Viraj Janaat Singh POV

I heard a soft but predictable knock on my office door. “Here she is,” I murmured to myself and said, “Come in.” My voice was calm and composed, and I made sure my words did not come across as rough as I used for others.

A girl peeks his head like he is entering some kind of detention center and comes inside, she was composed, a small smile on her lips. 

Her eyes were glad, no confusion in her steps, like she knew she belonged here.

My gaze remains steady, and I didn’t say a single word. Her eyes meet mine, and she has green eyes, deep green, maybe it’s near the color of seaweed. 

This is the first time I’m seeing her eye. I never saw her eyes before. 

Hairs are dark brown, not straight, but curly. These hairs symbolize her free spirit, who survives the storm. Her lips are as pink as porcelain and as shiny as a pink bulb. Maybe it’s the color of lipstick. But wait a minute, why are her lips looking so juicy?

Moving ahead, my eyes moved on her body, holy body, she had gained some weight. Good. She is looking like a girl, not a teenager. Now she has little curves, not much for my liking. No worries, I’ll make sure she puts on some more weight and all those curves. 

She is just a teenager, still a baby, still growing. 

She was wearing a black dress with thin straps, fitted from the chest and falling to her knees, and matching heels that went perfectly with the dress. A double-layered chain with small earrings. I was staring at her like a creep, without blinking. 

She was also looking at me, watching me. Did she find me handsome or not? 

Then she averted her eyes and looked here and there. I rose from the chair and approached the corner of my office, that especially made for this day only. 

Here, a table of two chairs with comfort was placed; there was a view of the garden. You can see all the students there; some were gossiping, some were studying, and a few were flirting. They were enjoying their college life. I pulled the chair for her, and she sat.

(her black dress)

(Double-layered chain)

I cleared my throat, momentarily thrown off, and I held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary. My eyes forget to blink, earlier and now also.

She seems nervous now, and then I slide a glass that was half filled with water, and she takes a small sip. 

Only one sip, just to wet her dry throat.

Then she took a long breath, not so long but longer than when she entered my office, but I noticed. She became the reason behind that phrase, “jo hota hai ache ke liye hota hai.” 

I was busy admiring her without blinking when her voice came. She said, “How are you?” In the response, I just nodded lightly. Her voice, I heard many times, but not from this close. 

“Have you had your breakfast?” I asked because I’m well aware of her habits. Yesterday, she also didn’t eat, and when her Dad asked, she ran upstairs. Yes, I was there in their guest room, because she is not coming to college, and I was tired of waiting. 

She just gave me a sheepish smile, and I got it that she didn’t have her breakfast. “Yes!! I had my juice,” she said, looking down at her lap. 

I averted my eyes from her and immediately grasped my phone to send a text. “I think I have to work hard on her eating habits. Juice is not enough; I’ll make sure she will eat a healthy meal promptly.”

Again, I tried to keep my voice calm and warm this time, “Do you know my name?”

With my question, she was taken aback by my directness. Her eyes start darting between my face and the same glass, from which she had had a sip earlier. She picked the glass again and took a small sip. Only one sip.

She gives me a warm smile, “Of course, it’s VIRAJ.” 

Holy crap, my name sounds like a sweet melody. 

I cock my brows towards her, encouraging her to repeat. She understood and said, “VIRAJ SINGH.” 

F*ck… f*ck… f*ck… 

Shut up! You pervert, man. 

She is just a baby, she is going to be twenty-one only, and you…

Stop acting like a libidinous teenager. 

She arched both eyebrows towards me, “Do you even know my name?” Mr. Viraj Singh. 

Stop it, Heaven, Yes, Heaven. That's what she brings into my life. I was burning my days at work, then she chose me. My name from her mouth, just ufff.

Certainly, I know your name, it’s Jannat for others, but for me, she is my Heaven. It's just how she made me feel on our first meet. She didn’t know when it was, but she made me scared, the first time in my life that I was scared that time.

“Did you have your breakfast?” she asked me this time. 

Before I open my lips, I hear a knock on my door. I rose from the chair and grabbed the food from the door. No one enters my personal office, not even a Leo, but she is the only exception. 

