The first rays of morning sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soft glow that stirred Abhira from her slumber. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open, still wrapped in the warmth and peace of sleep. As she began to awaken, she felt a comforting weight resting against her back. With a quiet smile, she glanced over her shoulder and found Armaan’s arm draped around her, holding her close, as if even in sleep, he couldn’t bear to let her go.
Memories of the night before came flooding back. After everything was finally laid bare between them—the years of longing, the fears, the heartache—Armaan had finally let his walls crumble. The weight he had carried alone for so long spilled over, and he had wept openly in her arms, the vulnerability pouring from him like a release he had waited years to allow himself. And Abhira had simply held him, her heart tender and steady, willing to be his solace. She wanted nothing more than for him to feel safe, unburdened, held. She was his anchor, and last night, she’d promised herself to be his sanctuary.
As the night stretched on, they had both fallen asleep this way, entwined in each other’s arms, hidden beneath the same blanket, their breaths syncing in the quiet of the room. Abhira could feel the warmth radiating from him, the rise and fall of his chest against her back—a reminder of their closeness, of the unspoken promise between them.
She lay there, savoring the moment, reluctant to disturb him or to pull away. Here, in the gentle morning light, with Armaan’s arms wrapped around her, she felt a deep, quiet contentment—a feeling she’d longed for without realizing it. His presence, the warmth of his embrace, felt like home.
Carefully, she nestled closer, allowing herself to bask in the moment a little longer. Wrapped in each other, under the soft weight of the blanket, they seemed to breathe as one, a single heartbeat between them, bound by the warmth of shared emotions and a love that neither time nor distance could diminish.
A few moments later, Armaan began to stir, his fingers instinctively curling around her hand as he gradually regained consciousness. His eyes slowly fluttered open, and as his gaze landed on Abhira, a gentle smile crept across his face, one mingled with wonder and relief. He looked at her as if trying to memorize every detail, as if to confirm she was truly there beside him and that this closeness was no figment of his imagination.
“Good morning,” she murmured softly, her words dispelling the lingering shadows of sleep in his mind.
“Good morning,” he whispered back, his voice filled with a hint of disbelief, still caught in the delicate thread between dream and reality. Even the familiar sound of her voice couldn’t quite convince him, couldn’t chase away the ghostly feeling that this might all disappear if he dared to blink.
Sensing the turmoil in his heart, Abhira gently leaned in and pressed her lips against his forehead. “It’s not a dream, you silly boy. I’m here… right here with you.” Her fingers trailed softly through his hair as she spoke, grounding him in the moment.
He took a deep, steadying breath, her touch bringing the world into sharper focus. The tenderness in her voice, the warmth of her presence, began to soothe his uncertainty. Even though his mind was still wrapped in a hazy veil, he willed himself to believe that this was real, that the morning he had longed for was finally here.
“You have no idea how much I’ve yearned for this, how many mornings I’ve woken up hoping to see you like this,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, pulling her closer as if afraid she might vanish.
Abhira held him, her heart swelling at his words. “I’m not going anywhere, Armaan. Not now, not ever,” she assured him, her tone gentle but resolute, as though binding herself to this promise.
He closed his eyes again, finally allowing himself to be lulled by her words. Despite the lingering drowsiness, he felt a surge of relief, though fear still clung to the edges, whispering that this might dissolve the moment he let go. But with Abhira by his side, he allowed himself, just for a moment, to believe in the morning’s magic.
