Aanya stood frozen, her eyes wide. Completely shocked, she suddenly ran forward and hugged Aryan tightly.
Mr. Aryan…" she wishpered in a scared voice.
Aryan stiffened — his heartbeat quickened, loud enough for her to hear.
Aanya, realizing how close she was, slowly pulled away, her checks warm. She looked at him nervously.
"Are you okay, Mr. Aryan?"
Aryan blinked, lost for a moment, then stammered, "H-huh? Yeah… I'm fine."
Then he frowned. "Wait. Why were you shouting like that?"
Aanya paused, realizing how it must've looked. "Uh… Mr. Aryan, I think someone was here. I heard something… a sound."
"A noise?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Mr. Aryan! Some weird noise," she said dramatically, glancing around. " Maybe… a ghost?"
Aryan gave her a look. "A ghost? Really?"
Before he could continue, the sound came again.
Aanya gasped. "Mr Aryan! See? It's coming again — from this side! Let's go!" she said, clutching his arm.
Aryan looked behind her, holding back a laugh. "Miss Aanya," he said calmly, "could you please… look behind you?"
Aanya's eyes widened. "What? Mr. Aryan, did you see it? What is it?"
"First, turn around," he said, trying not to smile.
"But Mr. Aryan, I'm scared…" she murmured — then froze. She heard breathing sounds, low and steady… like a dog's.
Slowly, she turned around — and sighed in shock.
"Max! It's you?" she said, half-relieved, half-embarrassed.
Turning back to Aryan, she laughed awkwardly. "I completely forgot about Max, Mr. Aryan!"
Bending down, she petted him. "Max, why are you roaming around this late at night? You scared me to death! Look!"
Aryan tried to hide his smile but failed. His eyes softened as he watched her laugh.
But a moment later, the smile faded and his tone turned serious.
"By the way… what are you doing here so late at night?" he asked, folding his arms.
Aanya stopped laughing instantly. She stood up straight, trying to look normal.
"Well, Mr. Aryan, I… I was just—" she paused, her eyes narrowing a little.
"Actually, what are you doing here, Mr. Aryan? You answer first."
Aryan raised an eyebrow.
"I came because I heard your shout."
Aanya nodded quickly, "Oh… right."
"But," Aryan added, looking at her sharply, "what are you doing outside my room?"
Aanya frowned. "Outside… your room?"
She pointed at the hallway. "Mr. Aryan, I was in the hall. You came and—"
Then she looked to her side… and realized she was literally standing right in front of his bedroom door.
Her eyes widened.
Aanya laughed awkwardly, scratching her head.
"Uh… I-I got scared and just… ran, Mr. Aryan. I didn't realize I ended up here."
Aryan exhaled sharply.
What were you even doing in the hall?"
Aanya shrugged lightly.
"Well, Mr. Aryan… you know… I couldn't sleep. So I thought of going out for a walk."
Aryan's face froze. He stared at her as if she had said the most dangerous thing on earth.
Aanya continued casually, "Then after I thought I saw a ghost—"
"Going out?" Aryan cut her off, still in shock.
"At this time?"
"Yes, Mr. Aryan," she replied calmly. "For a walk."
Aryan's expression changed instantly—anger mixed with disbelief.
"Aanya, are you stupid? Do you know what time it is? And you want to go for a walk? Alone?"
Aanya blinked at him innocently.
"Yes, Mr. Aryan, I know the time. And I'm just going for a walk… why are you being so serious?"
Aryan just stared at her.
Aanya folded her arms.
"Well, if you want to come, you can come."
"NO!" Aryan snapped immediately.
"I don't want to come because you are not going."
Aanya looked at him, shocked.
"Wait, what? Mr. Aryan, if you don't want to come then don't! Why are you stopping me?"
Aryan replied firmly,
"Because this time is for sleeping, not for walking."
Aanya rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Mr. Aryan! I know this time is for sleeping, and I'm not able to sleep. That's why I want a walk.
By the way… why were you not sleeping?
Looks like even you weren't able to sleep."
Aryan went silent.
Then he said, his voice low and final,
"Aanya… you are not going for a walk. And that's final."
Aanya looked at him with equal seriousness.
"Mr. Aryan, I'm not here for your permission. I want to go, and I will go.
If you want to come, then come. If not, just don't say anything."
Aryan's jaw tightened as he stared at her.
