They Don't Know about Us

Chapter 24 - Lingering eyes & stolen touches

Chapter 24 - Lingering eyes & stolen touches

The terrace glowed under a canopy of fairy lights and a crescent moon. The city hummed below, faint and far away — but up here, everything was still. Riddhima stood close to the railing, laughter soft and nervous as Armaan leaned in, his voice low enough to make her forget the world existed.

He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. Her breath hitched. The tension between them crackled — that familiar push and pull neither could resist.

"Armaan," she whispered, but it came out more like a plea than a protest. He was too close – not that she minded it – but it did make her heart race.

He smiled — slow, knowing, dangerous. "You were saying?" Her hand lifted instinctively, fingers curling against his chest. His heart was racing just as fast as hers. Their noses brushed — a whisper of a touch — and for one suspended moment, the air between them was electric, pulsing. She closed her eyes, waiting to feel the brush of his lips against hers.

Before he could take his lips into hers, they heard a a flash burst behind them.

"OH. MY. GOD."

The sound of Muskaan's voice shattered the quiet like glass. Riddhima jerked back mortified, her eyes wide, while Armaan froze, blinking as if waking from a spell. Muskaan stood by the doorway, phone in hand, eyes gleaming with absolute delight. Behind her, Rahul was trying (and failing) to look innocent while snickering. She held up her phone proudly. "For memories," she said with a grin. "You know, in case you ever forget your 'professional boundaries' again."

"So this is where you two disappeared off to." She waved her phone with a grin. "Smile for the camera, lovebirds." She took another picture of Riddhima covering her face flushed with embarrassment whereas Armaan just smirked. "Perfect picture, although its less romantic than the last one, but at least its PG enough to show to your kids!"

Riddhima's mouth dropped open. "Muskaan!" she hissed, cheeks blood red from embarassement.

Armaan's lips curved into a smirk, his tone maddeningly calm. "Get my good angle at least Muskaan?" Rahul burst out laughing, earning a deadly glare from Armaan.

"Rahul," Armaan warned, his tone deceptively calm. "Do you enjoy night shifts?"

Rahul straightened immediately. "No, sir. Sorry sir!"

Muskaan snorted and clutched her stomach, nearly dropping her phone. "Oh my god, Riddhima, look at your face! You're redder than a bridal lehenga!"

That only made Riddhima's cheeks burn hotter. "Muskaan!" she hissed, trying to snatch the phone as Muskaan darted away, laughing so hard she almost tripped on her lehenga.

"Muskaan, delete that photo or I'll strangle you," Riddhima muttered, stepping forward, but with her hands covered in mehndi, she could do little more than glare.

"I'd listen to her," Armaan said, stepping slightly in front of Riddhima — not threatening, just protective. "She's more dangerous than she looks."

"Oh, I know," Muskaan teased, winking at Riddhima before dragging Rahul away by the arm. "We'll leave you lovebirds to your romance. Don't do anything that'll ruin her mehndi design, okay Armaan?" She winked at him, earning a smirk. "And come down soon, we have to participate in the rasams too"

"How come you can tease him and when I do it, he threatens me with night shifts?" Rahul pouted walking behind her.

"I don't bow down to his threats sweetheart that's why" Muskaan giggled, earning a chuckle from Rahul.