Love's Gentle Embrace

The Time

After finishing their prayers, the air between them was still, heavy with the weight of unspoken thoughts. Ruhaan felt the pull of time slipping away, knowing he had only a few precious hours left before he would have to leave. The softness of the night seemed to mirror the gentle connection building between them, something new yet fragile, not quite love, but something tender that was hard to ignore.

As Noor carefully folded the prayer mat, her mind was full of the kindness and care Ruhaan had shown her. Everything about him—the way he prayed, the way he treated her with such softness—felt different, something she had never experienced before. She wasn't sure how to feel. 

The idea of love was still distant, but something within her stirred, perhaps the first glimmer of understanding what it might mean to be with someone who genuinely cared. 

Ruhaan, sensing the silence growing too heavy, broke it with a question. As he handed Noor the prayer mat, his voice was low, sincere, "Noor, aapko mere baare mein kuch jaan'na hai?" (Noor, do you want to know anything about me?)

Noor wasn't sure how to respond. The question took her by surprise, and she stood there for a moment, not knowing what to say. As she placed the mat in its place, she quietly replied, "Koi jaldi nahi hai, abhi to shuruaat hai safar ki. Waqt sab bata dega." (There's no hurry, this is just the beginning of the journey. Time will reveal everything.)

Ruhaan nodded slowly, understanding the wisdom in her words. But he couldn't shake the feeling that time was not on his side tonight. Just as Noor was about to speak, Ruhaan gently interrupted her, his tone soft yet filled with something unspoken.

"Main kal raat ko West Coast ke liye ja raha hoon. Bahut kaam pending hai, aur main shayad ek mahine ya usse zyada tak wapas nahi aa paunga. Isliye main yeh raat aapke saath guzaarna chahta hoon. Aapke saath baat kar ke mujhe kuch aisa mehsoos hota hai jo main bayan nahi kar sakta." (I'm leaving tomorrow night for the West Coast. I have a lot of work pending, and I might not be available for a month or more. That's why I want to spend this night with you. When I talk to you, I feel something that I can't quite express.)

Noor felt her breath catch for a moment. The mention of his departure sent a wave of unease through her. She had just begun to get to know him, and now he was leaving for an unknown period. She wasn't sure what to say, her heart racing as she processed his words.

"Aap kab ja rahe hain?" (When are you leaving?) she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ruhaan looked at her, his gaze steady, "Shaam ko, meri evening flight hai." (In the evening, I have an evening flight.)

Noor, feeling the weight of his departure, walked toward the balcony. The cool night air brushed against her face as she stepped outside. She needed a moment to think, to breathe. The city lights shimmered in the distance, offering some distraction, though her mind was still occupied with thoughts of Ruhaan.

Ruhaan followed her, standing by her side in the balcony. The soft breeze ruffled his hair, and the quiet between them stretched again, but this time it felt different. There was a sense of urgency, of time running out.

Noor finally spoke, her voice barely audible above the night sounds, "Aapko jaana zaroori hai?" (Is it necessary for you to go?)

Ruhaan turned to her, his expression soft but firm. "Haan, zaroori hai." (Yes, it's necessary.) He paused, then added, "Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ke hum door ja rahe hain." (But it doesn't mean we are growing distant.)

Noor looked at him, her heart conflicted. She didn't know how to respond to that. The truth was, she didn't even fully understand what she felt for him yet. Everything was too new, too unfamiliar. But she knew one thing—she didn't want him to go.