“Aur aap?”

(And you?)

“Ohh please don't ask! It's too embarrassing."

He groaned and hid his face. She chuckled and got curious.

“Ab toh batana padega. Tell me tell me.”

(Now you have to tell me.)

When he removed his hands from his face, she noticed his cheeks were a little red. Was he blushing? Or was he embarrassed?

“I…uhh…I was in the shower…”

Okay! She did not need that image. Him. In the shower. She blinked and shook the image away before it could show on her face. 

People have told her that her face had subtitles. He would be able to catch that she was thinking about it very easily.

“...my foot slipped and fell on the floor. And that's not even the embarrassing part. Guess who found me and how?”

She looked at him with wide, curious eyes and dramatically whispered.

“Who? And how?”

He grinned at her equal participation in his drama and chuckled as the tips of his ears turned pink.

“So, I am staying at a rented apartment and the caretaker of that apartment is a 70-year-old lady. Toh jab mai gira…I knocked off something in the bathroom which alerted her. And then of course she heard my voice and came running. It was that day that I discovered yaha rooms ke locks kitne fragile hai.”

(So when I fell…I knocked off something in the bathroom which alerted her….It was that day that I discovered how fragile the room locks here are.)

Himani gasped and covered her mouth, easily guessing what happened next.

“She pushed the door open and found me fallen on the floor. With an injured leg. And completely naked.”

He chuckled looking at her and she quickly turned her face away because how would she explain her red face to him. She definitely couldn't tell him she had imagined him naked more than twice now.

“Embarrassing right?”

“I would die.”

She mumbled and they burst in laughter.

“Tumhara toh pura trip kharab ho gaya. Dusre hi din hospital.”

(Your trip is ruined. In the hospital the second day.)

He said and she nodded with a sad smile.

“It's not too bad though. Agar lagti nhi toh aapse nhi mil paati. Destiny, you see.”

(Had I not got hurt I wouldn’t have met you.)

She might look calm flirting with him like this. But only she knew how wildly her heart was beating.

He raised his eyebrow at her statement. Why were all of his moves so hot?

“Are you flirting with me?”

He teased and she blushed. 

“N-nhi! I genuinely meant it. You're a good friend.”

(N-no!)

He nodded sarcastically as if not believing her at all. Even she didn't believe herself.

“Ummhmm. Sure. Just to be clear, I don't have very friendly feelings for you.”

Her heart skipped a beat and she gaped at him. Did he just-

“W-what?”

She croaked and he smiled sincerely. And then, looking straight into her eyes, he spoke.

“I like you Himani. And not just as a person or a friend. I like you in a way that makes me want to keep looking at you, in a way that makes me want to keep listening to you, and in a way that makes me want to hold you in my arms and keep you there forever.”

Her mind blanked. How was she supposed to reply to that? Thank you? Same pinch? Or something else?

“I-”

Before she could think of something to answer, they were interrupted by the nurse. Himani was hyper aware of his gaze on her until the nurse drew the curtain for privacy.

She did not like it but at the moment, she was thankful for it. It wasn't like she didn't like him. But this! The way he described his feelings and that too with such genuinity and sincerity, she wasn't sure if that's what she felt right now.

She didn't want to give him any fake promises. And so, she didn't say a word after that. At least until the next day. Arjun too, didn't bother her. He knew he had poured a bucket on her and she needed time to comprehend.

He had had crushes but the way she made him feel was something he was experiencing for the first time. And he just knew that she was the one for him.

Himani was supposed to leave the day after tomorrow and she was dreading going home because of her brother's reaction. Her family still didn't know about her injury.

All of her necessary tests were done and she didn't have any other external or internal injuries.

She settled on her bed and saw the curtain half drawn. She could see him but he had his eyes closed.

“Arjun?”

He hummed and she took a deep breath. 

“I-”

Before she could utter anything else, the door to their room banged open and her eyes widened. Because standing at the door, looking all frantic, was her brother.

Oh oh! She was doomed!

“W-how did you-omph!”

She couldn't complete yet again because he engulfed her in a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around him because truth be told, she did miss him.

“Isliye nhi jaane deta mai kahi. And I am never letting you out of my sight again.”

(That’s why I don’t let you go anywhere.)

He whispered and kissed her head repeatedly.

Arjun, who too had looked up hearing the door bang open with such force, was frozen to his spot.

Seeing her wrapped in the arms of another man didn't settle well with him. Was that why she got awkward when he confessed? Because she was already in a relationship?

He felt like a fool now. He averted his eyes from the two, who were still hugging.

Rihaan pulled back from the hug and looked at her sternly, while Himani didn't meet his eyes, knowing very well that he would be very angry.

“Mana kia tha na maine, ki akele jaana safe nhi hai. Ek bodyguard saath le jaa. Mai chalta hu. Par nhi! Mai toh kabhi kuch sahi kehta hi kaha hu? Mai toh dushman hu tera. Tujhe toh lagta hai mai baandh raha hu tujhe. Ab samajh aaya kyu keh raha tha.”

(I denied right, that it is not safe to go alone. Take a bodyguard along. I will come. But no! When am I ever correct? I am your enemy. You think I am restraining you. Now you know why I said.)

“Bhaiya! Accident tha! Kisi ke bhi saath ho skta hai. Isme meri kya galti hai.”

(It was an accident! It could happen with anyone. What is my fault in this.)

Arjun's eyes snapped towards them as soon as he heard the word bhaiya. Now that he noticed their faces, he realised that they did actually look familiar.