By afternoon—
Meher realized something very important.
Aarav had become unusually clingy.
Very clingy.
Not dramatic.
Not obvious to others.
But to her?
Extremely obvious.
It started right after breakfast.
Meher had barely stood up from the chair—
when Aarav's hand immediately settled at her waist.
Naturally.
Like breathing.
She blinked.
Then looked at him.
"Aarav…"
"Hm?"
"You know I can walk myself, right?"
"Yes."
Yet his hand stayed exactly where it was.
Not even slightly guilty.
Meher narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You're doing this intentionally."
"No."
A complete lie.
And both of them knew it.
Still—
Meher secretly didn't move his hand away.
Because after everything…
his touch felt comforting too.
A little later—
Meher tried sitting in the living room alone to read quietly.
Five minutes later—
Aarav appeared.
Without saying a word—
he sat beside her.
Very close beside her.
Not enough space for even air between them.
Meher slowly lowered her book.
"There's an entire sofa."
"Hm."
Still no movement.
Instead—
he casually pulled one of her legs across his lap.
Like this was completely normal behavior.
Meher stared at him in shock.
"AARAV."
"What?"
"You've become strange."
That finally made him smirk slightly.
"Only now?"
Meher tried to glare.
Failed instantly.
Because Aarav had already started absentmindedly rubbing soft circles near her ankle while reading something on his phone.
Comfortable.
Relaxed.
Possessive without realizing it.
And somehow—
that softness melted her completely.
Hours passed like that.
Everywhere she went—
Aarav followed.
Kitchen?
He appeared.
Balcony?
Already there before her somehow.
Library?
Now suddenly he also needed a book.
Meher finally crossed her arms suspiciously by evening.
"You're literally following me."
"I live here."
"That's not the point."
Aarav looked completely serious.
"Then what is the point?"
Meher opened her mouth.
Closed it again.
Because honestly—
he looked too calm to argue with.
Then suddenly—
she tested him.
Without warning—
she quietly walked toward the garden outside.
Alone.
One minute passed.
Two.
Then—
footsteps.
Meher turned slowly.
And there he was.
Black t-shirt.
Hands in pockets.
Following her again.
She burst into laughter instantly.
"AARAV!"
This time even he smiled slightly.
"What?"
"You're impossible!"
"You already said that today."
Meher shook her head while laughing softly.
Then suddenly—
Aarav moved closer.
Very close.
Enough that his hand naturally found her waist again.
And this time—
he actually admitted it quietly.
"I just…"
A pause.
"…don't want you out of my sight today."
Her laughter softened instantly.
Because beneath all the teasing—
she heard the truth.
After almost losing her…
his mind still hadn't relaxed fully.
Meher's expression softened.
"Aarav…"
But before she could say anything emotional—
he leaned closer lazily and rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.
Like a tired man finally finding comfort.
And Meher completely froze.
Because this version of Aarav—
clingy.
Quietly affectionate.
Sleepy and attached—
was dangerously adorable.
"Aarav…"
"Hm."
"You're acting like a giant baby."
A pause.
Then very calmly—
"Only with you."
That sentence hit directly in her heart.
Meher looked away immediately—
blushing again.
And Aarav noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His eyes softened quietly.
Then without warning—
he pulled her fully into his arms.
Warm.
Secure.
Comfortable.
Meher laughed softly against his chest.
"You're really not leaving me alone today, huh?"
"No."
Immediate.
No hesitation.
Then more quietly—
"Not after yesterday."
Silence settled softly between them.
Not painful this time.
Just honest.
Meher slowly wrapped her arms around him too.
And Aarav visibly relaxed again the second she hugged him back.
Like his entire body only calmed when she stayed close willingly.
The evening breeze moved softly around them.
And for once—
there was no danger.
No fear.
Just Aarav holding her like he finally remembered what peace felt like.The evening had turned calmer.
Soft music played somewhere downstairs.
Rain clouds gathered outside slowly.
And for the first time in days—
the house actually felt peaceful.
Meher finally escaped from Aarav's nonstop clinginess and went to shower.
At least—
that was her plan.
Because even outside the bathroom door—
Aarav still kept checking on her.
"You okay?"
Meher rolled her eyes instantly.
"Yes!"
Two minutes later—
"Need anything?"
"AARAV."
A quiet laugh came from outside.
"Just asking."
Meher shook her head while smiling helplessly.
Impossible man.
After some time—
she finally came out after showering.
Her hair slightly wet.
Wearing comfy shorts and an off-shoulder crop top.
Simple.
Casual.
But the moment Aarav looked up from the couch—
he froze dramatically.
Meher blinked.
"What?"
Aarav slowly put his phone down.
Still staring.
Very obviously staring.
"Aarav?"
He leaned back lazily against the couch.
Then calmly said,
"So this is how you plan to destroy my concentration?"
Meher's cheeks instantly warmed.
"What concentration?"
"The one I had before you walked in."
She stared at him.
Then immediately grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.
"AARAV!"
He caught it easily—
actually laughing softly now.
"You asked."
"I did not!"
Meher tried walking away toward the kitchen—
but Aarav quickly caught her wrist gently and pulled her back.
Not harshly.
Just enough to stop her.
"You know," he said thoughtfully, "I was having a peaceful day."
Meher narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"And?"
"And then you appeared looking like this."
A pause.
"Now I'm suffering."
Meher covered her face instantly.
"You're unbelievable."
Aarav looked completely serious.
"No, really. This should count as emotional damage."
That made her laugh despite herself.
"You're so dramatic."
"Only around you."
He pulled her a little closer playfully.
Then tilted his head slightly.
"You do realize you look pretty, right?"
The teasing in his voice softened near the end.
Becoming genuine.
And suddenly—
Meher forgot how to answer.
Because Aarav wasn't joking anymore.
He was just looking at her quietly.
Softly.
Like he still couldn't believe she was here with him.
Meher looked away shyly.
"You stare too much."
"Hm."
No denial again.
Then casually—
"I'm still recovering from shock."
Another cushion hit him immediately.
This time Aarav laughed properly.
Real laughter.
Warm.
And hearing it—
Meher smiled too.
Because after everything dark they survived—
these silly little moments felt precious now.
Very precious.
Aarav finally stood and gently fixed the slipping side of her top respectfully near her shoulder.
Then softly murmured,
"Careful. You'll catch cold with wet hair."
And just like that—
the teasing monster disappeared again—
replaced by the same overprotective Aarav who worried about everything related to her.
Meher smiled helplessly.
"You switch personalities too fast."
Aarav leaned slightly closer with a tiny smirk.
"Get used to it."
And honestly—
she already was.