Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 37

Aarohi POV

I raised my gaze to meet his, instantly mesmerized by the striking beauty of his eyes. There was something almost unfair about the way his long, dark lashes framed those deep pools of emotion. How is it that men often possess such exquisite eyelashes? His eyes seemed to whisper a thousand unspoken feelings, each one drawing me further into their depths.

"Ruhi," my mother's voice suddenly pierced the charged silence, yanking me back to reality. Startled, I took a hurried step back from Dev, nearly losing my balance in my haste.

He caught my hand before I could stumble and fall. "Stay here, I'll be back in two minutes," I said with a smile. Quickly, I hurried inside, driven by urgency before my mom or brother could step out and witness the intense, electrifying moment I had just shared with Dev. Inside, I leaned against the wall, trying to calm my racing heart. "Why is it beating so fast?" I murmured, pressing my hand against my chest.

"Where were you?" Mom's sudden entrance startled me. "I-I was just taking out the garbage, and then Tara called, so I was talking with her," I stammered. I'm not a good liar, but it was the best I could manage on the spot.

"Don't stay up too late. We're all going to bed now. Make sure to close the door and get some rest," Mom said before leaving the living room.

I took a deep, relieved breath and then hurried back towards the lawn where he had been waiting. As I approached, I slowed my pace, trying to appear as if I hadn't been running.

"Sorry, I had to make sure Mom went to sleep," I explained breathlessly.

"It's alr-" he began, but was interrupted by the loud growl of his stomach. A mix of guilt and regret washed over me as I realized he had been waiting without dinner.

"I haven't had dinner," he admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed as he rubbed his stomach.

As guilt washed over me, knowing he hadn't eaten, I was determined to feed him before he left. My mind raced through every possibility of what I could cook and how to hide the fact that I was preparing a meal for him in the middle of the night, with him right there in my room.

I took his hand and led him into the house. "Please remove your shoes," I whispered, balancing them in one hand while still holding his hand with the other. We moved silently, my gestures urging him to be quiet as we tiptoed through the hallway.

As we reached my room, a jolt of panic hit me. Though my room was usually clean, I hadn't hidden the things I should have. Without thinking, I gently pushed him back and said, "Just wait here for two minutes."

Closing the door behind me, I swiftly hid away my private clothing and the casual sketches I had made of him during my idle moments. My heart raced as I straightened the room, praying he wouldn't notice my flustered state.

Once everything was in order, I opened the door and invited him in with a calm, polite demeanour, as if I hadn't just rushed to hide the evidence of my infatuation moments before.

Dev POV

A pang of embarrassment washed over me as my stomach growled in hunger.

"I haven't had dinner," I admitted, anticipating her laughter at my clumsiness. Instead, guilt flickered across her face as she gently took my hand and led me toward the main entrance. Her touch never failed to send an electrifying jolt through me, and I followed her, intrigued by her intentions.

Why is she taking me to her home? I wondered as we stepped inside. She asked me to remove my shoes, and despite my protests, she insisted on holding them herself. Ignoring my request to carry my shoes, she signalled for me to stay silent and guided me upstairs to her room.