kaho Na Pyaar Hai

The unseen storm

Ruhaan's POV

It had been a few days since that night with Ariyana, and things had shifted between us. It wasn't just about what we shared physically anymore. There was something deeper—an unspoken understanding that tethered us together in a way I never thought possible. But the storm that I knew was brewing outside our bubble hadn't hit yet. I could feel it in the air, thick with tension, waiting to burst.

The last few days had been emotionally draining for both of us. Ariyana was still dealing with her father's return and the emotional toll it was taking on her. As much as she tried to hide it, I could see the cracks. I was trying to be there for her in every way I could, but I didn't know how much more of her walls I could break down.

Tonight, I was supposed to meet her at her place after she got home from her family dinner. As I drove through the familiar streets, my phone buzzed with a text.

Ariyana: "I don't think I'm ready for tonight. Maybe another day."

I frowned. Something wasn't right. Ariyana had been pushing me away in little ways recently, and every time I tried to get close, she pulled back. I had to see her—make sure she was okay.

I didn't wait for her to answer when I pulled up outside her house. The door was ajar, and I stepped inside without knocking.

"Ariyana?" I called out, my voice low and careful.

I heard movement from the living room, followed by a soft voice. "In here."

I walked in, finding her sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, her eyes tired and distant. She looked up at me with a weak smile, but I could see the pain in her eyes. She wasn't okay.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, sitting beside her, my hand instinctively reaching for hers.

She sighed, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. "Just... everything feels so heavy. I can't breathe sometimes, Ruhaan."

I hated seeing her like this. She wasn't the girl who took everything in stride anymore. The weight of everything—the past, her family, the situation with her father—it was too much for her to handle alone.

I pulled her into my arms, letting her rest her head against my chest. "You don't have to carry this by yourself. I'm here. Whatever you need, I'm here."

She didn't say anything for a while, just letting the silence fill the space between us. But then, she spoke again, her voice trembling.

"I just don't know how to fix it, Ruhaan. How do I fix everything? How do I make it stop hurting?"

I didn't have an answer. But what I did know was that I was going to stay by her side, no matter how hard things got.

"We'll figure it out together," I murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But you have to trust me, Ariyana. Trust us."

She nodded, her fingers tightening around mine, as though she was afraid I might disappear if she let go.

The room felt heavier now, but there was something reassuring about the way we fit together, even in our silence. I could tell she needed space, but I wouldn't leave. I stayed with her, my arms around her, as we sat in the comfort of our shared space.

Ariyana's POV

I leaned into Ruhaan, his warmth surrounding me like a shield from the world outside. For a moment, the chaos of my life faded into the background. I needed this—his presence, his unwavering support.

But even with him beside me, I couldn't shake the fear gnawing at me. Everything in my life was a mess—my family, my father, Mia. I didn't know how to make sense of it all.

Ruhaan sensed my unease and shifted, looking at me with those eyes that always seemed to understand more than I said. He reached up, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch tender.

"I know it's a lot, Ari," he whispered, his voice steady. "But you don't have to do it alone."

I looked up at him, feeling a lump form in my throat. I wanted to believe that. I wanted to believe that we could make it through everything together, but I was scared—scared of losing him, scared of what this would do to us.

He cupped my face, tilting it so I was forced to look into his eyes. "Look at me, Ariyana. I'm not going anywhere. Whatever happens, I'm not leaving you."

I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. "But I'm afraid, Ruhaan. I'm afraid of what's coming. Of what's already here."

He wiped away the tear that had slipped down my cheek, his thumb grazing my skin. "We don't know what's coming, but we'll face it together. Always."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just nodded, letting the quiet comfort of his words sink in.

But in the back of my mind, I knew that things were far from over. The storm hadn't even begun yet.

Ruhaan's POV

The next few days were a blur. Ariyana's father was becoming more involved in her life, and every conversation about him left her more distant, more withdrawn. I could feel the walls she had built, each brick a reminder of the pain she'd been through.

And yet, I couldn't stop myself from wanting to break them down. I couldn't bear seeing her suffer in silence anymore.

One night, I came over to her place after another long day of uncertainty. The atmosphere was heavier than usual, and Ariyana was sitting by the window, looking out into the night.

"Everything okay?" I asked, sitting beside her.

She didn't look at me at first, but then she sighed, leaning into me.

"No," she whispered. "It's not."

I held her close, my heart breaking at the sadness in her voice. But all I could do was hold her, my fingers tangled in her hair, wishing I could take away her pain.

I wasn't sure where we were going, or how we'd make it through. But I knew this: no matter what, I was going to fight for us. For her.

She needed me now more than ever.