Aarav didn't loosen his grip on Meher.
Not even a little.
His eyes—
scanning the room.
Sharp.
Dangerously alert.
"Bahar aao…" he said coldly.
(Come out.)
Silence.
Meher's fingers tightened around his shirt.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"I'm here," he said softly—
but his gaze didn't move.
"Drama band karo," he added louder.
(Stop the drama.)
A faint sound.
Slow footsteps.
From the corner of the corridor.
And then—
someone stepped out.
Clapping slowly.
"Well… impressive," the voice said.
Aarav's expression darkened instantly.
Because he recognized it.
"Tum…"
(You…)
The man smirked.
"Missed me?"
Meher froze.
Her grip tightened.
"Aarav… yeh…"
"Haan," Aarav said quietly.
"Yahi hai."
(It's him.)
The man stepped forward—
calm.
Confident.
"Finally… face to face," he said.
Aarav moved slightly—
placing Meher completely behind him.
Protective.
"Game khatam," Aarav said coldly.
(The game is over.)
The man laughed softly.
"Abhi shuru hua hai."
(It has just started.)
Silence.
Tension thick in the air.
"Tumhe laga main ruk jaunga?" the man continued.
(You thought I would stop?)
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"Tumhe lagta hai tum jeet rahe ho?"
(You think you're winning?)
The man tilted his head.
"Jeet toh tab hogi…"
(Winning will be when…)
His eyes shifted—
toward Meher.
"…jab yeh tumhare saamne tootegi."
(…when she breaks in front of you.)
Aarav stepped forward instantly.
"Uska naam bhi mat lena."
(Don't even say her name.)
His voice—
low.
Dangerous.
The man smiled.
"Still the same…"
A pause.
"Bas farq itna hai—ab tumhare paas weak point hai."
(Only difference is—you now have a weak point.)
Aarav didn't deny it.
Didn't need to.
Because it was true.
And everyone knew it.
"Galti kar di tumne," Aarav said.
(You made a mistake.)
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Aur woh kya?"
(And what's that?)
Aarav's eyes locked onto his.
"Mujhe yahan laake."
(By bringing me here.)
Silence.
A dangerous calm settled.
Because now—
neither of them were hiding.
Neither of them were running.
Meher's voice broke the tension—
soft—
shaking.
"Aarav… please…"
He didn't turn.
But his hand moved back—
finding hers.
Holding it tightly.
"I've got you," he said quietly.
The man noticed.
And smirked again.
"Emotions…"
"Always your weakness."
Aarav's grip tightened.
"Galat."
(Wrong.)
A pause.
"Yeh meri strength hai."
(This is my strength.)
That line—
shifted something.
Even the man stopped smiling for a second.
Because this wasn't the same Aarav.
This one—
was calm.
Focused.
And completely ready.
Outside—
footsteps approached.
Aarav's team.
Closing in.
The man noticed it too.
His smirk returned.
"Lagta hai tumne tayari kar li hai…"
(Seems like you came prepared…)
Aarav didn't reply.
Just one step forward.
And said—
"Ab khatam karte hain."
(Now we end this.)The air felt charged.
Like everything—
was about to explode.
Aarav stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
The man didn't move.
Just watched.
"Last chance," Aarav said coldly.
"End it here."
A smirk.
"You think you're in control?"
Silence.
Then—
a sudden movement.
The man tried to rush past—
toward Meher.
But Aarav was faster.
He blocked him instantly—
pushing him back.
"Don't."
That one word—
carried everything.
The man laughed—
but it didn't last.
Because this time—
Aarav didn't step back.
He stepped closer.
Forcing him to retreat.
Outside—
Aarav's team surrounded the area.
No escape now.
"Game over," Aarav said.
The man looked around—
realizing it.
Trapped.
But even then—
he smiled.
"You really think this ends me?"
A pause.
Then—
he looked at Meher again.
"Yeh toh bas shuruat thi…"
(This was just the beginning…)
Before he could say more—
Aarav's voice cut through.
"Enough."
Firm.
Final.
A signal.
Within seconds—
his team moved in—
restraining the man.
No chaos.
No struggle shown.
Just control.
The man still smirked—
but weaker now.
"Tum jeet gaye…" he said.
(You won…)
Aarav didn't respond.
Because this wasn't about winning.
It was about ending it.
The man was taken away.
And just like that—
the noise faded.
The house—
went silent again.
Aarav stood still for a moment.
Then turned.
Meher.
Still there.
Still shaken.
But safe.
That was enough.
He walked to her—
slowly this time.
No rush.
No anger.
Just… him.
She didn't wait.
The moment he came close—
she hugged him tightly.
"I was so scared…" she whispered.
He held her back—
just as tight.
"I know…"
His hand moved to her head—
protecting.
"It's over."
A pause.
"Sach mein?"
(Really?)
He nodded against her hair.
"Haan."
This time—
it wasn't just reassurance.
It was truth.
She pulled back slightly—
looking at him.
"Ab kahin mat jaana…"
(Don't go anywhere now…)
Aarav almost smiled.
"Kahin nahi jaa raha."
(I'm not going anywhere.)
A quiet moment settled.
No fear.
No running.
Just them.
After everything—
they were still here.
Together.
And this time—
nothing was chasing them.For the first time—
there was no noise.
No tension.
No fear hiding in the silence.
Just calm.
Soft morning light slipped through the curtains—
falling gently across the room.
Meher stirred slowly.
Her eyes opened—
not in panic.
Not in fear.
Just… peacefully.
And the first thing she felt—
was warmth.
