I didn't even realize when morning came. After yesterday's journey, exhaustion had completely taken over me. As soon as I woke up, I thought maybe the heaviness I felt was just from fatigue. But something was strange-why hadn't Krishna woken me up yet?.... Slowly, I opened my eyes, and what I saw made my breath hitch. My face was turned toward his side, and there he was, peeking out from under his blanket, smiling at me looking directly into my face.
The moment our eyes met, I froze, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Without thinking, I quickly pulled the blanket over my face, trying to hide from his gaze.
"ohhh..., baby! Why are you hiding your face? Let me see you.... You look so adorable when you're sleeping!" he said, his voice playful yet tender.
"You have no shame, do you?.... Staring at someone while they're asleep!" I mumbled shyly from under the blanket, my voice muffled.
"I wasn't staring at someone's girl; ....I was just looking at my girlfriend pretty face,...My honey babybaka " he teased. "Now come on,... remove that blanket right now!"
Before I could react, he tugged at the blanket, pulling it away from my face. I tried to pull it back, but he was faster,.... laughing at my struggle of hiding my face.
"Fine, if you really want to stay under the blanket,...then I'll just join you in there," he said with a mischievous grin. "Oh, please.... don't look so surprise..... I know that's exactly what you were secretly hoping for!" He continued with the grin.
"What nonsense!... I'm not like you!" I retorted, flustered hiding my face. And suddenly In one swift move, I grabbed the blanket and threw it over his head, standing on the bed as I laughed at his surprised expression.
When he finally managed to pull the blanket off, his hair was all disheveled. And honestly, I couldn't help but think how utterly adorable he looked like that-messy hair and surprise face expression.
"You're right-you're not like me.... You're way more dangerous!" he said, narrowing his eyes at me playfully, his lips curling into a knowing smile.
"Leave that..... Tell me, aren't you doing yoga today?" I asked, trying to change the subject and calm my racing heart.
"Ahhh....., I'm feeling unwell today, as I am sufferin from a severe case of love sickness.... I think I need to visit my beloved honey for treatment," he said dramatically, suddenly lying down in my lap.
My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. He had a way of catching me off guard, flooding me with emotions... That I didn't know how to process so early , especially in the morning! "Come on...., we're getting late. Everyone must be waiting," I stammered, awkwardly moving my hands away to avoid accidentally touching his head.
"Go on then....," he said with a pout, sitting up. "Go to everyone else... Expect me.... You care about them more than me.... anyway....By the way, how was your sleep last night?"
"It was... good," I replied, unable to meet his gaze as my cheeks grew warmer.
"Really?... That's great.... And ....by the way you're not going to ask how I slept?" he said, feigning offense.
"Fine.... Tell me How did you sleep?" I asked, pretending not to care, though my curiosity betrayed me.
"I didn't sleep at all," he said with a playful smirk. "You kept tossing and turning all night-dropping the blanket, knocking over the pillow.... How was I supposed to sleep peacefully with all that going on? And you! You were sleeping like a queen while I struggled all night. But maybe... maybe tonight I'll try your method and see if it works for me."
I could only stare at him, flustered and tongue-tied. "I-I mean... It wasn't that great a sleep for me too!" I stuttered, trying to deflect. "I... I need to go to the bathroom! Its... Emergency!" With that, I bolted from the room, leaving him laughing behind me.
Once inside the bathroom, I leaned against the door, trying to catch my breath. Turning to the mirror, I caught my reflection, and a smile spread across my face before I could stop it. My fingers unconsciously brushed against my cheek-the very spot where his lips had landed yesterday.
The memory of his touch made my heart race all over again. How was I supposed to handle him when just his words left me so breathless? I splashed my face with cold water, again and again, trying to shake off the blush that refused to fade. But every time I looked in the mirror, that shy, silly smile returned.
As I stepped out of the bathroom, I realized he wasn't in the room anymore.
To be honest, his absence was unsettling. Even a moment without him felt unbearable, and yet, whenever he was near, I struggled to keep control over myself. I constantly feared that I might do something foolish in his presence. I was so cautious, worried about what he might think of me-what if he found me strange? ...Worse, what if he left me like everyone else had?
These thoughts swirled in my mind as I busied myself getting ready. A message had just popped up in our group chat; my friends planned to explore Shimla's market at noon. While dressing, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and couldn't help but smile, my cheeks warming up red as I thought about him.
Suddenly, I felt something warm drape over my shoulders. Startled, I turned to see Krishna standing behind me, wrapping a bright red muffler around my neck from the back.
"This muffler will do the work of mine... As I can't hug you frequently," he said, his voice was soft whisper but teasing one.
"You... when did you come in...?" I asked, startled, spinning around so quickly that I bumped into his chest.
