KUCH NAYE FEELINGS

22.Leap of Faith

Neil stood frozen, his mind reeling from the unexpected kiss. Aarohi, who had always been so guarded, had just bridged a gap he never thought possible. The warmth of her lips lingered on his, a tender, electrifying sensation that spoke volumes.

His heart pounded as he recalled every instance of her flinching away from even the gentlest touch, her eyes haunted by past traumas. Yet now, she had crossed that chasm on her own, choosing to place her trust in him. He could see it in her eyes, shimmering with vulnerability and determination.

Aarohi's breaths were shallow, her body still trembling from the leap she had taken. Neil watched as she took a step back, her hands trembling but her gaze steady. She didn't flinch when he reached out to gently brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Instead, she leaned into his touch, her eyes closing briefly as if drawing strength from his presence.

The air between them was thick with unspoken words and shared understanding. Neil felt a swell of protectiveness and admiration. Her trust was a fragile, precious gift, and he was determined to honor it. He gently took her hand, feeling the slight tremor in her fingers, and held it between his own, grounding both of them in the reality of this moment.

Aarohi's breathing steadied as she squeezed his hand lightly, a small but powerful affirmation of her trust. Her eyes, now steady and focused, met his with a depth of emotion that took his breath away. There was no need for words; her actions had spoken more eloquently than any dialogue could.

In that silent exchange, Neil understood the magnitude of what had transpired. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a breakthrough, a tentative yet profound step towards healing. He vowed silently to be her unwavering support, to cherish and protect the trust she had placed in him.

As they stood there, wrapped in the quiet strength of their connection, Neil knew that this was the beginning of a new chapter. Aarohi's trust was the foundation upon which they would build, one tender moment at a time.
_

Aarohi stood in front of Neil, her heart pounding in her chest. The kiss she had just given him was still fresh on her lips, a bold and unexpected act that had taken every ounce of courage she could muster. She looked into his eyes, searching for a reaction, a sign that he understood what this meant for her.

For years, her trauma had kept her isolated, building walls so high she thought no one could ever climb them. The mere touch of a man had been enough to send her spiraling into panic, memories of past horrors flooding her mind.

But Neil was different.

His patience, his kindness, his unwavering presence had slowly begun to chip away at her defenses.

When she saw the confusion and surprise in his eyes, followed by a soft, understanding look, relief washed over her. She had been so afraid he would misinterpret her actions, but now she could see he was beginning to understand. She watched as he reached out, his movements slow and gentle, and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Instead of recoiling, she leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth and reassurance it brought.

Her mind replayed the countless moments Neil had been there for her, never pushing, always giving her space and time to heal. This kiss, this leap of faith, was her way of showing him that she trusted him, that she was ready to start breaking free from the chains of her past.

Aarohi's hands trembled as she took a step back, her breathing shallow but steadying. She felt Neil's eyes on her, full of concern and care. She knew he would never hurt her, that he was different from the men who had caused her so much pain. This kiss was her acknowledgment of that fact, her silent promise to herself that she would let him in, little by little.

She felt his hand gently take hers, his touch grounding her in the present. She squeezed his hand lightly, a small but significant gesture, and looked up into his eyes. The depth of emotion she saw there made her heart ache in the best way possible. She saw not just love, but a profound respect and an unspoken promise to stand by her through whatever came next.

In that moment, Aarohi felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She knew the road ahead would not be easy, that there would be setbacks and challenges. But with Neil by her side, she felt a new sense of hope and determination. She was not alone in this journey anymore.

As they stood together in the quiet aftermath of that transformative kiss, Aarohi felt a new chapter beginning. Her trust in Neil was the foundation upon which they would build, one tender moment at a time. And for the first time in a long while, she felt ready to face whatever came next.
_

Their silent connection was abruptly shattered when the door to the room flew open. Akshara, Aarohi's sister and Neil's sister-in-law, barged in, her face a mixture of worry and confusion.

"Neil! Aarohi! What's going on here?" Akshara exclaimed, her eyes darting between the two of them.

Aarohi instinctively stepped back, her heart racing. The abrupt intrusion jolted her out of the delicate moment she had been sharing with Neil. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and a wave of panic threatened to crash over her. Neil quickly let go of her hand, sensing the shift.

Neil turned to Akshara, his voice calm yet firm. "Bhabhi, We were just... talking."

Akshara's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scene, noting the charged atmosphere. "Talking? It didn't look like just talking."

Aarohi took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew Akshara meant well, but the sudden interruption was overwhelming. She could feel the weight of her sister's concern and curiosity, and it made her want to retreat back into her shell.

"Akshu," Aarohi finally managed to say, her voice trembling slightly but gaining strength, "Neil and I were talking about the medical reports we need, for the case. That's it."

Akshara looked between them, her expression softening as she registered the seriousness in Aarohi's tone.

Akshara stepped further into the room, her concern not entirely alleviated. "Okay. I just came to check if you needed anything. Dinner's almost ready, and I thought you might want to join us."

Aarohi, grateful for the distraction, forced a smile. "Haan. We'll be there in a minute."

Akshara's eyes flicked between them again, sensing the tension but choosing to ignore it for now. "Alright. Don't take too long." She gave a small, reassuring smile before turning to leave the room.

Once Akshara was gone, the door closing softly behind her, Aarohi and Neil stood in the lingering silence, the intensity of their previous moment still hanging in the air but now overshadowed by the need to move on.

Neil took a deep breath and looked at Aarohi. "We should go. They're waiting for us."

Aarohi nodded, trying to steady her racing heart. "Yea, let's go." She took a moment to collect herself, then headed towards the door with Neil by her side.

As they walked out of the room and into the hallway, the bustling sounds of family life filled the space, momentarily pushing aside the weight of their private moment. They joined Akshara and the others, slipping into the familiar routines of family dinner, their silent understanding tucked away for later.

_
I know it has been so long since I updated the story. Here it is . And as I said we sometimes do need feedback to continue on what we are doing. So, do comment and vote.