Soft morning sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains, brushing gently across Roohi’s face. A warm golden glow spread throughout the room, making everything feel calm and unhurried. One of her legs was outside the blanket, while the blanket was loosely covering half of her face. One hand was raised above her head, and she slept in a completely comfortable, carefree position, unaware of the world around her.

Just then, the loud sound of her alarm shattered the peaceful silence. Her sweet sleep began to break as the alarm kept ringing relentlessly. For a few moments, it didn’t affect her at all. After a few moments, her face twisted into a frustrated expression, and she buried her head under the pillow, hoping the noise would somehow disappear on its own. It did not. The sound continued relentlessly, forcing her to finally surrender.

With a tired groan, she sat up and switched off the alarm with one hand. Her eyes were barely open. Messy strands of hair fell loosely over her shoulders, some brushing against her face. Her head drooped slightly forward, and for a moment, she looked completely lost, as if she had no idea where she was or what time it was. She blinked slowly, looking around the room in confusion, stuck in that hazy space between sleep and reality.

Just as she finally opened her eyes properly, the door burst open.

“Hey, you! Kumbhkaran ki behen, ab to uth ja!” Raghav shouted dramatically as he stormed into the room.

She lifted her gaze toward him, noting how awake and energetic he looked while standing there, clearly enjoying his role as the morning menace. In a sleepy, irritated voice, she muttered, “Mind your own business. Why are you ruining my morning and eating my brain so early?”

He stood there smirking, already pleased with the success of his plan to ruin her sleep. Without any warning, he suddenly moved forward and jumped straight onto the bed. The moment he landed, his elbow crashed down near her head. She let out a sharp groan and immediately started hitting him in reflex, half asleep and half furious.

Raghav didn’t wait around. He rolled off the bed and bolted across the room, laughing like a maniac.

“You idiot, how dare you!” she shouted, grabbing the pillow and throwing it at him with all her strength.

He turned around just long enough to stick his tongue out at her, still laughing, before disappearing out of the room. The pillow hit the wall instead. She groaned in frustration and muttered, “Motherfucker” under her breath, cutting herself off as she dropped back onto the bed for a second.

Then reality hit. She grabbed her phone and checked the time. Her eyes widened instantly.

9:47 a.m.

Her heart skipped a beat. Aarav’s flight was at eleven. She shot up from the bed in panic, all sleep gone in a second, and sprinted toward the bathroom. There was no time to waste. Not today.

After a while, she stepped out of the bathroom in a quiet hurry, a towel wrapped around her, reaching just above her knees. Her hair was still damp, soft strands clinging gently to her face. Tiny droplets of water traced slow paths down her skin, catching the light as they moved, giving her an effortless glow. Her features looked perfectly composed, as if calm itself had shaped her, anyone who caught a glimpse of her like this would surely forget how to breathe.

She quickly picked up another towel and began drying her hair, her movements swift yet familiar. Once done, she moved on to her skincare routine, applying each product with care, as if grounding herself in the comfort of routine. Then she walked over to the wardrobe, scanning her clothes thoughtfully.

She usually preferred jeans and tops, they were easy, comfortable, but she had a deep fondness for kurtis as well. After a moment’s thought, she chose a pair of blue jeans, a black fitted top, and a jacket. She stepped inside to change and returned shortly after. The outfit suited her perfectly, as though it had been made just for her.

Standing before the mirror, she began her makeup. She liked it light and natural, her skin needed very little.

A sudden thought of Aarav crossed her mind. Along with it came a memory from two days ago. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as her heart slipped back into that night.

Two days earlier

The night was quiet and stretched endlessly before them. The road was almost empty, dim streetlights cast long shadows on the ground. Roohi stood there with Aarav, but her mind was far from calm. Anger burned inside her chest. Her boss had shouted at her without any reason and since morning her mood had been completely ruined, every harsh word still rang in her ears.

Aarav leaned against his bike, arms folded, watching her silently. He did not interrupt, he let her speak, he knew she needed to let it out.

She turned toward him suddenly, frustration flashing in her eyes.

“How dare he shout at me like that?” she said. “Just because I stayed quiet does not mean he can yell at me whenever he wants.” Her voice trembled with anger as she continued.

“He thinks he owns everyone. He does no work himself and spends the entire day shouting at employees. And do you know what he said to me today?” She looked at him. He lifted one eyebrow slightly, his expression calm.

“What did he say?” Her jaw tightened. “He called me a lazy child,” she said. “Tell me honestly. Do I look lazy to you? And do I really look like a child?” For a second there was silence. Then a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

She stared at him in disbelief. “So you think the same?” she asked, her eyes widening.

Aarav shook his head slowly. A faint smile played on his lips.

“No. I do not think that,” he said. Then his tone shifted, teasing and warm. “I think you are an innocent, simple, and naïve little child.”