Coming back near the table, I placed the food tray in front of her. I take my seat in my chair in front of her and start my work, that was admiring her. 

She started trailing her eyes between me and the food. “Eat, it’s for you.” Again, my voice came across rough. I have to work on my tone with her before she builds a cold, jerk image in her mind.

I know what she was thinking, because in the tray there was her favorite sandwich filled with potato, and also the sauce. I know about her eating habits, which were not so healthy. 

She smiled sincerely and dipped the corner of the sandwich in the tomato sauce, and took the first bite, and I heard a mmm sound. 

She passed a foodgasm, when we consume tasty food, this sound escapes. And sandwiches are her non-negotiable food.

“This…sauce is yum…my, which brand is this? I had never tasted this before. Is this from any foreign brand?” She said while her chewing food.

I slightly shook my head at her cuteness, “It’s from a special chef you will meet soon. No talking while eating, eat peacefully,” and she immediately nodded. I can’t even describe my merriness to see her like this.

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Flashback: First Meet

My life took a complete turn when I first saw her in a hospital bed, lying like a lifeless body.

17 months, 10 days, when I saw her lying like a lifeless body on a hospital bed, she was caged between so many machines, and the beeping sound was audible in that room. That time, the rhythmic beeping of machines kept her alive.

She was lying still, surrounded by the soft sound of the machine, and her body looked tiny. That hospital bed swallowed her fragile frame like a stark. A lump formed in my throat, and my chest clenched painfully.

Without even realizing or hesitating, I made my way towards her bed. My heart was pounding like a drum, and I felt like I was caged between those machines.

 My heart was heavy with uncertain fear and helplessness, but I never felt like that before. I was not able to understand why I was feeling that way. I was feeling cold, too cold. Maybe this is called fear.

 A doctor entered with a nurse to check her condition, “Sorry to inform you, sir, her condition is very critical. We are trying our best to save her, but I must admit that saving her will be more than challenging. 

If this particular surgery does not succeed, then we have to consider open-heart surgery. A person, after that surgery, can only live a maximum of five to ten years. Her case is more critical; if she survives the open-heart surgery, we are sure she will not live more than five years.”

After hearing that, my jaw clenched. A sharp pain stabbed through my heart. “Do whatever it takes, I want you to save her at any cost. I will call the best heart surgeon in the world.” My words are sharp like a knife, and I didn’t know why I said that. 

The doctor nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “We don’t want to delay surgery, because every passing second is pushing her to death. This surgery should be done as soon as possible; the other option is very risky. There is another issue, sir. It’s about the golden blood; for surgery, we need that.” 

My full attention goes towards those words where he explained the criticalness of the situation. “Doctor, do your best till tomorrow, I’ll handle all the other things.” My assuring word made them leave and start their work.

Golden blood? 

She is just like a baby, small and fragile, lifeless, small, cold like ice, “Don’t worry, Baby, I’ll save you at any cost.” 

I called her BABY for the first time, because I didn’t know her name at that time. She was looking pale. Her whole body was wrapped in green hospital clothes. Even though two pipes were going through her soft lips, and one from her nose. Her body wrapped in wires, there was a sharp scent of medicine. 

It was the first time I had felt vulnerable. My own legs were feeling the weight of my body, so I sank into the chair beside her, and my fingers were trembling as I reached for her hand.

The stillness in the room was heavy, broken only by the persistent beep of the heart monitor. She lay there, unmoving. 

That monitor is taunting me. I gathered all my courage and just called her “Baby.” It was more like a whisper. 

And then a change. Her heart beat increased. I noticed. I held her hand tighter, feeling a subtle pressure in return. She could feel my presence; her heart was jumping, almost racing. It was like her body trusting me. She was unconscious, but her heart was responding to my touch. 

That was the moment I felt responsible and protective towards her. I would shield her, guard her from any harm. It was a vow made in the quiet of that room with her racing heart. 

Then, A tiny flicker, her fingers twitched beneath mine as if she was trying to hold me or maybe stopping me. 

That moment was little, barely noticeable, but I caught it. For the first time, a hope bloomed in my chest. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered and felt all the small movements from her hand pause. 

