Healing each other

chapter 58

Arohi stood at the balcony, lost in thought, when Arnav slipped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His warmth settled her, and a soft smile curved her lips.

“How was your day?” he whispered against her hair.

“Nice… yours?” she asked.

“Bad,” he murmured, tightening his hold, “until I held you like this.”

Arohi chuckled lightly, leaning back into him. Minutes passed in silence, just the two of them and the night breeze. Then, her voice trembled.

“Arnav… did you… do that to Dev’s image?”

He stilled for a second, then lowered his voice, calm and steady. “What if I say yes?”

Arohi’s eyes glistened. She tried to hold back, but tears slipped through. “I was weak. I should’ve spoken up. I should’ve fought instead of shutting myself in a room and crying.”

Arnav turned her in his arms, brushing her tears away with his thumb. His gaze burned with quiet strength. “Arohi… you were never weak. You survived. That’s braver than anything.”

Her chest tightened, overwhelmed. She gripped his shirt, buried her face in him, and whispered for the first time—words she had been holding for so long.

“I love you, Arnav.”

His breath caught. Slowly, a smile broke on his lips. He tilted her chin up and kissed her forehead. “Say it again,” he whispered.

“I love you,” she said, stronger this time, eyes meeting his.

Arnav cupped Arohi’s face gently, his thumb brushing away the last traces of her tears. His voice was low, careful, as if afraid to break the moment.

“I’m not rushing you… not forcing you. But… can I kiss you? Only if you’re comfortable.”

Arohi’s eyes widened, her heartbeat loud in her chest. For a moment, she just looked at him—at the man who had stood by her, carried her scars like his own, and made her feel safe in a way she’d never known.

Her lips parted. “Umm…” She hesitated, then slowly nodded.

Arnav leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers first. He stayed there, breathing with her, letting her feel the calm in his chest. His fingers slid down, entwining with hers, grounding her in his touch.

When their lips finally met, it wasn’t hurried. It wasn’t fiery. It was soft—so achingly soft it felt like a promise. His kiss carried no demand, only patience. A gentle press, lingering, as if he wanted to pour every unsaid word into her.

Arohi’s eyes fluttered shut, a small tear slipping free—not from pain, but from the strange warmth filling her heart. She responded slowly, almost shyly, her lips moving with his in a rhythm that felt like healing.

When they pulled apart, Arnav rested his nose against hers, his breath warm.

“That,” he whispered, “was our beginning.”

Arohi smiled through her tears, her voice breaking yet certain. “And I don’t want it to ever end.”

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Riya sat on the bed, hugging her knees, eyes flicking to the clock, and then to Reyansh, who was still buried in his laptop on the couch. She waited a few more minutes, then finally called softly,
“Reyansh…”

He didn’t reply, too focused on the screen. With a sigh, she got up, walked over, and gently took the laptop from his hands.

“Riya, it’s important—” he began but stopped when she sat right down in his lap.