Upto Chance

Part 15

The next morning, Karanveer was the first one to wake up. As he opened his eyes, he noticed their close proximity: Ragini's face was nuzzled into his neck, and their hands were interlocked. A soft smile spread across his face as he took in the serene moment. He wished to wake up like this every day.

Gently, he touched her face, a bubble of happiness wanting to burst within him. Speaking with her the previous night had lifted a weight off his shoulders, and he felt a sense of peace and joy he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe he should have done it sooner.

He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her soft skin. His gaze lingered on her closed eyes, her tinted cheeks, and her lips. The temptation to touch them, to feel their softness under his fingertips, was strong.

As he watched her, he whispered softly, "I never knew I could feel this way." He gently traced the outline of her lips with his thumb, careful not to wake her. Her breath was even and calm, and he felt a rush of tenderness.

He bent down slightly, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin against his lips.

Ragini stirred slightly, and Karanveer quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. It would be too awkward if she caught him staring at her. He felt her shift slightly, her breath warm against his neck as she slowly awakened.

Ragini opened her eyes, blinking a few times to clear the haze of sleep. She felt the warmth of Karanveer's body next to her and noticed their intertwined hands. Her heart skipped a beat at the closeness. Carefully, she disentangled her hand from his, not wanting to wake him.

As she moved, she glanced at him and couldn't help but admire him. His serene expression, the gentle rise and fall of his chest—everything about 

 seemed to draw her in. A sudden urge took over, and she placed a quick, gentle kiss on his forehead.

Realizing what she had done, she quickly moved back, her heart pounding. She suddenly came across Karanveer's open eyes, looking directly at her. She froze, their gazes locked for a moment, his eyes filled with a mix of surprise and shock.

Embarrassed and flustered, Ragini quickly dashed into the washroom, her cheeks burning. Karanveer, still processing the tender gesture, smiled to himself, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. The fleeting kiss had meant more to him than words could express, and he hoped he would have more kisses. 

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At the breakfast table, everyone couldn't help but observe the subtle dynamics between Karanveer and Ragini. Ragini looked awkward, while Karanveer kept glancing toward her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

As they ate, Ragini noticed the food on Karanveer's plate. She placed a bowl of sprout salad in front of him and proceeded to add another chapatti to his plate. Karanveer let out a whine, "Mujhe nahi khana," and tried placing it back.

"It's very thin, you can eat it," she replied, her tone firm but gentle.

Karanveer glanced at her plate and noticed it was nearly empty. Without a word, he placed the chapatti back on her plate.

She whined in protest, "Mera hogaya hai."

"It's very thin, you can eat it," he said, mimicking her earlier words with a playful smirk.

Ragini was about to protest again, but Karanveer cut her off. "I'm listening to you and eating, now you should also listen to me."

Sighing in defeat, she continued to eat, a small smile tugging at her lips. The exchange didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the family, who exchanged amused glances.