"Bas thodi fresh air…" Meher said.
Again.
Aarav stared at her.
Long.
Silent.
Then—
"No."
She blinked.
"NO?!"
"Haan. No."
She crossed her arms.
"Aap mujhe bahar jaane nahi denge ab?"
(You won't let me go outside now?)
"Alone? Definitely not."
She sighed dramatically.
"I'm fine now…"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Doctor ko bulaun?"
(Should I call the doctor?)
She immediately shook her head.
"Drama mat karo…"
(Don't be dramatic…)
"Main?"
"Yes, you."
A pause.
Then—
he exhaled.
"Fine."
Her eyes lit up.
"Sach?"
"Haan…"
A beat.
"Main saath chalunga."
(I'll come with you.)
Her smile dropped slightly.
"Of course…"
"Problem?"
She forced a smile.
"Bilkul nahi…"
(Not at all…)
Outside—
the air felt calm.
Fresh.
Normal.
But Aarav—
wasn't.
His eyes—
constantly moving.
Left.
Right.
Around.
"Relax…" Meher said softly.
"I am."
She looked at him.
"This is relaxed?"
"Yes."
She shook her head—
smiling faintly.
They walked slowly.
Meher took a few steps ahead.
"Meher."
She stopped instantly.
Turned.
"What?"
"Stay close."
She sighed.
"Aapko mujhpe trust nahi hai?"
(Don't you trust me?)
Aarav stepped closer.
"Duniya pe nahi hai."
(I don't trust the world.)
That shut her up.
Softly—
she moved closer on her own.
"Better," he said.
She looked at him.
"You're impossible."
"And you're careless."
She made a face.
"Excuse me—"
Before she could continue—
a bike passed by a little too fast.
Close.
Too close.
Aarav's reaction—
instant.
His hand grabbed her wrist—
pulling her toward him.
"Careful!"
She stumbled slightly—
ending up right against him.
"Aarav—"
"Dekha?"
(See?)
His voice—
sharp.
She looked up at him—
a little startled.
"I was fine…"
"Abhi ho."
(You are now.)
A pause.
His grip softened.
But didn't leave.
"You always do this…" she murmured.
"Kya?"
"Overreact…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Overprotect."
Correction.
She smiled faintly.
"Same thing."
"Not for me."
A pause.
Then suddenly—
she slipped her hand into his.
On her own.
Clingy again.
"Ab theek?" she asked.
He looked at their hands.
Then at her.
"Haan."
This time—
he didn't let go.
They walked like that—
slowly.
Together.
But Aarav's eyes—
still alert.
Still watching.
Because even in peace—
he didn't relax fully.
Not when it came to her.
After a moment—
she looked up again.
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
"Main bhaag jaungi toh?"
(What if I run away?)
He stopped walking.
Turned toward her.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
"Try."
Her eyes widened.
"Aap seriously le rahe ho?"
"Bilkul."
She laughed.
"Main nahi bhaag rahi…"
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
very quietly—
he said—
"Because I won't let you."
That line—
wasn't threatening.
It was protective.
Possessive.
And she felt it.
Instead of reacting—
she leaned slightly into him.
"Main waise bhi nahi jaungi…"
(I wouldn't go anyway…)
This time—
he didn't respond.
Just tightened his hold.
Because now—
this wasn't just care.
It was habit.
And something deeper.The walk felt normal.
Almost too normal.
Meher was talking—
softly—
about random things.
"Waise… agar main sach mein bhaag jaati—"
"Meher."
She laughed.
"Okay okay… not again…"
Aarav shook his head slightly—
but his grip on her hand stayed firm.
Then—
it happened.
A sudden screech.
A car—
turning too fast—
losing control for a second.
Too close.
"Aarav—!"
Before she could react—
his arm wrapped around her instantly—
pulling her sharply toward him.
Her body collided with his chest.
The car passed—
missing them—
but barely.
Everything froze.
For a second—
no one moved.
Meher's breath hitched.
Her heart—
racing.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He didn't reply.
His hold—
tightened.
Too tight.
His breathing—
not steady.
Not calm.
"Are you okay?" he asked finally.
His voice—
low.
