Morning had settled into something calmer.
No tension.
No fights.
Just… comfort.
But with Aarav—
comfort never came alone.
It came with extra attention.
Meher stepped out of the bathroom—
hair slightly damp—
wearing a simple outfit.
Relaxed.
Normal.
But the moment she walked into the room—
she paused.
Aarav was there.
Standing.
Looking at her.
Again.
"What?" she asked immediately.
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"Habit."
She rolled her eyes.
"New habit?"
He stepped closer.
"Tumhari wajah se."
(Because of you.)
She tried to walk past him—
but he caught her wrist lightly.
Stopping her.
"Aarav…"
"Kahan?"
(Where?)
"Kitchen."
"Kyuuun?"
"Because I'm hungry?!"
He thought for a second—
then said casually—
"Main le aata hoon."
(I'll bring it.)
She blinked.
"What?"
"Tum baitho."
(You sit.)
She crossed her arms.
"Main khud ja sakti hoon."
(I can go myself.)
"I know."
"Then let me go."
"No."
She stared at him.
"Aarav…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Bas yahin raho."
(Just stay here.)
There it was.
Again.
His overprotective mode.
She sighed.
"You've become too much."
"And you're still here."
She tried not to smile.
But failed.
"Fine," she said.
"Bring something good."
He smirked slightly.
"Always."
A few minutes later—
he came back—
with way more than needed.
Juice.
Snacks.
Fruits.
Sandwich.
Meher looked at the table—
then at him.
"Aarav… main ek hi insaan hoon."
(I'm one person.)
"Better safe."
"Safe from what? Starvation?"
He shrugged.
"Possible."
She laughed softly.
Finally sitting down.
But before she could eat—
Aarav sat beside her.
Close.
Too close.
"Aarav…"
"Hm?"
"Space."
"No."
She sighed again.
But didn't move.
Because honestly—
she didn't want to.
As she took a bite—
he watched.
Carefully.
"Tum seriously dekhoge mujhe khate hue?"
(You'll seriously watch me eat?)
"Yes."
"Why?!"
"Check kar raha hoon."
"Kya?"
"Ki tum properly kha rahi ho."
She shook her head.
"Obsessive."
"Protective."
"Same thing."
"Not really."
She smiled slightly.
And continued eating.
A few minutes later—
she stood up—
picking her phone.
"I'm going outside."
Aarav stood up instantly.
"I'm coming."
"No need."
"Need hai."
She turned.
"Aarav…"
"Hmm?"
"Just five minutes."
"I'll come for five minutes."
She stared at him.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
she walked toward the door.
He followed.
She stopped.
Turned.
"You're impossible."
"And you like it."
She sighed.
Then smiled.
"Thoda sa."
(A little bit.)
He stepped closer again—
lowering his voice.
"Main tumhe akela chhodne ka risk nahi lunga."
(I won't take the risk of leaving you alone.)
Her expression softened.
Just slightly.
"Fine," she said.
"Come."
And as they walked out—
their hands brushed.
Then—
without thinking—
he held hers.
Firm.
Warm.
She didn't pull away.
Because somewhere between his control—
his care—
and his constant presence—
she had started finding comfort.
And Aarav?
He didn't loosen his grip.
Not even for a second.
Because now—
being close to her—
wasn't just a choice.
It was a need.The evening came softer than usual.
Golden light spilling across the room—
and Meher stood near the window—
checking her reflection.
Simple.
Yet beautiful.
Behind her—
Aarav leaned against the wall—
arms crossed.
Watching.
Again.
"Say it," she said without turning.
"What?"
"Jo bhi bolna hai."
(Whatever you want to say.)
He smirked slightly.
"Ready ho jao."
(Get ready.)
She turned.
"I already am."
He tilted his head.
"Nahi."
Then stepped closer—
"Date ke liye ready ho jao."
(Get ready for a date.)
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Date?"
"Haan."
"Since when do you do dates?"
"Since you started ignoring me."
She tried not to smile.
But failed.
"Fine," she said.
"Give me five minutes."
"Two."
"Aarav—"
"Three. Final."
She rolled her eyes—
but walked away anyway.
A few minutes later—
she came back.
And Aarav?
He froze.
For a second.
Not because it was extravagant.
But because—
it was her.
"Ho gaya?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
Just walked closer.
Slowly.
"Tumhe pata hai…" he said softly,
"…tum problem ho."
(You're a problem.)
She raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I don't feel like taking you outside anymore."
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
"Aarav!"
He leaned slightly closer—
"Ghar pe hi date kar lete hain."
(Let's just have the date at home.)
She pushed him lightly.
"Shut up. We're going."
He sighed dramatically.
"Risk le raha hoon."
(I'm taking a risk.)
She laughed.
Grabbing his arm—
"Drama king."
They didn't go far.
