The Veiled Hearts

🌹The Midnight Stare🔪

As Vanya emerged from the storage area, her feet heavy with exhaustion, Kunal's voice broke through the silence. "I'll be around if you need me," he said, his tone is protective. Vanya turned to him, her eyes resolute. "No, you don't have to. You're going somewhere safe now. It's only a matter of three days. I'll sort everything out."

Kunal chuckled, ruffling her hair like a big brother would. "Still, I'll be around. No more debates." With that, he drove off with Vikram, leaving behind a group of silent watchers-Aarav, Avni, Vanya, Yash, and Reyansh.

The quiet didn't last long. Reyansh was quick to follow suit, heading home, while Aarav, Avni, and Vanya began their walk towards the car. But it wasn't long before Vanya's soft hiss of pain stopped them in their tracks. Her feet, raw and blistered from the rough ground, couldn't handle any more.

Before Aarav could take a step toward her, Yash, as swift and instinctive as ever, swooped in, lifting Vanya into his arms without a word. Tension crackled in the air between them, the remnants of their previous fights forgotten in an instant. It was as if no amount of bickering could erase this connection, this pull between them.

Avni, ever the mischief-maker, opened her mouth to make a joke, but Aarav clamped his hand over her mouth just in time. The last thing they needed was to provoke Yash further.

Yash muttered, "Open the door," as they reached the car. Vanya's lips curled into a small, soft smile as she obliged. Without a second thought, Yash gently seated her inside, then busied himself fastening her seatbelt.

From a distance, Aarav and Avni watched the scene unfold. Aarav's face was twisted in mild disgust, as if the sight of Yash's affection for Vanya was more than he could bear, but Avni grinned from ear to ear. "Don't they look like a Wattpad forest couple?" she teased.

Aarav gave her a playful smack on the back of the head. "Stop reading those fictional novels."

Inside the car, Yash finished securing Vanya's seatbelt, his fingers brushing her arm for a fleeting moment. He started to pull away, but Vanya's voice was a quiet interruption. "You're not driving?" she asked.

Yash, his voice low and edged with frustration, replied without looking at her, "No."

Vanya blinked, her question half-formed, but the answer was already there. Aarav, standing behind Yash with that devilish smirk, twirled the car keys around his finger like a hunter eyeing his prey. The game was on, and Vanya could feel the weight of Aarav's mischief from across the distance.

The car ride was a tense silence, broken only by Avni's sudden outburst. "Did you hear Tanya got a fake silicon bosom just to impress Bhai?" she blurted.

Vanya's head snapped around. "Whaaat?!"

Aarav, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else, facepalmed. "Avni, seriously! This is why Yash always tells you-carry a filter in your mouth."