Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter-29: Fractured Bonds

Atharv guided Inaara's hand gently to his shoulder, his fingers trailing along her arm before resting his hand securely on her waist.

He clasped her other hand, their fingers interlacing naturally. His grip was steady, grounding her even as the world around them seemed to blur.

They began to sway slowly, moving in rhythm with the soft music that floated through the air.

Inaara's eyes darted nervously, her gaze never quite meeting his.

Her breathing was shallow, and Atharv could feel the slight tremor in her hand, a clear reflection of her unease.

Atharv's gaze softened as he looked at her, an almost imperceptible smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He leaned in slightly, his voice a low murmur meant only for her ears.

"Relax, Inaara," he whispered, his tone unexpectedly gentle. "Just follow my lead."

Inaara's eyes finally met his, uncertainty giving way to trust.

She took a deep breath, allowing him to guide her, each step bringing them closer together in a dance that spoke in a language beyond words.

Inaara glanced around, noticing that all eyes seemed to be on them.

Her gaze landed on Avni, who held her phone up, recording their dance with a playful grin.

Avni raised her phone slightly higher, her teasing smile widening as she caught Inaara's attention.

Inaara's eyes widened, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Atharv, noticing her shift in expression, leaned in closer and asked softly, "What happened, Inaara?"

In a whispered tone, Inaara admitted, "Avni... she clicked our photo. The one from earlier... when I was removing that tag."

Atharv raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "So?" he asked, as if it were no big deal.

Inaara's voice dropped even lower, her cheeks turning pinker as she explained,

"She said she'll show it to everyone. And... it looked like... we were..."

She trailed off, clearly too embarrassed to finish her sentence, her eyes darting away.

Realization dawned on Atharv, and an amused gleam sparked in his eyes.

He fought to keep his expression neutral, though he could barely contain his laughter.

"So what, Inaara?" he asked, feigning innocence. "It's just a picture of us. Why are you so worried?"

Inaara's expression was a mix of embarrassment and helplessness.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide, almost like a child's, and pouted slightly.

"Noo... It's not good," she murmured, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

Atharv leaned in, his smirk deepening. "Why?" he pressed, enjoying her flustered state.

"What is it about that picture that's so bad?"