The throbbing pain in Aarya's toe had almost faded, but the warmth in her chest from Hiten's words remained. She flexed her foot gently, smiling to herself. "See? Still works," she said teasingly, lifting her leg a little.
Hiten, who had been watching her anxiously, let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "Thank God… because I was about to hire a professional toe doctor just for you."
Aarya burst into laughter. "Toe doctor? That's not even a thing, Hiten!"
"It will be," he said, pointing at the ceiling like he was making a grand declaration. "First clinic in history—'Tanwar's Emergency Toe Center.'"
Aarya shook her head, giggling. "You're impossible."
"And you're reckless for trusting me with your feet," he shot back, narrowing his eyes playfully. "From now on, I declare myself on 'Maximum Toe Protection Duty.'"
Still chuckling, she nudged him. "Alright, Mr. Protector. Enough talking. Let's practice again."
Hiten groaned dramatically, collapsing onto the couch. "Nooo… don't you see, Aarya? This is how it starts. First practice, then humiliation, then doom. It's a slippery slope."
"Slippery slope? You're the only one slipping here!" she teased, grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
Reluctantly, he stood, glaring at the floor as though it was plotting against him. "Fine. But if this carpet eats me alive, it's your fault."
---
They started again, slower this time. Aarya guided his steps carefully, her hands warm in his. "Left foot… then turn slowly. Don't rush."
"Left foot… not panicking…" Hiten muttered under his breath like a mantra.
And to his own surprise, it actually worked. The steps weren't perfect, but he managed not to trip over his own feet this time.
Aarya's eyes widened. "See? You're doing it!"
"Don't jinx it!" Hiten said quickly, focusing on his movements. "If I fall now, it's on you."
She giggled, twirling lightly as he attempted to follow. He stumbled a little, his arm flailing, but caught himself at the last second. Aarya clapped. "Look at you, Mr. Dancer!"
"Don't lie. That was pure survival instincts," he muttered.
But gradually, the rhythm began to settle between them. Their steps, though imperfect, found a balance. Every mistake brought laughter. Every near-fall ended with Aarya grabbing his arm, or Hiten catching her waist just in time.
---
At one point, during a spin, Hiten lost his footing completely. Aarya gasped, bracing herself for the impact—but instead, he instinctively caught her by the waist, pulling her close.
For a moment, everything froze. Her hands rested on his chest, his breath quickened, their faces only inches apart. The air felt heavier, their eyes locked in an unspoken exchange neither dared to break.
"Got you," Hiten whispered, his voice low and steady.
Aarya's heart skipped. Her lips curved into the faintest smile. "…Yeah. You did."
Realizing how close they were, Hiten quickly stepped back, scratching his head, his ears burning red. "Uh—sorry! I didn't mean to—"
She shook her head gently, her cheeks flushed. "Don't apologize… you saved me."
The silence stretched, charged but soft, until Hiten dramatically coughed and said, "Well… at least we know one thing. If dancing fails, I can start a career as a bodyguard."
Aarya laughed, tension breaking like a popped bubble.
---
Hours passed as they practiced over and over. Hiten tripped less and less, and Aarya cheered louder each time he got a step right.
At one point, he fell flat onto the couch and groaned, "My legs… they're betraying me. Send help."
Aarya handed him a glass of water with a grin. "Stop being dramatic. You're improving, Hiten. Really."
"Improving?!" He sat up, puffing his chest. "Excuse me, but I am now officially the world's most average dancer!"
"Correction—clumsiest dancer," Aarya teased, poking his shoulder.
He gasped, clutching his heart. "The betrayal! How could you wound me like this?"
Aarya giggled so hard she almost dropped her glass. "Fine, fine. You're my clumsy dancer."
Hiten froze for a second, the words sinking in, before smiling softly. "Yeah… I'll take that title."
---
By the time the sun dipped low, the living room was filled with both exhaustion and joy. They collapsed side by side on the couch, shoulders brushing, too tired to move away.
The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was warm. Safe.
"We'll be amazing tomorrow," Aarya whispered, her head leaning gently on his shoulder.
Hiten looked down at her, his lips curving into a rare, soft smile. "…We already are. Because we're together."
The golden light wrapped around them like a quiet blessing, and for the first time, Hiten didn't feel like he was stumbling—he felt perfectly in step with her.
---