AARVI: His Forced Wife

CONTINUE

Yuvan had reached Pragya.

"Aunty, you called me?" he asked.

Pragya blinked at him, utterly confused.
"No beta, I didn't. Why?"

And in that second, it clicked for Yuvan.

He looked over his shoulder-
Vivan helping Aarvi onto the horse, standing closer than necessary, holding her arm securely.

"Oh," he thought, a slow smirk spreading across his face.
"So that's why aunty was calling me."

He quickly shook his head, covering it up.
"Nothing, aunty. Maybe I misheard."

Pragya nodded, and Yuvan walked toward his own horse, mounting in one smooth, practiced motion-as if he did it every day.

Aarvi had finally settled on the horse, but the moment it shifted forward-

She panicked.

Her hands flew to the saddle, grip slipping. Her foot wobbled in the stirrup.

"I-I don't want to ride," she stammered, leaning forward like she might jump down. "Please, let me get down-"

"Aarvi, stop," Vivan said quickly, stepping closer, voice tight with concern. "You'll fall."

Her breathing went uneven, fear taking over.

Yuvan tried gently, "Hey, it's okay. Even I was terrified at first. But it becomes fun, trust me-"

But she wasn't listening.

Vedant added, "Bhabhi, trust me, horse rides are the best-"

Nothing reached her.
Her fear was louder than all of them.

And then-

"Okay. I won't ride."

His voice silenced everyone.

Vivan loves horse riding.
He was the one who suggested the ride in the first place.

But he declining it? Because Aarvi was scared.

And suddenly, that made complete sense.

Vivan stepped closer to her horse, eyes completely on her.

"I'll walk beside you the entire time," he said firmly. "Every second. I'm not going anywhere. Okay?"

Aarvi looked at him, her panic halting just enough to hear him.
Everyone else stared too-surprised.

He softened his tone further.

"Aarvi," he said quietly, steadying his hold on the saddle, "trust me. I'll never let you fall."

She didn't know why-
why those words from him made her breath steady,
why her heart slowed from sprinting to a manageable beat,
why her head nodded before she even processed it.

But she nodded.

And Vivan's relief showed in the small smile that slipped out.

As her horse began moving slowly, her panic sparked again-
so Vivan instantly placed one hand near the saddle.

Not touching her.
Just close.
As if he was ready to catch her the moment she even leaned wrong.

He watched her carefully. Every tiny flinch. Every shift.

The guide laughed lightly.
"Sir, you look more scared than madam."

Vedant burst out laughing.

Vivan shot him a death glare-
but didn't move his hand even an inch away from her saddle.