Prem Kahaniyaan

8.

The air was different today. Zara could feel it as soon as she stepped into Arjun’s apartment for their latest interview. There was a lingering warmth in the room, an intimacy she couldn’t quite place but definitely sensed. Over the past few weeks, their professional relationship had evolved into something more complicated, more nuanced. And now, as they stood on the brink of something undefined, Zara felt her heart racing.

Arjun greeted her with a smile that felt softer than usual. “Hey. You’re right on time, as always.”

“Of course,” Zara replied, smiling back. “I take my job seriously.”

He chuckled, but there was something in his eyes—something deeper, something that made Zara’s breath catch for a moment. She quickly shifted her gaze to her notes, hoping to regain her focus. But it was no use. The air between them was thick with unspoken feelings, things left unsaid, things she wasn’t sure she wanted to say out loud.

“Shall we get started?” Arjun asked, motioning to the chair across from him.

“Right,” Zara said, sitting down and pulling out her recorder. “Today, I wanted to talk about your relationships—both personal and professional.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Personal relationships? Are we venturing into dangerous territory now?”

Zara smiled, though her pulse quickened. “Well, you know me. I like to ask the tough questions.”

Arjun leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “Alright, fire away. Let’s see how tough you can be.”

She glanced down at her notes, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. “So, you’ve had your share of publicized romances. How do you navigate relationships when everything is under such intense scrutiny?”

Arjun’s smile faded slightly as he considered her question. “It’s hard. Really hard. You can’t ever fully be yourself because there’s always someone watching, waiting for you to mess up. And when you’re with someone, it’s even harder because now you’re not just protecting your own privacy—you’re protecting theirs, too.”

Zara nodded, intrigued by his candidness. “Does that make you hesitant to get involved with anyone?”

He looked at her, his eyes steady, and for a moment, it felt like the room had shrunk, like it was just the two of them in their own little world. “It does. But... sometimes, you meet someone, and you just know. You know it’s worth the risk.”

Zara’s breath caught, her throat tightening as his words hung in the air between them. She felt her cheeks flush, and for the first time in their interviews, she found herself at a loss for words. The tension between them had always been there, simmering beneath the surface. But now, it was impossible to ignore.

“Have you met that person?” Zara asked softly, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Arjun hesitated, his eyes searching hers, as if trying to decide whether to be honest or keep his guard up. After a moment, he spoke, his voice low, almost a whisper. “Maybe.”

Zara swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. “Maybe?”

He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. “I think you know what I mean.”

Her breath hitched, and she looked down at her notes, trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism. But the words were blurring on the page, and all she could feel was the weight of his gaze, the way his presence seemed to fill every inch of the room.

“Arjun...” she started, her voice faltering.

He reached out, gently placing a hand over hers. The contact sent a jolt through her, and for a moment, she forgot where she was, forgot the reason she was there. All she could focus on was the warmth of his touch, the way his fingers lightly brushed against hers.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Arjun said softly. “I just... I needed you to know.”

Zara’s heart was racing now, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions she wasn’t sure how to process. This wasn’t part of the plan. She was supposed to be the objective journalist, the one asking the questions, keeping her distance. But with Arjun, that distance had evaporated, leaving her vulnerable in a way she hadn’t anticipated.

“I—” Zara began, but her words were cut off by the intensity of his gaze, the way he was looking at her like she was the only person in the world.

“Zara,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For weeks, we’ve been dancing around this... whatever this is between us. I know you feel it, too.”

Her pulse quickened, and she looked away, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had always prided herself on being in control, on maintaining a clear line between her work and her emotions. But with Arjun, that line had blurred, and now it was disappearing altogether.

“I... I don’t know,” she murmured, her voice shaky. “This isn’t... we shouldn’t...”

Arjun’s hand tightened slightly around hers, his touch grounding her. “I get it. I do. This is complicated. But I’m not asking you to make any decisions right now. I just need you to know how I feel.”

Zara finally met his gaze, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “And how do you feel?”

He smiled, but it wasn’t his usual playful grin. It was softer, more sincere. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for someone like you for a long time. Someone who doesn’t just see the actor, but sees me.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt the weight of his words settle over her like a blanket. For the first time in her life, Zara was speechless, caught between her instincts as a journalist and the emotions she couldn’t deny any longer.

“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Arjun replied gently. “Just... be here. With me. Right now.”

The room seemed to shrink around them, the world outside fading away. It was just the two of them, caught in a moment that felt both infinite and fragile. Zara could feel her heart racing, her mind battling with her emotions, but in that moment, she let herself stop thinking and just feel.

“Arjun,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “This is... complicated.”

He smiled softly, his eyes never leaving hers. “The best things in life usually are.”

Zara’s heart skipped a beat, and for the first time, she let herself consider the possibility—of them, of what could be, if they were both brave enough to take that leap.

“I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

“I am, too,” Arjun said quietly. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.”

There was a long silence as they sat there, their hands still intertwined, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging between them. Zara knew that what they were on the brink of was dangerous, complicated, and full of uncertainty. But for the first time, she felt like maybe—just maybe—it was worth the risk.

Finally, Zara let out a shaky breath, her heart pounding as she looked into his eyes. “Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s try.”

Arjun’s smile was soft, full of relief and something deeper. He gently pulled her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

In that moment, Zara felt something shift between them—something that went beyond their professional relationship, beyond the walls they had both built around their hearts. It was terrifying, exhilarating, and impossible to ignore.

And as they sat there, caught in the quiet intimacy of the moment, Zara realized that maybe, just maybe, she had found something worth fighting for.