cross road

Chapter 17

He closed his eyes for a moment, his head resting against the back of the seat, and the realization hit him—he had feelings for Pallavi. Not love, not yet. But a strong, undeniable attraction. It wasn't just the way she could make him laugh, or how she always seemed to push his buttons and keep him on edge. No, it was something more, something deeper. Something he wasn't quite ready to label.

It was a complicated feeling—confusing and thrilling in equal measure. He wasn't sure when it had shifted from simple friendship, or whatever this was between them, to something more—something that kept him coming back, even when he tried to resist.

He shook his head as if to shake off the weight of his thoughts. I can't be doing this right now.

But it wasn't just about her. His mind drifted back to a conversation he'd had with his mother, just a week ago, when she'd casually pointed out the change she'd noticed in him.

"You've been visiting home a lot more recently, haven't you?" she had asked, her voice light but probing. "In fact, you've come more in the past two months than in the last five years combined."

He'd laughed it off, offering the most obvious explanation. "The company split, Mom. I've got more time on my hands now."

It was true—after the corporate split, Raghav had found himself with fewer responsibilities and more freedom. The long hours at the office had been replaced by quieter, more manageable days. But the truth was, he hadn't been visiting his family more because of work. He had been visiting her.Pallavi

He'd been seeing her more and more, showing up at her place when there was no real reason to. Sometimes just to make sure she was okay, other times just to check in. And every time, it felt like a pull he couldn't escape. The weirdest part was that every time he left her place, some small part of him was already thinking about when he'd be back. When he could see her again.

What was worse was that his mother had noticed. She had been quick to comment on it, as mothers often are. But it wasn't just about the frequency of his visits—it was his behavior. His mother, sharp as ever, had picked up on something else. She noticed the subtle change in him. How he was less tense, how he was smiling more often, even when there was no reason to. It was as if something in him had lightened, shifted.

he couldn't keep away. And it wasn't just his mother who had seen it. He had noticed it too. He couldn't stay away from her for long, even though part of him didn't want to admit why.

Pallavi always seemed to get herself into some kind of trouble, and he was always the one to come rushing back. Maybe it was his natural inclination to help, but there was always a bigger reason. A reason he wasn't quite ready to face.

Raghav stared at the road ahead, his grip still tight on the wheel, the realization settling in.

I'm not in love with her. Not yet. But I'm definitely not just her friend either.

Raghav couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As much as he wanted to indulge in the strange attraction he felt for her, he knew better. He couldn't let his feelings grow. Not for Pallavi.

She was more mysterious than anyone he'd ever met, and that mystery was something he couldn't ignore. The way she held herself, the little secrets she never quite revealed, kept him on edge. He could feel it—she was hiding something.

He wasn't a fool. In the past, people had used him, taking advantage of his connections to his father, to get what they wanted. He'd been burned before, and he wasn't about to make the same mistake again. No matter how much he was drawn to her, no matter how much his mind wandered toward the idea of what could be, he couldn't let his guard down. Not with her.

But despite his resolve, his gaze shifted over to Pallavi.

She was staring at him. Wide awake, her eyes locked onto his, catching him off guard.

Raghav's breath caught in his throat as his heart skipped a beat. The instant shock faded into confusion, and he felt his cheeks warm with an inexplicable flush.

How long has she been awake?

Perplexed, he quickly turned his head back toward the road, his hands tightening around the steering wheel. He couldn't let his composure slip. Not now. Not with her awake, watching him so intently.

"What's wrong with you?" he said, his voice a little sharper than he intended. "Why are you staring at me like that without saying anything?"

Pallavi chuckled softly, clearly amused. "You were lost in thought when I woke up," she said, her voice still heavy with sleep but teasing. "I didn't want to disturb you."

He let out a breath, trying to hide his discomfort behind a nonchalant tone.

"If you're tired, I can drive. You should go back to sleep." she asked him

"No, it's fine," With a sigh, he refocused on the road, trying to shake the nagging feeling that there was something more to this. Something deeper he wasn't seeing, something he wasn't ready to face.

Still, the idea of letting someone in, letting her in, made him uneasy. Pallavi was an enigma, and every time he thought he had her figured out, she'd surprise him. She had a way of slipping under his guard when he least expected it.

"Go back to sleep," he said quietly, his voice a little softer this time. "I've got it."

She didn't respond, but he could hear her breathing slow as she drifted off again. 

The thought hung in the air as he shifted into drive again, the engine humming to life beneath him. Pallavi stirred in the passenger seat, mumbling something in her sleep, and he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips.

But Raghav couldn't shake the tension. The feeling that, no matter how much he tried to keep his distance, no matter how hard he tried to deny it, Pallavi was slowly but surely working her way into his world.

And that scared him more than he cared to admit.