𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤 [ 𝑆ℎ𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑋 𝑆𝑎𝑟𝑎 & 𝐼𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑋 𝐴𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖 ]

7.|

After few days~

The ghat shimmered under the silver glow of the crescent moon, its reflection dancing on the restless waves of the river. Noor sat at the edge of the steps, her slender frame draped in a soft, pale blue dupatta that swayed gently with the breeze. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her scarf as she gazed at the water, lost in thought. The stillness of the night was a welcome reprieve from the chaos that usually surrounded her life.

Every sound—the rustle of leaves, the distant croak of a frog—seemed magnified in the quiet. But then came the faint sound of footsteps, steady and deliberate. She stiffened. The ghat at this hour wasn’t a place for strangers, and the last thing she needed was trouble.

“Do you always wander alone at night?”

The voice startled her, deep and measured, but not unkind. She turned abruptly, her heart skipping a beat as her gaze fell on him—the man who had saved her that day. He stood a few steps above her, the faint light of a lantern illuminating his sharp features.

For a moment, she couldn’t speak. The way he looked at her, with a mix of curiosity and quiet intensity, made her chest tighten.

“It’s peaceful here,” she finally managed, her voice soft but steady. “And safer than most places.”

He descended a step, then another, careful to maintain a respectful distance. “Peaceful, perhaps. But not safe for someone... like you.”

His words weren’t laced with judgment, but Noor couldn’t help the pang of defensiveness that rose in her chest. “I can handle myself,” she replied, lifting her chin slightly.

A faint smile touched his lips. “I don’t doubt that.” He set the lantern down, its warm glow casting soft shadows between them.

Silence settled once more, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. The river’s gentle whispers seemed to fill the void, carrying unspoken words between them.

After a while, he spoke again. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”

Her heart fluttered unexpectedly, though she tried to brush the feeling aside. “Introduced?” she echoed, almost to herself.

He extended a hand toward her, his movements deliberate and steady. “I’m Arjun.”

Noor froze. The name hit her like a gust of cold wind. Arjun. A name so quintessentially Hindu it left no room for ambiguity. She blinked, her breath hitching as her thoughts raced.

Hindu.

Even her own people—her blood—didn’t accept her. To them, she was a stain. If a Muslim couldn’t see past her tainted lineage, how could someone like him—a Hindu—ever think her worthy of anything beyond pity?

“Are you all right?” His voice broke through her spiraling thoughts.

Noor realized she’d been silent too long. She quickly composed herself, offering a faint smile. “Yes, I... I’m fine.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying her with those piercing eyes. “And you are?”

The question felt heavier than it should, but she answered nonetheless. “Noor.”

She avoided looking at him directly, fearing that he might see the turmoil in her eyes.

“Noor,” he repeated, as if testing the name on his tongue. His voice softened, almost reverent. “It suits you.”

She glanced at him briefly, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. “Thank you,” she murmured, her fingers tightening around her dupatta.

He leaned back slightly, resting his hands on the step behind him. “You’re not from here, are you?”

Noor shook her head. “No.”

He waited for her to elaborate, but when she didn’t, he didn’t press further. “This place... it has its charm, doesn’t it? The river, the stars. It makes you forget, even if just for a moment.”

Forget. The word lingered in the air, resonating with both of them in ways they wouldn’t admit.

“What do you wish to forget?” she asked softly, surprising even herself with the question.

Arjun smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Many things.”

There was a vulnerability in his answer, one that mirrored her own hidden pain. For a brief moment, she felt a connection, fragile yet undeniable.

“You?” he asked, turning the question back to her.

Noor hesitated. “Everything,” she whispered.

The weight of her words hung between them, heavy and unspoken.

Arjun’s gaze lingered on her, his curiosity deepening. There was so much he didn’t know about her, yet he felt drawn to her in a way he couldn’t explain. But he held back the questions swirling in his mind. He couldn’t afford to scare her away, not when he barely knew her.

And then there was the matter of his own secret.

If she knew who he really was, she would distance herself—he was certain of it. Being a prince wasn’t just a title; it was a barrier, a constant reminder of the divide between him and the people he wished to fight for. Noor would see that barrier, and she would retreat behind her own.

“I should go,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was shaky, betraying the conflict within her.

Arjun straightened, his expression flickering with something close to disappointment. “Why?”

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. How could she explain that sitting here, next to him, made her heart ache in ways she didn’t understand? That the hope his kindness stirred in her was more terrifying than anything she’d faced before?

“Wait,” he said, his voice soft but firm.

Noor hesitated, her back to him.

“I don’t know your story,” he began, “and I won’t pretend to understand what you’re going through. But I meant what I said before—I’ll be here. If you ever need anything, just... come to the ghat. I’ll find you.”

She turned slightly, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment. There was something in his gaze, something that made her chest tighten.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

As she walked away, the sound of her footsteps fading into the night, Arjun remained seated, his thoughts swirling. He didn’t know what it was about her that captivated him, but he couldn’t ignore the pull he felt toward her.

And Noor, as she made her way back to the confines of her world, couldn’t shake the way his voice lingered in her mind.

Arjun.

She knew she shouldn’t let herself hope, but the way he’d said her name made her heart flutter despite her resolve.

The river continued its quiet song, a witness to the beginning of something neither of them could yet comprehend.