I quickly finished my bath, my mind still swirling with Rohan's words. Aryan is hiding something? The idea itself felt unsettling, almost unreal. For the last few weeks, things had been unusually calm between us… maybe too calm.
I came out of the bathroom, wiping my hair with a towel. Aryan was still sitting on the bed, sipping his coffee while scrolling through something on his phone. He looked up the moment I stepped out.
Aryan: "You took quite some time. Everything alright?"
I forced a smile.
I: "Yeah… just feeling a bit tired lately."
He nodded, but his eyes stayed on me for a few seconds longer than normal—as if he was trying to read something from my face. That only made my heartbeat quicken.
I walked to the dressing table and pretended to look for a cream so he wouldn't see the tension in my eyes.
I: "Honey, I'll just go out to buy some stuff for the project. I may be late for breakfast."
Aryan casually folded the newspaper.
Aryan: "Project? Weren't you supposed to start that next week?"
I froze for a second but immediately masked it.
I: "Yeah, but there's an update. The client wants an early outline. Nothing major."
Aryan gave a slow nod—but not the normal one.
It was the type of nod people give when they're pretending to agree but mentally noting every word.
I grabbed my phone and bag.
I: "I'll be back soon."
Aryan: "Do you need the car?"
I: "No, no. I'm fine. I'll just walk."
He stared at me again—not suspiciously, but thoughtfully.
Almost as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
I walked out of the house, each step making me more certain that Rohan hadn't imagined things.