Armaan gently took Aarohi's hands off his face and held them in his own, giving her a soft, reassuring smile.
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine," he said, his voice calm and steady.
But Aarohi didn't look convinced. Her brows stayed furrowed, worry still clouding her eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked again, not ready to let it go.
Armaan smiled a little wider, then reached up and ran his fingers through her hair gently. "Yes, baba," he said with that familiar teasing tone, trying to ease her nerves.
Aarohi pouted, folding her arms across her chest. "Then why didn't you say anything when I said that?"
Instead of answering right away, Armaan stepped closer. Without saying a word, he slipped his arms around her waist and locked them behind her, pulling her just a little closer. His eyes met hers, full of something deeper than words.
"I'll protect you," he said softly, "till my very last breath."
And with that, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Aarohi closed her eyes and let the moment wash over her, her arms slowly wrapping around him. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, letting the quiet warmth of his embrace drown out everything else.
After a while, Armaan pulled back just a little, his voice softer now. "It's really late… we should head back."
Aarohi nodded silently, but her hands lingered on his for just a second longer—like she didn't want to let go just yet.
As they walked side by side, lost in casual chatter, Aarohi stepped ahead of Armaan and spun around to face him, walking backward with a playful grin.
"So… are you coming to university with us tomorrow?" she asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.
Armaan paused for a second, pretending to think. "Hmm… yeah, I think I will," he said with a small nod.
Aarohi beamed and turned back around, walking forward again. "Perfect! Tomorrow, we're going together then."
Armaan chuckled quietly, watching her bounce ahead, clearly amused by how excited she was over something so simple. But somewhere deep down, it made him smile too.
Soon, they reached the main gate of Aarohi's house. Armaan stopped just outside the entrance, while Aarohi turned to face him one last time with a soft, lingering smile.
"Bye," she said sweetly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Armaan smiled back, his eyes gentle. "Goodnight, Aarohi."
Arohi stepped inside, and just before closing the gate, she looked back at him with that same soft, heart-melting smile. He held her gaze for a moment and smiled back—faintly, tenderly.
And then, the gate closed.
The moment it clicked shut, the smile vanished from Armaan's face.
Just like that—gone.
His expression turned blank, almost hollow, as if something inside him had quietly shut off with the closing of that gate.
Same Night : Arman's Room
Armaan lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying hard to fall asleep. But sleep was the last thing that would come to him tonight.
Every single moment he had spent with Arohi today played on repeat in his mind—the way she had walked in with that bouquet in her hands, the way her eyes searched for him with unspoken emotions, the way she had looked away shyly, her soft smile, her nervous giggle, the warmth of her hand in his... the way she had melted into his arms when he hugged her.
Everything.
It was all too vivid. Too close.
His heart ached with something he couldn't name—something tender, something dangerous.
And then, just as he felt himself slipping deeper into those memories, a voice echoed in the silence of the room.
"Armaan, what are you doing?"
He shot up, startled, looking around the empty room. But he knew exactly where the voice had come from.
It was his own.
His inner voice—sharp, unforgiving, and all too real.
He blinked, confused, pretending he hadn't heard it.
"W–What do you mean? I haven't done anything. Wh–What are you talking about?" he mumbled to himself, his voice shaky with denial.
But the voice came again, firmer this time.
"Armaan, you're getting too close to her. You know this isn't right. You know you can't let yourself get this close to Arohi."
Tears welled up in Armaan's eyes. His chest tightened, and with a mix of pain and defiance, he lashed out at the voice echoing inside him.
"Why?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "Why can't I get close to her?" he demanded, his voice breaking with emotion.
"Aarohi is the girl I've waited eight years for. Eight. Long. Years. I've ached just to see her once… just to hear her laugh, to stand next to her. Even when she wasn't around, she was always with me—in my memories, in my thoughts, in my dreams."
His breathing grew heavier as the emotion spilled out of him.
"She's the only one who's ever had that place in my heart. Every prayer I've ever whispered… it's always been her name. Every time I wished for something—anything—it was her. Every single breath, every heartbeat… it's always been Aarohi."
"I love her more than I've ever loved anyone. And I know—" he paused, wiping his tears, "—I know she feels something too. I've seen it in her eyes. That love is real. It's not just in my head. So then why? Why can't I go near her?"
And then came the voice again. Cold. Clear. Unforgiving.
"Don't be stupid, Armaan. You'll only hurt her. You'll be the reason she breaks. Walk away before it's too late. Keep your distance."
Armaan shut his eyes tightly, as if that would quiet the voice.
But deep down, he knew—the worst part was, it wasn't lying.
Each word hit him like a blow to the chest. The very idea of staying away from Aarohi ripped him apart. He couldn't take it anymore. Rage surged through him, helpless and hot.
"Stop it!" he shouted, voice cracking with anguish. "I don't want to hear another word from you. Just leave me alone!"
But the voice wouldn't stop.
"Armaan, you can't get close to her.
Armaan, stay away.
You'll hurt her.
Armaan, don't go near her..."
The same lines echoed relentlessly in his ears like a cruel mantra, over and over, growing louder, heavier—until it became unbearable.
He clenched his eyes shut, pressing both hands hard against his ears, trying to block it all out. Dropping to his knees, he screamed through the darkness:
"Just shut up! I don't want to hear you anymore! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"