The car keys were already in Aarav's hand.
He stood near the door—
waiting.
"Meher!" he called out.
"Coming!" her voice echoed from inside.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
she appeared.
And Aarav froze.
Completely.
Meher walked toward him—
heels clicking softly on the floor.
A denim skirt.
Off-shoulder top.
Her hair tied in a messy bun—
strands falling perfectly around her face.
Sunglasses resting on her head.
Minimal jewelry—
but everything—
everything—
looked perfect.
Effortlessly perfect.
She adjusted her purse slightly—
then looked at him.
And frowned.
"Kya hua?" she asked.
(What happened?)
No response.
Aarav was still staring.
As if his brain had just… stopped working.
"Hello?" she waved her hand slightly.
Still nothing.
Then finally—
he blinked.
Slowly.
"Tum… bahar jaa rahi ho ya mujhe marne ka plan hai?" he said.
(Are you going out or planning to kill me?)
She raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
He stepped closer.
Eyes still locked on her.
"Seriously…" he muttered,
"…itna ready hone ki kya zarurat thi?"
(Was it necessary to get this ready?)
She smirked slightly.
"Problem hai?"
"Bahut badi."
(A very big one.)
She crossed her arms.
"Explain."
Aarav tilted his head.
"Tumhe dekh ke bahar jaana cancel karne ka mann kar raha hai."
(Looking at you makes me want to cancel going out.)
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
"Aarav…"
But he wasn't done.
He circled her slowly.
Observing.
Detail by detail.
"Yeh messy bun…" he murmured,
"…jaan bujh ke banaya hai na?"
(You made it like this on purpose, right?)
She tried to act normal.
"Maybe."
"Dangerous."
His gaze dropped slightly—
then came back to her eyes.
"Yeh top…"
A pause.
"…mera patience test kar raha hai."
(This top is testing my patience.)
Her heartbeat picked up.
"Stop it," she said quickly.
"Abhi toh start kiya hai."
(I've just started.)
She rolled her eyes.
"We have to leave."
Aarav leaned slightly closer.
"I think…"
A pause.
"…we should stay home."
Her breath caught.
"Why?"
His voice dropped.
"Because…" he said softly,
"…I want you this time."
Silence.
Her cheeks turned deep red.
"AARAV!" she whispered, pushing him slightly.
"Chalo!"
(Let's go!)
But he didn't move.
Just stood there—
annoyed now.
"Seriously?" he said.
"You're wasting this look on outside people?"
She laughed softly.
"You're impossible."
"And you're distracting."
She grabbed his hand—
pulling him toward the door.
"Bas. Bahar chal rahe hain."
(Enough. We're going out.)
He resisted slightly.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes!"
Finally—
she pushed him out of the door.
And he sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
But as they walked—
he glanced at her again.
And muttered under his breath—
"Iska badla toh pakka lunga…"
(I'll definitely take revenge for this…)
She heard it.
Turned slightly.
And smirked.
"I'm waiting."
And just like that—
their little war continued.
But this time—
it wasn't about control.
It was about love.
Playful.
Dangerous.
And completely theirs.The drive had been… quiet.
Too quiet.
Meher kept looking out the window—
pretending everything was normal.
But Aarav?
He was planning.
Silently.
That little smirk on his lips—
was not a good sign.
They stepped into the shopping area.
Bright lights.
Crowd.
Noise.
Meher instantly got excited—
walking ahead.
"Come fast!" she said.
Aarav followed—
hands in pockets—
calm.
Too calm.
She picked a dress.
Turned toward him.
"How's this?"
He glanced once.
Then looked away.
"Hmm."
That's it.
"Hmm?!" she repeated.
"Bas hmm?"
(Just hmm?)
He shrugged.
"It's okay."
She frowned.
"Okay matlab?"
"Matlab… theek hai."
(Means… it's fine.)
Her eyes narrowed.
"You don't like it."
"I didn't say that."
"Then say something properly!"
He looked at her—
straight—
then said calmly—
"I liked what you were wearing before."
Silence.
Her cheeks flushed again.
"Aarav…"
"Sach bol raha hoon."
(I'm telling the truth.)
She turned away quickly.
"Focus," she muttered.
A few minutes later—
she was checking another outfit.
Standing in front of the mirror.
Aarav walked behind her.
Close.
Very close.
His reflection appeared right behind hers.
She noticed instantly.
But didn't move.
"Yeh try karo," he said softly.
(Try this.)
He handed her something—
but his fingers brushed hers.
Intentionally.
Her breath hitched.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"Hmm?" he said innocently.
But his eyes—
said everything.
She went to change.
Came out again.
This time—
he didn't react immediately.
Just looked at her—
slowly.
Taking his time.
Making her wait.
"What?" she snapped.
"Bol na!"
(Say something!)
He tilted his head.
"Turn around."
"What?"
"Turn."
She hesitated—
then turned.
Slowly.
Aarav watched—
every movement.
Then stepped closer again.
"Better," he said quietly.
That one word—
hit harder than all his flirting before.
Because of the way he said it.
Low.
Close.
Personal.
She stepped back quickly.
"You're doing this on purpose."
Aarav smirked.
"Badla yaad hai na?"
(Remember the revenge?)
Her eyes widened.
"You're impossible."
"And you started it."
Later—
at the billing counter—
she stood in front—
waiting.
Aarav came behind her again.
Close.
His hand brushed lightly against her waist—
as if by mistake.
She froze.
Then looked back instantly.
"Aarav!"
"What?" he said casually.
"Crowd hai."
(There's a crowd.)
She glared at him.
"Liar."
He leaned slightly closer.
"Tumhe farq padta hai?"
(Does it affect you?)
Her breath caught.
She didn't answer.
Because—
yes.
It did.
A lot.
