The city felt too loud.
Too crowded.
Too close to everything that had happened.
So Aarav made a decision.
"Pack your things," he said one morning.
Meher looked up.
"Why?"
"Trip pe ja rahe hain."
(We're going on a trip.)
She blinked.
"Where?"
He smirked slightly.
"Surprise."
A few hours later—
they were on the road.
Far from the city.
Far from noise.
Just open roads.
Mountains in the distance.
And a silence that felt… peaceful.
When they reached—
Meher stepped out of the car—
and froze.
A quiet hillside cottage.
Surrounded by greenery.
Soft wind brushing past.
"No one else?" she asked.
Aarav shook his head.
"Bas hum."
(Just us.)
Her lips curved into a small smile.
Inside—
the cottage was simple.
Warm.
Sunlight pouring through large windows.
And for the first time in days—
Meher felt light.
Aarav watched her.
The way she looked around.
The way her shoulders finally relaxed.
And something inside him shifted.
He wanted to keep her like this.
Always.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"For this."
He stepped closer.
"Tumhare liye kuch bhi."
(Anything for you.)
The day passed slowly.
Walking outside.
Sitting under the trees.
Talking about random things.
Laughing.
No fear.
No tension.
Just them.
But as evening came—
something changed.
The air grew cooler.
The sky painted in soft orange.
Meher stood near the edge—
watching the sunset.
And Aarav—
couldn't stop looking at her.
Not the view.
Her.
He walked toward her slowly.
Step by step.
Until he stood right behind her.
Close.
Too close.
"Tumhe pata hai…" he murmured.
(You know…)
She didn't turn.
"Kya?"
(What?)
"Main yahan aane ka reason kya tha?"
(Why I brought you here?)
She shook her head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"Taaki main tumhe bina kisi distraction ke dekh saku."
(So I could look at you without any distractions.)
Her breath caught.
"Aarav…"
But before she could say more—
his hand gently held her wrist—
turning her toward him.
Slowly.
Carefully.
His gaze locked onto hers.
Deep.
Unfiltered.
"You have no idea…" he said quietly,
"…kitna control karta hoon main."
(You have no idea how much I control myself.)
Her heartbeat picked up.
"And yahan…" he added softly,
"…mujhe control karne ka mann nahi karta."
(And here… I don't feel like controlling it.)
Silence.
But this time—
it wasn't overwhelming.
It was… intense.
Warm.
Meher didn't step back.
Didn't look away.
Because she could see it.
Not darkness.
But love.
Raw.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
But he just smiled slightly.
Soft.
Different.
"Relax," he said.
"I won't rush you."
A pause.
"But thoda sa romantic toh ho sakta hoon na?"
(Can I be a little romantic at least?)
She laughed softly.
"Thoda?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Thoda zyada."
(A little more.)
Her cheeks flushed.
Again.
That night—
the stars filled the sky.
They sat outside.
Wrapped in a blanket.
Close.
Aarav's arm around her shoulders.
Her head resting against him.
"Happy?" he asked quietly.
She nodded.
"Very."
A pause.
"And you?"
He looked at her.
For a long moment.
Then said softly—
"Tum ho toh sab perfect hai."
(If you're here, everything is perfect.)
She smiled.
Closing her eyes slightly.
And this time—
she didn't feel scared.
Didn't feel unsure.
Because this—
this version of him—
wasn't dangerous.
It was… hers.
And Aarav—
for the first time—
let himself feel it fully.
No control.
No walls.
Just love.The night grew quieter.
Stars scattered across the sky—
like they had nowhere else to be.
Meher sat wrapped in the blanket—
her head resting lightly against Aarav's shoulder.
Everything felt still.
Peaceful.
Until—
he moved.
Just slightly.
Enough to shift her balance.
"Aarav…" she murmured.
But before she could react—
he pulled the blanket closer around both of them.
Trapping her gently.
She looked up.
"What are you doing?"
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
"Cold lag rahi thi," he said innocently.
(You looked cold.)
She narrowed her eyes.
"Liar."
He chuckled softly.
"Thoda sa."
(A little bit.)
He adjusted himself—
turning slightly toward her.
Now their faces were closer.
Too close.
Her breath hitched.
"Tum na…" she muttered.
(You…)
"Kya?"
(What?)
"Shanti se baith nahi sakte?"
(Can't you sit peacefully?)
He tilted his head slightly.
"Nahi."
(No.)
"Why?"
"Because you're sitting this close."
Her cheeks flushed again.
"That's not my fault!"
"Exactly," he said.
"That's why I'm suffering."
She tried to move away—
but his arm tightened around her shoulders.
Not forceful.
Just enough to stop her.
"Ab kaha ja rahi ho?" he whispered.
(Where are you going now?)
"Door," she said quickly.
(Away.)
"Allowed nahi hai."
(Not allowed.)
She blinked.
"What?"
He leaned slightly closer—
his voice dropping.
"Yahan aayi ho… toh bhaagna mana hai."
(If you've come here… running away is not allowed.)
Her heart raced.
Completely out of rhythm now.
"Aarav…" she whispered softly.
"Hm?"
"You're impossible."
"And you like it."
She looked away—
but didn't deny it.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
And that—
made him even more mischievous.
His fingers lightly brushed her hand.
Tracing slowly.
Not too much.
Just enough.
She shivered slightly.