He laughed openly this time, the sound cutting through the quiet night. She clenched her fists.

“Aarav,” she said through gritted teeth, “I am going to kill you today.”

“If death is written by your hands, then I accept it gladly. Just let my end be in your arms.” He said softly. She turned to him instantly, her eyes burning with disbelief and irritation.

“What the hell are you even saying?” she snapped.

Without losing his calm, he placed a hand over his heart. His voice softened, but his words carried weight. “I am only saying what my heart wants to say.”

Her glare lingered on him for a second longer before she looked away, clearly frustrated. She walked toward a nearby bench and sat down, distancing herself from both him and the chaos inside her mind. Slowly, she lifted her gaze toward the sky. The moon hung quietly above them, pouring its silver light over her face. The glow softened her sharp edges and made her look almost unreal. Cold night air brushed against them, wrapping the moment in a strange stillness.

He watched her.

And in that moment, the world seemed to pause for him. A faint smile curved his lips as his eyes rested on her face. There was something deep in his gaze, something that could not be spoken aloud, no desire lived there, no shallow attraction. Only love.

He looked at her as if she was his entire universe. As if every dream, every hope, every future he imagined began and ended with her. His eyes did not wander. They did not search for anything else, because for him, everything already existed right there, in her quiet presence.

On the other side, anger was boiling inside her. Her fists were clenched tight, every nerve tense with the fury she felt toward her boss. The frustration had been eating at her for too long. She rose from the bench and walked toward him, signaling with her eyes for his attention, but he was completely lost in his own world. When he didn’t respond, she gestured with her hand instead. That finally snapped him back to reality, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“Where did you disappear to?” she asked.

“In your eyes,” he murmured. She rolled her eyes, unimpressed. Without waiting for another second, he stepped aside and she settled onto the bike.

“You’re going to ride?” he asked. She nodded once. He simply shrugged, climbed onto the back seat, and fastened his helmet.

The engine roared to life, and instantly he could feel it, her anger was burning at a whole different level. At first, the speed increased slowly, almost controlled. He chose to ignore it, trusting she would cool down, but then his gaze flicked to the speedometer. It was already too fast.

“Rooh… slow down the bike,” he said. Instead of easing off, she twisted the throttle harder.

His eyes widened. “Hey! Slow the bike! Are you trying to get us killed today?” he shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

But she didn’t listen. She only pushed the bike faster, the wind screaming past them, her rage pouring into every reckless second on the road.

Today, she had completely lost her mind.

That was the only thought screaming inside his head as the bike cut through the empty road at a terrifying speed. He clutched his helmet tightly, as if holding it could somehow protect his life.

“God, please save me,” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “She has gone insane.”

She didn’t slow down. Her posture was rigid, her back straight, hands firm on the handlebars. The frustration she had been carrying since morning was now flowing straight into the accelerator.

“Abee pagal aurat bike chala rhi hai ya meri life ka last episode shoot kar rhi hai.” he screamed and tightened his grip on the seat. “maa kasam ager aaj Bach Gaya to kal se paidal hi chalunga.”

She glanced back for a second, her eyes sharp and irritated. “Shut the f*ck up, Aarav,” she shouted.

“How am I supposed to shut up when you’re riding like this?” he yelled back, panic slipping into his voice. “My mother did not give birth to me just to donate me to Yamraj.”

She ignored him completely and pushed the speed even more, as if his fear meant nothing.

That was when something clicked in his mind.

A slow, dangerous smirk appeared on his face.

Carefully, he lifted one hand and slid it around her waist, his touch sudden yet steady.

She stiffened instantly, her breath hitched, and her eyes widened in shock. Without realizing it, her grip on the accelerator loosened, and the bike began to slow down.

He took advantage of the moment. With one hand, he removed his helmet and leaned forward, wrapping both arms around her properly this time. He pulled her closer and rested his head gently on her shoulder, his forehead brushing against her back.

“Now ride,” he murmured softly. “I’m not scared anymore.”

His words were barely above a whisper, yet they landed heavily on her senses. His warm breath brushed against her neck, lingering there for a second longer than necessary. He leaned in just a little closer, close enough for her to feel his presence without seeing him. Her fingers tightened on the handlebars, and without realizing it, she slowed the bike down. A strange nervousness crept into her chest, unfamiliar and unsettling.

The memory made a quiet chuckle escape her lips. Standing in front of the mirror now, she continued applying her makeup, her movements lighter than before. Once she was done, she picked up her phone and grabbed the bike keys from the table. She didn’t have much time, she needed to leave quickly.

The airport was waiting.

Aarav's pov

I am seated at the airport lounge, time moving slower than usual. My flight will depart soon, but not soon enough to quiet the restlessness inside me. My family had accompanied me here, yet I asked them to leave after saying goodbye. I needed this moment alone, with my thoughts, and with the hope that refuses to leave my heart.