Before her, I had not believed in fate. Now, I wondered if she was the reason for my existence in this city. When my father gave me the responsibility of his legacy, QRZ, I thought I had lost myself.  My ambition had been simple: get back and gather all the pieces that were falling, and I did that; it took me three years from a fifteen percent share to get thirty-five percent shares. 

My eyes were stuck on her, and words slipped, “I’ll protect you at all costs.” I will be your shield and armor both. You will live a happy life, a life that you want.

My goal was just to get the college back. I even left my empire, a hidden empire, a hidden legacy. Then Leo decided to move here with the entire empire. 

She needs me. I felt in my heart she chose me, and my empire for her. She needs protection, and I’ll give that to her.

A protectiveness surged through me. It was as if I had been waiting for this moment, for her. Her subtle responses, the quickening heartbeat, her efforts to hold my hand. 

She must live, she must recover. There was no other option. I would not allow anything else. 

Then a little boy entered the room and held my fingers, “Can you save my baby sister, please?” I scooped him in my arms and nodded. At that moment, his tear-filled eyes started following. 

“Shh, you are a strong boy, going to be a young man, do not worry, I promise your baby sister will be fine. She will play with you, but you have to take care of her, never fighting with her.” The boy was little, maybe 10 or 12, but calling her baby sister. She is truly a baby for all people.

“Name?” I asked that little boy, I want to know the name of the girl who pierced inside me. 

“Chiku, my name is Chiku. What is your name?” he said. But I want to know her name, not yours, little boy. 

I cupped his face, “I want to know your baby sister's name.” He paused and then said, “Her name is Jannat.” 

“Janaat,” I called her name like some kind of prayer. 

He shows his little finger toward me, “pinky promise?”  I also link my little finger with his tiny finger. “Pinky promise.” 

My Heaven is going through hell now, but I’ll change that. Soon, very soon.

Flashback ends

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I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard her voice, “I’m full. It was delicious.” She said, Sliding that tray toward me. My mind was in the past, but my eyes saw just her face, how her lips parted a bit more than usual, so she could take a bigger bite. 

She looks so adorable. 

I also picked a piece of sandwich to eat, not before replying, “ I’m glad you approve of our college canteen food.” I was eating in silence; there was unspoken silence between us, but not an awkward one.

Between the food bites, “By the way, college started two weeks ago, and you have already skipped a good number of classes.”

She started ruffling her hand and her eyes moving left and right, finding some excuse, “I don’t know about it.” Liar, she is lying, she knew but didn’t want to come.

No worries, from now on, I’ll make sure she doesn’t skip any classes; she has to at least graduate. It’s not about the degree, it’s about the development. In college, your personality develops, and you find your passion. She was mumbling something, but it didn’t reach me. 

Then suddenly, “Are you married, Viraj?” 

No one ever asked this question directly, but she is different. My heaven is truly different and truly having guts.  

When I finished the piece in my mouth, “I’m going to.” Her eyes snapped to meet mine; she gave me a little glare but then switched to a normal expression. 

She passed a sheepish smile and her lips formed in an “O” shape, but she didn’t say anything else for a moment.

She turned her face away and started looking through the glass. She should look at me, not outside. 

“I thought you already had a kid.” She said, not looking at me, The piece of sandwich stuck in my throat and I coughed. Her question just stole my breath. 

What made her think like I had a kid?

Recovering my composure, I reached for a tissue and dabbed at my mouth. “I can’t have,” I replied with a casual tone, trying to keep my tone soft. 

Finally, her eyes met mine, and a flicker of confusion, not confusion but judgment. Her gaze was confused as I did my examination. She scanned me like some X-ray machine with fierce judgment. 

“It sounded wrong, VJ.” 

Composing myself from the sheer shock of her judgment, I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice soft, “I mean, I can’t have a baby without marrying a woman…. because my woman is still a baby.” I kept the latter words inside me. 

Her expression was telling me she got me wrong and judged me so hard with those big green eyes. This was our first time sharing a meal, a moment of building connection with her. But she had completely misinterpreted the situation. 

