“It Had Begun”

Author’s POV

The room slowly settled after the storm.

Riya was still clinging to Ruhi, her shoulders shaking as she tried to breathe through the emotions she had buried for years. Ruhi held her tightly one hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, the other gripping her dupatta as if grounding herself too.

“It’s okay,” Ruhi whispered softly, more to herself than anyone else. “It’s over now.”

Aayansh stood a little away, silent, watching them. His fists were still clenched, his jaw tight not with anger anymore, but with something unresolved. Protective instincts he hadn’t even tried to hide today.

Aayansh’s mother stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Riya’s head.
“You did nothing wrong, beta,” she said calmly. “Today is your wedding day. Nothing will ruin it.”

Riya nodded slowly, wiping her tears.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I didn’t know they would come like this.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Aayansh’s father replied firmly. “Some people don’t deserve explanations.”

“Come on,” Aditya said, trying to lighten the mood. “You need to redo your makeup. Your face is smudged I don’t want a crybaby wife.”

That broke the tension.

Riya let out a small, shaky laugh, and Ruhi smiled at her encouragingly.

“Yes,” Riya said, straightening her shoulders. “Let’s continue.”

The wedding preparations resumed.

Jewellery was adjusted, dupattas were fixed, and final touches were made. Slowly, the room filled again with soft chatter, nervous excitement, and the quiet happiness that weddings carried.

But Ruhi remained unusually quiet.

She stood near the window, staring outside, her mind replaying everything that had just happened. Her heartbeat still hadn’t slowed properly. Seeing those people hearing those words had reopened wounds she never liked to acknowledge.

“You okay?”

She didn’t need to turn around. Aayansh’s voice was low, careful.

“I’m fine,” Ruhi replied automatically.

He stepped closer, not touching her, but close enough for her to feel his presence.
“You don’t have to lie to me.”

That made her turn.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then Ruhi exhaled.
“I just didn’t expect to see them. Not today.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “You handled it well.”

She laughed softly, without humor.
“I almost lost control.”

“But you didn’t,” he said.

Her eyes flickered when he added, softly, “Whenever you feel like you’re losing, I’ll be there to protect you.”

The words hung between them.

Before Ruhi could react or overthink the door burst open.

“RUHI!” one of the cousins shouted. “The wedding is about to start. Come fast!”

Ruhi stepped back instantly.
“I need to go,” she said quickly.

Aayansh nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Go. I’ll see you downstairs.”

She walked away, but not before he added softly,
“Ruhi… I meant what I said.”

She didn’t look back.

Downstairs, the wedding venue was glowing.

flowers, fairy lights, soft music, and the buzz of guests filled the air. The mandap stood beautifully decorated, waiting.

Ruhi helped Riya with last-minute details fixing her dupatta, holding her trembling hands, whispering reassurances.

“You ready?” Ruhi asked gently.

Riya nodded, tears shining in her eyes, but this time they were happy ones.
“With you here? Yes.”

As the wedding rituals began, Ruhi stepped aside, watching from a distance.

That’s when her eyes met his.

Aayansh stood near the groom’s side, dressed impeccably, his posture relaxed—but his gaze was fixed only on her.

Not wandering.
Not distracted.
Just her.

And for the first time, something settled inside Ruhi’s chest.

This wasn’t confusion anymore.

This was inevitable.

Aayansh’s POV

After the wedding was over, I sat alone in my room, staring at nothing in particular.

The house was still buzzing outside laughter, music, relatives talking over each other but none of it reached me properly. All I could think about was one thing.

Ruhi.

Tomorrow, everyone will leave. Tomorrow, this chaos will end. Tomorrow, she wouldn’t be around every corner, every staircase, every breath of this house.

And that thought bothered me more than it should have.

I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled sharply. I had waited long enough way too long. Every look, every almost touch, every unfinished sentence… It all led here.

I needed to tell her.

How I fell for her slowly. How she became calm in my chaos without even trying. How liking her wasn’t a choice anymore it was just… there.

But the real problem wasn’t what to say.

It was how.

Because Ruhi wasn’t someone you cornered with confessions. She felt things deeply, even when she pretended not to. One wrong move, and she’d put up walls so high even I wouldn’t be able to reach her.

I stood up.

Decision made.

If I didn’t do this now, I’d regret it every single day.

I walked out of my room and down the corridor, my heart pounding louder with every step. I asked one of the cousins where she was.

“Terrace,” they said casually. “She went there a few minutes ago.”

Of course she did.

The terrace had always been her escape.

I took the stairs two at a time.

When I pushed the door open, cool night air hit my face. The terrace was dimly lit, fairy lights glowing softly along the railing. And there she was standing near the edge, arms wrapped around herself, looking at the sky.

For a second, I just watched her.

She looked peaceful. Fragile. Strong. Everything at once.

I cleared my throat softly.

She turned.
“Aayansh?” she said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” I replied honestly.

She hesitated, then looked back at the sky.
“You should be resting. It’s been a long day.”

“So avoid this,” I said quietly.

That made her look at me again.
“What do you mean?”

I walked closer, stopping at a safe distance. Not too close. Not yet.

“Ruhi… tomorrow everyone leaves,” I said. “And I don’t know when I’ll see you again like this.”

She frowned slightly.
“You’ll see me. We’re not strangers.”

I smiled faintly.
“That’s the problem. We’re not.”

Silence fell between us.

She shifted uncomfortably.
“Aayansh… you’re scaring me.”

“I don’t want to,” I said immediately. “I just please let me say this once. After that, you can decide everything.”

She studied my face, searching for something.

Then she nodded.
“Okay.”

I took a deep breath.

“I didn’t plan this,” I began. “I didn’t wake up one day and decide I’d fall for you. It just… happened.”

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t interrupt.

“I started noticing things I had no right noticing your silence, the way you take care of everyone before yourself, the way you pretend you’re strong when you’re breaking inside.”

She looked away.

“And somewhere between protecting you and worrying about you,” I continued softly, “I crossed a line. Without realizing it.”

I stepped a little closer.

“Ruhi, I like you. More than I should. More than I ever planned.”

Her fingers clenched at her sides.

“I don’t expect anything from you,” I added quickly. “I’m not asking for promises or answers. I just… couldn’t leave without telling you the truth.”

She finally looked at me then.

Her eyes were shiny confused, overwhelmed.

“Aayansh…” she whispered. “This is too much.”

“I know,” I said gently. “And I’m sorry if this complicates things. But I couldn’t lie anymore.”

She took a shaky breath.

“You’ve always been there,” she said slowly. “When I needed someone… even when I didn’t ask.”

“That’s because I wanted to be,” I replied. “Not because I had to.”

Another long silence.

Then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What if I’m scared?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“Then I’ll wait,” I said. “For as long as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her eyes filled completely this time.

She didn’t say yes. She didn’t say no.

Instead, she stepped forward and rested her forehead lightly against my chest.

Just for a second.

But that second was enough.

I closed my eyes, my heart finally calm.

Whatever this was

It had begun.