"Hello Aaira, Kabir here!!!
Well… ignore my handwriting. I'm literally standing at a medical store while writing this letter to you. And yeah, I'm sorry for being a little rude while saving you from that accident.
I thought you might've felt uncomfortable.
By the way, Ishika told me about you… and that KitKat is your favorite, so I kept some in the bag.
It was really nice meeting you. And yeah—stop turning red like a tomato all the time. I think you have sensitive skin.
Sensitive to what, I don't know.
Anyway, here's my number. If you ever need anything… feel free to call."
"Fucckkkkk! What was that??? Red like tomatoes??? Did he really write that? No… no… he can't be serious! Hey universe, just take me away already! Why did you give me such an expressive face?!"
"It's okay, Aaira… be normal… calm down… DAMN—uncomfortable???"
How could I ever make him understand? He thought I was the one feeling uneasy… but for me, it was something entirely different—an unfamiliar sensation. Not exactly comfort, yet new… strange… and undeniably beautiful.
"Kabir!!! Stop giving me reasons to fall…"
"Let me check his profile…"
I searched his name—Kabir… but surname???
"Shit, Aaira!!!"
I sighed and instead saved his number as Kabir. My fingers hovered over the screen.
Should I text him?
But he clearly said—only if needed.
"Well… I could return the jacket… that's a reason to talk, right?"
But at midnight???
"No no… you're overthinking again, Aaira. Just sleep."
The next morning, I was in the classroom… staring at his display picture like an idiot.
A whisper brushed against my ear—
"Kuch toh hua hai… kuch ho raha haiii???"
"SHITTT—ISHIKA!"
Panic surged through me as I quickly locked my phone, but it was too late. She had already seen it.
"Stalking his DP, huh? Wait a minute… how did you even get his number?" she asked suspiciously.
I froze.
"Uh… I asked for it. I have to return his jacket… that's why."
Ishika grabbed my hands tightly and looked straight into my eyes.
"Aaira, I've known you since childhood. I can see the truth. You like him, don't you?"
"What? Are you out of your mind? There's nothing like that! Just focus on your studies, okay? Exams are near and you're still under 600!" i strongly denied
She smirked !!! "You'll never admit it… but he was asking about you."
My heart skipped.
"Asking… about me?"
A strange ache hit my chest. My heart wanted to know more… but my brain resisted.
If I ask her, she'll literally start planning our future…
But still… I couldn't stop myself.
"What… what was he asking
?"
"Who?" she teased.
I bit my lip.
"Kabir…
"
"Kabir jeeju?" she laughed.
"Shut up, Ishika!" I snapped, my face turning deep red again.
Later that day, as I returned home, a notification popped up on my phone.
"Not in the mood to return my jacket…???"
"KABIR?!"
"Shit… this is so embarrassing…"
I quickly typed back—
"I was about to text you! Sorry for being late… but how did you get my number?"
"From Ishi," he replied.
"Tell me the location, I'll return your jacket." i asked !
"You have classes and exams. Tell me when you'll be comfortable." he insisted !!
"Sunday… after 5 pm?" I asked???
"Great. He replied"
"Okay, catch you later. And yeah… don't wash the jacket. I like the lily fragrance." he typed
"What??? He noticed my perfume?"
"Damn… why does this feel so… addictive?"
Was he flirting with me?
And if he was… why didn't it bother me?
I've always hated when guys flirt with me… so why not this time?
"This man… he's different."
He's the owner of such a huge company. He must have a crazy schedule… yet he's adjusting according to my exams?
That can't be a coincidence…
Am I rushing into this? I questioned myself !
The world isn't that simple to trust.
Is he genuinely this nice… or just pretending?
But whatever I felt around him… that warmth, that sense of safety—
That can't be fake.
"Maybe I'm just overthinking…"
"Forget it. If he texts again… then I'll think about it."
Next morning i was on the way to the institute !
The road was chaotic, vehicles rushing past without a pause. My eyes suddenly caught a small dog standing helplessly in the middle of the road.
"Hey! Move!" I shouted instinctively, but it didn't budge
.
And then—
a truck came speeding toward it.
My heart dropped
.
Without thinking twice, I ran forward
.
"In the nick of time, I pulled the dog away—just before the truck came rushing past."
The sound of the truck roaring by sent a chill down my spine. My hands trembled as I held the little creature close to my chest, its tiny heartbeat racing against mine.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
I flinched at the sudden voice
.
I turned—and froze.
Kabir.
Before I could say anything, his eyes dropped to the dog in my arms. The anger on his face instantly faded, replaced by pure shock.
"…Buddy?"
His voice softened.
The little dog wiggled in my arms at the sound of his voice, almost jumping out of my hold.
"You… you know him?" I asked, still trying to catch my breath.
Kabir stepped closer, his eyes never leaving the dog.
"He's mine."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then his gaze shifted to me.
And this time… it wasn't anger.
