I’ll Come Running to you

AAYANSH’S POV

Nooooo…

A loud scream tore through the silence.

I jolted upright, heart pounding violently. For a moment I was disoriented until I realized where the sound was coming from.

My phone.

It was still on… because I never hung up after calling Ruhi.

I snatched it from the table.

The screen showed its 3:30 AM.

“Ruhi?” I said urgently.

No answer.

All I could hear was her heavy, shaking breaths… and faint muttered words I couldn’t understand.

“Ruhi!” I called again, louder.

Still nothing.

A sharp fear punched through me.

I didn’t think, I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed my car keys and ran.

One thought repeated in my mind like a heartbeat:

Something is wrong and She needs me.

I got into the car, kept the call on speaker.

“Ruhi! Ruhi, can you hear me?”

No reply.

Just her breath fast, ragged, wrong.

Then I heard it.

A small whimper. A broken mumble. And then

“Papa… don’t go… please… Papa…”

My chest tightened painfully.

She was reliving it. Her trauma. Her loss.

“Ruhi, I’m coming,” I whispered, voice already shaking. “Just hold on. I’m right here.”

By the time I reached her house, I didn’t even remember how I drove.

I got down. I didn’t know that after everything happened, I should knock on the door and wake up everyone, so I just did what came to my mind.

So, I climbed the wall through the pipe. I climbed the balcony and saw that her balcony door was open, so I just went inside.

And then I saw her.

Curled on the bed. Sheets twisted around her. Sweat on her forehead. Breathing hard, like she was struggling for air.

Her eyes were shut tight, but tears slipped out anyway.

“Ruhi…” My voice cracked without warning.

I sat beside her and touched her shoulder gently.

The moment I did, she flinched violently.

“No… no, don’t leave… please…” she cried.

My heart broke.

“Ruhi, it’s me,” I whispered, leaning closer. “It’s Aayansh. You’re safe. I’m here.”

Still, her breath wouldn’t calm. Her hands clutched the bedsheet like her life depended on it.

So, I did the only thing that felt right.

I pulled her into my arms.

At first she stiffened Then slowly, slowly, her body relaxed against me.

She was shaking. Really shaking.

“I’m here,” I murmured. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Her hand moved weakly, gripping my shirt like she needed proof I was real.

“Aayansh…” she breathed.

I held her tighter.

Minutes passed. Her breathing steadied, though her eyes still fluttered restlessly.

When she finally opened them, she looked confused, then scared, then relieved.

“Aayansh?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m here.”

I took the glass of water that was on the nightstand and helped her to drink it.

She literally gulped down the whole glass of water in one go. I took the glass and put it back.

Then she whispered, “Why are you here?”

I let out a small breathless laugh.

“Because you called for help even without saying a word.”

Silence fell. Not awkward. Not heavy.

Just… meaningful.

She looked tired. Fragile in a way she never let anyone see.

“You should sleep,” I said.

“No. I’ll see it again.”

“I… I didn’t want to sleep,” she admitted softly, voice trembling. “Every time I close my eyes, I see… I see”

She stopped. Her throat closed up.

I cupped her face lightly, forcing her to look at me.

“Ruhi,” I whispered, cupping her face, “you don’t have to go through it alone. Not anymore.”

Her eyes widened a little.

I hesitated for a moment, then I moved closer.

“Sleep. I’m right here. I’m not leaving.”

After searching my eyes checking if I meant it, she slowly rested her head on my shoulder.

Within minutes, she fell asleep. Peacefully this time.

I sat there watching her breathe, brushing strands of hair off her face whenever she murmured.

When the clock hit 5 AM, I knew I had to leave before her family saw me.

It took everything in me to get up.

I placed a note on her table:

Good morning, princess. I hope you’re feeling better now. I left early so things don’t get awkward for you… or for your family. Aayansh

I took one last look at her peaceful face… and slipped out quietly.

SINGHANIA HOUSE

I reached home around 5:45 AM. Too restless to sleep again, I showered and sat with my laptop, pretending to work.

But Ruhi… her tears… her voice calling out in pain…

I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

I looked at the time it was already 8 means everyone might be awake till now so I went to the dining hall to see everyone was there except for my younger brother Vivan.

I sat quietly, lost in thoughts.

“Good morning!” my Vivan shouted, plopping beside me.

My dad lowered his newspaper.

“You went out early today? I saw you coming back at 5:30.”

I froze for half a second.

“Uh… yeah. Went for a run,” I said, drinking water.

My sister raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you run at 5 a.m.?”

I glared at her.

“Since today.”

She smirked like she knew I was lying.

I finished my breakfast, grabbed my keys, and walked out.

I needed to see her.

AUTHOR’S POV

Ruhi woke up with a pounding head and a strange heaviness in her chest.

For a moment, she stared at the ceiling.

What had happened?

The nightmare… Aayansh… him holding her…

No. That had to be a dream.

She sat up and froze.

Her blanket was tucked around her gently. Her hair was tied back. And on the side table…

A small, folded paper.

Her heart skipped.

She picked it up with trembling fingers.

Good morning, princess…

She stared.

Then I started again.

It wasn’t a dream.

He was here. In her room. Watching over her.

Her heartbeat became embarrassingly loud.

BREAKFAST TABLE

Ruhi walked in, trying her best to look normal.

Her brother studied her face.

“You didn’t sleep well,” he said.

Her Bhabhi added, “You look like you cried all night.”

Ruhi stared at her plate.

“Nightmare again?” her brother asked gently.

She nodded.

Then her nephew, casually destroying her life, said:

“Bua’s room light was on at 5 a.m. I saw it when I went to drink water.”

Ruhi choked.

Her brother’s eyes widened.

“5 a.m.? Why were you awake?”

She panicked.

“I. I couldn’t sleep. So, I was… reading something. "She stutters.

Her Bhabhi narrowed her eyes. “Why are you stuttering?”

“Nothing. I’m just not feeling well,” she muttered.

Her family exchanged glances but didn’t push.

RUHI’S OFFICE

Ruhi reached work still tense. She sat in her cabin, staring at the note in her hand.

Then

A knock.

She looked up.

Aayansh. Standing at the glass door. Looking straight at her.

Her breath caught.

She quickly hid the note in the drawer and spoke

“You… came?” she asked softly.

He stepped inside.

“You okay now?”

“Yes. Better,” she whispered.

“Do you want to talk about last night?”

She froze.

But something in his eye, safe, patient, steady made her trust him.

“It was a nightmare,” she said. “I get them sometimes… because of my dad.”

He didn’t interrupt.

“When I was young, my parents divorced. I lived with Mom for years. Then Dad got custody. I moved in with him thinking things would finally get better.”

Her voice broke slightly.

“And then… I lost him. Accident.”

His jaw tightened with emotion.

She attempted a small smile. “It’s stupid. But I still dream about it.”

“It’s not stupid,” he said quietly. “It’s pain.”

Their eyes met.

Something shifted again.

He stepped closer.

“Ruhi… next time you’re scared, call me first. No excuses.”

Her heart thudded.

“Why?” she whispered.

He didn’t pause.

“Because I’ll come running to you.”

She felt that. Deep. Real.

Her fingers brushed the note in her drawer.

Yes. Something had definitely changed.

For both of them.

And neither of them knew just how big that change was going to be.