𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄

𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

ATHARVA

I couldn't shake the fear of falling back into my addiction to Dhruvi, especially now that it seemed she didn't want me. The excuse I gave sounded feeble even to myself. Sure, it didn't matter if a maid caught us in this situation, but if I admitted wanting more, would she avoid me even more?

"I'll sleep on the couch," I decided, meeting her gaze. She sat at the edge of the bed, lost in her thoughts, legs trembling.

"Aren't you going to take the bed?" Her surprise was evident in her widened eyes.

"No, you should rest on the bed. The couch is quite spacious," I assured her, arranging a pillow and blanket.

"Why?" Her focus now entirely on me.

"Huh? Did you want me to join you on the bed?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"No, why would I want that?" She stood now, cheeks flushing a delightful shade of red.

What was she really thinking? I wondered, unable to resist teasing her; her mix of confusion and slight irritation was endearing. She looked adorable.

"But your expression says otherwise," I teased, crossing my arms.

"No! You're terrible at reading expressions. I was thinking about something else," she retorted.

"What were you thinking about?" I inquired genuinely curious.

Dhruvi hesitated, nibbling her lip. "It's nothing important," she finally said, glancing away.

"Come on, you can tell me," I coaxed, hoping she'd open up.

She took a deep breath, meeting my eyes briefly. "I was just...wondering why you always do that."

"Do what?"

"Why you always leave me feeling so...confused," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her honesty caught me off guard. "Confused in what way?"

"Like now," she gestured between us. "I never know what you truly want. One moment you're close, the next distant."

I sighed, closing the gap between us. "Dhruvi, it's not that simple."

"Then explain it to me," she urged.

I searched her eyes for the right words. "I think I'm scared too. Scared of wanting something I can't have, or making things worse between us."

She held my gaze for a moment before nodding slowly. "I understand that."

"Do you?" I asked, hopeful.

"Yeah," she replied softly. "I think I feel the same way sometimes."

Drawing closer, the tension between us thickened with unspoken words and hidden desires. "Dhruvi," I murmured, reaching out to gently touch her arm. The sensation sent a shiver down my spine.

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. "What do you really want?" Her voice barely audible.

Holding her close, I could feel her breath on my skin, her face so near I could count each delicate eyelash. My mind raced, analyzing every aspect of her, fighting the overpowering urge to surrender to my emotions. Then she spoke, her voice trembling. "If you ever push yourself on me, like others do in marriage..."

Her words hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of her fears. I froze, our eyes locked in a silent exchange. Her apprehension struck me like a blow to the gut. Without hesitation, I released her hands, the truth hitting me hard. "I will never, ever do anything without your consent," I promised firmly yet gently. "I couldn't bear to hurt you. Every time you're upset, it tears me apart. Dhruvi, I promise to always respect your boundaries."

"So, are we just friends now?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"No," I replied honestly.

"Why?" Her eyes shimmered with unspoken hurt.

"Because things have changed between us. I can't pretend my feelings are gone, and I can't settle for just friendship when we were more than that. If we're going to try again, let's do it right-like husband and wife. Will you?" Each word carried a thread of hope.

Dhruvi held my gaze for a moment, her silence stretching between us. Finally, she looked away. "I need to rest now," she said flatly, as if brushing aside my plea for another chance. Did she truly not want to give us another try?

Next morning

Dhruvi had been avoiding me all morning, and it was seriously starting to piss me off. Now, we were in the office, and as I sat at the head of the table, my eyes were glued to her. She'd chosen a seat two chairs away, making it painfully obvious she didn't want to be near me.

Throughout the meeting, she spoke only when absolutely necessary, her voice lacking any of its usual warmth. Once the meeting ended and everyone else filed out of the room, I sent her a quick text: "Stop."

"Are you avoiding me?" I asked bluntly when she looked up.

"Hmm? No," she said, but her eyes avoided mine. It was a lie, and we both knew it.

"Then let's go to a restaurant to celebrate the project deal's success," I suggested.

She fidgeted with the pen in her hands, clearly nervous. "Sorry, but I'm not feeling well," she mumbled before practically fleeing the room.

I followed her, stopping short when some guy I didn't recognize approached her.

"Hey Dhruvi, are you joining us?" he asked.

"Where?" she replied, looking confused.

"Everyone's going to the restaurant. Come on, you'll have fun-"

"She's not feeling well, so she won't be going," I cut in, stepping into their conversation. They both turned to look at me.

"Oh, sorry if that's the case," he said.

"No, no, I'm fine. I'll join," Dhruvi said, her voice suddenly stronger. What the fuck!!

In the restaurant, she deliberately chose a seat far away from me again. What was she playing at? Couldn't I just wake up with telepathic powers to decode her mind? She was as enigmatic as ever, and her behavior mirrored the frustrating days of the past.

If only I had the ability, I would swoop in, pull her out of that chair, and place her right beside me-close enough to feel her warmth, close enough to unravel her secrets. But with her sitting there, distant yet tantalizingly close, it felt like she was intentionally keeping me at arm's length .

After our meal, she excused herself to go to the restroom. It was my only chance to catch her alone, perhaps a bit intrusive, but necessary.

As she walked away, her figure disappearing around the corner, I debated whether to follow. This was my opportunity, and I couldn't afford to let it slip away.

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