A week.
Seven days.
And everything had changed.
Not outside.
But between them.
Aarav was… normal.
Too normal.
No intense stares.
No possessive remarks.
No teasing whispers close to her ear.
Just—
calm.
Controlled.
Distant in a way that didn't make sense.
And that—
was driving Meher insane.
She stood in front of the mirror again.
Adjusting her outfit.
A short dress.
The kind that would have made him react instantly before.
She turned slightly.
Waiting.
Expecting.
But when she walked out—
Aarav barely looked up from his phone.
"Going somewhere?" he asked casually.
That was it.
No pause.
No reaction.
"Do I look like I'm just going for a walk?" she replied, slightly irritated.
He glanced at her once.
"You look fine."
Fine?
Fine?!
Her brows furrowed.
"That's all?" she asked.
"What else?" he said calmly.
Silence.
She turned away quickly.
Frustrated.
Later that day—
she tried again.
Sitting closer than usual.
Too close.
Their shoulders almost touching.
Aarav didn't move away.
But he didn't react either.
Just continued reading something on his phone.
"Tumhe space nahi chahiye?" she asked.
(Don't you need space?)
He shrugged slightly.
"I'm fine."
That calm tone again.
It annoyed her.
The next attempt—
She laughed louder than needed.
Talked more.
Moved around him.
Tried everything.
But Aarav—
remained the same.
Steady.
Untouched.
"Seriously?" she finally snapped.
He looked up.
"What happened?"
"What happened?!" she repeated.
"You're acting weird!"
"I'm acting normal."
"That's the problem!"
Silence.
He tilted his head slightly.
"You wanted this."
She froze.
"What?"
"You didn't like it when I controlled things," he said calmly.
"So I stopped."
Her breath caught.
"And now," he added,
"I'm giving you space."
That hit harder than she expected.
Because this wasn't distance.
This was… restraint.
But still—
it didn't feel right.
Not to her.
That night—
she tried one last time.
Standing near him again.
Close.
Too close.
"Aarav," she said softly.
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
Her heartbeat picked up.
"Don't you… feel anything?" she asked.
A pause.
He didn't answer immediately.
Just looked at her.
Carefully.
Then—
"I do."
Her breath caught.
"Then why—"
"Because I don't want to rush you."
Silence.
Complete silence.
That answer—
was not what she expected.
At all.
"I don't want you to feel forced," he continued quietly.
"I don't want you to think this is still about control."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"So I'm waiting."
That one line—
broke something inside her.
Because now—
she understood.
He wasn't ignoring her.
He was holding himself back.
For her.
And suddenly—
all those little attempts—
felt meaningless.
Because what she actually wanted—
was him.
Not his reactions.
Not his control.
Just… him.
She stepped closer.
This time—
not to provoke.
But because she wanted to.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He looked at her again.
And this time—
his calm almost broke.
Just a little.
Because now—
she wasn't playing anymore.
And that—
was far more dangerous.Days passed.
Her attempts failed.
Again.
And again.
And finally—
Meher stopped trying to trigger him.
Because she understood something now.
This wasn't about getting a reaction.
This was about saying what she really felt.
And she couldn't run from it anymore.
That evening—
she stood in the middle of the room.
Thinking.
Planning.
Her heartbeat fast.
"Bas… aaj," she whispered.
(Today… that's it.)
The room transformed slowly.
Soft fairy lights glowing along the walls.
Candles flickering gently.
Fresh flowers placed carefully—
everywhere.
Warm.
Romantic.
Not perfect.
But real.
Just like her feelings.
And then—
she got ready.
A saree.
Lemon colored.
His favorite.
The soft fabric wrapped around her perfectly.
Simple.
Elegant.
Her hair left slightly open.
No heavy makeup.
Just… her.
She stood near the door.
Waiting.
Her heart beating faster with every passing second.
Then—
footsteps.
The door opened.
Aarav walked in—
tired.
Calm.
And before he could say anything—
"Close your eyes."
He stopped.
"What?"
"Close your eyes."
He frowned slightly.
"Meher—"
"Please."
A pause.
Then—
with a small sigh—
he closed his eyes.
"Tum bhi na…" he muttered.
(You and your drama…)
She smiled slightly.
Holding his hand gently—
leading him inside.
Step by step.
"Don't open," she warned.
"I'm not."
She stopped him in the center.
"Now open."
Aarav opened his eyes.
And froze.
Completely.
The room.
The lights.
The candles.
The flowers.
Everything.
For a moment—
he didn't react.
Didn't speak.
Because this—
this wasn't something he expected.
At all.
Then—
his gaze shifted.
And found her.
Standing there.
In that lemon saree.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Looking at him—
with nervous eyes.
And in that moment—
everything inside him melted.
His hand moved to his chest dramatically.
"Main gaya…" he said, leaning slightly back.
(I'm done for…)
She blinked.
"What?"
He shook his head slowly.
"Yeh kya kar diya tumne…"
(What have you done…)
A pause.
Then softly—
"Pehle hi mushkil se control mein tha…"
(I was barely in control already…)
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
"Aur ab…" he looked at her again,
"…tumne toh seedha heart attack de diya."
