Chapter 11 – Closeness in Silence
धीरे धीरे बढ़ी हर नज़दीकी,
हाथों की छुअन में खिली प्रेम की धनीकी।
हँसी और लम्हों ने साथ निभाया,
हर पल में प्यार ने अपना नाम बताया।
The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but the Khanna residence was already alive with activity. Morning prayers echoed faintly from the nearby temple, and the faint aroma of fresh flowers drifted through the corridors.
Trisha sat on the balcony, sipping chai, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup. The night's confessions still lingered in her mind—the weight of her parents' cruelty, the sharp edge of Abhineet's guilt. Yet the act of sharing had lightened her chest, however slightly.
She hadn't expected him to touch her hand so easily, to simply sit beside her while silence hung comfortably between them. Most people, she thought, would have recoiled at her sadness.
But Abhineet didn't.
---
He appeared beside her quietly, carrying a plate of fresh parathas. "You'll need breakfast before you faint," he said, voice calm but teasing.
She glanced at him, startled. "You… made breakfast?"
He shrugged, sitting across from her. "The kitchen staff will revolt if I don't help. Besides, I like keeping my bride alive."
Trisha blinked, caught off guard by the gentle humor. It wasn't loud or theatrical—just a quiet tease that made her lips twitch upward despite herself.
She reached for a paratha. The contact of their fingers brushing sent a subtle jolt through her, and she quickly looked away, cheeks burning.
---
The morning passed in soft, unspoken intimacy.
Abhineet followed her to the living room while she arranged flowers for the hall. He stood a few feet behind, not hovering but ever-present, ready to step in when needed.
A small vase teetered dangerously on the edge of the table. Trisha's hand shot out to catch it—but Abhineet was faster. One large hand steadied the vase, another hovered protectively over her shoulder.
"Careful," he murmured.
She swallowed, heart hammering, but managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me every time," he said softly, though there was an edge of fondness in his tone.
The day felt different now. For the first time since the engagement, Trisha realized she could exist in his presence without constant fear or restraint.
---
Later, the families gathered to plan the wedding banquet seating. Cousins argued, aunties flitted from room to room, and Trisha quietly tried to take notes.
Abhineet leaned over her shoulder, pointing at the list. "Don't worry. We'll keep the couples together; no random assignments."
She glanced up, surprised. "You… you remembered what I said?"
He shrugged slightly. "Of course. You don't need to say everything out loud for me to understand."
Her chest warmed at his words. Silence settled comfortably between them.
---
That evening, a sudden rainstorm caught everyone by surprise. Guests scrambled to close windows, umbrellas appeared, and water seeped into the hall near the flowers.
Trisha slipped on the wet floor as she ran, arms flailing. Before she could hit the ground, strong hands caught her mid-step.
Abhineet held her close, steadying her against his chest. His warmth radiated, grounding her like nothing ever had.
"You're… very reckless," he murmured, his breath brushing her hair.
Her lips parted, unsure what to say. "I… I didn't mean to—"
He shook his head. "I know. But… be careful."
The tone wasn't anger, not quite worry—it was something softer, almost intimate. The brush of their bodies, the quiet intensity of his gaze, made her heart pound fiercely.
---
Later that night, after the storm had passed, Trisha found herself in the kitchen, drawn by the comforting smell of warm cocoa. She was baking quietly, moving with methodical precision.
Abhineet entered silently, leaning against the doorframe. "Still baking?"
"Yes," she replied, shyly. "I… I like it."
He stepped closer, watching her work. "You do it well," he said simply, taking a small taste of the batter she offered.
Her fingers brushed his hand, and a heat shot through her. He held her gaze, lips curling faintly.
"You're… surprisingly dangerous in the kitchen," he teased, voice low.
Trisha's lips twitched, a soft laugh escaping despite herself. For the first time, she laughed freely around him, unguarded and light.
---
Night deepened, and the house grew still. Trisha retreated to her room, but Abhineet followed, quiet as a shadow.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright," he said, standing at the door.
She nodded, words failing. Their eyes met, holding a thousand unspoken truths.
He stepped closer, but stopped just short of touching her. "You don't have to hide everything from me," he murmured.
Her chest tightened. The past, the pain, the fear—it all lurked behind her walls. But tonight, with him, she felt a small crack forming.
"I… I'll try," she whispered.
He gave a faint nod, his hand hovering a hair's breadth from hers, then withdrawing. It was a promise, not a claim.
The night stretched around them—quiet, intense, filled with the unspoken closeness that words could not capture.
---
By the next morning, something had shifted.
Trisha walked through the corridors with a lighter step, a quiet awareness that Abhineet's presence was no longer intimidating, but protective.
He walked beside her, silent yet entirely attuned, occasionally brushing her arm with a casual grace. The tension of her years of fear had begun to loosen, replaced by a tentative trust, fragile but undeniable.
And somewhere deep inside, Trisha realized: she was starting to like the way her heart raced around him.
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✨ End of Chapter 11 ✨
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