Fated Affection

Chapter 23

In the morning, Aisha woke up next to Rohan and, seeing him asleep, began to stare at him. "How calm this monster looks while sleeping," she whispered, touching his face gently. Smiling, she added, "He is quite handsome. Handsome monster."

As she was about to touch his lips, Rohan suddenly grabbed her hand and rolled over, pinning her beneath him. "Monster, huh?" he teased.

Aisha, caught off guard, stammered, "You... you were awake? Then why were you pretending to sleep?"

Rohan grinned, "You call me a monster? Now I'll show you the real monster."

Aisha's eyes widened as she realized his playful intent. "No, no, listen to me," she began, but Rohan didn't let her finish. He kissed her passionately, and to his surprise, Aisha responded eagerly, matching his intensity.

Feeling her reciprocation, Rohan let his hands wander, caressing her breast and then her stomach. Aisha pulled his hair, deepening their kiss, but as he attempted to go further, she looked into his eyes and said, "No, Rohan. I'm not ready for this yet."

Rohan nodded, his expression softening. "It's okay. I'll wait for you," he said, giving her a reassuring smile before getting up for a shower.

As Aisha lay on the bed, she thought to herself, "He's not that bad, actually." She realized she had started liking him since their dinner date but was hesitant to confess her feelings.

Rohan came out of the shower, water dripping from his hair as he grabbed a towel to dry off. He glanced at Aisha, who was still lying on the bed, deep in thought. He smiled to himself, thinking about how their relationship had started to change.

Aisha got up and began getting ready for the day, her mind still lingering on the morning's events. She couldn't shake the feeling that her growing affection for Rohan was mutual, but she was still unsure about how to express it.

Over breakfast, they shared a few stolen glances and smiled at each other, the tension from earlier giving way to a more comfortable atmosphere. After breakfast, Rohan got ready to leave for work, while Aisha planned to spend the day working on her college assignments.

Just as Rohan was about to leave, he turned to Aisha. "Aisha, how about dinner tonight? Just the two of us. We can go to that new Italian place you mentioned."

Aisha's eyes lit up. "I'd like that," she replied with a smile.

Rohan left for work, feeling a sense of anticipation for the evening. Aisha, meanwhile, spent the day thinking about what to wear and how to make the evening special.

As the evening approached, Aisha dressed in a beautiful, simple dress that accentuated her features without being too flashy. She wanted to look nice but also feel comfortable. When Rohan came home and saw her, he couldn't hide his admiration.

"You look stunning," he said, his eyes lingering on her.

Aisha blushed. "You clean up pretty well yourself," she replied, noting how handsome he looked in his suit.

They arrived at the Italian restaurant, and the ambiance was perfect—soft lighting, cozy seating, and a pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread and spices. They were seated at a quiet corner table, allowing them to talk without interruption.

As they enjoyed their meal, Rohan leaned in and said, "Aisha, I've been thinking a lot about us lately. I know things haven't always been easy, but I want you to know that I'm committed to making this work."

Aisha looked at him, her heart swelling with emotion. "Rohan, I feel the same way. I know I've been hesitant, but I do care about you."

After hearing this, Rohan's eyes sparkled with joy. He grabbed her hand and said, "As you wanted, Aisha, we will take one step at a time, so don't ever feel pressured," he said softly.

They finished their dinner, talking and laughing, feeling closer than ever before. When they got home, Rohan and Aisha sat on the balcony, enjoying the cool night air and each other's company. They talked about their hopes, their fears, and their dreams, slowly building a foundation of trust and understanding.

As the night drew to a close, Aisha rested her head on Rohan's shoulder. "I'm glad we had this night," she whispered.

Rohan kissed the top of her head. "Me too, Aisha. Me too."