(Now you've given me a heart attack.)
She laughed softly.
"Nautanki," she muttered.
(Drama king.)
But her heart—
was racing.
They sat down for dinner.
Simple food.
But the atmosphere—
felt different.
Quieter.
More meaningful.
"Tumne yeh sab kyun kiya?" Aarav asked softly.
A pause.
Meher looked down at her hands.
Then slowly—
looked back at him.
"Because I wanted to say something."
His expression changed slightly.
Serious now.
"What?"
Silence.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Her heartbeat loud in her ears.
But this time—
she didn't stop herself.
"I tried a lot of things…" she started.
"…to make you react."
A faint smile.
"You didn't."
He stayed silent.
Listening.
"I thought I wanted your attention…"
A pause.
"But I was wrong."
Her voice softened.
"I just wanted you."
His breath stilled.
Completely.
"And I don't know when it happened…"
"…but it did."
Her eyes met his.
No hesitation this time.
No fear.
"I love you, Aarav."
Silence.
A long.
Deep.
Silence.
Because Aarav—
didn't move.
Didn't speak.
His eyes stayed on her.
And slowly—
they softened.
Something broke inside him.
Not painfully.
But… gently.
His eyes filled slightly.
Not fully—
but enough.
Because no one had ever said that to him like this.
Not real.
Not like this.
"You…" he started—
then stopped.
For the first time—
he didn't have words.
And that—
was rare.
Very rare.
He looked away for a second.
Then back at her.
His voice softer than ever before.
"Tumhe idea bhi hai tum kya bol rahi ho?"
(Do you even know what you're saying?)
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
A pause.
"And I mean it."
Silence again.
But this time—
it wasn't heavy.
It was… full.
Full of everything they hadn't said before.
Aarav stood up slowly.
Walking toward her.
Step by step.
Stopping right in front of her.
Close.
Very close.
His hand lifted slightly—
then gently—
he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
His touch soft.
Careful.
"I was trying not to fall deeper," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
"But you…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…you didn't make it easy."
A tear slipped from her eye.
Not sadness.
Relief.
Happiness.
Everything at once.
Aarav leaned slightly closer.
Resting his forehead against hers.
And for the first time—
he didn't hide it.
"I love you too."
Soft.
Real.
And completely his.
The candles flickered softly.
The room stayed quiet.
But between them—
everything had finally been said.The night had settled into silence.
Soft.
Warm.
The candles had burned low.
Dinner plates left aside.
But the feeling in the air—
was still there.
Their words.
Their confession.
Everything.
Meher stepped out of the bathroom.
Now in comfortable clothes.
Loose.
Simple.
Her hair slightly damp.
Her face calm—
but her heart still fluttering from everything that happened.
She walked toward the kitchen quietly.
Picking up the plates.
Trying to distract herself.
Because if she thought too much—
she'd start smiling again.
And that—
she didn't want him to see.
She was placing a plate in the sink—
when suddenly—
arms wrapped around her.
From behind.
Warm.
Firm.
She froze.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He didn't say anything immediately.
Just pulled her a little closer.
Resting his chin lightly near her shoulder.
His presence—
calm.
But intense.
She could feel his warmth.
His breath.
And the fact that he was shirtless—
didn't help her heartbeat at all.
"Koi dekh lega…" she said softly.
(Someone will see…)
Aarav let out a low chuckle.
"Humare ilawa is haveli mein koi nahi hai," he murmured.
(There's no one here except us.)
Her breath caught slightly.
She tried to move—
but his hold tightened just a little.
Not forceful.
Just enough to stop her.
"Kaam baad mein kar lena," he said quietly.
(Do the work later.)
"I was just—"
"I know."
A pause.
"But abhi…" he whispered,
"…mujhe yeh moment chahiye."
(I want this moment.)
Silence.
She didn't argue.
Because she didn't want to.
His grip softened slightly.
One of his hands moved gently to her wrist—
careful of her injured arm.
Always careful.
That didn't change.
"You're tired?" he asked softly.
"A little," she admitted.
"Hm."
A pause.
"Phir itna kaam kyun?"
(Then why so much work?)
She smiled slightly.
"Habit."
"Change it."
Her brows lifted slightly.
"Why?"
"Because now…" he said slowly,
"…you don't have to do everything alone."
Her heart softened instantly.
That line—
simple.
But it stayed.
She leaned back slightly.
Not fully—
just enough to feel him closer.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Aarav noticed.
Of course he did.
And this time—
he didn't tease her.
Didn't push.
Just held her there.
Quietly.
Because this—
this was new.
Not obsession.
Not control.
Just… closeness.
Chosen.
After a moment—
he gently turned her toward him.
Slowly.
His eyes met hers.
No intensity.
Just softness.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Yes."
A faint smile.
"You?"
He looked at her for a second.
Then said quietly—
"Better."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
And in that quiet kitchen—
with no one around—
no noise—
no chaos—
just them—
they stood close.
Not saying much.
But not needing to.
Because sometimes—
love didn't need drama.
Sometimes—
it was just this.
Simple.
Real.
And enough.
.
.
.
.
.
Hope you like it