Neirohi's Family OS

THE SILENT OF TRUST

Part 3 : I love you  ❣️

The apartment was shrouded in darkness, save for the dim light from a streetlamp outside that cast faint shadows on the walls. Aarohi stirred slightly in her sleep, the cool breeze from the open window rustling the curtains and carrying the scent of rain. She had always loved this time of night, the quiet calm that settled over the city, making it feel like she was the only person awake in the world. But tonight, something felt different, a sense of anticipation in the air, as if something important was about to happen.

The soft knock on the door startled her awake. She sat up quickly, her heart pounding, disoriented for a moment before her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Another knock, this time more insistent, echoed through the apartment. Aarohi glanced at the clock on her bedside table—2:00 AM. Who could possibly be visiting at this hour? She wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and slipped her feet into her slippers, moving cautiously toward the door.

As she approached, a sense of familiarity washed over her, calming her nerves. She knew that knock, the rhythm and gentleness of it. She knew who it was even before she opened the door. Aarohi took a deep breath and turned the handle, pulling the door open to reveal Neil standing in the hallway, a small cake in his hands and a bright smile on his face.

"Happy Birthday, Aarohi!" he exclaimed, his voice low but filled with excitement. The candle on the cake flickered in the soft breeze, casting a warm glow on his face.

Aarohi stared at him in shock, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find the words. "Neil... What are you doing here? How did you...?" Her voice trailed off, overwhelmed by a mixture of emotions—surprise, joy, and the warmth that always filled her whenever Neil was near.

Neil's grin widened, and he stepped inside, gently closing the door behind him. "I couldn't miss your birthday, could I? Especially not your first birthday since you moved to Mumbai. I wanted to make sure it was special, that you knew someone was thinking about you, no matter how far away you are."

Tears pricked at the corners of Aarohi’s eyes as she looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. She had been so used to being alone in the past year, to managing everything by herself, that this gesture, this unexpected appearance, touched her deeply. "You came all the way from Udaipur... just for me?" she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

Neil nodded, his eyes softening. "Of course, Aarohi. You’re important to me. I couldn’t let you be alone on your birthday." He held the cake out toward her. "Now, make a wish and blow out the candle before it melts all over the place."

Aarohi smiled through her tears, feeling a sense of happiness she hadn’t felt in a long time. She closed her eyes, making a silent wish. In her heart, she wished for the courage to face her past, to reconnect with her family, and to embrace the feelings she had for Neil without fear. She blew out the candle, the flame flickering out, leaving a trail of smoke that curled into the air.

Neil watched her with a gentle expression, his eyes never leaving her face. "What did you wish for?" he asked playfully, setting the cake down on the small table in her living room.

Aarohi smiled, shaking her head. "You know I can't tell you that. It won't come true if I do." She took a step closer to him, reaching out to touch his arm. "Thank you, Neil. This... this means more to me than you could ever know."

Neil’s gaze softened, and he took her hands in his. "You don’t have to thank me, Aarohi. I’m here because I care about you. I’ve always cared about you." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I know things have been hard since you left Udaipur. I know you miss your family, even if you won’t admit it. But you’re not alone. You have me."

The sincerity in his words made Aarohi’s heart ache. She squeezed his hands, drawing strength from his touch. "I’ve missed you too, Neil. More than I realized. I’ve missed... everyone. But it’s just so complicated. The misunderstandings, the things left unsaid... I didn’t know how to go back, how to fix things."

Neil’s grip tightened, his voice firm. "You don’t have to fix everything, Aarohi. Just take one step at a time. Start with yourself, then with your family. They love you, Akshu loves you. She’s been worried about you every day since you left. And I..." he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I’ve been waiting for you."

Aarohi’s breath caught in her throat. She looked up into Neil’s eyes, seeing the truth in them, the depth of his feelings. It was like a door opening, one she had been afraid to walk through for so long. But now, with Neil standing in front of her, with his hands holding hers, she felt ready to take that step.

"Neil, I..." she started, but her voice faltered, overwhelmed by the emotions rushing through her.

Neil smiled gently. "It’s okay, Aarohi. You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that I’m here. No matter what happens, no matter where you are, you’re never alone."

Aarohi felt tears sliding down her cheeks, but they were tears of relief, of joy. She leaned into Neil, resting her head against his chest, feeling his arms wrap around her. For the first time in months, she felt safe, truly safe. The weight of the past year, the loneliness, the fear, all seemed to melt away in his embrace.

They stood like that for a long time, the silence of the night wrapping around them. Aarohi closed her eyes, listening to the steady beat of Neil’s heart, letting it soothe her. She thought about all the times she had felt lost, all the moments she had questioned her decisions. And now, here was Neil, holding her, reminding her that she wasn’t alone, that she had never been alone.

Finally, Aarohi pulled back, looking up at him. "Neil, I’ve been so afraid," she admitted. "Afraid of going back, afraid of facing everything I left behind. But with you here, I feel like maybe... maybe I can do it. Maybe I can find my way back."

Neil cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "You can, Aarohi. And when you do, I’ll be right there with you. Every step of the way."

Aarohi smiled, a real, genuine smile that reached her eyes. "I love you, Neil," she said softly. "I think I’ve loved you for a long time, but I was too scared to admit it, even to myself."

Neil’s eyes shone with emotion as he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "And I’ve loved you, Aarohi. More than I ever thought possible. You’re my heart, my everything."

Aarohi’s heart swelled with happiness, and she stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to Neil’s. The kiss was soft, sweet, and filled with the promise of new beginnings. It was a kiss that spoke of love, of hope, of a future where they could face anything together.

They pulled away, both smiling. Neil picked up the cake, cutting a piece and holding it out to Aarohi. "Here, birthday girl. You deserve this."

Aarohi laughed, taking the piece from him and taking a small bite. She fed the rest to Neil, watching as he made a show of savouring it. "Delicious," he declared, his eyes twinkling. "Just like I promised. And next time, I’m cooking a full meal for you. No more takeout."

Aarohi giggled, feeling lighter than she had in months. "I’ll hold you to that," she said. "But for now, let’s just enjoy this moment. No more worrying about the past or the future. Just us, right here, right now."

Neil nodded, pulling her close again. They sat together on the couch, talking about everything and nothing, laughing and sharing stories. For the first time in a long while, Aarohi felt at peace. As the night turned into early morning, and the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, Aarohi knew that this was the start of something new, something beautiful.

She glanced at Neil, who had dozed off beside her, his head resting on her shoulder. Aarohi gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her heart overflowing with love. She knew that there would still be challenges ahead, still misunderstandings to clear and bridges to mend, but with Neil by her side, she felt ready to face them.

Aarohi leaned her head against his, closing her eyes. She made another wish, this time not to the stars but to herself. She wished for strength, for the courage to face her fears, and for the love she had found with Neil to grow stronger every day.

As she drifted off to sleep, Aarohi knew that no matter what the future held, she had already found her way home.