Her words hung in the air between them, raw and exposed. She hated admitting it, hated how confused and vulnerable she felt. She had always been so sure of herself, so confident. But now, with Rajveer, everything felt messy, tangled in emotions she didn't know how to handle.
Rajveer blinked, taken aback by her outburst. He could see the frustration and confusion etched on her face, and for the first time since they had started this strange, unexpected connection, he saw something real. Something honest.
He let out a breath, his lips curling into a small, almost amused smile. "Well," he said, his voice calm but laced with a hint of humor, "that's... complicated."
Mahnoor glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "You think?" she shot back, but her voice lacked its usual bite.
Rajveer chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're something else, Mahnoor."
She frowned, unsure if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Rajveer said, his voice lowering slightly, "that I get it. You don't know what you want right now, and that's fine. I'm just as confused as you are."
Mahnoor's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected him to admit that, hadn't expected him to be so... open. It threw her off balance.
Rajveer took a step closer, his expression softening just enough for her to see that he was being serious. "Look, I don't know where this is going, or what this even is between us. But I'm not running away from it. Not yet."
Mahnoor felt a lump form in her throat. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond to the honesty in his words. She wasn't used to this—this kind of raw, unfiltered connection. It scared her, but it also made her feel something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his hand again, pulling him closer. Rajveer didn't resist. He just stood there, looking at her with those dark eyes, waiting for her to make the next move.
And for the first time, Mahnoor didn't feel the need to rush, to push him away. Instead, she stood there, holding his hand, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself breathe.
"I still hate you," she whispered, but there was no malice in her voice. It was softer, almost teasing.
Rajveer smirked, squeezing her hand gently. "I know."
They stood there, the world moving around them, but in that moment, it felt like everything had finally slowed down. It wasn't perfect—it wasn't even close. But for now, it was enough.
Mahnoor's hand, which had been holding Rajveer's, suddenly squeezed his with such intensity that he winced. He flinched, caught off guard by the pressure.
"Period cramps," she muttered through gritted teeth, her face scrunching up in discomfort. Rajveer stiffened, his posture immediately growing awkward as he tried to figure out what to do with the sudden information.
Mahnoor's breath came out in short, frustrated puffs, and she squeezed his hand again. "I want a hug... owww... ugh... you... damnit... bad period day!" She said it loudly enough that Rajveer's eyes darted around, nervously scanning the hallway to make sure no one had overheard her.
"Shh!" he hissed, his instincts kicking in. He knew these kinds of things were generally not discussed openly—at least not where he came from. His upbringing had drilled certain 'taboos' into him, and periods were definitely one of them. He shifted uneasily, trying to silence her, but his reaction only made Mahnoor yank her hand away from his.
"What the hell, Rajveer?!" she snapped, glaring at him.
He blinked, realizing how ridiculous he was being. She was clearly in pain, and here he was, more concerned about someone overhearing them than actually helping her.
"Okay, okay," he muttered, his voice calming, "let's go to my dorm now—"
Her eyes flashed dangerously. She shot him a death glare so intense that he immediately backtracked. How could he forget? Just hours ago, she had asked him to stay, not leave.
"Uh... I mean... your dorm," he quickly corrected himself, raising his hands slightly in a gesture of surrender.
Mahnoor's expression softened just a bit, though the tension in her face remained. With a grunt, she pushed past him, heading toward her dorm. Rajveer followed behind her, feeling like he was tiptoeing on eggshells. He had no idea what to say, what to do—but he knew better than to aggravate her further.
Once they reached her dorm room, Mahnoor wasted no time. She immediately plopped down on her bed, curling up into a ball as if the effort to hold herself together had finally worn her out. Her dark hair spilled over her pillow, and her face remained tense as she tried to find some semblance of comfort.
Rajveer stood awkwardly by the door, unsure of what to do next. His instincts told him to just leave, give her space—but the way she looked at him, expectantly, made it clear that wasn't an option. She was waiting for something, and the realization hit him like a slow wave. She wanted him to help her, not just stand there awkwardly.
With a deep breath, he walked toward her bed, his movements hesitant and uncertain. This was unfamiliar territory for him. He gingerly sat down beside her, and after a moment's hesitation, he finally moved, lying down next to her. His body remained stiff, his arms hovering in the air, unsure of whether to touch her.
Mahnoor groaned softly, shifting slightly to face him. Her eyes, clouded with pain, looked up at him, waiting. He could tell she was in no mood to give directions, but the impatience in her gaze was clear.
Rajveer let out a quiet breath, steeling himself, and slowly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. It was awkward at first—his muscles tense, his mind racing. But as Mahnoor pressed her face into his chest, burying herself against him, he began to relax, if only a little. Her body felt warm against his, her breathing uneven as she fought through the pain.
Mahnoor exhaled, the tension in her body easing slightly as she allowed herself to settle into the comfort of his arms. "Good boy," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest.
Rajveer froze for a second, the words catching him off guard. He wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or some kind of teasing, but it didn't really matter. She was calm now, and the atmosphere in the room had shifted.