HER SAFE PLACE

Shocked

IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER.

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As my fingers reached out toward the door handle, I suddenly felt a gentle yet firm hand wrap around my arm, halting me mid-motion. Her touch was soft, almost comforting, but it had a strength that caught me off guard. I turned to look at her, my eyes wide with surprise, not expecting this gesture from her. Just as I was about to say something, or maybe step away, she leaned in closer, completely throwing me off balance.

Before I could even comprehend what was happening, she pulled me into a tight embrace, her arms wrapped around me as if she never wanted to let go. Her warmth surrounded me, and I could feel the love in her hold. Then, without any warning, she leaned in and gave me a quick peck on my cheek. It was soft, almost fleeting, but filled with so much affection. "Aww, my baby," she murmured, her voice gentle yet playful as she squeezed me even tighter.

For a second, I stood frozen, my mind unable to catch up with what had just happened. I could feel my heart racing as I replayed the moment in my head. "Did she really just kiss me?" The thought echoed in my mind, but before I could dwell on it, my subconscious chimed in, mocking me. "Oh, relax, it was just a peck, not a full kiss," it said, almost amused by my shock. Irritated, I mentally snapped back at it, "Urgh, will you shut up?"

As my internal battle raged on, I glanced down at Shivangi, who was still holding me close. Her arms hadn't loosened their grip, and she seemed completely at ease, as if nothing unusual had just happened. She eventually pulled back slightly, her brows furrowed as she looked up at me, clearly confused by my stunned silence. With a playful pout, she said, "Ab kya hua? Ab toh dono kar diya, ab kyun gussa ho?"
(What happened now? Now i have did both then why are you upset now?)

Her teasing words broke the tension in the air, but I was still trying to process everything-her unexpected affection, the teasing tone, and the fact that my heart was still racing.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, my mind still racing from everything that had just happened. She looked at me with a playful smile and then leaned in again, giving me another quick peck on the cheek. This time, my heart practically jumped in my chest, and I felt a rush of emotions that I couldn't quite explain. "Acha baba, sorry," she said with a hint of a laugh, her tone soft and teasing, "I was just playing around. Now, please stop being mad at me."

But I still couldn't find the words to respond. I just stood there, staring at her with wide eyes, completely caught off guard. It wasn't anger that kept me silent-I wasn't mad at her at all. It was the overwhelming surprise. Her actions had been so unexpected, so full of affection, that I couldn't process it quickly enough. I wasn't used to her being like this, and it left me feeling a strange mix of stunned and speechless.

She frowned, clearly thinking that I was upset, and her expression turned into a cute little pout. Without saying anything more, she started to turn away, probably thinking I was still mad at her. But before she could walk away, I quickly reached out, gently grabbing her by the waist. The moment my hand touched her, she stopped, and I pulled her back toward me, her body now close to mine.

I could feel the warmth between us as I leaned in closer, my lips just inches from her ear. My heart was pounding, and the air between us felt thick with unspoken feelings. Slowly, I leaned down, brushing my lips close to her ear, and in a soft, low voice, "...I'm not mad at you," I whispered, my voice barely audible but filled with emotion. I could feel her shiver slightly at the sound of my voice so close to her ear. My hand stayed firm on her waist, holding her gently but with purpose. "You just caught me off guard."

She didn't move, her body still pressed against mine. I could tell she was waiting for me to say more, her breathing a little uneven, as if she wasn't expecting this side of me either. I let the silence stretch for a moment, the air around us thick with anticipation. Then, I pulled back just enough to look at her face, her eyes wide with curiosity, and maybe a little surprise.