𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

Chapter 45

I've changed Karanveer's name to Aaransh, so please don't get confused in the upcoming chapters.

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A U T H O R

It had been ten days since they returned from mandir, and on the surface, everything appeared to be falling into place. The house was warmer, filled with soft laughter, quiet conversations, and the slow return of comfort. Nikshant had managed to earn his family's forgiveness.

For the past two hours, Nikshant had been sitting quietly on the floor in front of her, watching her read. His expression was nothing short of dramatic-arms crossed, lips slightly pouted, eyes fixed on her with unspoken longing. Aaravi, however, remained unmoved. Her attention was buried in the book resting in her lap, her brows furrowed in focus. She hadn't looked at him for more than a second in all this time.

Not once.

When he couldn't take it anymore, he reached forward and gently pulled the book from her hands. Aaravi blinked, surprised, before she could say anything, he lowered his head onto her lap with a quiet sigh. Then, with childlike softness, he took her hand and placed it on his hair, urging her silently for comfort.

Aaravi stared down at him, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

"Nikshant ji... what are you doing? I was reading that," she said softly.

"Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha ki tum padh rahi thi," he said with a hint of mischief, his eyes still closed, his voice low and laced with exhaustion. "Your attention hasn't moved from it in hours. I thought it was a statue holding the book."

(Oh, I had no idea you were reading,)

Aaravi stared at him, at the man who once scared her, broke her... and was now lying in her lap like he had nowhere else in the world to be.

And despite everything - her hand began to move through his hair, slow and uncertain at first-then gently, her fingers tangled in his soft strands.

Nikshant exhaled, his eyes fluttering shut as he melted into her touch. A soft, almost broken sigh escaped his lips, carrying with it the weight of everything unsaid.

"You know, Aaravi..." he whispered, his voice filled with honesty, "I craved this. Your hands in my hair, me lying in your lap like this... talking about our future, our silly little dreams, our deewaana moments. I ached for it. Badly."

Aaravi's lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable, but her fingers didn't stop moving.

"I want to experience everything we missed," he continued, his voice softer now, filled with guilt and longing. "Everything that married couples cherish-the small talks, the morning tea, the late-night arguments, the random laughter... all of it. And we... we lost it because of me."

"Will you... umm... will you go on a date with me?" he asked hesitantly, his voice low and uncertain.

Aaravi's hand, which had been gently moving through his hair, stilled.

Nikshant opened his eyes slowly and looked up at her, searching her face. "Will you, Aaravi?" he repeated, more softly this time-almost a whisper.

Aaravi's breath hitched.

Her heart thudded against her chest, loud and aching. Hell, she wanted to say yes. She wanted to feel normal with him-wanted to smile without the weight of their past pulling her down. She wanted to go on that date, their first ever date.

"Y-Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. And her hand began to move gently roaming through his hair like again.

Nikshant smiled-broad, genuine, and warm. A kind of smile that reached his eyes and softened the sharp lines on his face. He took her hand in his, brought it to his lips, and pressed a tender kiss on her knuckles.