Decided by Destiny

CHAPTER 21 *Movie date*

In evening

As Ishaan walked into the living room, he found Aastha curled up on the couch, flipping through movie options on the TV. She looked up at him with an expectant smile.

"You really meant it when you said we’re watching a movie together, huh?"
he teased, leaning against the doorway.

Aastha nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! You said you have a day off tomorrow, so no excuses."

Ishaan chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. What are we watching?"

"I was waiting for you to decide."

Just as he was about to sit down, Aastha stood up and stretched. "Wait a second. I should change into something comfy." Without waiting for a response, she disappeared into the bedroom.

A few minutes later, Ishaan felt his breath hitch as she returned wearing one of his oversized T-shirts. The fabric draped loosely over her frame, reaching mid-thigh, and the sight of her in his clothes sent an unfamiliar warmth coursing through him.

His eyebrows shot up. "Uh... Aastha?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

He gestured toward her. "That’s... my T-shirt."

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, I know. It’s comfortable."

Ishaan opened his mouth to protest but then sighed, shaking his head with an amused smile. "Alright, you win."

She beamed and plopped down beside him on the couch. "Good! Now, let's start the movie."

As the film began, the room dimmed, illuminated only by the flickering screen. They sat side by side, a small gap between them at first, but as time passed, Aastha gradually leaned closer, getting comfortable.

At one point, a jump scare made her yelp and grab onto Ishaan’s arm. He tensed at the unexpected contact, his heartbeat quickening. She didn’t move away immediately, instead gripping his sleeve like a child afraid of the dark.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

She peeked up at him and nodded. "That was unexpected."

He chuckled. "You chose this movie."

"Yeah, but I didn’t expect it to be this scary," she mumbled, still clutching his arm.

For a moment, they stayed like that her hand resting lightly on his sleeve, her warmth seeping through the fabric. Ishaan found himself hyper-aware of her presence, the soft scent of her hair, the way her eyes widened at certain scenes.

As the movie progressed, Aastha’s head naturally rested against his shoulder. Ishaan stiffened slightly, debating whether to move away, but he didn’t. Instead, he let himself relax, allowing the moment to settle around them.

By the time the movie reached its climax, Aastha’s eyelids grew heavy, and she yawned, shifting slightly closer to him. Ishaan glanced down to find her barely awake, her fingers lightly curled against the couch cushion.

"Sleepy?" he murmured.

She hummed in response, her voice drowsy. "Just a little."

Without thinking, Ishaan adjusted the pillow behind her and let her rest against him. Her breathing slowed, steady and peaceful, and he realized she had fallen asleep.

He let out a soft sigh, watching her for a moment longer before turning his gaze back to the screen. The movie was still playing, but his mind was elsewhere caught in the quiet intimacy of the moment, in the warmth of her beside him.

And for the first time in a long while, he felt something shift in his heart.

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