The next morning,
Anjali stirred from her deep sleep. As she slowly opened her eyes and shifted, she felt something warm holding her hand. Confused, she turned her head to the side and saw Aryan sleeping next to her, his hand tightly gripping hers, as if he had been guarding her all night.
He was slumped awkwardly in the chair beside the bed, his head leaning on the edge of the mattress, his hair tousled. Despite the uncomfortable position, there was a peacefulness on his face, a softness she hadn't seen in a long time. He looked so different—like a child snuggled against her, his lips slightly parted, breathing evenly.
Anjali found herself smiling despite everything. It was the first time she had seen Aryan so vulnerable, so unguarded. Her heart fluttered for a moment before she remembered the events of the previous day. She gently tried to pull her hand away, not wanting to wake him, but his grip tightened instinctively, as if even in sleep, he didn't want to let go.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips.
"How stubborn he is," she whispered under her breath, shaking her head gently.
Suddenly, Aryan stirred, his eyelids fluttering open as he blinked, still disoriented. His eyes focused on her, and the moment he realized she was awake, his expression shifted from confusion to relief.
"Anjali, are you... are you okay?" he asked, his voice raspy from sleep but filled with concern.Anjali nodded, her voice soft.
"Yes, but have you been sitting here like this all night?"
Aryan straightened up, rubbing his neck and wincing slightly.
"You weren't okay last night. How could I leave you alone?" he replied, his eyes full of worry.
Anjali felt a warmth spreading through her, knowing how much he cared. She wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat. Instead, she smiled at him—a soft, grateful smile.
Aryan gazed at her for a moment longer, then gently let go of her hand, his thumb brushing her palm.
"I just want you to be okay," he said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity.
Anjali's heart skipped a beat—the same feeling she always had when she was around him hit her again. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling flustered, but she couldn't deny that his presence, his care, was beginning to mean more to her than she wanted to admit.
Before either of them could speak again, there was a soft knock on the door.
Arushi poked her head in, her eyes scanning the room. "Is everything okay?" she asked cautiously.
Aryan and Anjali exchanged a glance before nodding. "Yes, everything's fine," Aryan replied with a reassuring smile.
YOU ARE READING
Drenched Heart's
Romans"Drenched Hearts" Anjali, a passionate poetess, and Aryan, the son of a renowned businessman, crossed paths at an art exhibition. Their first encounter was accidental-a splash of ink from Anjali's hand stained Aryan's shirt. But fate had other plans...