Outside—
bags in hand—
she walked ahead again.
Trying to calm herself.
But Aarav caught up quickly.
Walking beside her.
"Thak gayi?" he asked.
"No."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then suddenly—
he leaned slightly closer—
and whispered near her ear—
"Abhi toh shuru kiya hai…"
(I've just started…)
She stopped walking.
Completely.
Her cheeks burning.
"Aarav!"
He walked ahead this time—
smiling.
Leaving her there—
flustered.
Speechless.
Because this time—
he wasn't losing control.
He was making her lose it.
Slowly.
Perfectly.The store felt crowded now.
Too crowded.
Meher moved through the aisle—
shopping bags in one hand—
trying to find Aarav with her eyes.
But for a moment—
she couldn't see him.
"Excuse me…"
A voice too close.
She turned slightly.
A man stood near her—
his tone casual—
but something about his presence felt wrong.
"I think you dropped—"
"I didn't," she said quickly.
Trying to move past him.
But he stepped in her way.
Blocking her path.
Her heartbeat shifted.
Uneasy now.
"Relax," he said, smiling in a way that made her uncomfortable.
She stepped back.
"I said I didn't drop anything."
Her voice firmer this time.
But he didn't move.
Instead—
he leaned a little closer.
And that's when—
fear hit.
Real.
Sharp.
"Aarav…" she said under her breath.
But he didn't hear.
Not yet.
The man reached out—
and instinctively—
Meher's voice broke through the noise—
"AARAV!"
Across the store—
Aarav froze.
That voice.
That tone.
He turned instantly.
And when he saw—
something inside him snapped.
He didn't think.
Didn't stop.
He moved.
Fast.
Cutting through people—
his eyes locked on her.
On him.
Within seconds—
he was there.
Between them.
His presence—
like a wall.
The man barely had time to react—
before Aarav shoved him back.
Hard.
"Stay away from her," he said.
His voice low.
Controlled.
But dangerous.
The man tried to speak—
but Aarav didn't wait.
He struck once—
enough to make him stumble back—
and people around started noticing.
The situation shifted quickly.
Staff stepped in.
Voices rising.
Crowd gathering.
But Aarav—
was already turning back.
Because his focus—
was never the man.
It was her.
Meher stood there—
frozen.
Shaking.
Tears already forming.
And the moment she saw him—
she moved.
Straight into his arms.
Holding him tightly.
Her grip trembling.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"I'm here," he said instantly.
His arms wrapped around her—
secure.
Protective.
"It's okay."
But she wasn't okay.
He could feel it.
The way she was shaking.
The way her fingers clutched his shirt.
Like she was scared to let go.
His jaw tightened.
Anger still there.
Burning.
But he pushed it down.
Because right now—
she needed him calm.
Not dangerous.
"Look at me," he said softly.
She didn't.
Just shook her head—
burying her face against him.
"Aarav… I—"
"It's okay," he repeated.
His hand moved gently to her head—
careful.
Reassuring.
"I've got you."
Slowly—
her breathing steadied.
But she didn't let go.
Didn't move away.
And this time—
Aarav didn't say anything else.
Didn't rush her.
He just held her.
Like nothing in the world—
was more important.
Because it wasn't.The drive back was silent.
Too silent.
Meher sat beside him—
her hands still trembling—
fingers tightly gripping her dupatta.
Her breathing uneven.
Eyes wet.
Aarav drove fast—
but controlled.
His jaw clenched.
Not saying anything.
Because if he spoke—
his anger might slip through.
And right now—
she needed calm.
Not that side of him.
The moment they reached home—
he didn't wait.
He got out—
came around—
and gently held her hand.
"Come," he said softly.
She didn't argue.
Didn't resist.
Just followed him.
Like she trusted him completely.
Inside the bedroom—
he closed the door quietly.
Turned toward her—
and that's when he saw it fully.
She was still shaking.
Not slightly.
But enough to break something inside him.
"Meher…" he whispered.
Her lips trembled.
And before she could hold herself—
tears fell again.
"I was scared…" she said, voice breaking.
Aarav didn't let her stand there.
He pulled her gently—
making her sit on his lap as he sat on the edge of the bed.
Her head rested against his chest—
and instantly—
his arms wrapped around her.
Tight.
Secure.
Like nothing could reach her there.
"It's okay," he murmured softly.
"I'm here."
Her hands clutched his shirt—
holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping her steady.
Her voice came out broken—
"Agar… agar woh kuch kar deta…"
(What if… what if he had done something…)
Before she could finish—
Aarav stopped her.
Gently.
His hand moving to her hair.
"Bas," he said softly.
(Enough.)
A pause.
Then his voice changed slightly—
lower.
Steady.
"Main hone nahi deta," he said.
(I wouldn't let that happen.)
Her grip tightened.
"Aur agar…" she tried again—
But he interrupted once more.
This time—
firm.
"Agar kuch hota bhi…" he said quietly,
"…toh main usse kabhi bachne nahi deta."
(And even if something happened… I wouldn't have let him get away.)
Silence.
Not violent.
Not loud.
But enough for her to understand—
how serious he was.
She didn't argue.
Didn't question.
Because she could feel it—
in the way he held her.
In the way his heartbeat wasn't calm either.
Slowly—
her breathing started to steady.
Her grip loosened slightly—
but she didn't move away.
Didn't want to.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"Hm?"
"Thank you…"
He frowned slightly.
"For what?"
"For being there."
Silence.
Then softly—
"Main hamesha rahunga."
(I'll always be there.)
She closed her eyes.
Resting against him.
This time—
not out of fear.
But because she felt safe.
And Aarav—
didn't move.
Didn't let go.
Because right now—
this was the only thing that mattered.
Keeping her safe.
Holding her close.
And making sure—
she never felt that fear again.