The night in Ladakh was colder than anything Meher had ever experienced.
The kind of cold that didn't just touch your skin—
it seeped into your bones.
Meher stood by the window, hugging herself tightly as she looked outside.
Snow had started falling.
Soft.
Silent.
Beautiful.
For a moment—
everything felt peaceful.
But inside her—
nothing was.
Her mind kept replaying everything from earlier.
Aarav's voice.
His anger.
His jealousy.
The way he said "I don't like sharing what's mine."
Her heart skipped again.
"Why does it matter to me…" she whispered softly.
She closed her eyes for a second.
It shouldn't matter.
He forced her into this.
He controlled everything.
And yet—
when he looked at her like that…
Something changed.
Behind her—
she heard footsteps.
Slow.
Familiar.
She didn't turn around.
"Thand lag rahi hai?" Aarav's voice came quietly.
(Are you feeling cold?)
She nodded slightly.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then suddenly—
something warm settled around her shoulders.
She looked down.
His coat.
Her breath caught.
She turned slowly.
He stood close behind her.
Closer than usual.
"Wear it," he said simply.
"You'll feel cold," she replied automatically.
"I don't."
That wasn't true.
But he said it like it was.
She held the coat tighter around herself.
"Thank you," she murmured.
It was the first time she had said that to him.
And he noticed.
Of course he did.
"Tum pehle bhi bol sakti thi," he said softly.
(You could have said that earlier too.)
She looked at him.
"For what?"
"For everything."
Silence.
That answer stayed.
For a moment—
neither of them spoke.
Then suddenly—
Aarav moved past her.
"Come."
"Where?"
"Outside."
Her eyes widened.
"Are you serious? It's freezing!"
"Trust me."
She hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Fine."
Outside—
the cold air hit her instantly.
"Okay, I regret this," she said quickly, pulling his coat tighter.
Aarav ignored her.
Instead—
he walked ahead into the snow.
"Come here."
She followed slowly, her steps careful.
The snow crunched softly under her feet.
And for a moment—
she forgot everything.
"This is… beautiful," she whispered.
He stopped.
Turned toward her.
"You are."
She froze.
"Aarav…"
But he didn't let her speak.
"Tumhe pata hai…" he said slowly.
"…jab tum aise smile karti ho na…"
(You know… when you smile like this…)
He stepped closer.
"…toh lagta hai duniya ruk sakti hai."
(it feels like the world could stop.)
Her breath caught.
The snow fell softly around them.
The world did feel still.
"Aapko har waqt aise lines bolni hoti hain?" she muttered, trying to hide her expression.
(Do you always have to say things like this?)
"Sirf tumhare liye."
(Only for you.)
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
"You're impossible."
"And you're blushing again."
"I'm not—"
Before she could finish—
he reached out.
And touched her cheek lightly.
Warm.
Gentle.
"Phir yeh kya hai?" he murmured.
(Then what is this?)
Her heartbeat went wild.
"Cold," she said quickly.
He smiled faintly.
"Jhoot."
She stepped back instantly.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"This…" she gestured, frustrated. "This confusing behavior!"
A pause.
Then—
"I'm not confused."
She looked at him.
"I know exactly what I'm doing."
"And what is that?" she asked.
He stepped closer again.
"Getting closer to you."
Her breath hitched.
"That's not how this works," she whispered.
"It is for me."
Silence.
The snow continued to fall around them.
Soft.
Endless.
For a moment—
neither of them moved.
Then suddenly—
Meher slipped.
"Ah—!"
Before she could fall—
Aarav caught her.
Pulling her into him.
Her hands instinctively grabbed his shirt.
Her body pressed against his.
Their faces—
too close.
Her heartbeat thundered.
"Careful," he said quietly.
She didn't reply.
Because she couldn't.
Because in that moment—
everything felt different.
Not forced.
Not controlled.
Real.
His grip on her tightened slightly.
Not to trap her.
But to hold her steady.
"Dekha…" he murmured.
"…tum girti ho, aur main pakad leta hoon."
(See… you fall, and I catch you.)
Her breath trembled.
"Let go," she whispered.
But there was no strength behind it.
Aarav didn't move immediately.
Instead—
he looked at her.
Deep.
Intense.
Like he was trying to understand something.
Or maybe…
feel something.
Then slowly—
very slowly—
he let her go.
The moment broke.
But the feeling didn't.
They stood there for a second.
Then—
Meher turned away quickly.
"We should go inside," she said.
"Hmm."
But neither of them moved immediately.
Because both of them knew—
Something had changed.
Back inside—
the warmth felt different now.
Heavier.
Charged.
Meher sat on the bed, her heart still racing.
"What is happening to me…" she whispered.
Across the room—
Aarav watched her silently.
His expression unreadable.
But inside—
everything had shifted.
Because for the first time—
He didn't just want her.
He felt something more.
Something dangerous.
Something real.
And that made everything—
More complicated.
Now the crisp chapters is begin and hope you will love this