Asra blinked up at him in surprise, still standing close to his tall frame, her jhumkas swaying gently.
Ather looked down at her for a long moment — at her hopeful eyes, the pretty outfit she had chosen, and the way she was waiting for his approval like an excited child. Something shifted in his cold expression.
“Okay,” he said, voice deep but surprisingly calm. “Let’s go to the mall.”
Asra’s eyes widened like saucers. “Mall…? Really, Sir?” She couldn’t hide her excitement. A bright smile broke across her face as she bounced on her toes. “Like… actual mall? With shops and everything?”
Ather nodded once, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. “Yes. Go get a small purse or whatever you need. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
Asra let out a small, happy squeal — completely forgetting her earlier “I hate you” declarations — and rushed upstairs to grab a cute sling bag. Her long skirt flowed behind her as she ran. For the first time in weeks, she felt something close to normal teenage joy.
Exactly ten minutes later, she came back down, slightly out of breath but glowing. Ather was already waiting near the entrance, hands in his pockets, looking impossibly handsome and dangerous in his black suit.
He gave her a quick once-over, then took her small hand in his much larger one without a word. As they walked toward the car, Asra kept glancing up at him shyly.
“Sir… are you really taking me out?” she asked softly, still sounding like a child who couldn’t believe her father was giving her a treat. “I thought… I wasn’t allowed to go outside much.”
Ather opened the door of his luxurious Maybach for her and helped her settle in before sliding into the seat beside her.
“You’re with me,” he replied simply, as if that answered everything. “No one will dare touch what’s mine.”
The drive to the city’s biggest luxury mall was quiet, but Asra kept stealing glances at him, her jhumkas tinkling every time she moved her head. She was nervous, excited, and a little scared all at once.
When they reached the mall, Ather parked in the private VIP area. As soon as they stepped out, two of his security men discreetly followed at a distance.
Asra looked around with sparkling eyes, clutching Ather’s arm tightly.
“Sir… can we go to the clothing stores? And maybe the accessories section? Oh! And ice cream?” she asked rapidly, her talkative nature coming back full force.
Ather looked down at her, his expression serious but his hand gently squeezing hers.
“Anywhere you want, meri bacchi,” he said quietly. “But stay close to me. Always.”
Asra nodded happily and leaned her head against his arm for a second, feeling strangely safe despite the dangerous man beside her.
For the first time, the cold, ruthless Ather Chakrabortyy was taking his young wife out on something that almost felt like a normal date.
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