Chapter 6

Several moments passed in the darkness, but Dhruv did not lower her to the ground or make any haste in search of the light switch. She heard him sigh several times as though he was thinking about something, coming to a conclusion and rethinking it again.

She stayed there hanging, arms secured around his neck, wondering what the situation was downstairs. Had people realized she was missing?

“I can hear you thinking, Shanaya,” he complained, somehow still sounding frustrated.

Shanaya blinked in the darkness, overcome by confusion. What had she done that had turned him to act like this?

“Dhruv, do you want me to say sorry for that?”

He sighed and then finally moved, walking with slow and careful steps until he found the bed. Gently, he lowered her to it. His breath was all over her face, making her freeze momentarily with her arms around his neck.

“You can let me go now,” he repeated the words she’d said earlier to him. Hesitantly, she withdrew her hands, flattening them against t