Malhotra's Bride

8

"AHHHHHHH"

As Radhika opened her mouth to scream, Atharv swiftly pressed his hand over her lips, silencing her. His grip was firm but careful, a warning in his eyes, though not unkind.

The space between them shrank, their breaths mingling in the heavy silence. His other hand found its place around her waist, drawing her closer, trapping her in the intimate confines of their proximity.

Radhika heart raced, her pulse quickened, the warmth of his touch sending a surge of tension through the air as their bodies remained entwined, too close for comfort, yet impossible to escape.

Her hand was in his chest and the phone on her hand provided a small source of light applying night light glow on their faces.

The pale illumination emphasizing  the sharp lines of atharv jaw and the intensity in his dark eyes, while it danced over Radhika delicate features, highlighting the curve of her lips and the uncertainty in her gaze.

They were both caught in the moment, studying each other in the small circle of light, their faces inches apart. The flickering glow made their breaths visible, heavy with unspoken tension, as if they were seeing each other for the first time, every detail etched in the soft shadows between them.

As the soft light flickered between them, the realization of their closeness hit Radhika like a sudden gust of wind. Her heartbeat, already erratic, thudded louder in her ears. She could feel the warmth of atharv breath against her skin, the firm grip of his hand around her waist still anchoring her to him.

For a moment, neither moved, caught in the weight of their intertwined bodies and the proximity that felt both dangerous and electric.

Atharv gaze flickered, shifting from her eyes to her lips, and then down to the phone still casting that soft glow. His hand, still covering her mouth, slowly loosened, as if he, too, was becoming aware of just how intimately they were pressed together.

His other hand, resting on her waist, lingered for a second longer than necessary before retreating, leaving a trail of warmth where it had been.

Radhika breath came in shallow, uneven bursts as she slowly lowered the phone, the dim light still playing between them but no longer the focal point. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, the awkwardness of the moment settling in as the tension between them shifted from one of urgency to one of awareness.

"I…" she began, but the words stuck in her throat, unsure of what to say. Atharv expression remained unreadable, though something flickered behind his eyes—something neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

They stood frozen, the moment stretching between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts and feelings, the air thick with something neither was willing to name just yet.

Why did you come?" Radhika asked, glancing over her shoulder trying to avoid the moment from earlier.

"You were taking too long," he replied, his voice low and cool. "I thought I should check on you."

She raised an eyebrow, playfully feigning offense. "Oh, really? You were worried about me?"

"Not worried," he corrected, his gaze steady. " Just curious about how much time will it take for a short person like you to reach in the kitchen."

" Haha so funny" she said rolling her eyes and moving towards their room while atharv walked behind her.

As she was about to lay down on her bed she frowned upon seeing atharv again working on his laptop.

" Aap chote bachhe jaise Kya din bhar rat bhar iss laptop pey ghuse rehtey hai , Sona nahi hey kya ?? " She asked with a annoying voice.

( Why do you always sit Infront of the laptop all day and night like a kid , aren't you going to sleep? )