Pyaar ki Takrar

Chapter 10: Jab Dil Ka Faisla Zuban Tak Nahi Aata

The next morning dawned with a strange mix of clarity and confusion. Twinkle and Kunj had spent a restless night, their minds consumed with the weight of what had transpired between them. Both knew they couldn't continue to ignore what was happening, but neither was ready to confront it head-on.

Twinkle woke up with a dull ache in her chest, the memory of their kiss from the night before haunting her thoughts. She hadn't planned on falling for Kunj. Hell, she had spent most of their time together actively disliking him. And yet, here she was, caught in a web of emotions she didn't know how to untangle.

Kunj, on the other hand, was already up, staring out of the window as he sipped his coffee. He hadn't slept much, his mind replaying every moment of their kiss, every touch, every look. He knew he felt something for Twinkle-something real, something deep. But he also knew that Twinkle wasn't ready to face it. Maybe he wasn't either.

The silence between them that morning was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings. Twinkle busied herself with breakfast, avoiding Kunj's gaze as much as possible, while Kunj stood at a distance, watching her with an intensity that made her heart race.

"Tum kal raat ko theek se soyi thi?" Kunj finally asked, breaking the silence.

Twinkle, startled by the sound of his voice, nearly dropped the plate she was holding. "H-han? Haan, so gayi thi. Tum kyun pooch rahe ho?" Her tone was defensive, too sharp, betraying the nervousness she felt.

Kunj raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a half-smile. "Bas aise hi pooch raha tha. Tum toh bilkul jagti rahi hogi. Last night wasn't exactly... normal, was it?"

Twinkle's cheeks flushed with color, and she turned away quickly, pretending to focus on arranging the breakfast table. "Normal? Tum kya kehna chahte ho? Kuch bhi toh nahi tha jo 'abnormal' ho."

Kunj chuckled, stepping closer to her. "Kuch nahi tha, huh? Toh tum abhi bhi apne sapno ki duniya mein jee rahi ho? Jo kal raat hua, usse ignore karna chah rahi ho?"

Twinkle's hands stilled on the plate she was holding, her pulse quickening at his words. She could feel him standing close behind her, the warmth of his body too near for comfort. Her breath hitched slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm.

"Main kuch ignore nahi kar rahi, Kunj," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "Jo bhi tha, woh... woh ek galti thi. Tum bhi jaante ho."

Kunj's expression darkened, and he reached out, gently grabbing her wrist to turn her toward him. "Galti? Tum isse galti kaise keh sakti ho, Twinkle? Jo hamare beech mein chal raha hai, woh ek moment ka lapse nahi tha."

Twinkle's heart skipped a beat, her eyes darting to his hand on her wrist before she looked up at him. His eyes were intense, searching hers for something-some kind of confirmation, some sign that she felt the same way.

"Iss baat ko khatam karo, Kunj," Twinkle whispered, her voice shaky. "Humein yeh sab nahi karna chahiye."

Kunj's grip on her wrist tightened slightly, not in a way that hurt, but in a way that made her hyperaware of his touch. "Kyun nahi karna chahiye? Kyun hum dono apne dil ki baat ko chupane ki koshish kar rahe hain?"

Twinkle opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She felt trapped-trapped between her growing feelings for Kunj and the fear of what those feelings meant. What if this wasn't real? What if it was just the result of them being forced into this marriage?

Kunj took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Twinkle, tum samajhti ho na? Hum dono ke beech kuch badal gaya hai. Hum kitni der tak iss sach se bhaagenge?"