The unexpected meet

HALDI 🌟

Aahana's pov :-

I couldn't believe my ears, my head reeling at the shocking revelation Kiki made, her words hanging in the air like a challenge, leaving me wondering what Abhimaan's true intentions were.

"Kiki I think we should inform Reyaansh about this."

"No way Bhabhi. You promised me not to reveal anything to Bhai." Desperation laced her voice, her eyes pleading.

"But how will you escape from him?" Concern laced in my voice.

She sighed, releasing my hand from her hold. "There's no escaping now. He is a predator...once he sets his eyes upon his prey, he won't stop until he claims it. And I'm his prey, Bhabhi. I can feel it in my bones, a sense of being hunted, of being trapped in his sights."

My breath hitches at her words. What if he harms her? I won't be able to forgive myself ever.

"What are you planning to do then?" I ask.

"Put up a strong fight." She shrugged.

After an hour of a tensed conversation we finally let sleep take over our exhausted bodies and we fell into a deep slumber.

I woke up to someone's sniffing sound. My eyes fluttered open, I looked around to find Kiara sitting up, hugging her knees to her chest as she rigorously tried to wipe her tears. I immediately sat up.

"Kiki what's wrong?" I shook her gently.

She turned back to look at me, her eyes giving way to fear. I switched on the lights and pulled her close and hugged her hoping it would soothe her condition.

"Shh...Kiki I'm right here. Shhh...don't cry please." I rubbed her back continuously.

After few minutes she seemed to calm down. My heart clenched at the sight of her...What could have made this girl so scared?

Sensing my gaze, she looked up at me with tears-stained eyes and whispered "I-I had a nightmare. It always happens when I'm in India...th-that's why my family sent me abroad. This place has a lot of memories...bad ones." Her eyes were numb, her expressions were haunted, as if the ghosts of her past were lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to snatch her back into the darkness.

I didn't push her further to reveal what memories this place holds for her...that would only make her situation worsen.

Instead I insisted her to sleep and she kept her head on my lap as if she would get lost if I didn't hold her. I stroked her hair, trying to comfort her, and slowly, her breathing steadied, and her body relaxed. But even as she drifted off to sleep, her grip on my hand remained tight, as if she was holding onto a lifeline. I sat there, watching her, my heart heavy with concern, wondering what demons she was fighting. The darkness outside seemed to press in on us, but in that moment, I knew I would do everything in my power to keep her safe, to be her refuge in the storm.

The next morning I woke up to find Kiara missing from the bed. I glanced at the clock and....oh shit...it's 11 am. Goddamnit, I had to help mom with the preparation of Bhai's haldi ceremony. I rushed to the washroom and quickly freshened up. I wrapped a towel around me as I walked out of the bathroom, my wet hair falling loosely down my back.

As I turned to my closet, I heard the click of my door, I turned and shit....Reyaansh is standing right in front of me. My hands instinctively flew to catch the towel as it was about to slip off as a gasp escaped my lips.

"Ansh...you scared me." I glared at him.

"You look mesmerising baby." He smirked, taking deliberate steps towards me "Especially in that towel."