Pyaar ki Takrar

Chapter 15: Between Trust and Doubt

The air was thick with uncertainty after Kunj’s confession, and Twinkle found herself tossing and turning in bed that night. Kya sach mein Kunj usse pyaar karta hai? The question echoed in her mind, relentless and overwhelming. She stared at the ceiling, counting the stars outside her window, wishing for clarity.

As the sun began to rise, casting a warm glow across her room, Twinkle resolved to talk to Kunj about everything. She needed to understand his feelings, her feelings, and whether they could truly move forward.

After breakfast, she found Kunj in the garden, watering the plants. He looked up as she approached, a bright smile lighting up his face. “Good morning, Twinkle! Tumhe kaise pata chala ke main yahan hoon?”

Twinkle tried to muster a smile but felt her heart racing. “Kunj, mujhe tumse baat karni hai,” she said, her tone serious.

Kunj put the watering can down, wiping his hands on his jeans, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “Sab theek hai? Tum aise kyun keh rahi ho?”

“Main theek nahi hoon,” she replied, crossing her arms defensively. “Tumne jo kal bola... I need to understand it more. Tumhari feelings, aur main kya feel karti hoon—sab kuch. Yeh itna aasaan nahi hai.”

Kunj took a deep breath, his expression shifting to one of sincerity. “I get that, Twinkle. Mera kehna tha ki tumhare saath rehkar mujhe apne emotions samajh aaye hain. Main bas... I want you to know how I feel.”

“Par kya tum yeh sirf mazak samajh kar keh rahe ho? Ya phir tum sach mein mujhe pasand karte ho?” Twinkle pressed, searching his eyes for answers.

“Twinkle, main mazak nahi kar raha. Tumhe pata hai ki mujhe tumse kitni care hai. Yeh sab kuch mere liye naya hai, aur main bhi nervous hoon. Lekin tumhare bina sab kuch adhura hai,” Kunj replied, his voice steady yet vulnerable.

Twinkle’s heart ached at his words. She wanted to believe him, wanted to feel what he was offering, but the shadows of her past lingered, making her cautious. “Kunj, mujhe time chahiye... sab kuch samajhne ke liye. Mere past se... mujhe bahut kuch face karna hai.”

Kunj stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll wait, Twinkle. Tumhe apni feelings samajhne ke liye jitna time chahiye, main dunga. But don’t shut me out.”

As Twinkle nodded, her heart swelled with emotion. Kunj's patience and understanding were more than she had expected, and yet the lingering doubts still hovered in the background.

---

A Change of Plans

Over the next few days, Twinkle and Kunj grew closer, their playful banter continuing amidst the backdrop of unspoken emotions. They worked together in the garden, cooked meals, and even watched movies late into the night. The bond was there, but the clarity they both sought seemed just out of reach.

One evening, as they were preparing dinner together, Kunj decided to lighten the mood. “Tumhe pata hai, jab main chhota tha, meri maa hamesha mujhe kitchen se bhaag deti thi. Wo kehati thi, ‘Kunj, tumhare haath ka khana khane se acha hai mujhe bhukh hi na lage.’”

Twinkle burst out laughing, nearly dropping the bowl of vegetables. “Sach mein? Lagta hai tumhare khane ka talent kuch nahi hai!”

“Main toh chef banne wala tha, par meri destiny kuch aur hi thi,” Kunj said, dramatically placing his hand over his heart.

As they both laughed, the doorbell rang, interrupting their moment. Twinkle wiped her hands and went to answer it, her heart sinking when she opened the door to find Neil standing there with a charming smile.

“Surprise! Mujhe laga, tum dono ko party mein bulana chahiye,” Neil said, his tone light and friendly.

Kunj, who had just entered the living room, froze. “Neil, tum phir se?”