TENU DEKHA🫣

Chapter 7: The Rain That Binds Us

Shanaya's POV

The next few days after the prom had been a blur. Every time Shanaya closed her eyes, she saw Dhruv's intense gaze, heard his deep voice, and felt his hand on her waist as they danced. That moment, that song, had wrapped itself around her heart, refusing to let go.

She had been trying to focus on her studies and the project, but every time she sat down, her thoughts drifted back to Dhruv. The way his eyes seemed to hold hers a little too long, how his voice softened when he spoke to her… it was driving her crazy. She knew she had to push these thoughts aside, but it felt impossible.

Tonight, the rain was pouring down again, just like that night. Shanaya sat by her window, watching the droplets race down the glass. There was something about the rain that always brought her back to that car ride, to the way they sat in silence, with the radio playing “Zara Zara Behekta Hai.”

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Dhruv.

"I need to discuss something about the project. Can you come by the institute?"

Her heart skipped a beat. It was late, and the rain was still pouring, but she didn’t care. Without thinking twice, she grabbed her coat and umbrella and headed out into the storm.

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Dhruv's POV

Dhruv stood by the large window in his office, watching the rain fall heavily outside. He had sent Shanaya a message, asking her to come to the institute. It wasn’t really about the project—he knew that. It was an excuse. He needed to see her, to be near her, and that realization frightened him.

Every day since the prom, he had tried to convince himself that what he felt for her was just a fleeting attraction, nothing more. But the more he saw her, the more he realized it was something deeper. Something that scared him.

As he watched the rain, he heard footsteps approaching. His heart raced as he turned to see Shanaya standing at the door, her hair damp from the rain, her cheeks flushed. She looked beautiful, and his breath caught in his throat.

"Sir, you called for me?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Dhruv nodded, gesturing for her to come in. "Yes, I wanted to discuss the project."

Shanaya walked into the room, her eyes briefly meeting his before looking away. The air between them was thick with tension, the kind that neither of them could ignore any longer.

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The Moment They Couldn't Resist

They sat at his desk, discussing the project, but their words felt hollow, meaningless. Shanaya tried to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept drifting back to the way Dhruv’s hand had felt on her waist during the dance. Every time his fingers brushed against hers as they flipped through the project papers, her heart raced.

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder echoed through the room, startling her. She looked up at Dhruv, and for the first time, she saw the same emotion reflected in his eyes—desire. Neither of them spoke, but the silence between them was deafening.

Dhruv stood up, walking towards the window, his back to her. Shanaya could sense the internal battle he was fighting. He was trying to maintain control, to keep the distance between them. But she couldn’t let him walk away, not now.

Slowly, she stood up and walked over to him. Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty, but she didn’t care. She needed to know if he felt the same way she did. As she reached him, she placed her hand lightly on his arm.

"Sir..." her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to make him turn.

Their eyes met, and in that moment, everything changed.

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Dhruv's POV

The moment Shanaya's hand touched his arm, Dhruv felt his resolve crumble. He had been fighting this attraction for too long, trying to convince himself that it was wrong. But now, with her standing so close, her eyes pleading with him, he couldn’t resist any longer.

"Shanaya," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.

Before he could stop himself, he reached out and gently cupped her face in his hands. Her skin was soft, warm, and the feel of her under his touch sent a jolt of electricity through him. She didn’t pull away—instead, she leaned into his touch, her eyes closing briefly as if savoring the moment.

"This is wrong," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Shanaya opened her eyes and shook her head slightly. "It doesn’t feel wrong," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

That was all it took.

Without another word, Dhruv leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a tentative kiss. The moment their lips touched, it was as if the world around them ceased to exist. The rain outside pounded against the window, but inside, everything was silent—just the two of them, lost in each other.

The kiss deepened, and Dhruv wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Shanaya’s hands tangled in his hair, her body pressing against his as if she couldn’t get close enough. It was intense, overwhelming, and perfect all at once.

They pulled away, both breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other. Neither of them spoke, but the look in their eyes said everything.

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Shanaya's POV

Shanaya couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her heart was racing, and her lips still tingled from the kiss. She had never felt anything like this before—so raw, so powerful. She looked up at Dhruv, and for the first time, she saw him not as her teacher, but as the man she had been falling for all along.

"Sir..." she started, but he placed a finger against her lips, silencing her.

"Shh... not tonight. No more 'Sir,' just Dhruv," he whispered, his voice low and rough.

Shanaya nodded, her heart swelling at the sound of his name. She had always called him “Sir,” but now, in this moment, he was just Dhruv—someone who made her feel things she had never felt before.

They stood there for a moment longer, wrapped in each other’s arms, neither wanting to let go. But eventually, reality began to creep back in.

"We shouldn’t stay here," Dhruv said softly, his hand brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I’ll take you home."

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The Drive Home

The drive back was quiet, but it wasn’t the awkward silence that had filled the car before. This time, it was a comfortable silence, filled with unspoken promises and emotions neither of them could put into words.

The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, and the streets were nearly empty. As they approached Shanaya’s apartment, Dhruv pulled the car to a stop, but neither of them made a move to get out.

"Thank you," Shanaya whispered, her hand lingering on the door handle.

Dhruv reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "This doesn’t have to end here," he said softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

Shanaya looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what he was offering—something more, something deeper. And she wanted it, more than anything.

"Good night, Dhruv," she whispered, leaning over to place a soft kiss on his cheek before stepping out of the car.

As she walked towards her apartment, she knew that tonight had changed everything. There was no going back now, and for the first time, she didn’t want to.