"Aarav…" she said again.
"Relax," he murmured.
"I'm behaving."
"You call this behaving?"
"Better than before."
She laughed softly.
And that laugh—
made him pause.
Just for a second.
Because he realized—
this was what he wanted.
Not control.
Not fear.
Just… this.
Her smile.
Her comfort.
"Tum haste hue achhi lagti ho," he said quietly.
(You look good when you smile.)
She looked at him.
Softly.
"And tum…" she started—
"…kam dangerous lagte ho."
(…look less dangerous.)
He raised an eyebrow.
"Bas kam?"
(Just less?)
She smiled.
"Thoda sa."
He leaned back slightly—
pretending to think.
"Hmm… phir toh mujhe thoda aur dangerous banna padega."
(Then I guess I'll have to become a little more dangerous.)
Her eyes widened.
"Aarav—"
But before she could say more—
he suddenly pulled her a little closer again.
Her breath caught.
"Aise?" he whispered.
(Like this?)
Silence.
She didn't answer.
Couldn't.
Because now—
everything felt intense again.
But not scary.
Just… overwhelming.
In a good way.
He smiled slightly—
then eased his hold.
"Relax," he said softly.
"I said na… I won't rush you."
Her shoulders relaxed.
But her heart—
was still racing.
She leaned back against him again.
This time—
by choice.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Aarav wrapped his arm around her once more—
gently.
Resting his chin lightly over her head.
No teasing now.
No mischief.
Just… closeness.
And under that sky—
with nothing but silence around them—
they stayed like that.
Two people—
finally learning—
that love didn't need to be controlled.
It just needed to be felt.The cottage had gone quiet.
The night deeper now.
Soft wind outside.
Inside—
dim light.
Aarav lay on the bed—
awake.
Not sleeping.
Just… thinking.
Then—
he heard movement.
He turned slightly.
Meher was up.
Near the wardrobe.
Looking around—
slightly confused.
"What are you doing, wifey?" he asked lazily.
She turned instantly.
"Aarav… you're awake?"
"Hm."
She looked back at the wardrobe.
"I can't find my night gown," she said.
A pause.
"Tumne dekha?"
(Have you seen it?)
Aarav leaned on his elbow slightly—
watching her.
A slow smirk forming.
"Nahi," he said casually.
(No.)
Then added—
"…par kuch aur dekhne ka mann hai."
(But I feel like seeing something else.)
She froze.
Then turned toward him—
eyes wide.
"AARAV!"
Her cheeks turned instantly red.
"Shameless!" she scolded.
He chuckled softly.
"Thoda sa."
(A little bit.)
She grabbed the nearest cloth—
throwing it toward him.
"Stop it!"
He caught it easily—
still smiling.
"Tum blush karti ho na…" he said,
"…toh aur maza aata hai."
(When you blush… it's more fun.)
She turned away—
trying to hide her face.
"Pagal ho tum."
(You're crazy.)
"Sirf tumhare liye."
(Only for you.)
She tried to ignore him—
continuing to search.
But suddenly—
her movements slowed.
She placed her hand on her stomach slightly.
Her brows furrowed.
"Aarav…" she said softly.
His expression changed instantly.
He sat up.
"Kya hua?"
(What happened?)
"Thoda pain ho raha hai…"
(I have some stomach pain…)
That was enough.
The teasing disappeared.
Completely.
Aarav was on his feet within seconds.
Walking straight to her.
"Since when?" he asked quickly.
"Just now…"
He gently held her arm—
guiding her to the bed.
"Sit."
His tone firm—
but soft.
She sat down slowly.
Still holding her stomach.
Aarav knelt slightly in front of her—
his brows tense.
"Zyada pain hai?"
(Is it hurting a lot?)
She nodded lightly.
"Thoda…"
Without wasting time—
he grabbed a blanket—
covering her properly.
Then went to get water.
Fast.
Careful.
He returned quickly—
handing her the glass.
"Slowly," he said.
She took a few sips.
Watching him.
Because this shift—
was immediate.
From teasing—
to caring.
Like nothing else mattered.
"Medicine hai?" he asked.
She shook her head slightly.
"Wait."
He moved again—
checking the bag—
finding something.
Returning within seconds.
"Yeh le lo," he said.
She took it quietly.
Still looking at him.
After a few minutes—
the pain eased slightly.
Her body relaxed.
Aarav sat beside her now—
closer.
"Better?" he asked softly.
She nodded.
"Hm."
Silence.
Then—
she smiled faintly.
"Abhi toh bade romantic mood mein the…" she teased lightly.
(You were in such a romantic mood just now…)
He looked at her—
then said calmly—
"Tum theek nahi ho toh mood ka kya karu?"
(What do I do with my mood if you're not okay?)
That line—
hit differently.
Deep.
Real.
She leaned slightly toward him.
Resting her head on his shoulder.
This time—
not shy.
Not playful.
Just… comfortable.
Aarav wrapped his arm around her.
Gently.
Careful of her.
"Ab so jao," he murmured.
(Sleep now.)
She nodded.
Closing her eyes slowly.
And as she drifted off—
Aarav stayed awake.
Just for a while.
Watching her again.
But this time—
not with mischief.
With care.
Because no matter how playful he got—
when it came to her—
he would always choose this.
Her comfort.
Her safety.
Her.
.
.
.
.
Hope you will like this chapter 🤍