Ishq Inteha

Woh lamhe

After running for a while, we reached a forest. The tall trees stood like silent giants, their branches so thick that only a few soft beams of moonlight could pass through. Shadows danced around us, making everything feel both calm and unsettling. My dupatta kept slipping off my shoulder, and I had to adjust it with one hand while the other held the heavy fabric of my lehenga. It dragged with every step, so I lifted it slightly to move more comfortably.

He stopped beside me, leaning forward with one hand on his knee, trying to catch his breath. His breathing was heavy, but mine was even more unsteady. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I struggled to calm down. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself. My lips trembled from the exhaustion, my body growing weaker with each passing second.

When I opened my eyes, I caught him looking at me. It was quick, just a glance, but it felt like he noticed everything—my trembling hands, my uneven breathing, even the fear I was trying to hide. He let out a long breath, the sound breaking the heavy silence around us.

Our hands were still joined. His grip was firm, steady, like a promise that he wouldn’t let go.

Suddenly, an arrow shot past us, embedding itself in the tree trunk right beside him. The sharp sound made my heart skip a beat. My eyes widened as I froze, staring at the arrow in disbelief. My breath caught in my throat, and I swallowed hard, fear creeping through me.

He closed his eyes for a moment, his face tightening. I could see the veins on his temple, his anger barely contained.

I turned around and saw a group of men in the distance. They were armed with bows and arrows, moving toward us with steady steps. Panic surged inside me. Their weapons were aimed at him. Without thinking, I pulled his hand, trying to pull him closer, but he didn’t move . His body was strong and unmoving, and the force of my pull threw me off balance. I fell to the ground, and in the process, dragged him down with me.

He landed over me but caught himself just in time, his hands pressing into the dirt to keep his weight off me.

I slowly opened my eyes, which I hadn’t even realized were squeezed shut, and found him staring right into mine. His gaze was sharp, intense, and unshaken. For a moment, everything else faded—the danger, the fear, the chaos. All I could feel was his closeness, his strength.

His silver locket slipped from his neck, brushing against my cheek. The cold touch of the metal on my warm skin sent a shiver through me, waking me from my daze.

Before I could say anything, the sound of footsteps grew louder. They were coming closer. My head snapped toward him, and to my surprise, he gave me a faint smile—a calmness in his eyes that seemed out of place in the chaos. His dimple just barely showed, softening his otherwise serious face.

He stood up slowly and give  his hand  to me. I placed my trembling hand in his, and he helped me to stand up . The soft jingling of my anklets filled the silence as I steadied myself.

For a brief moment, his eyes met mine. There was no need for words—I knew what he was telling me. I nodded, trusting him completely.

We started running again, the sharp whistle of arrows slicing through the air behind us. My legs were growing weaker, my breaths shorter, but I pushed myself to keep up with him.

My voice trembled as I whispered, “Humein dar lag raha hai…”

He glanced at me, his jaw tightening as he replied firmly, “Itni kyun ghabra rahi hain aap? Kuch nahi hoga.”

I tried to speak, my words barely forming. “Agar kuch—”

But he cut me off, his voice steady and sure. “Jab tak main hoon, tumhe kuch bhi nahi hone dunga.”