𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐀 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

Chapter 16

Happy birthday, dear.
I hope you achieve all your dreams.
May God bless you.
And this chapter is for you, dear; well, I didn’t know your name, so I can’t mention it.

Words count - 3600

•Author's pov•

Their laughter echoed throughout the kitchen.

Nikshant was laughing wholeheartedly, not even realizing that he was smiling so freely.

Smiling, Nikshant looked at Aaravi with nothing but admiration. He was feeling something, something he couldn’t quite name.

Aaravi laughed and hesitantly said, "If...you don't mind, may I clean your face?" Her voice was barely audible, but Nikshant heard her.

Nikshant nodded, walked towards Aaravi, and leaned in, his face inches away from hers. Aaravi looked at Nikshant, and Nikshant gazed into her eyes. Her eyes were showing something different, something he couldn’t quite understand.

Aaravi, too, stared into Nikshant’s eyes, wide-eyed due to their closeness. She swallowed nervously and unknowingly shook her head.

Nikshant raised his eyebrows and teased, "Why are you shaking your head like a crazy person?"

Aaravi’s eyes widened even more, and she quickly shook her head, mumbling, "Nothing,"

"Now clean my face or else my back will start hurting," Nikshant said.

Aaravi nodded and pulled the end of her saree’s pallu. She was about to wipe Nikshant’s face, but he grabbed her hand, and a spark of electricity seemed to rush through their bodies. Nikshant quickly pulled his hand back.

Aaravi looked confused, "What happened?" she asked, her voice full of confusion.

"Tumhari saare ka pallu ganda ho jayega kyunki mere face pe ketchup laga hua hai , so don't wipe it," Nikshant said softly, his voice low and cute.

( Your saree's pallu will get dirty because there’s ketchup on my face )

Aaravi smiled and said, "Don’t worry, aapka face mere liye zyaada important hai meri saare ke pallu nahi hai, ganda ho jaane dijiye,"

( Your face is more important to me than my saree's pallu. Let it get dirty )

Aaravi didn’t realize what she said, but her words struck directly at Nikshant’s heart, making him feel even more guilty. Nikshant looked at Aaravi, guilt evident in his eyes, as a lump formed in his throat.

"Okay," he said.

Aaravi realized what she had said and nervously bit her lip. Nikshant's eyes dropped from her eyes to her plump, red cherry lips, and suddenly, all his hormones were surging through his body. He quickly averted his gaze from Aaravi’s lips.

"Now wipe quickly, I still need to make breakfast," Nikshant said, but his mind was still fixated on Aaravi’s plump cherry lips.

"Gosh, what are you thinking, Nikshant?" he cursed himself in his mind.

Aaravi nodded and started wiping his face with her pallu.

Aaravi was focused on wiping Nikshant’s face, while Nikshant’s focus was on Aaravi’s face.

Nikshant knew Aaravi was beautiful, but she looked even more beautiful up close. He was closely examining her face, even counting how many moles she had.

"Ten. She has ten moles on her face," Nikshant thought to himself.

"She has two moles on her nose, three on her right cheek, one on her ear, one mole just above her upper lip, two on her left cheek, and one by the side of her left eye," Nikshant said, his eyes scanning Aaravi's features.