Authors pov
Ruhi dropped Aayansh at his place. He asked her to come inside, but she told him some other day and waited outside the house until he went in. Once she saw Aayansh safely enter, she drove back to her place.
The moment Aayansh entered, his limp caught everyone’s attention.
“Aayansh, what happened?” his mother asked anxiously, holding his arm. “How did you get hurt?”
“Ma, it’s really nothing,” he assured her gently. “Just a small injury. You don’t need to worry.”
The tension in the room slowly settled.
By the time Ruhi reached home, she felt… light.
Too light.
She barely noticed herself humming as she changed and joined her family for lunch. She sat at the table, absent-mindedly stirring her food, her mind replaying moments from the day—his smile, his voice, the way he had looked at her like she was something precious.
“Ruhi.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
Her badi maa narrowed her eyes. “Why are you smiling at your food?”
“I’m not,” Ruhi said quickly.
Riya smirked. “You are. And you’ve been zoning out since you sat down.”
Ruhi glared at her.
Her bade papa looked up from his plate. “Everything okay?”
Ruhi took a hurried bite. “Yes. Just… work stuff.”
But her ears had turned pink.
Her badi ma noticed immediately. “Why is your face red?”
“I think I caught a cold,” Ruhi blurted out. “Probably because of the weather change.”
Riya laughed. “Cold makes you blush now?”
Her brother Rishabh looked at her worriedly. “If you’re not feeling good, you should rest.”
“I’ll go rest,” Ruhi said quickly, standing up. “My head hurts.”
She fled to her room before anyone could question her further, her heart racing. The moment she closed the door, she dropped onto her bed and buried her face in the pillow.
What is wrong with me?
Her phone buzzed.
She froze.
Then slowly reached for it.
Aayansh:
Reached home safely?
Her smile returned instantly.
Ruhi:
Yes. Are you resting?
Aayansh:
Trying to. But I couldn't, though.
Ruhi:
Why?
Aayansh:
Because I keep thinking about you.
She groaned softly and covered her face.
Ruhi:
You’re supposed to rest, not flirt.
Aayansh:
The doctor didn’t say flirting was forbidden.
She laughed silently. Before she realized it, the messages turned into a call.
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hi,” he replied, his voice warm. “You sound happy.”
“I am,” she admitted.
“So am I,” he said. “Which is why… I was wondering.”
She held her breath.
“Will you go out with me?” he asked. “An actual date.”
Her heart skipped.
“I thought you were injured,” she teased.
“I’ll survive,” he said. “Say yes.”
She smiled, eyes shining. “Yes.”
There was a pause on the other end.
Then softly, “Good. I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening.”
She ended the call smiling like a teenager with her first crush.
The next morning,
Ruhi woke up unusually early. She decided today she won't go to the office today instead she'll work from home but she wasn't able to focus on anything.
As the time passed she thought get ready early so
She stood in front of her wardrobe, staring at it like it had personally betrayed her.
“This… or this?” she muttered to herself, holding up two outfits.
Neither felt right.
She changed at least five times.
Still nothing.
With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed her phone and dialed the only person who could save her.
“Riya bhabhi,” she said the moment the call connected, “I need help.”
Riya laughed immediately. “Date?”
Ruhi sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
“No,” Riya said. “But I knew this day would come.”
An hour later, Riya was at Ruhi’s place, sitting on the bed like she owned it.
“Okay,” she announced. “Outfit emergency solved.”
She picked a soft, elegant outfit with nothing too dramatic, nothing too simple.
“This,” Riya said firmly. “Trust me.”
Ruhi looked at herself in the mirror.
She liked it.
She really liked it.
Riya grinned. “You look beautiful.”
Ruhi blushed. “Stop.”
“Oh, I’m just getting started,” Riya said, pulling out her phone. “Stand there.”
“What are you doing?”
,” Riya replied, clicking pictures. “For Aayansh.”
“What?” Ruhi gasped. “No!”
Too late.
Riya:
Sending you Ruhi’s outfit pics. Match accordingly
Ruhi covered her face. “You’re impossible.”
Riya laughed. “I’m efficient.”
Ruhi’s phone buzzed almost instantly.
Aayansh:
Wow.
Just wow.
Riya leaned over. “See?”
Ruhi smiled, her cheeks warm.
For the first time, she wasn’t anxious.
She wasn’t overthinking.
She was just… excited.
And somewhere between blushing, daydreaming, and stolen smiles, Ruhi realized this wasn’t just a date.
It was the beginning of something she had waited for longer than she ever admitted.
