Aditi ignored him, allowing Rian to place a hand on her back, ready to lead her out.
“Aditi, we’re not done talking.”
“Yes, we are,” she shot back, turning away when she heard his footsteps behind her.
“I’ll find you at the hospital.”
Aditi didn’t have time to react to this, because within the blink of an eye, Rian had stepped in between them, making it impossible for Harish to have direct access to her.
Perhaps he finally realised who he was up against, because Harish’s previous bravado faltered when faced with a stronger, tallerman who was looking at him with steely eyes that promised a future full of pain.
The tension was palpable and Aditi wondered if the two would come to blows. Rian’s voice rumbled, low enough that perhaps only Harish and her could hear him speak.
“My camera’s have caught you manhandling Aditi. You threatened to stalk her at the hospital, of which I am a witness, along with my employees. While I’m being nice, take my advice. Maintain your distance.”
Harish gulped. “You can’t talk to me like that.”
“Just did.”
“I work with her.”
“Then work. But if she feels uncomfortable because of you, you’ll find yourself regretting your life choices.”
Aditi glanced at the sturdy back of the man she had been cursing for the last twenty-four hours. A man who had recognized from across the room that she was distressed and was even now shielding her from an unsavoury past.
Without meaning to, she stepped closer, needing his scent to feel calm and safe.
“Rian,” she called, placing one hand at the centre of his back. He turned towards her, his concerned gaze giving her a once over.
“Ready to go?” he asked, glad to see her nod.
Aditi stayed silent as he made his excuses, instructing his staff to escort Harish out without drawing too much attention. At her behest, they chose to walk around the block first instead of heading directly home. Aditi didn’t think she’d have been able to sit and stew inside a car anyway.
She glanced about, the crowds and lively chatter of people around her giving her something other than the argument to focus on. There was beauty in the chaos of Mumbai—always something to see and appreciate.
“Sorry,” he said as he kept pace with her. “I didn’t mean to interfere in your personal matters, but I couldn’t stand back and watch when he started to get physical.”
“Dosti mein, no sorry, no thank you.” She chuckled darkly, her weird sense of humour being the only shield stopping her from crumbling. The fear from her confrontation with Harish still lingered. At his exasperated look, she added, “I'm glad you stepped in.”
“You’re not mad?”
Aditi’s chest filled with the breath she took before she released it in a loud huff, trying to reduce the anxiety that had built in her.
“Dealing with Harish is always draining. It was nice to have back up.”
“Who was he?”
“My ex.”
Rian had to control himself from reacting to that piece of information. He found himself curious about her old relationship. She had mentioned to him last night that it had ended badly. Given the abominable behaviour he’d witnessed, Rian had no doubt that the break up would have been ugly as well.
“Are you going to cry?” he asked, watching her pinched expression as she pretended to check the goods at a roadside hawker selling salted peanuts. She was hurt. Probably embarrassed. He hoped she knew that he wouldn’t judge her for feeling low. That she could lean on him if she needed to.
Before he could say anything further, her control snapped into place.
“I don’t cry,” she confessed, chewing the inside of her lips in consternation. She would rather shave her eyebrows than cry over Harish-fucking-Hebbar. She’d been there, done that, and buried it with a circle of salt around the grave so that even the ghost of that ugly relationship couldn’t berevived.
“You don’t cry.You?” Rian found that hard to believe. Aditi was one of the most expressive people he had ever met.