Fated To Love You

Chapter 92

After finishing some light food, Abhishek stretched his arms and let out a relaxed sigh. "Main thoda rest karne ja raha hoon. 7 baje tak nikal jayenge, warna 10 baje tak pahuch nahi payenge," he said casually, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of the day.

"Dinner pack kar du kya phir?" their mother asked, already standing up, her voice laced with affection.

"Haan... ye sahi rahega," Abhishek replied with his usual wide grin, his carefree nature slipping back into place now that the serious conversation was over. He patted Siddharth's head playfully before disappearing into his room.

Their mother, with a knowing smile, headed toward the kitchen, leaving Siddharth and Ruhi alone in the living room.

Ruhi immediately stood up, brushing her scarf as if dusting off invisible nervousness. "Main bhi aunty ki help karne jaati hoon," she said quickly, avoiding Siddharth's gaze.

But before she could take another step, she felt a gentle yet firm grip around her wrist.

"Nahi, ruko na," Siddharth murmured, his fingers tightening slightly as he held onto her hand. His voice was soft, almost vulnerable, making her heart skip a beat.

Ruhi turned to look at him, surprised by the quiet desperation in his eyes. His usual playful energy was missing, replaced by something deeper—something that made her chest tighten.

"Thodi der baat karte hai na," he continued, his thumb unconsciously grazing the back of her hand in slow circles. "College wapas jakar pata nahi, aaram se baat karne ka mauka milega ya nahi."

The way he said it, with a mixture of longing and uncertainty, made Ruhi's resolve waver. His dark eyes held an unspoken plea, his lips parted slightly as if he wasn't sure what else to say but didn't want her to leave just yet.

She swallowed, feeling warmth creep up her cheeks. For a moment, she just stared at him, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Then, with a small sigh, she slowly sat back down beside him. "Theek hai," she whispered, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

Siddharth's lips stretched into a wide, boyish grin, his entire face lighting up like a child who had just been granted an extra five minutes of playtime. For a few seconds, they just sat there, their hands still lightly touching, their unspoken feelings lingering in the air between them.

Ruhi's cheeks were warm, her heart still fluttering from the way he had held her hand. A shy smile lingered on her lips, and she kept her gaze low, feeling the heat rise again whenever their fingers brushed slightly.

Siddharth, watching her blush, grinned like a fool. "Arre, tum itni sharma kyun rahi ho?" he teased, nudging her playfully with his shoulder.

Ruhi bit her lower lip, shaking her head, but as her gaze finally lifted, her blush slowly began to fade. Her eyes landed on the faint reddish marks across his cheek—the aftermath of the punishment he had endured earlier. The playful sparkle in her eyes was instantly replaced by concern.

Her breath hitched slightly as she reached out, her fingers hesitating before gently tracing the edge of the mark on his cheek. Siddharth flinched slightly at the touch, but before he could make a joke about it, Ruhi grabbed his wrist and turned his palm upward.

Her heart clenched. The faint welts from earlier were still there, visible against his skin. She traced them lightly with her fingers, her touch feather-light, as if afraid she would hurt him more.

Ruhi sniffled, her shoulders trembling as she wiped at her eyes, but the tears wouldn't stop. Seeing the distress on her face, Siddharth felt a pang of guilt deep in his chest. Without thinking, he immediately cupped her face, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.