Evening
Ruhi checked the time for the third time in two minutes.
Okay. Calm down. It’s just a date.
Her reflection in the mirror looked calm enough, but her fingers kept fidgeting with the edge of her dupatta. Her heart, on the other hand, refused to cooperate. It raced like it had somewhere important to be.
Her phone rang.
“I’m here. Come outside,” he said.
“Okay, I’m coming. Wait.”
She grabbed her bag, took one last look in the mirror, took a deep breath, and whispered, “Calm down. Don’t embarrass yourself by tripping.”
Downstairs, her family watched her suspiciously as she walked toward the door.
“Going out?” her mother asked casually.
“Yes,” Ruhi replied a little too fast. “With… friends.”
Her badi maa raised an eyebrow. “Friends?”
Yes then she looked at Riya who was grinning but mouthed All the best.
She ignored them and rushed out before any follow up questions could be asked. Luckily, her brothers weren’t home or they would have asked a hundred questions.
The moment she stepped outside, she saw him.
Aayansh leaned against his car, dressed simply but effortlessly with , calm confidence, and that familiar smile that always felt like it was meant only for her.
For a second, both of them just… stared.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” she replied, suddenly aware of everything her voice, her hands, the way her heart refused to slow down.
He opened the car door for her. “You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks warmed instantly. “You’re not supposed to say that so easily.”
He smiled. “I waited long enough. Let me enjoy it.”
She laughed softly and got into the car.
The drive started a little awkward.
Not uncomfortable, just new.
“So,” Aayansh said after a moment, glancing at her. “Nervous?”
“No,” she lied.
He chuckled. “You’ve adjusted your bag strap five times.”
She groaned. “Okay. Maybe a little.”
“Good,” he said. “So am I.”
That surprised her. She turned to look at him. “You are?”
“Of course,” he said honestly. “This is our first date. I don’t want to mess it up.”
That did something to her chest.
They reached a quiet café not too fancy, not too crowded. Warm lights. Soft music. Comfortable.
Perfect.
Talking to him felt easy. They spoke about work, random memories, childhood stories. She laughed when he complained about his mother’s dramatic reactions. He listened when she spoke and really listened like every word mattered.
At one point, their hands brushed while reaching for the menu.
Both froze.
Then both pulled back at the same time.
“Sorry,” they said together.
They stared at each other.
And burst out laughing.
“This is going great,” Ruhi said.
“Absolutely flawless,” Aayansh agreed.
When the food arrived, Ruhi insisted on feeding him first.
“You’re injured,” she said firmly. “No arguments.”
“Yes, boss,” he replied obediently.
“Careful,” he teased. “People might think you like me.”
She paused mid air, looked straight at him, and said softly, “I do.”
For a second, he forgot how to breathe.
Later, while walking outside, the evening breeze cool against their skin, Ruhi slowed her steps without realizing it.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “Just… happy.”
He smiled. Then slowly, hesitantly, he reached for her hand.
Didn’t grab it.
Just offered.
She looked at his hand for half a second before placing hers in it.
Perfect fit.
Before dropping her home, he stopped the car.
“I had a really good time,” he said.
“So did I.”
He hesitated. “Can I…?”
She nodded before he could finish.
He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, gentle, respectful, full of promise.
“Good night, Ruhi.”
“Good night,” she whispered.
As she walked back inside, her steps were lighter, her smile unstoppable.
Her phone buzzed.
Aayansh:
I think I’m officially in trouble.
Ruhi:
Why?
Aayansh:
Because I don’t think I can ever get enough of you.
Later that night
The house was quiet.
Too quiet for how loud Ruhi’s thoughts were.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her phone resting on her chest.
Aayansh:
Hey, are you asleep?
Ruhi:
Nope.
Aayansh:
Good. Because I couldn’t sleep too.
Ruhi:
Why?
Aayansh:
Because of You. I couldn't stop thinking about you.
Ruhi blushed when she didn't how to reply so she changed the subject and asked
Ruhi:
Did the date meet your expectations?
Aayansh:
It was better.
Because expectations are imagined.
You are real.
Ruhi:
You’re not allowed to talk like that at night.
Aayansh:
Good.
Because you’re doing the same to me.
Ruhi:
Promise you won’t disappear again.
Aayansh:
That’s all I need.
Aayansh:
I like you. Still.
Ruhi:
Good. Because I also like you.
Aayansh:
Sleep now.
We have many dates to plan.
She placed the phone beside her, heart full.
Because some connections didn’t fade in silence.
They grew
Even at midnight.
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