Just a quiet place.
Soft lights.
Peaceful.
But even there—
Aarav didn't change.
He pulled her chair out.
Sat beside her—
not across.
Too close.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"Public place hai."
(This is a public place.)
"So?"
"Thoda normal behave karo."
(Behave a little normal.)
He leaned closer.
"Main normal nahi hoon."
(I'm not normal.)
She looked away—
blushing again.
As food arrived—
he kept watching her.
Again.
"Tum khud kyu nahi kha rahe?" she asked.
"Tumhe dekh raha hoon."
"Stop it."
"No."
She sighed—
but smiled.
At one point—
she picked up a bite—
and held it toward him.
"Eat."
He looked at it—
then at her.
"Tum khilaogi?"
(You'll feed me?)
She hesitated.
Then nodded slightly.
He leaned forward—
taking the bite—
but his eyes?
Still on her.
"Happy?" she asked.
"Not yet."
"What now?"
"Repeat."
She laughed.
"You're impossible."
"And you agreed to this date."
After dinner—
they walked outside.
Cool breeze.
Quiet streets.
Aarav held her hand again.
This time—
without asking.
She didn't say anything.
Just walked beside him.
"Meher," he said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"Kal wali dress…"
She stopped.
"What about it?"
He looked at her—
serious.
"Dobara mat pehna."
(Don't wear it again.)
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I didn't like it."
She smirked.
"Exactly why I will wear it again."
Aarav exhaled slowly.
Then leaned closer—
whispering near her ear—
"Phir main bhi control nahi karunga."
(Then I won't control myself either.)
Her breath caught.
"Aarav…"
He stepped back slightly—
smiling.
"Teasing tha."
(It was teasing.)
She hit his arm lightly.
"Idiot!"
He laughed.
And for the rest of the walk—
they stayed like that.
Teasing.
Smiling.
Close.
Because no matter how intense things got—
they always found their way back to this.
Each other.The walk continued.
Slow.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Meher's hand stayed in Aarav's—
their fingers intertwined.
Soft laughter.
Light teasing.
Everything felt… normal.
For once.
But Aarav—
he noticed it first.
That slight shift in the air.
That feeling.
Like someone was watching.
His grip on her hand tightened slightly.
Meher looked at him.
"What happened?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Just scanned the surroundings.
Dark road.
Few lights.
Almost empty.
"Nothing," he said finally.
But his tone—
wasn't convincing.
"Tum tension mein lag rahe ho," she said.
(You seem tense.)
"Bas… alert hoon."
(Just being alert.)
They kept walking.
But now—
his eyes weren't on her.
They were everywhere else.
A shadow moved.
Fast.
Almost invisible.
Aarav stopped.
Instantly.
"Meher."
His voice low.
Serious.
"Hm?"
"Yahan rukna."
(Stay here.)
Before she could react—
he stepped forward slightly—
blocking her.
"Aarav what—"
"Shhh."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
a sound.
Footsteps.
Behind them.
Meher's heart skipped.
"Aarav…"
"I'm here," he said quietly.
A figure appeared.
From the shadows.
Slow.
Deliberate.
A man.
Unknown.
Face partially hidden.
"Kaafi close ho tum dono," the man said.
(You two are quite close.)
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"Kaun ho tum?"
(Who are you?)
The man chuckled lightly.
"Tumhare past ka ek hissa."
(A part of your past.)
That was enough.
Everything changed.
Aarav stepped slightly ahead—
completely shielding Meher.
"Naam batao," he said coldly.
"Zarurat nahi."
The man's gaze shifted—
landing on Meher.
Slowly.
"Aakhir mil hi gayi…"
(So I finally found her…)
Aarav's control snapped—
just slightly.
"Uski taraf dekha bhi toh—"
(If you even look at her—)
"Warna?" the man interrupted.
Silence.
Sharp.
Then—
something unexpected happened.
The man stepped back.
Smiling.
"Aaj nahi," he said.
(Not today.)
Then—
before Aarav could move—
he disappeared into the darkness.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence returned.
But this time—
it wasn't peaceful.
Meher's grip on Aarav's hand tightened.
"Aarav… who was that?"
He didn't answer.
Because his eyes—
were fixed on something else.
On the ground.
A small object.
Left behind.
He bent down slowly—
picking it up.
Meher stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Aarav opened his palm.
And froze.
Meher's breath stopped.
Because in his hand—
was a photograph.
Old.
Slightly torn.
And in that picture—
was Aarav.
Standing beside…
another girl.
The same girl—
from his past.
But that wasn't the shocking part.
The shocking part was—
written on the back.
Aarav flipped it slowly.
And the words—
made his expression go completely dark.
"She's next."
Meher's heart dropped.
"Aarav…"
But he didn't respond.
Because this time—
it wasn't just a warning.
It was a promise.