Chapter 5: Threats and Tenderness

I rolled around on the bed, opened Practo to search for abortion info, and booked an appointment at a nearby hospital.

Swiping through reviews, comparing clinics like I was picking out a new lipstick shade—this is how city girls deal with big problems. Quiet, alone, online.

The appointment went through just as Arjun finished his shower.

I closed the app and opened my game, wanting to turn and look at him, but didn’t dare.

My mind was a mess.

After my game character died again, Arjun hugged me from behind.

He kissed my neck, making me squirm.

"Jaan, you peeked at me twelve times just now."

Was it that many?

I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I was just looking. Not just looking, actually—I want to kiss you too."

I kissed him.

Arjun was very kissable.

His lips were soft, a little cool.

The more we kissed, the hotter they got.

He liked me making the first move, then he’d take over.

He kissed fiercely.

I gazed at him, tracing his brows and eyes with my fingertips.

Mm, so handsome. Great body too.

With parents like us, the kid would be gorgeous, right?

Just the thought made me shiver—imagine a little version of us running around, wreaking havoc.

I leaned against his chest, panting. "What do you think about illegitimate children?"

He frowned, face full of disgust. "I hate them."

His words stung. Like someone flicking a match at a leaky gas pipe—boom, everything inside me burned.

Oh.

Better not think about the baby.

I’m an illegitimate child myself.

My kid would be the illegitimate child of an illegitimate child.

He’d hate it to death.

I mused, "What if you had an illegitimate child?"

"I wouldn’t."

I pressed, "But what if you did?"

He grabbed my wrist, pinning it above my head.

"Get rid of it."

I was curious. "How would you do that?"

He flicked away imaginary dust from his shirt, his eyes cold, and gave a half-smile that never touched his eyes. "Make the mother and child disappear together."

Before I could even process that, he ripped open my night suit.

His voice was husky: "Jaan, I don’t like these hypotheticals."

Arjun pinched my chin and kissed me again, biting my lips in a way that left me dizzy.

"If you keep making up scenarios, I’ll kill you."

Me:

Is he a psycho? Always threatening to kill me.

I blanked out. Something felt off.

"Wait, wait..."

Where was his hand going...

I remembered—pregnant women can’t do this.

I looked up at him, pitiful: "I’m not feeling well today. Can we do something else?"

The bedroom carpet was super soft.

I got out of bed, half-kneeling on the carpet, looking up at him.

But Arjun picked me up, frowning as he touched my forehead. "Where do you feel bad?"

He glanced at the date and pulled me into his arms.

"Your period’s late this month. Is your stomach uncomfortable?" He wrapped me in a blanket. "I’ll get you some Crocin."

I stopped him.

"No, no, it’s not pain."

He stared at me for a long time, making sure I wasn’t hurting, before finally giving up on the medicine.

His warm hand massaged my belly.

Even though I didn’t have cramps, it felt nice.

I got sleepy and asked, "Don’t you want me to help you?"

He bit my ear, a little harder than usual.

"If you feel bad, just sleep. Don’t be greedy."

Me: ...

I’m not greedy.

Don’t talk nonsense.