I have to be careful and transparent with my words. Otherwise… I saw the trailer today, on our first shared food. 

Again, she turned her face away and looked outside the window. I was constantly looking at her, “What is catching her attention?”

Then my eyes fell on her heart; her breathing was normal, gentle up and down. “Does her heart still remember me?” Always starts beating fast when I’m around. I want to hear her heartbeat. I want to check if her heart rhythm increases when I’m near her. Should I lean and place my ear near her heart?

I was so lost with my thoughts, she rose from the chair, “I think I should leave now. I’m getting late for my classes.” The next moment, she was walking, running away from me. 

What was wrong? 

Is she fine?

Is she not like the food?

Does she need water?

Did I do something?

Did I make her uncomfortable?

I started following her till my outdoor office, but the lift sound halted my steps; Leo's arrival, screaming something is important, “Go on,” I commanded.

“VJ, there is a problem that needs our attention right now”. We both descended from the office and got in our separate cars.

“Tell me about the plan he is making against my college,” our one man from the team, with a lowered head, brings information. 

“VJ, board members are planning big this time; he is influencing board members with double the amount just to change their votes against you.”

Hearing that, my eyes sharpened, “I know he was cooking something behind us, arrange a secret meeting with those members, use your assigned team. If you did not succeed, then we will use our 'firehell.”

I turned around, “If he really wants to see what I’m capable of, then bring it on.” He hadn’t expected what he was getting in.

“You think it’s funny,” Leo was growling behind me.

“We already knew he had been meeting with investors and committees; he was trying to make a deal behind our backs. This time, he stepped on the wrong side; he should not have involved our board members. He thinks he can just walk away after creating a mess. Never. This college is my dad’s first kid; I’ll not do anyone harm to its reputation.” My voice rises with each word.

“I have another plan, if you don’t mind.” He was hesitating, which means he is not sure himself. Our eyes locked, and I understood the gravity of the situation.

“Speak,” I said. Leo is hesitating, the man who kills people like toys. “He has a daughter, 21 years old, studying in our college. We can..”

Before he could complete his words, my hand flew to grab her collar, and my jaw was clenched. “Never, I repeat never bring an innocent girl into our business.” He swallows hard. 

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Time skips

I’m currently sitting in my outdoor office. Then Leo comes with files, “All their legal business has been emailed to you, and their other business is here in these files. 

I opened the door of my personal office with all the files in my hand. My eyes fell on the table where we were sitting. The food tray was still resting on that table and a half-used water glass. There was a faint lipstick stain, I didn’t think, and my hands picked that up, and my lips landed exactly there, and I drank the water in one gulp. Water never tasted that sweet.

You have lost VJ. She has all the power over me, but she was so unaware of it. 

My baby. 

My Heaven.

Reality hits me, I had to talk with bhai. Sitting on my chair, I dialed his number, and he didn’t pick up. My brother changed; he always picks up my phone after two rings, but now he has a new responsibility. 

I want to focus on the files, but my subconscious is going on that chair where she sat earlier. I feel like seeing her again, soon. So I picked up all the files and the phone, sat in the same chair where she had sat earlier. Her fragrance is still lingering here. 

After 50 minutes, I got a call, which was from my brother. I picked up, “Did my bhabhi leave you, so you can pay little attention to your little brother also?” 

“Come to the point, I’m busy, VJ,” he really changed. I run my fingers through my hair, “I am marrying.” 

There was a pause, then he replied, “So, you also want me to arrange everything in one hour?” 

I grinned at his words, “No, I can handle my matters.” 

“Then why are you telling me?” he says. I didn’t reply. Then again, he spoke, “Same girl?”

“Yes,” I said, like a whisper or maybe like a prayer. Gosh, speaking about her made me soft. I closed my eyes, and her face from earlier appears.

“Good, if I see tears in her eyes because of you. I’ll be the one who snatches her from you,” he said calmly, but I got her warning behind that. Before I could reply, he cut the call. 

“Never in this life.” I’ll prove these are not empty words.

To be continued…

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⬩➤ What made Janaat run away? Has anyone known??

⬩➤ Up next ~ JANAAT’s my man list.

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