Chapter 7 – The Tilt of Closeness
हँसी की खनक, नज़रों का खेल,
छोटे-छोटे लम्हे, दिल ने थामे झेल।
तेरा हाथ मेरी पीठ पर,
एक पल की छाँव,
धड़कनों ने कहा—ये नज़दीकियाँ कुछ और ही गाँव।
छुटते नहीं वो पल, छुपी मुस्कानें साथ,
हर छुअन में बसी मीठी बात।
कितना भी रोकूँ, दिल ने मान लिया,
तेरे पास रहकर ये समय अपनाया।
The Mehra and Khanna families had gathered in the Khanna living room for another round of pre-wedding rituals. The priest's chants blended with the tinkling of bangles, laughter of relatives, and the faint clink of trays being passed around.
Trisha sat cross-legged on the floor, a tray of turmeric paste balanced in front of her. Her hands were trembling slightly—so many eyes on her always made her feel like a deer caught in headlights.
Across from her, Abhineet sat calmly, his long frame folded with surprising grace. He didn't fidget, didn't glance around nervously, didn't look like the room suffocated him the way it did her. He simply... existed with quiet authority.
When the priest instructed her to apply turmeric to Abhineet's cheek, her hands froze. Dozens of relatives leaned forward, eager for the moment.
Trisha dipped her fingers into the golden paste, her hand trembling as she reached toward him. At the last second, the tray wobbled. The paste nearly spilled across her lap.
Before disaster struck, Abhineet's hand shot out, steadying the tray. His other hand closed gently around her wrist, firm but careful.
"Easy," he murmured.
The touch sent a shiver through her arm. Their eyes locked, and the noise of the room dimmed.
Relatives giggled, whispering about how natural they looked together. But neither of them moved immediately. It was only after a heartbeat too long that Trisha withdrew her hand, cheeks flushed.
She quickly smeared the turmeric across his cheek. The bright color against his skin looked striking, but her fingers tingled more from the warmth of his touch than the paste.
When it was his turn to return the ritual, Abhineet didn't hesitate. His large hand brushed turmeric gently onto her cheek. The simple touch lingered a second longer than tradition required, his thumb almost grazing her skin.
Trisha's breath hitched.
---
Later, during the playful teasing rituals, Nikhil and a few cousins insisted on hiding Abhineet's shoes.
"If you want them back, jiju, you'll have to pay us!" Nikhil declared, waving the shoes above his head.
Abhineet's eyes narrowed. "You think I'll play this game?"
"Yes!" the cousins chorused, laughing.
The spectacle drew everyone's attention, and even Priya laughed at her son's annoyed expression.
Meanwhile, Trisha found herself laughing too—softly, almost unwillingly. The sound slipped out before she could stop it.
Abhineet caught it instantly. His gaze snapped to her, and for a fraction of a second, his expression softened. The corners of his lips curved, just slightly, as though her laughter was the only part of this entire scene worth noticing.
---
As the evening wore on, relatives drifted away to chatter and feast. Trisha slipped toward the kitchen, wanting a quiet corner. She almost collided with a servant carrying trays of drinks.
The tray tilted dangerously. Glasses clinked.
She gasped and stumbled back—straight into a solid chest.
Abhineet's arms closed around her instantly, steadying her before she fell.
For a moment, the world went silent. His hand pressed against the small of her back, the other gripping her arm securely. She felt the heat of his body against hers, the strength in his hold.
Her breath caught, trapped in the closeness. She tilted her head up, eyes meeting his.
"You should watch where you're going," he said quietly, his voice low, more intimate than scolding.
Her lips parted, but no words came. Her heart pounded, every beat echoing in her ears.
He released her slowly, his hand lingering on her arm before falling away.
Trisha's cheeks burned as she turned quickly, pretending to busy herself with the untouched tray on the counter. But her hands shook too much to lift anything.
Behind her, Abhineet's gaze lingered, unreadable.
---
That night, lying in bed, Trisha touched the spot on her back where his hand had steadied her. The memory played over and over, her body betraying her with warmth she couldn't explain.
She had never been held like that before. Never been touched with both strength and gentleness.
And it scared her how much she wanted to feel it again.
---
In his own room, Abhineet poured himself a glass of water he didn't drink. He leaned against the window, the night city stretching beneath him.
He shouldn't have held her that long. Shouldn't have let his hand linger. But the moment she stumbled, instinct had taken over. Protecting her had felt natural. Too natural.
And when she laughed earlier... something inside him had shifted.
He pressed his jaw tight. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. Not after everything he had lost. Not when he had sworn to keep his heart locked.
But with Trisha, silence was enough. He didn't need words to understand her. And that scared him more than anything else.
---
✨ End of Chapter 7 ✨
---