𝐹𝐴𝑇𝐸𝐷 𝑆𝐸𝑅𝐸𝑁𝐴𝐷𝐸 ✅

Chapter 9 : A midnight encounter

Arohi was lying in her bed, the warmth of her velvet night suit comforting against the cool night air. She was lost in the pages of her book, her mind absorbed in a fictional world, when a faint noise from outside made her pause. Her eyes flicked toward the door, her heart picking up speed. She held her breath, listening intently, but all was silent.

Just as she began to relax and return to her book, another sound came-a gentle tap against the windowpane. Her heart leaped into her throat as she turned her head slowly toward the source. There, through the thin curtains, she could make out a silhouette, a familiar figure standing on the balcony.

Arohi's breath hitched in surprise. She set her book aside and quickly got up, her feet cold against the wooden floor as she hurried to the window. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the latch, her mind racing with confusion and a hint of fear.

Finally, she took a deep breath and unlatched the window, pulling it open just enough to see who was outside. Her eyes widened as she recognized Shivay, standing there with a sheepish grin on his face, dressed in a white full-sleeve shirt and jeans.

"Shivay?" she whispered, her voice a mix of surprise and disbelief. "What are you doing here? Like this? From the balcony, why?"

Shivay's smile widened, and he held up a small bag. "I brought you ice cream," he said, his tone light and playful.

Arohi stared at him, completely caught off guard. "Ice cream? At this hour?" She glanced at the bag and then back at him, trying to process the situation. "Are you... okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Shivay replied with a chuckle. "I just... wanted to see you. So, are you going to let me in, or should I stay out here?"

Arohi blinked, still trying to wrap her head around what was happening. After a moment, she nodded and reached out her hand, helping him climb through the window. As he stepped inside, she noticed the faint scent of alcohol on his breath, mingling with his usual scent of fresh soap and a hint of cologne.

She closed the window quickly, turning back to face him. "Shivay, this is crazy," she whispered, her voice a mix of concern and amusement. "What if my dad wakes up and finds you here?"

Shivay shrugged, a carefree smile on his face as he sat down on the edge of her bed, setting the bag of ice cream beside him. "Don't worry," he said softly. "If he does, I'll leave. I just... didn't want to be alone tonight."

Arohi's heart softened at his words. There was something vulnerable in his voice, something that made her forget the craziness of the situation for a moment. She hesitated, then sat down next to him, her eyes searching his face for answers.

"Here," Shivay said, pulling out a small cup of ice cream and handing it to her.

She took the ice cream from him, their fingers brushing for a brief moment. The touch sent a small jolt of electricity through her, and she quickly pulled her hand back, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Thank you," she murmured, opening the cup and taking a small bite.

As she ate, she watched Shivay out of the corner of her eye. He seemed... different tonight, more relaxed, more open. She couldn't help but wonder what had brought him here, to her window, in the middle of the night.

"So," she began cautiously, "what's really going on, Shivay? Why are you here?"

Shivay leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting around the room before settling back on her. "I don't know," he admitted softly. "I guess I just... wanted to see you. To talk to you. Is that okay?"

Arohi nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Of course it is," she said gently. "I'm just... surprised, that's all."

He smiled, a soft, almost sad smile that made her heart ache. "Yeah, me too," he said quietly. He looked down at his hands, then back up at her. "Can I... lie down for a bit?"

Arohi hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure," she said softly. "But you have to be quiet. My dad's a light sleeper."

Shivay nodded, slipping off his shoes and setting them neatly by the window. He walked to the bathroom, and Arohi watched him go, her mind spinning with questions and emotions she couldn't quite put into words. She quickly finished her ice cream, tossing the stick into the dustbin, and grabbed a towel from her closet.

When Shivay came out of the bathroom, she handed him the towel, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. "Thanks," he said softly, taking the towel from her and drying his hands.

Arohi nodded, watching as he placed the towel neatly on the chair before making his way to the bed. He lay down, closing his eyes with a sigh, and Arohi stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. She glanced at the clock-it was getting late, and she knew she should probably tell him to leave, but something held her back.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the warmth of Shivay's body next to hers, the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. She hesitated, wondering if she should say something, but before she could decide, Shivay opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.

"You've already had your ice cream?" he asked softly, his voice teasing.

Arohi nodded, her breath hitching slightly at the way he was looking at her. "Yes... thank you," she whispered, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

Shivay's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and something deeper, something that made her heart flutter. "Well," he said softly, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "I think it's time for me to have my ice cream."

Before Arohi could fully process his words, Shivay reached out and gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing lightly against her cheeks. Her heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat as she stared into his eyes, which were filled with an intensity that made her feel as though she were the only person in the world.

"Arohi..." Shivay murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion. "Can I?"

Arohi felt herself nodding before she even realized what she was doing, her body moving of its own accord, drawn to him like a magnet. Shivay leaned in slowly, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. Arohi's eyes fluttered closed, her mind going blank as she lost herself in the sensation.

His lips were warm and soft against hers, moving gently, almost hesitantly, as if he were afraid of scaring her away. Arohi's hands instinctively moved to his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she leaned into the kiss, her heart racing in her chest.

Shivay deepened the kiss, his hands sliding into her hair, pulling her closer. Arohi responded eagerly, her body pressing against his, her mind lost in a haze of emotion and desire. She could feel his heartbeat against her palm, fast and steady, matching her own.

The kiss grew more passionate, more urgent, as Shivay's hands moved down her back, pulling her even closer. Arohi let out a soft moan, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back with everything she had, pouring all her pent-up emotions into that one perfect moment.

For what felt like an eternity, they stayed like that, lost in each other, their breaths mingling, their bodies pressed together, their lips moving in a slow, sensual dance. And in that moment, nothing else mattered-just the two of them, together, sharing a kiss that seemed to go on forever.

Finally, after what felt like both an eternity and a heartbeat, they pulled away, their foreheads resting against each other, their breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. Arohi opened her eyes, looking into Shivay's, and saw the same mixture of confusion, wonder, and desire that she felt.

"Shivay..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He smiled, his thumb brushing gently against her cheek. "I'm glad I came," he murmured, his voice soft and filled with emotion.

Arohi nodded, her heart still racing, her mind still reeling from everything that had just happened. She didn't know what the future held, but for now, in this moment, she was exactly where she wanted to be-