Born to Love You

30- Friends?

Aryan's POV:

As I sat on the floor, still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions, Aradhya stood up. She moved to get me some water, her movements calm and purposeful. I watched her, captivated by how effortlessly she took charge of the situation, and I couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth in my chest.

"Sit," she instructed gently, guiding me back down to the bed. I complied, too drained to argue, feeling the weight of her presence like a comforting blanket. She patted my back soothingly, and I was surprised at how her touch eased the tension knotted in my muscles.

Then, without warning, she stepped closer and enveloped me in a hug. The softness of her body against mine was startling, and I tensed for a moment. "Just think of me as a friend or a stranger who's here for you tonight. Nothing's going to hurt your stoic character, I promise," she whispered, her breath warm against my ear.

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but instead, something in me broke. I didn't remember the last time someone had hugged me, let alone offered comfort without strings attached. My defenses crumbled as I sank into her embrace, allowing my emotions to spill over. Tears began to flow unbidden, hot and relentless, as she gently patted my hair, a gesture so tender it shattered the barriers I had built.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled between sobs, my voice thick with pain. I hugged her tightly, almost instinctively, as if she were a lifeline I had never known I needed. My grip tightened, and for a moment, I lost myself in the solace of her presence.

Her breath hitched as I held her so close she struggled to find air, but I didn't care. I needed this—her warmth, her kindness—more than I had ever realized. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest, steady and reassuring, and it anchored me in a way nothing else had in years.

After a while, I sensed her trying to withdraw from the embrace, but to her surprise, I couldn't let go. The darkness that usually clouded my thoughts was fading, replaced by the inexplicable comfort I found in her arms. I felt an overwhelming urge to cling to this moment, to this feeling of safety, even as my mind screamed at me to maintain my distance.

And then, just like that, I drifted into sleep, succumbing to the exhaustion that had overtaken me. In that fleeting moment, I found a strange sense of belonging in her arms, as if I had discovered a hidden home in a world I had deemed too ugly to inhabit. Though my mind battled against the idea that anyone could be my home, my heart stubbornly insisted otherwise.

Aru's POV:

He didn't let go, holding me so tightly that I feared if he released me, I might shatter into a million pieces. It struck me then—he was fighting his own battles every single day. The billionaires who seemed perfect from the outside were just as vulnerable as anyone else, hiding their struggles behind carefully crafted facades.

In that moment, I saw it clearly: Aryan had a heart, a beautiful one he concealed from the world as a defense mechanism. He was so much more than the stoic mask he wore, and I felt an overwhelming urge to protect that heart, to help him uncover it from beneath the layers of hurt and anger.

I made the decision then to let him stay in my arms for the night, to be the comfort he needed. He had always been so guarded, so unwilling to let anyone in, but tonight was different. Tonight, he needed someone, and I was more than willing to be that person. Even if he argued with me about it tomorrow, I was ready to take it.

As he slept soundly against my chest, he resembled a child who had finally found his way home after being lost for far too long. His breathing was steady, a gentle rhythm that calmed my own racing heart. I could feel the weight of his troubles slowly lifting, if only for this fleeting moment, and I hoped that in my embrace, he could find a sliver of peace amidst the chaos of his life. And I didn't even know why I was feeling this way.