THE RECURRING

✨ Lunch?

AUTHOR'S POV :

Arjun woke to the soft glow of sunlight streaming through an unfamiliar window. For a moment, disorientation clouded his thoughts, but the events of the previous night quickly returned to him. The memory of Sanvi holding him as he cried—the quiet warmth of her embrace—settled over him like a comforting blanket. He glanced around, but Sanvi was nowhere to be seen.

Walking toward the dining table, he noticed a small box and a note attached to it. The handwriting was neat, and as he read it, a smile slowly crept onto his face:

I had to go to the office as something came up. I wanted to wake you, but you seemed to be sleeping so peacefully after so many days, so I didn’t. I noticed you like homemade food, so I made breakfast for you. Also, please lock the door when you leave. The keys are in the shoe rack. My phone number is 9xxxxxxxxx.
Give me a call, and I’ll come pick up my keys later.

Arjun couldn’t help but grin. Her thoughtfulness was unexpected, and it touched him in a way he hadn’t anticipated. After locking her door, he drove back to his house to get ready for the day. Despite the stress awaiting him at work, he couldn’t stop smiling.

When he arrived at the office, an employee greeted him and he greeted back only to get a shocked expression, and Arjun wondered briefly if he’d done something unusual. Brushing it off, he headed to his cabin. Raj came in shortly after, going over the day’s schedule, but his attention flicked to the box on Arjun’s desk.

“Sir, I think someone mistakenly left that box here. I’ll have it removed,” Raj said, reaching for it.

Arjun stopped him. “No, Raj, it’s my breakfast.”

Raj looked surprised. “But sir, you never eat breakfast.”

Arjun chuckled softly. “Some things change with time.” Raj smiled knowingly and left the room.

Later that afternoon, Arjun called Sanvi to return her keys. She answered on the third ring.

“Hello…who is this?” Sanvi’s voice sounded confused.

“It’s Arjun,” he replied, a slight smile in his voice.

“Mr. Rathore?” she asked, clearly surprised.

“Yes, and please, just call me Arjun. I called to return your keys. Text me your location, and I’ll come by and hand them over.”

“No, it’s fine, Mr. Rathore. I’ll come get them from you,” she insisted, but something in the way she said his name made Arjun feel strangely irritated.

“Sanvi, just text me the address,” he said firmly, ignoring her earlier suggestion.

“Okay, I’ll send it. Bye.” She hung up.

When he arrived at the address, it looked like a university. He called Sanvi to let her know he was there, and after a moment, she came running out to meet him. She thanked him and was about to dash off when he instinctively grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward him with more force than he intended. She stumbled, colliding into him, and for a moment, everything stopped.

---

Sanvi had spent the night watching over Arjun. After he’d cried in her arms, he’d fallen asleep, exhausted. Not wanting to disturb him, she had laid him down on the couch and covered him with a duvet before retreating to her own room.

Her morning had started abruptly with a call from Professor Johnson, asking her to come in early to decode a set of symbols on an ancient artifact. She’d gotten ready quickly and headed to the kitchen. Seeing Arjun asleep on the couch, she had felt an odd warmth fill her. He looks so peaceful, she had thought, unable to tear her eyes away. Realizing she was running late, she had hurriedly made breakfast for both of them and left the note before rushing to the university.

By afternoon, she had forgotten to eat and was completely absorbed in her work when an unknown number flashed on her phone. It was Arjun, calling to return her keys. She texted him the address, and before long, he was there.

She ran out to meet him, thanked him, and turned to leave, but before she could take another step, he caught her wrist and pulled her toward him. The force of it made her crash into him, and for a moment, everything stopped. She found herself pressed against him, his arms still holding her by the waist. Her heart pounded, and she looked up into his eyes, unable to break the intensity of his gaze.

Something passed between them in that moment—an unspoken connection that left Sanvi breathless. His closeness was overwhelming, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was affecting her more than it should. His eyes were locked on hers, and the world around them seemed to fade away.

If this continues, I might actually kiss him, she thought, panic bubbling up inside her. Summoning the courage, she whispered, “Arjun…your hands.” Her voice came out soft, almost hesitant. It seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in, and he quickly let go, stepping back.

Sanvi turned, desperately trying to hide her blushing face as she hurried back toward the university. But before she could disappear, he called her name.

“Sanvi,” he said, his tone softer now. She turned to face him, and he approached her once more. “Did you have lunch?”

She nodded, but before she could respond, her stomach betrayed her, growling loudly. She looked at him, embarrassed.

“I see. Well, let’s have lunch again,” Arjun said with a smirk. Without giving her a chance to protest, he took her hand and led her to his car. He drove them to a restaurant that, to her surprise, was completely empty.

“What’s going on?” she asked, confused by the lack of customers.

Arjun looked at her, his expression gentle. “Are you uncomfortable in silence? If this bothers you, we can go somewhere else.”

“Wait…you knew it would be silent here?” she asked.

He nodded. “This is one of my restaurants. I made sure it would be empty for us today.”

Sanvi was stunned. Ahh, the privileges of being a billionaire.

They ate in silence, and to her surprise, the food was delicious. She hadn’t expected such care, and when Arjun dropped her back at the university, she found herself wishing the afternoon hadn’t ended so soon. Before she could slip away, he caught her hand again.

“Sanvi, are you free tomorrow?” he asked, his voice holding a quiet intensity.

“Not really…but I can make time,” she admitted, her heart pounding.

“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow at six.” He smiled, leaving her standing there, wondering to herself what she had just agreed to.

Why did I say I’m free? she thought, her mind racing. Am I falling for him?

Our poor sanvi is still confused about her feelings.....

Guys guess what...
Until now this is the longest chapter I've ever written......