It was something deeper.
Relief.
Gratitude.
And something I couldn't quite name.
"You saved him…
"
His voice was quieter now.
"Thank you."
Just two words.
But the way he said them—it felt heavy, real… like he truly meant it.
I looked away, suddenly aware of how close he was standing.
"I… I just did what anyone would do," I mumbled.
"No," he shook his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on me, "not everyone would run in front of a truck for someone else's dog."
My heart skipped
.
Why was he looking at me like that?
Before I could process anything, he gently took the dog from my arms, his fingers brushing against mine for a brief second.
And somehow…
That single touch sent a strange warmth through me.
"You could've gotten hurt," he said, his tone softer now.
I tried to act normal.
"But I didn't."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"…still reckless."
I was about to reply, but the words stopped somewhere between my heart and my throat.
Because suddenly… it didn't feel like just this moment.
My eyes lowered slightly, my thoughts drifting.
Someone saved me yesterday too… risking his own life without thinking twice.
Aaira's fingers tightened slightly as she held the memory close.
Maybe I just learned from him.
I looked back at Kabir—the same person standing in front of me now, the same person who had once stepped between me and danger without hesitation.
And something inside me quietly settled into understanding.
"Maybe goodness doesn't disappear…" I thought silently, my gaze softening.
"It just finds its way back… to the ones who feel it the deepest."
Kabir broke the silence first.
"You're thinking too much again."
I blinked, coming back to reality.
"No… I'm just… understanding something."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
But I only gave a small, unreadable smile.
Because how could I explain?
That maybe I wasn't just saving his dog today…
Maybe I was simply returning a piece of kindness I had once been given !"
Are you heading to institute??? Kabir asked
I said " Hmm" Shit I'm late ! I have to go !
Can i drop you ??? I mean Your institute is on my way !!! If you won't mind !
Before I could even react, the dog jumped down—and ran straight towards me.
I froze.
It stopped right in front of me… then gently pressed itself against my legs, as if it already knew me.
Kabir stared
.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Then, quietly, almost in disbelief, he said—
"That's strange…
"
I looked up.
"What?"
He glanced at the dog, then back at me.
"He usually doesn't go to anyone. Not like this."
A small pause.
Then his eyes softened slightly.
"But he came straight to you."
A strange warmth spread inside m
e.
"Really?" I asked, unable to hide the small smile forming on my lips. What's his name???
Kabir nodded once.
Then added, almost casually, "His name is Kiro."
"Kiro…" I repeated softly.
He looked down at the little dog and smiled.
"Maybe Kiro has a good sense," "he can tell who's a good soul." kabir said lightly
The moment slipped out so naturally… I didn't even realize what he had said.
.
He just looked at me.
Something unreadable passed through his eyes—quiet, steady, almost… surprised.
And for some reason, my heart reacted before my mind could.
Why did I feel so happy hearing that?
It wasn't even direct praise.
But coming from him…
It felt like something else entirely.
Kabir cleared his throat slightly, breaking the silence.
"Come," he said gently.
He opened the car door for me.
A proper gentleman. No hesitation. No ego.
Just… effortless respect
.
I sat inside slowly, still slightly overwhelmed by everything.
He walked around and got into the driver's seat.
"Seat belt," he said casually.
I stared at it for a second.
My fingers hovered awkwardly.
"…I don't know how to wear it," I admitted, my voice smaller than I intended.
The words felt embarrassing the moment they left my mouth.
I immediately looked away, bracing for judgment.
But instead—
Kabir smiled.
Not teasing.
Not mocking.
Just… soft.
"I didn't know either when I first got this car," he said simply.
Then he leaned slightly closer.
"Can I?"
My breath caught for a second.
I nodded.
He came closer.
Too close.
His presence filled the space instantly.
His fingers moved near the seat belt, but my attention… betrayed me
.
His face was right there.
Calm eyes. Sharp features. A quiet intensity that didn't need effort.
My heartbeat turned louder than the silence in the car.
I shouldn't have been staring
.
But I couldn't look away.
Why is he… so distracting?
For a second, I forgot everything—the car, the world, even myself.
Just him.
Just that closeness.
And then—
His eyes lifted.
And met mine.
Time stopped.
No sound. No movement. Just a shared pause that neither of us broke.
Even Kiro went unusually quiet.
As if even he understood.
Then suddenly—
A voice from outside broke it.
"Arre road side se gaadi hatao agar nahi jaana hai!"
Reality snapped back.
We both blinked.
The moment broke.
I quickly looked away, my face burning.
He moved back instantly, fastening the seat belt properly, clearing his throat lightly.
But the silence inside the car was no longer empty.
It was… different.
He started the engine.
And I could still feel it
.
That moment.
That pause.
That something unspoken.
I turned my face slightly toward the window, trying to hide my blush.
But I could sense it.
He was calm again.
But not the same.
Neither was I.