My phone rests in my hand as I scroll mindlessly, barely registering what appears on the screen. In truth, I am not waiting for a notification. I am waiting for her.

Leaving without seeing her feels impossible. She said she would come, and I trust her words more than anything else. She has always been someone who keeps her promises. I tell myself this separation is temporary, just a two-day trip.

Once I return, I will tell her everything I have been holding back. What she makes me feel. How deeply she matters to me. I do not need immediate answers from her; all I want is a chance. If she needs time, I am willing to give her all of it.

Because one truth has become painfully clear to me, I cannot imagine my life without her. My world no longer feels separate from her existence. Every thought of the future carries her presence within it, as if she belongs there.

I glance at my watch again. There is not much time left before boarding begins. A subtle tension tightens in my chest. I look toward the main entrance, searching for her instinctively, hoping to catch even a fleeting glimpse. But the doorway remains unchanged. She is nowhere to be seen.

I sigh and return my attention to my phone, scrolling aimlessly again. And then suddenly, I feel it. That strange awareness. The feeling that someone has arrived.

I look up instantly.

And there she is.

Meri people ke ped se ulti latki hui bhootani

A wide smile instantly spreads across my face. No matter how simple her clothes are, she looks impossibly beautiful to me. There is an ease in her presence, a quiet charm that makes everything around her fade into the background.

I stand up just as she starts running toward me. The moment she reaches me, slightly out of breath, she asks anxiously, “I’m not late… am I?” Her words come out unevenly, breathless from rushing. I shake my head lightly and reply,

“You’re not late. But explain something to me, if the time is eleven, why are you running like this? You definitely slept after selling a hundred horses last night.”

I raise one eyebrow as I say it, unable to resist teasing her. She glared at me and said. “First of all, I came all this way just to see you, and instead of appreciating that, you’re taunting me?”

I can barely hold back my laughter. Inside, I find her irritation far too adorable to take seriously. “Well, teasing someone like you is kind of necessary,” I say with a smirk.

She scoffs, clearly annoyed, and drops down onto the seat beside me. Just then, an announcement echoes through the airport. Both of us instinctively look in that direction.

Suddenly, she stands up again and pulls me into a hug without warning.

I step back in surprise, my body reacting before my mind can process it. But only for a second. A soft smile slowly makes its way back to my face. Because at that moment, I realized something simple yet powerful. No matter how unexpected she is, she always arrives exactly when I need her.

I wrap my arms around her in return, holding her just as closely. After a moment, she pulls away and looks at me with a gentle smile.

“Travel safely,” she says softly. “And come back soon. Happy journey.”

I nod, smiling back at her. Then I turn around and begin to walk away. But with every step forward, my heart resists. I do not want to leave. The distance between us feels heavier than it should.

After a few steps, I stopped. Something inside me refuses to move forward. I turn back and look at her, still standing there, exactly where I left her. And before I can question myself, I walk back to her and pull her into a tight embrace. I close my eyes, holding her close, letting her warmth sink into me.

I do not know why, but I cannot bring myself to let her go. My arms tighten around her as if releasing her would mean losing something irreplaceable. Slowly, I pull away and look into her eyes. She is staring at me with confusion, searching my face for answers.

I gently cup her face, my thumbs resting lightly against her skin. Looking straight into her eyes, I speak quietly, “Just two days. Only two days. After these two days, I will change everything between us.”

My voice is barely above a whisper. She continues to look at me. “Nothing will be the same after that,” I add softly. “I will make it different… and beautiful.”

I lean forward and place a gentle kiss on her forehead full of everything I am not yet brave enough to say aloud.

I let my lips linger there for a moment longer, as if trying to memorize the feeling of her presence. She slowly closes her eyes, surrendering to the quiet intimacy of the moment. I pull back just enough to look at her face, and that is when an unexpected thought crosses my mind.

Before she can react, I lean forward and place a soft kiss on her cheek, her eyes open instantly. Then, almost playfully, I move closer and brush a kiss just beside her lips, not crossing the line, but close enough to make her breath hitch. Her eyes widened in surprise, completely caught off guard. A smirk curves on my lips.

“Bye, chudail,” I say lightly.

With a smile, I turn around and start walking away. Every part of me resists leaving her behind. I do not want to go, not yet, not like this. But deep down, I know one thing with certainty.

After this goodbye, nothing will remain the same. I will change everything.

___________

I hope you liked this chapter 🤍

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So, your wait will finally be over in the next chapter. From there, the main twist of the story will begin, changing everything, stay tuned.

And I’m really sorry for the late update. My exams are coming up, so I might not be very active for a while, but I’ll try my best to update whenever I get time.

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