Aarav's arm around her.
Still there.
She turned slightly—
looking at him.
Sleeping.
Finally.
After days—
of staying awake for her.
A small smile touched her lips.
"You look better like this…" she whispered.
Carefully—
she shifted closer.
Resting her head against his chest.
Listening.
His heartbeat.
Steady.
Safe.
Her fingers curled slightly into his shirt—
that same clingy habit.
But this time—
not from fear.
From comfort.
Aarav stirred slightly.
His hand moved—
tightening around her automatically.
Even in sleep.
"Hmm…" he murmured.
Meher smiled softly.
"Good morning…" she whispered.
His eyes opened slowly.
Still heavy.
But the moment he saw her—
they softened completely.
"Morning…"
A pause.
He looked at her—
properly.
Checking.
Always checking.
"Kaise ho?"
(How are you?)
She nodded lightly.
"Better…"
He didn't fully believe it.
But he didn't argue.
Instead—
his hand moved to her hair—
brushing it back gently.
"Pain?"
"Thoda…"
(A little…)
His expression changed instantly.
Concern—
still there.
"Aaram karo."
(Rest.)
She made a face.
"Bas rest hi karna hai kya?"
(Do I only have to rest?)
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Haan."
She pouted.
"Boring…"
Aarav almost smiled.
"Zinda ho… woh enough hai."
(You're alive… that's enough.)
That line—
softened her instantly.
She moved closer again—
hugging him lightly.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
He frowned slightly.
"Kis liye?"
(For what?)
She looked up at him.
"Sab ke liye…"
(For everything…)
A pause.
Then—
very softly—
"Wapas aane ke liye."
(For coming back…)
Aarav didn't reply immediately.
Because he remembered.
Her fear.
Her words.
He pulled her closer.
"I always will."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
She smiled faintly.
"Late mat hona next time…"
He let out a small breath—
almost a laugh.
"Try karunga."
She hit his chest lightly.
"Phir se try…"
He caught her hand this time.
"Pakka."
Satisfied—
she relaxed against him again.
Silence returned.
But this time—
it wasn't heavy.
It was peaceful.
Outside—
the world was normal again.
Inside—
they were healing.
Slowly.
Together.
And for once—
Aarav wasn't watching the door.
He was just holding her.
And that—
was enough.The peace stayed.
But Meher—
was bored.
Very bored.
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
"Main bore ho rahi hoon…"
(I'm getting bored…)
Aarav didn't even look up.
"Good."
She blinked.
"Good?!"
"Haan. Matlab tum rest kar rahi ho."
(It means you're resting.)
She narrowed her eyes.
"Aap na… bohot annoying ho."
(You're very annoying…)
He finally looked at her.
"Recover bhi tumhe hi hona hai."
(You're the one who has to recover.)
She crossed her arms.
"Par main patient hoon, prisoner nahi."
(I'm a patient, not a prisoner.)
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
"Difference?"
She gasped.
"Aarav!"
He smirked faintly.
That tiny smirk—
rare.
And she noticed.
"Dekha… has rahe ho aap…"
(See… you're smiling…)
"Main nahi hasa."
(I didn't smile.)
"Jhoot!"
(Liar!)
Before he could respond—
she got up slightly—
trying to come closer.
"Arre—"
Aarav was instantly alert.
"Careful."
"I'm fine…"
"No, you're not."
Same line.
Same tone.
She rolled her eyes—
but still—
came closer.
And without warning—
she leaned into him.
Resting completely against his side.
Clingy.
Very clingy.
Aarav froze for a second.
"Meher…"
"Haan…"
"Yeh kya hai?"
(What is this?)
She smiled lazily.
"Comfort."
A pause.
"Approved?"
He tried to stay serious.
Failed.
"Thoda."
(A little.)
She tightened her hold instantly.
"Ab zyada."
(Now more.)
"Aaram se…"
She ignored him.
Completely.
Her head resting on his shoulder—
fingers playing with his shirt—
like it was normal.
"You've become clingy," he said.
"Tumhari wajah se."
(Because of you.)
"Blame mujhpe?"
"Always."
A small silence.
Then—
she looked up at him.
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
"Main cute hoon na?"
(Am I cute?)
He stared at her.
Seriously.
For a few seconds.
She waited.
Then—
"No."
She gasped dramatically.
"AARAV!"
He couldn't hold it this time.
A small laugh escaped.
Rare.
Real.
She froze.
"You laughed…"
He looked away.
"Nahi."
She pointed at him.
"Phir jhoot!"
Before he could defend—
she lightly hit his arm.
"Aap bohot bure ho."
(You're very bad…)
He caught her wrist instantly.
Pulling her slightly closer.
"Main bura hoon?"
His tone—
low.
Playful.
She froze this time.
"A… little…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Punishment chahiye?"
(Do you want punishment?)
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
"Aarav…"
He smirked faintly.
"Abhi bhi bol rahi thi na… boring?"
She looked away.
"Main mazaak kar rahi thi…"
(I was joking…)
"Late ho gaya."
(Too late.)
She tried to pull back—
but he didn't let her go completely.
Just enough hold.
Just enough control.
Then suddenly—
his tone softened.
"Bas rest karo."
And just like that—
back to caring mode.
She stared at him.
"You switch bohot jaldi karte ho…"
(You switch moods very fast…)
He looked at her calmly.
"Tumhari wajah se."
She smiled.
Again leaning into him.
"Good…"
Because somewhere—
between teasing—
and care—
this felt like home.
.
.
.
.
Hope you like it🌙