“You Already Have Me”

Author’s POV

Ruhi woke up to her phone buzzing.

Half asleep, she reached for it, already knowing who it would be.

Aayansh:
Good morning.

Her lips curved into a smile instantly.

Ruhi:
Good morning
Did you wake up early today?

Aayansh:
I couldn't sleep much.
Thought I’d steal a few minutes with my girlfriend before work.

Ruhi sat up, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Ruhi:
Hmm… I just woke up.

She said shyly, the word girlfriend still making her heart flutter.

Aayansh:
If your beauty sleep is done, can your boyfriend have some time to talk?
Or are you too busy to spare five minutes for me?

She laughed softly.

Ruhi:
Hmm… I need to think about it.

A pause.

Aayansh:
I’ll behave.
Promise.

She shook her head, smiling, not believing him for a second.

At the Office

The morning passed in a blur of files, emails, and quiet conversations.

Ruhi was just finishing up a discussion when someone cleared their throat beside her desk.

“Hey,” Shrey said, smiling. “Are you free for a minute?”

Ruhi looked up. “Yeah, just a sec.”

They started talking strictly about work. She was explaining something when she suddenly felt… watched.

She looked up.

Aayansh stood a few steps away.

Hands in his pockets.
Expression unreadable.

Her heart skipped.

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

He shrugged casually. “Thought I’d visit my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend.

Before Ruhi could react, Shrey spoke loudly.

“Girlfriend?” he repeated. “Since when did this happen? And why didn’t you tell me, Ruhi?”

“Shrey listen” Ruhi started.

He showed his hand, stopping her.

“No, it’s fine,” he said dramatically. “I get it. You don’t need to explain. I thought we were best friends… turns out it was only me who thought that.”

“Shrey, listen,” Ruhi tried again. “I was going to tell you, it’s just

He interrupted again.
“Yeah, sure. Probably when you two are already married. Or maybe after you have kids and come to me like ‘Look baby, this is your Shrey uncle.’”

“Shut up!” Ruhi snapped.

Aayansh stiffened at the way Shrey spoke to her anger flashing in his eyes.
But the moment Shrey mentioned marriage and kids with Ruhi…

Aayansh smiled.
Shyly.

Ruhi shot him a sharp glare.

He immediately wiped the smile off his face.

Ruhi turned back to Shrey, taking a breath. “Enough drama. I’ll tell you everything.”

She explained how she and Aayansh first met, how things slowly grew between them, and how during Aditya’s wedding he confessed… and she realized she felt the same.

Shrey pouted. “You betrayed me.”

Then without thinking he took Ruhi’s hand in his.

That was it.

Aayansh stepped forward instantly, grabbing Shrey’s wrist and pushing it away.

“Leave her hand,” he said coldly. “Don’t you dare touch her.”

Shrey looked at Ruhi, still pouting. “See how he’s talking to me?”

Ruhi glared at Aayansh again.

Shrey continued, “You told me that if you ever liked someone, he’d need my approval before dating you. And I, Shrey, your best friend do not approve of him.”

He pointed straight at Aayansh.

Aayansh scoffed. “Excuse me? Who the hell are you to give approval?”

“Her best friend,” Shrey replied smugly.

“And I’m her boyfriend,” Aayansh shot back.

They stood glaring at each other.

The tension was thick.

“Enough!” Ruhi snapped. “Both of you shut up.”

Both men looked away, still visibly irritated.

Ruhi sighed. “Shrey, go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“What? Me?” Shrey asked.

“Yes, you,” Aayansh mocked. “You go.”

“Shut up, Aayansh,” Ruhi warned.

She turned back to Shrey. “Just go. We’ll talk later., okay?”

Shrey nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But we’re not done.”

He shot one last angry look at Aayansh before walking away.

The moment he left the room, Aayansh broke into a victorious grin.

But when he looked at Ruhi

She was staring at him.

Hard.

His smile vanished instantly.

“You,” Ruhi said slowly.

And Aayansh knew…
He was about to get scolded.

“You,” Ruhi said again, folding her arms.

Aayansh straightened immediately. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” she replied, lowering her voice but sharpening her tone. “What was that?”

He tried to look innocent. Failed miserably.

“I was just” he paused, then sighed, “being protective.”

“Protective?” she repeated. “Or territorial?”

He looked away for a second, jaw tightening. “He was holding your hand.”

“He’s my best friend,” Ruhi said calmly. “A dramatic one, yes but still my best friend.”

Aayansh muttered, “Doesn’t mean I have to like him.”

She rubbed her temple. “Aayansh…”

He crossed his arms like a sulking child. “Fine. Next time I’ll just stand quietly while someone yells at my girlfriend.”

Her expression softened at that word.

“You could’ve handled it without starting a duel in my office,” she said.

