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Haniya walked straight to Aarav, her eyes still wet, the noise of the party feeling too loud, too bright, too painful. Aarav was standing near the corner, checking his phone, but the moment she reached him, she grabbed his wrist tightly.
"Aarav… take me to the dorm. Please."
His eyes lifted slowly. She had never seen him look so cold, so hurt. "Now?" he asked flatly.
She nodded, swallowing hard. "Please."
He didn't say anything, just turned around and walked. She followed him silently, her heart beating too fast. The moment they stepped outside into the cool night air, Aarav spoke, voice sharp.
"Haniya… I'm not going to pretend nothing happened. I need a full explanation."
She lowered her head. "I'll tell you everything… I promise."
They reached the car. Aarav unlocked it and sat inside without looking at her. She got in, her fingers shaking. He started driving, the silence so heavy it felt like a weight on her chest.
She tried holding it in but the moment the car moved, tears spilled down her cheeks. Aarav kept his eyes on the road, jaw clenched. He was angry—really angry—but he didn't interrupt her crying.
After almost two minutes of silence, he finally spoke. "I've seen you upset before, but never like this. What's going on, Haniya?"
She wiped her tears roughly. "Aarav… I didn't want you to know. I was scared."
"Of what?" His voice cracked—hurt more than angry.
Haniya took a deep breath, gathering all the courage she had.
"Ayaan… the guy who grabbed my wrist… he's my brother's best friend."
Aarav stiffened instantly.
"He—he helped me return. When I wanted to come back to the team, he… he talked to the selectors, he convinced them. But he didn't do it for free." Her voice shook. "He made me promise something."
Aarav's hands tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. "What promise?"
Haniya looked down, tears dropping into her lap. "That I… I would give you to his sister."
Aarav slammed the brakes slightly—not stopping, but the car jerked. He turned his head sharply toward her.
"What?!"
Haniya broke again, crying harder. "I know… I know it was wrong. I know I should've told you. But I thought… if I refused, I wouldn't get into the team. I was desperate, Aarav…"
He stared at her, anger fighting with shock and pain. She kept crying, unable to look at him.
"And I tried… I really tried to keep distance," she whispered. "But I couldn't. I started falling for you again. I couldn't control it."
The car became silent again.
For a moment, she thought Aarav would shout at her. Or pull away. Or stop the car and leave her.
But instead, he slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road and switched off the engine.
He leaned back and stared at her with intense eyes.
"Haniya… look at me."
She looked up, lips trembling.
He moved closer, his voice low but shaking. "Do you think I'm angry because of Ayaan?"
She sniffed. "You are…"
"No." His breath was warm on her face. "I'm angry because you thought you'd lose me if you told the truth. Because you cried alone. Because you thought I wouldn't choose you."
Her lips parted but no words came out.
"And seeing you cry like this…" His voice broke. "Don't ever hide your pain from me again. Ever."
She burst into sobs again, leaning into him. He wrapped his arms around her instantly, pulling her onto his chest.
She clutched the back of his shirt tightly. "I'm sorry, Aarav… I'm really sorry… I hurt you… I didn't mean to…"
He kissed the top of her head, breathing heavily. "Stop apologizing. I'm here. I'm not leaving."
She cried into his chest for a long time, his hand moving softly up and down her back, calming her.
When she finally calmed, he cupped her face gently.
"I need to ask you one thing."
She blinked. "What…?"
"Do you want him? Ayaan?"
Her answer came immediately. "No. Never. I want you, Aarav. Only you."
His eyes softened, all the anger melting at once.
"Then that's enough."
He kissed her forehead softly before starting the car again.
She cried silently the rest of the ride, but now her tears fell into her hands—not because of fear, but because of relief.
When they reached the dorm, Aarav opened the door to get out, but she grabbed his wrist from behind.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
He turned.
Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her face into his back.
He froze for a moment—then gently placed his hands over hers.
"Haniya…" he whispered.
"I'm sorry…" she repeated in a small voice.
He turned around slowly and cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs.
"Stop crying," he murmured. "You're mine. And I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded, lips trembling.
He leaned in and kissed her—hard, intense, desperate. She clutched his shirt, pulling him closer. He kissed her like he was claiming her, like he wanted to erase all her fears, all her pain.
When they pulled apart, both breathless, he whispered against her lips, "You only belong to me."
Her eyes softened. "I love you, Aarav."
He closed his eyes for a moment as if those words healed something inside him. When he opened them again, they were full of passion and love.
"I love you, Haniya. More than you think."
He carried her into her room, shutting the door behind them. The moment it clicked, he pulled her into his arms again, kissing her deeply. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with the same intensity.
His hands slid softly along her waist as he guided her backward toward the bed. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, feeling the warmth of his breath against her neck as he kissed her skin slowly, lovingly.
She held him tightly, whispering his name between breathless kisses. His hands moved gently along her back, her waist, her arms—touches soft enough to calm her, deep enough to reassure her.
They stayed wrapped in each other for a long time, kissing, holding, calming each other—healing the hurt from earlier. His lips brushed her cheeks, her neck, her jawline, each kiss tender and slow.
And every time she whispered "Aarav…," he kissed her harder, whispering back, "I'm here."
After a long, warm, breathless moment, she finally relaxed in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. He held her tightly, chin resting on her head, breathing her in.
They stayed like that until she slowly drifted to sleep against him.
He kissed her forehead gently before laying her down softly.
"Sleep, Haniya," he whispered. "I'm right here."
And he stayed beside her until her breathing slowed.
Before leaving, he kissed her forehead one last time.
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