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Author's Pov
Aahi tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing with anxiety about tomorrow. Sleep seemed like a distant dream, refusing to bless her. After what felt like an eternity-though it was only twenty minutes-she gave up. Throwing off the covers, she decided to take a walk, hoping the cool night air would calm her restless heart.
As she wandered toward the garden, the faint glow of the moonlight illuminated a familiar silhouette. It was Vihaan, sitting on a bench under the stars, his posture heavy with thought. He seemed lost, like a hero battling invisible demons. Intrigued, Aahi decided to approach him.
She tiptoed closer, her voice soft yet teasing as she gently tapped his shoulder. "Bhai!"
Startled, Vihaan turned to look at her. His furrowed brow relaxed into a faint smile as he shifted slightly, patting the space beside him. "Tu abhi tak kyun jaag rahi hai? Kal office nahi jaana kya?" he asked, his voice low but tinged with warmth.
Aahi, always the mischievous one, plopped down beside him with a grin. Mimicking his tone and expression, she retorted, "Aur aap kyun jaag rahe hain? Kal hospital nahi jaana kya?"
Vihaan couldn't help but chuckle, her playful imitation momentarily lifting the heaviness in his heart. "Bas... aise hi," he replied, trying to sound casual. "Neend nahi aa rahi thi."
But Aahi wasn't one to let him off so easily. Her eyes twinkled with mischief, she leaned in closer and teased, "Aree! Kaun hai woh ladki jo aapki neend chura le gayi?"
Her words hit Vihaan like a lightning bolt. His smile faded, replaced by a faraway look as memories flooded his mind. "Kaise samjhaun tujhe?" he thought, his heart aching with an intensity he hadn't felt before. "Tum toh sirf neend ki baat karti ho... usne toh meri neend, mera sukoon, meri saansein... sab kuch chura liya hai!"
Unknowingly, Aahi had unlocked a floodgate of emotions. Shivika. Her name echoed in his mind like a haunting melody. He could still see her-storming into his life with the force of a hurricane. The way she carried herself, commanding respect and fear in equal measure. The sharp edge of her words, cutting through his guarded heart like a blade.
His thoughts lingered on the scene from earlier that day. She'd helped him with his car, her actions effortless yet strangely magnetic. The way she glanced at him, her cold yet captivating eyes boring into his soul, had left him spellbound. "Shivika Malhotra," he thought, his heartbeat quickening. "Tumne toh mujhe barbad kar diya hai. Tumhare baare mein sochna bhi ek ajeeb sa sukoon deta hai... aur ek azaab bhi."
The garden seemed to echo with his silent turmoil. The gentle rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of crickets, even the moonlight felt like it was conspiring to remind him of her. Shivika had stolen more than his sleep; she had taken his peace, his control, his very breath.
Aahi, oblivious to the storm brewing inside him, nudged his shoulder lightly. "Bhai! Itni gehri soch mein ho toh zaroor baat serious hai. Bolo na! Mujhe toh lagta hai yeh love story blockbuster hone wali hai!"