Aanya lifted her chin.
"Anyway, I'm not alone. Max is also coming. So… I'm leaving."
She turned and walked away.
Aryan watched her going, his eyes widening slightly.
"This girl…" he muttered under his breath,
"is so stubborn."
And he followed her.
Max trotted happily ahead of them, while Aanya and Aryan walked side by side in the quiet night.
Aanya glanced at Aryan from the corner of her eye.
Just seeing him next to her… her heart warmed.
A small blush crept onto her cheeks before she could stop it.
Aryan caught her smiling.
"Why are you smiling?" he asked, brows raising slightly.
Aanya jerked her head up.
"W–What? Me? I'm not smiling, Mr. Aryan!"
He stared at her with a confused, suspicious look.
Aanya quickly cleared her throat.
"Well… actually… Mr. Aryan, I really like night walks. I mean—I've only ever seen them in dramas or serials… where the hero and heroine walk together…"
Aryan turned his head instantly.
Her words hit him.
Aanya panicked and corrected herself, waving her hands.
"I-I mean! Even friends walk like this.
I'm just saying… this is my first time. That's why I'm feeling so happy."
She looked up at him shyly and smiled.
For a moment, Aryan forgot how to breathe.
Then, without meaning to, he smiled back.
Aanya kicked a tiny stone on the path, then glanced up at him casually.
"Mr. Aryan… you don't watch dramas or serials, right?"
Aryan shook his head. "No. Not really."
"Hm…" Aanya nodded. "I guessed that."
They walked a few more steps. The night breeze rustled the trees.
Then Aanya spoke again—more softly this time.
"Mr. Aryan… what are your future plans?"
Aryan looked at her, confused.
"Future plans?"
"Yes," she said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. "You know… you're 29. You must have thought about something, right? Like marriage… or… you know… all that."
Aryan's voice was calm, almost too calm.
"I haven't planned anything."
Aanya's smile faded.
Her heart sank for a second—but she didn't let him see.
After a moment, she tried again.
"Okay… but is there anything you want from your future partner? I mean… qualities? Appearance? Personality? Anything?"
Aryan didn't even think.
"No."
Aanya stopped speaking.
Her shoulders dropped slightly, and she looked down at the ground, feeling strangely hurt.
Aryan glanced at her from the corner of his eye, noticing the change.
Aryan asked back," Do you have any plans?"
Aanya brightened instantly, nodding excitedly.
"Yes, Mr. Aryan! Of course. I… I do have plans."
Aryan's head turned toward her.
Aanya took a deep breath.
"I want my life partner to be… nice. Someone who listens to me."
Aryan's mind flashed to that day in the office—
when she lectured him about not being strict with his employees…
and he actually listened.
Aanya continued softly,
"I want my life partner to protect me. Always."
Aryan remembered the moment he broke open the locked room to save her—
her tear-filled eyes
her trembling hands in his.
Aanya smiled to herself.
"I want him to know my favorites without me saying."
Aryan instantly remembered:
Her favorite ice cream.
Her favorite music.
Aanya added, "I want my life partner to be a little protective… maybe even jealous sometimes."
Aryan blinked.
The image of Suraj talking to her flashed through his mind—
and the strange fire that had burned in his chest that day.
she kept talking,
unaware that Aryan had gone completely silent. His mind drifted away as her words repeated in his head.
Why am I thinking… she's talking about me?
He swallowed hard, trying to shake the thought away, but the feeling only grew stronger.
And last… but not the least…"
Aanya stopped walking.
Aryan stopped too.
They turned and looked at each other.
Her voice trembled.
Her eyes softened.
"…I want him to love me."
For a moment, Aryan forgot to breathe. Something in her eyes, soft and glowing under the streetlight, pulled him in. He was lost.
Aanya noticed his stare and gave a tiny smile. That smile broke whatever trance he was in.
She quickly turned away, and Aryan blinked, snapping back. He cleared his throat and also turned forward. They continued walking side by side, Max's tiny footsteps tapping between them.
After a few seconds, Aryan finally spoke, trying to sound casual even as his heartbeat felt anything but.
"You… you said so many things," he murmured. "I hope you find someone like that."
Aanya glanced at him, her eyes softening, a warmth spreading through her chest.
I wasn't talking about someone else, Mr. Aryan, she thought silently.
I hope one day you realise… it's you.
To be continued...
End Of Chapter 47.