room."
"And where is she now?" Aryan asked, a dangerous calm in his tone.
Rahul swallowed. "At the working area, sir… but actually—"
Aryan's voice thundered.
"She. Is. Not. Supposed. To. Be. Here!"
Rahul flinched as Aryan cut him off.
Aanya tried to speak. "Mr. Aryan, actually I was the one who—"
Aryan's eyes snapped to her.
"I SAID I'm not talking to you," he barked, his voice loud and harsh.
Everyone in the room went completely silent.
Aryan turned to the employees.
"Since no one seems to understand rules anymore…" he paused, voice colder than ever,
"…everyone will work an additional two hours today."
Gasps filled the room.
Faces turned pale.
Aanya stood frozen.
What…? Because of me?
Aryan turned and walked away.
"Mr. Aryan—" she called out, following him.
"Bring your bag. We're leaving," he snapped.
"But—"
"I SAID bring your bag!"
His tone ended the conversation.
Tears welled up in Aanya's eyes. She turned, picked up her bag quietly, and followed him.
---
🌒 Later, at home…
Aryan stormed inside. Aanya followed, chest heavy with emotion.
"Mr. Aryan!" she shouted from behind. He turned.
"What did you just do?!" she asked, her voice trembling.
He raised a brow. "What did I do?"
"You really don't see anything wrong? Why did you make your team work extra two hours?"
"Because I'm the boss. I can make any decision I want."
Aanya stepped closer, her eyes glistening.
"Oh please, stop pretending. Why can't you admit you punished them just because you couldn't punish me?"
Aryan's mother and Prerna entered the hallway, worried.
Aryan scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Aanya's voice cracked. "Don't lie, Mr. Aryan! You couldn't take a harmless joke so instead you took it out on your innocent team!"
"It's not like that," Aryan muttered.
"Then what is it?!" she cried.
"Why are you punishing them when it was me who cracked those jokes? I made everyone laugh for five minutes, and that hurt your pride so much?"
Aryan said nothing.
"You know what, Mr. Aryan?" she continued, eyes burning with anger.
"You don't know how to be a boss. You think being strict and feared earns respect, but no—it builds silence and fear, not loyalty."
He looked at her, but didn't interrupt.
"I only wanted to bring a smile to their faces. I didn't mean to cross a line. But you… you made me feel guilty. You turned that smile into shame."
Aryan's fists clench.
"I told you already. I have my reasons."
"What reasons, Mr. Aryan?" she challenges. "Tell me! What reason was big enough to make your entire team suffer?"
He stays silent.
"Fine. Then let me tell you the reason."
"You wanted to humiliate me in front of Rahul and the others."
Aryan's eyes snap toward her. "Just shut up, Aanya."
She takes a step forward.
"Why should I?! What is it now? You're angry because I said Rahul's name again?"
Aryan shouts, louder this time:
"YES! STOP IT! That's ENOUGH! Stop calling him 'Rahul' like you know him for years. You're acting like he's your best friend!"
Aanya stares at him, stunned—then, brokenly but firmly:
"Yes, Mr. Aryan. I'm calling him Rahul because he treated me like a friend.
Because unlike you, not everyone avoids friendship like it's a disease. Not everyone acts cold and heartless like you do!"
"Not everyone is like you, Mr. Aryan—who doesn't value people, emotions, or friendship at all!"
Aryan exploded. "Just shut up, Aanya!"
His mother and Prerna flinched.
Aanya stood still.
"Why should I? So you can keep controlling everything? No thank you."
Aryan's voice grew even louder.
"This is my house. And I don't need to be questioned by a guest."
Aanya stood silent for a second, stunned.
"Guest…" she whispered, broken.
"Yes," Aryan continued. "If you want to stay here, you will behave accordingly. You have no right to argue with me."
Aanya looked straight into his eyes.
And then she turned.
"Understood," she said bitterly.
She walked upstairs, her steps heavy, and slammed the door shut behind her.
Aryan didn't turn around.
He just stood there, fists clenched, breath shallow.
His mother looked at him in disbelief.
"Aryan… what are you doing to her?"
He still didn't answer.
---
⭐ End of Chapter 19