kaho Na Pyaar Hai

The ties that bind

Ruhaan's POV

The week had passed like a haze. Ariyana's meeting with her father had left her shaken, and I could see it in her eyes—an emotional storm that hadn't yet calmed. But despite everything, she was trying to carry on, like she always did. I hated that about her sometimes. She bottled things up, too proud to show vulnerability.

I knew she was putting on a brave face, but I could see the cracks. And I wasn't going to let her fight this alone.

That evening, I drove to her place, as I always did now. We didn't need words anymore to understand each other; it was just... us. But tonight, I could sense something had shifted between us. There was an unspoken need, a silent pull in the air, that I couldn't ignore.

I rang the doorbell, my heart unexpectedly racing. When the door opened, I was met with Ariyana's eyes—her gaze soft but guarded.

"You alright?" I asked, my voice low, careful not to push.

She nodded, stepping aside to let me in. "I'm fine. Just... thinking."

I couldn't read her, not fully. Something about her was distant tonight, and I hated it. We sat on the couch, her in her usual spot, and me beside her. For a while, we didn't speak. The only sounds in the room were the occasional hum of the city outside and the ticking of the clock on the wall.

But then, I couldn't take the silence any longer.

"Ari," I whispered, turning toward her. "I know you're hurting. But you don't have to shut me out. Not like this."

She shifted, her eyes flicking toward mine, before she lowered them again. "I'm not shutting you out, Ruhaan. I'm just... trying to figure things out. It's not that simple, you know?"

"I know," I said quietly, moving closer. "But we can face it together. Whatever 'it' is, we'll handle it together."

I reached for her hand, gently lifting it to my lips and pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "I'm not going anywhere, Ariyana. You're not alone."

She looked at me then, really looked at me, her eyes searching mine like she was looking for something more—something I wasn't sure I could give. But it didn't matter. I had to try.

And then, without another word, she leaned in. Slowly, carefully, as if unsure of herself, her lips brushed against mine.

At first, it was gentle, hesitant. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, the kiss deepened. She moved closer, her hands finding their way into my hair, tugging me closer as if she needed to feel my presence more than anything. Her breath was soft but urgent, matching the desperate yearning in her touch.

I pulled her onto my lap, my hands cupping her face, savoring the taste of her, the heat of her body pressed against mine. Everything about this moment was raw, unspoken, and yet perfect in its own way.

"Ariyana," I murmured against her lips, my voice husky. "Are you sure about this? Because once we cross this line..."

"I'm sure," she whispered back, her hands moving down my chest, tracing the outline of my shirt.

There was no turning back. I couldn't stop myself from kissing her again, deeper this time, feeling her surrender to me. She wasn't holding back anymore, not in her touch, not in her heart.

I slid my hands under her shirt, feeling the warmth of her skin as I pulled her closer. She gasped softly against my lips, and that sound drove me wild. But I paused, needing her to know that she was the one in control. I wanted this to be her choice, every step of the way.

"You sure?" I asked again, my forehead resting against hers. "Because we don't have to do this if you're not ready."

Her hands moved to the waistband of my jeans, tugging gently. "I'm ready, Ruhaan. I need this. I need you."

My heart raced as I guided her back onto the couch, my lips never leaving hers. We undressed each other slowly, savoring the feeling of skin against skin. Each kiss, each touch, felt like a declaration—a promise.

When we finally came together, it wasn't just physical. It was emotional, intense, a merging of everything we'd kept hidden from each other for so long. There were no more barriers between us, no more hesitations. Just raw, unfiltered love.

As we lay together afterward, tangled in each other's arms, I whispered, "I love you, Ariyana. No matter what happens, I'm never leaving you."

She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, her voice trembling as she replied, "I love you too, Ruhaan. More than you'll ever know."

Ariyana's POV

I had never felt so vulnerable. So exposed. And yet, in that moment, as Ruhaan held me close, I felt safe.

He had given me something I didn't even know I needed—a home in his arms, a place where the world could fade away, leaving only us.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this way—free from the weight of my past, free from the expectations of my family. With him, I was just Ariyana. And that was enough.

I ran my fingers through his hair, marveling at how easy it had become to just be with him. No pretenses, no masks. Just love. Pure and simple.

"Ruhaan..." I began, my voice soft and hesitant.

"Hmm?" He looked down at me, his gaze tender and full of warmth.

"I'm scared," I admitted, my chest tightening as I voiced the truth I had buried for so long. "Scared of losing you. Scared of what comes next."

He kissed my forehead, his touch gentle and reassuring. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

And in that moment, I believed him. For the first time in a long time, I truly believed him.

The love we shared felt like a promise, a quiet, unbreakable bond that neither of us would ever let go of.