“I didn’t start it,” he defended. “I just planned to finish it.”

She bit back a smile. Barely.

“Aayansh,” she warned.

“Okay, okay,” he said quickly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped. I just… got jealous.”

That made her pause.

“You?” she teased lightly. “Jealous?”

He looked at her then, honest and a little vulnerable. “Yeah. Because I finally have you. And I don’t like the idea of sharing your attention.”

Her heart softened completely.

She stepped closer. “You don’t have to compete with anyone.”

He tilted his head. “I still didn’t like it.”

She sighed, then smiled. “You’re impossible.”

“And you like me anyway,” he replied smugly.

She rolled her eyes. “Barely.”

“Liar,” he said, grinning.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed on the desk. She glanced at the screen meeting reminder.

She groaned. “I have a meeting in five minutes.”

Aayansh’s smile faded slightly. “Already?”

She nodded. “You should go too. Before someone else decides to witness your jealous side.”

He smirked. “Let them. I’ll scare them all.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Go.”

He took a step back, then hesitated. “We’re okay?”

She met his eyes. “We’re okay.”

That was all he needed.

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “I’ll text you.”

“I know,” she said.

As he walked away, he added over his shoulder, “And for the record I’m still not like that Shrey.”

She laughed.

Later That Afternoon

Ruhi sat at her desk, pretending to focus on her screen.

Her phone buzzed.

Aayansh:
So…  are you still mad

She smiled, typing back.

Ruhi:
A little.

Aayansh:
But im not saying sorry to that chippku

She paused.

Ruhi:
Chippku?

Three dots appeared instantly.

Aayansh:
Yes that friend he is always stick to you like a magnet
And  I’m still jealous.

She shook her head, smiling to herself.

That’s when an idea slowly began to form.

A small smile played on her lips.

If he wanted to act jealous…
She’d give him something else to focus on.

She picked up her phone and typed.

Ruhi:
Come by after work.

A pause.

Aayansh:
Why?

She smiled mischievously.

Ruhi:
I owe you something.

His reply came immediately.

Aayansh:
Now I’m curious.
And scared.

She leaned back in her chair, heart light.

Good, she thought.
Plan successful already.

By the time work ended, Ruhi was smiling for no reason at all.

She checked the time twice, then gathered her things and slipped out early, her heart buzzing with excitement. Instead of heading straight home, she made a small detour one she knew would matter.

Meanwhile, Aayansh stood outside her building, leaning against his car, checking his phone for the tenth time.

I owe you something, she had said.

That sentence alone had kept him restless all evening.

When Ruhi finally appeared, he straightened instantly.

“You’re late,” he said dramatically.

She smiled sweetly. “I had…to do some work.”

“Suspicious what work?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” she replied, opening the car door. “Come with me.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re kidnapping me now?”

Yes if you won't come willingly then ill will kidnap you,” she said ..

They drove in comfortable silence until she asked him to stop near a quiet street lined with warm lights and soft music drifting from a familiar place.

He frowned. “Ruhi… this is”

“My favorite place,” she finished, unbuckling her seatbelt. “The one I told you about.”

His expression shifted. “?”

She shrugged casually, but her eyes gave her away. “Inside, she guided him to a small corner table and already set his favorite food, his favorite dessert.

He stared at it for a second.

Then at her.

“You planned this?”

She nodded. “I thought… since someone was feeling a little insecure today…”

“A little?” he interrupted.

She laughed. “Okay. Very.”

He leaned back, crossing his arms. “So this is to bribe me?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “This is to remind you.”

“Remind me of what?”

“That you don’t need to compete with anyone,” she said softly. “You already have me.”

That hit harder than he expected.

She reached across the table, resting her hand over his. “Shrey is important to me. But you’re… different.”

He swallowed. “Different how?”

She smiled gently. “You’re the one I come home to. Even when we’re just texting.”

The playful jealousy melted instantly.

“Ruhi,” he said quietly.

She tilted her head. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry for acting like a kid.”

She squeezed his hand. “You were kind of cute.”

He scoffed. “That’s not helping.”

She laughed, then pulled something out of her bag and slid it across the table.

He frowned. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

Inside was a simple locket small, silver, engraved with A.R.’

His chest tightened.

She nodded. “I wanted you to know I meant it.”

For a moment, he didn’t speak.

Then he stood up, walked around the table, and held out his hand.

“Come here.”

She hesitated for half a second before standing.

He pulled her into him gently, resting his forehead against hers.

“No jealousy,” he murmured. “Just… stay like this for a while.”

She smiled against his chest. “Deal.”

After a beat, he added softly, “But I still don’t like Shrey.”

She laughed. “I know.”

He smiled too, arms tightening just a little.

Because jealousy fades.

But reassurance
That stays.