Controlled.
But shaking underneath.
She nodded quickly.
"I'm fine… I'm fine…"
But her voice—
wasn't convincing.
Aarav pulled back slightly—
looking at her.
Checking her face.
Her hands.
Everything.
"Tumhe laga nahi?"
(You didn't see it coming?)
She shook her head slowly.
"Woh suddenly—"
He exhaled sharply.
Frustration.
Fear.
"Damn it…"
His hand moved to her head—
holding it gently.
"Kitni baar bola hai—"
(I've told you so many times—)
He stopped himself.
Because this wasn't the moment.
Instead—
he pulled her back into his arms.
Protective.
Silent.
"I'm here…" he murmured.
This time—
for himself too.
Meher held onto him tightly.
"I got scared…" she admitted.
"I know…"
A pause.
Then—
he looked at the road again.
Eyes sharp.
That car—
was gone.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Something about it—
didn't feel right.
"Chalo. We're going back."
She didn't argue.
Not this time.
Her hand slipped into his again—
tighter now.
And this time—
Aarav didn't just walk.
He stayed closer.
Even closer than before.
Because even a small moment—
a second—
was enough.
And he wasn't taking chances anymore.The walk ended early.
Too early.
The moment they stepped inside—
the door shut with a quiet but final sound.
Meher turned to him.
"Aarav, it was just—"
"Bas."
(Enough.)
That tone—
not loud.
But final.
She went silent.
Aarav ran a hand through his hair—
pacing once.
Then stopped.
Facing her.
"From now on—no going out."
Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Without me—never."
"Aarav, that was just one—"
"One second," he cut in.
"Bas ek second."
(Just one second.)
Silence.
His eyes locked onto hers.
"Ek second mein sab kuch ho sakta hai."
(In one second, everything can change.)
She swallowed.
"But I was with you…"
"And still that happened."
No argument left.
A pause.
Then—
he stepped closer.
His voice softer now.
"Tum samajh nahi rahi ho…"
(You're not understanding…)
His hand lifted—
holding her face gently.
"Mujhe risk lena allowed nahi hai."
(I'm not allowed to take risks.)
That line—
carried weight.
Not control.
Fear.
She looked at him—
really looked.
And saw it.
The panic he didn't show outside.
The second he almost lost her.
Her tone softened.
"Aarav…"
"Haan…"
"I'm okay…"
"I know."
A pause.
"Par main nahi hoon."
(But I'm not.)
That—
stopped her.
Completely.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
he stepped back slightly.
Switching again.
Calm.
Controlled.
"New rules."
She sighed.
"Aur rules…"
"Haan."
He counted on his fingers—
clear.
"Rest properly."
"No unnecessary walking."
"Phone always with you."
"And—"
He looked straight at her.
"Without telling me—kahin nahi jaana."
(Don't go anywhere without telling me.)
She raised an eyebrow.
"Even washroom?"
He stared.
"…seriously?"
She smiled slightly.
"Thoda lighten kar rahi thi…"
(I was trying to lighten it…)
He didn't smile.
But his expression softened just a little.
"Meher…"
"Haan…"
"Main mazaak ke mood mein nahi hoon."
(I'm not in the mood to joke.)
A pause.
Then softer—
"Not today."
She nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
That "okay"—
was different.
No stubbornness.
Just understanding.
He noticed.
And his shoulders relaxed—
just a little.
"Good."
A moment passed.
Then suddenly—
she stepped closer.
Wrapped her arms around him.
Tight.
He froze.
"Ab kya hua?"
She shook her head against his chest.
"Kuch nahi…"
(Nothing…)
A pause.
Then softly—
"Bas… aapko hug karna tha."
(I just wanted to hug you…)
His hand moved—
resting on her back.
Holding her.
This time—
gentler.
"Rules follow karogi?" he murmured.
She smiled faintly.
"Karungi…"
(I will…)
A pause.
"…par thoda pyaar bhi milega na?"
(…but I'll get some love too, right?)
That—
finally—
broke his seriousness.
Just a little.
"Zyada."
(More.)
She smiled—
relaxing into him.
Because even if he got stricter—
his love—
only got softer.