Junoon E tishnagi

Chapter 13: *Falling Deeper*

The sun was beginning to set as *Ansh* and *Aarohi* arrived at the shooting location—a charming farmhouse tucked away in the countryside, surrounded by fields of seasonal flowers that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. It was the perfect backdrop for the fashion shoot they were working on, but at the moment, the peace of the place felt almost too serene.

As they stepped out of the car, Aarohi couldn't help but take in the beauty of the surroundings. The farmhouse looked straight out of a picture book, with its rustic charm, flowering plants in every shade imaginable, and the distant hum of crickets.

**Aarohi (to herself, in awe):**
"Wow... it's so beautiful here. Just like a fairytale."

They had arrived early, well before the rest of the crew. It was just the two of them. As they started checking the set-up for the shoot, Aarohi wandered around, inspecting the floral arrangements and the scenery, while Ansh focused on logistics.

But in true Aarohi fashion, her attention slipped for just a moment.

She was walking near a pond at the edge of the farmhouse when her foot caught on a loose stone, and before she knew it, she was tumbling forward, arms flailing as she tried to regain her balance. But it was too late—her foot slipped on the wet grass, and she was heading straight for the water.

**Aarohi (panicking):**
"Oh no!"

Ansh, noticing the movement, rushed forward to grab her, his arms reaching out just in time to catch her wrist. But in his haste, he lost his footing too, and instead of saving her, they both ended up tumbling into the pond together with a splash.

The cold water enveloped them as they hit the surface, and for a moment, both of them were completely submerged. Aarohi gasped, sputtering as she came up for air, her eyes wide in shock as she looked around.

Ansh surfaced right beside her, wiping water from his face and shaking his head in frustration.

**Ansh (sarcastically, with a sigh):**
"Aap kabhi sambhal ke chal nahi sakti, Miss Aarohi? Har waqt aapka dhyan kahan rehta hai? Gira diya na paani mein."

Aarohi coughed, trying to stifle her laughter but failing miserably. There was something utterly ridiculous about the situation—both of them soaked to the skin, flailing around in the pond, leaves and water lilies floating around them. As she looked at Ansh's usually impeccable hair, which was now covered in leaves, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

**Aarohi (laughing uncontrollably):**
"Sorry, sir. But... aapka head bilkul chidiya ka ghosla lag raha hai!"

She pointed to the mess of leaves and twigs stuck in his hair, and that only made her laugh harder. The laughter was infectious, and even though Ansh was annoyed, he couldn't help but smile slightly as he watched her.

**Ansh (amused, shaking his head):**
"Kya baat hai, Miss Aarohi. Aapko toh kisi bhi situation mein hasne ka mauka mil jaata hai."

He reached up to try and remove the leaves from his hair, but his fingers fumbled as they got stuck in the tangle of wet twigs. Aarohi, still giggling, moved closer and gestured to him.

**Aarohi (smiling, softly):**
"Let me help you with that."

Before Ansh could protest, she moved in front of him, carefully reaching up to pluck the leaves from his hair. Her fingers gently brushed against his scalp as she worked, and Ansh found himself standing very still, his heart inexplicably racing.

As Aarohi focused on removing the leaves, Ansh couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked, even soaked and covered in mud. Her hair was dripping with water, strands clinging to her face, but when she smiled, it was as if her whole face lit up. The glow of the setting sun caught her features, and in that moment, Ansh found himself mesmerized.

**Ansh (thinking to himself):**
"Whenever she smiles, her whole face just brightens up. It's... intoxicating."

Aarohi was nearly done, but as she reached up for the last leaf, she lost her balance again—her foot slipping slightly on the muddy bottom of the pond. She wobbled, and being much shorter than Ansh, she struggled to steady herself.

But before she could fall again, Ansh instinctively reached out and caught her by the waist, pulling her close to him. This time, they didn't tumble into the water. Instead, they froze in place, their bodies pressed together, water dripping from their clothes.

Aarohi looked up at Ansh, her breath catching in her throat as she realized just how close they were. He was much taller than her, towering over her at 6'1", while she barely reached 5'6". But at that moment, the height difference didn't matter. The air between them seemed charged with something unspoken, something electric.

Their faces were so close now that Aarohi could hear the steady, rapid rhythm of Ansh's heartbeat. His hand was still on her waist, holding her firmly in place, and their breaths mingled in the small space between them.

**Aarohi (whispering, nervously):**
"Sir..."

Ansh's heart was pounding as he looked down at her, water dripping from her hair. He could feel her warmth, smell the faint scent of jasmine from her skin, and for the first time in a long time, he felt completely lost in the moment. Without thinking, his free hand reached up and gently brushed a strand of wet hair away from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek.

**Ansh (softly, almost in a daze):**
"Aarohi..."

There was no more distance between them. Their faces were only inches apart now, their lips so close they could feel each other's breath. Aarohi's heart was racing, her breathing uneven as she looked up at him, her gaze locked with his. She didn't know what was happening or why she couldn't move, but she was drawn to him, and the intensity of the moment left her breathless.

Ansh, too, was lost. He leaned in closer, his hand still on her waist, pulling her even tighter against him. He could hear the rapid thudding of her heartbeat matching his, and in that instant, nothing else existed but the two of them.

Just as their lips were about to meet, a loud voice shattered the moment.

**Security guard (shouting):**
"Shabji, aap log idhar kaise gir gaye? Jaldi bahar nikaliye, shardi lag jayegi!"

The sudden intrusion jolted both of them back to reality. Aarohi quickly pulled away, her face flushed with embarrassment as she looked down at the water. Ansh, too, stepped back, his expression unreadable as he raked a hand through his now leaf-free hair.

**Ansh (clearing his throat, awkwardly):**
"Uh... let's get out of the water."

They waded out of the pond, dripping wet and covered in mud, while the guard looked at them with a mixture of confusion and concern. He guided them to their rooms, where they could dry off and change.

Inside her room, Aarohi quickly changed out of her wet clothes and sat down on the bed, still trying to process what had just happened. Her heart was still racing, and her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

**Aarohi (thinking, flustered):**
"Kya ho raha tha? Woh itna paas kyun aa gaye the? Aur mera dil itna tez kyun dhadak raha tha?"

She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. She couldn't deny the strange attraction she felt toward Ansh—an attraction she had been trying to ignore for weeks. But now, after that moment by the pond, it was impossible to pretend it didn't exist.

On the other side of the farmhouse, Ansh was standing in front of the mirror in his room, staring at his reflection. His hair was still damp, and his clothes clung to his body, but his thoughts were far from the present moment.

He couldn't stop thinking about how it had felt to hold Aarohi, to be so close to her that he could hear her heartbeat. For the first time in a long time, he had felt... something. Something beyond the usual irritation or frustration. He had felt drawn to her in a way that he couldn't explain.

**Ansh (thinking to himself, confused):**
"What is this girl doing to me? And why can't I stop thinking about her?"

Both of them were lost in their own thoughts, replaying the moment over and over again in their minds. Neither of them knew what it meant or what would happen next, but one thing was certain—the tension between them was no longer just about work. It was something much deeper, something that neither of them could ignore.

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**To Be Continued...**