"When you were smiling to yourself, lost in thoughts of me,..." he replied smugly, adjusting the muffler and looking straight into my eyes.
My heart raced, and panic set in. In a flustered moment, I stomped on his foot with my shoe. "Don't you think... don't you think you're rushing into things a little too fast? ...I mean, this is all... strange."
He stepped back, pretending to wince, his playful expression fading into one of exaggerated hurt. "Wait... so you find my love-I mean my boyfriend character's love-strange?".... sighed dramatically, putting a hand to his chest. "You're right. Probably I've clearly failed as a boyfriend."
"That's not... what I meant!" I protested, stepping toward him, alarmed by his sudden change in tone.
But Krishna was already turning away, his shoulders slumping. "It's okay.... I understand. If my love feels strange to you, then I've failed.... May be I'm not a good boyfriend... But I can't let myself hurt you more with my strange kind of love....You deserve to be happy, even if it's not with me."
He began walking toward the door, his voice breaking slightly as he added, "Go ahead, live your life baby....(jao baby jao jilo apni jindagi....) I'll just... step back."
"Wait! Listen to me!" I hurried after him, my heart pounding.
"Please, don't say anything....," he interrupted, his hand already on the doorknob. "I can't bear anymore to see your throat upset because of me... Don't waste your words for me.... Just eat the food I brought for you. I'll be downstairs, waiting. Take your time."
With that, he left, closing the door behind him before I could say another word.
I stood there, staring at the door in disbelief, before slumping onto the bed, holding my head in my hands. What just happened? How did this go so wrong? I hadn't meant to upset him. I was only trying to express my confusion, but now... now he thought something else ... I made the whole situation uncomfortable.
My appetite was gone, but I forced myself to eat the food he had brought, guilt weighing heavily on me with every bite. Once I finished, I took a deep breath and headed downstairs, determined to make things right.
When I reached downstairs, I saw him leaning casually against the wall near the reception, scrolling through his phone. As soon as he noticed me, he slid the phone into his pocket and asked, "There's still half an hour until 12.... Why did you come down so early?"
"you are alone here too.... so I ..." said softly, trying to hide my smile.
"Well... now you'll have to spend the next half hour feeling uncomfortable and awkward with me..... I didn't want to make you miserable..., you know," he replied with a serious tone, his expression unreadable.
"No... it's not like that. I'm fine!" I said quickly, trying to smile and lighten the mood, hoping to fix the tension between us.
"There's no need to lie....," he said with a pout, clearly not convinced.
"Forget all that.... Let's have some tea!" I suggested, eager to change the subject and distract him.
He simply nodded without saying a word, and we walked to a small tea stall nearby. I kept talking the entire way, trying to fill the silence, while he only responded with brief "yes" or "no" answers. It was like he was there but not fully present.
After we finished our tea, I reached into my purse to pay, but before I could, he stopped me. Grabbing my hand, he paid for the tea himself and said, "I may have failed at being a good boyfriend, .... but I won't let anyone call me stingy (kanjoos).... Even if it's from a distance, I'll fulfill my responsibilities of being your boyfriend..... I'm not giving up....!"
He said it so loudly, with a hint of theatrical drama, that the people around us started staring. Embarrassed, I grabbed his hand and pulled him back toward the hotel.
"What are you doing? Everyone was watching us!" I scolded him as I let go of his hand, trying to regain composure.
"Oh, I see!... So now even walking with me embarrasses you? Am I really such a terrible boyfriend?" he said, clutching his chest like his heart was breaking.
"No, that's not it...Was...." I started to explain, but he cut me off.
"It's fine.....You can Tell me the truth.... My soft heart is strong enough to handle it.....Look, your friends are coming this way, but don't worry..... I promise I won't do anything to embarrass you in front of them." He shot me a pointed look, dripping with sarcasm, and then walked toward my friends, immediately switching to a cheerful demeanor as if nothing had happened.
Later, when we went out to explore the market, all my friends were holding their boyfriends' hands. Feeling a little out of place, I turned to him and said, "Look at everyone,.... they are holding their boyfriends' hands. ...If we don't do it..., we'll stand out. Should I... should I hold your hand?" I asked, trying to sound innocent, seizing the moment.
"I'm ready to do anything that makes you happy.....!!! ," he said without any expression, pressing his lips may to hide his smile.
Before he could finish speaking, I reached out and wrapped my small fingers around his hand, which was larger and warmer than mine. The sensation was soft, almost like touching cotton. Though I had held his hand before...., but this time felt different-intentional, intimate, and in the middle of a busy market...Its like I was dreaming.... My cheeks burned with blushing, as the moment felt incredibly special to me.
We stopped at a sunglasses shop where I made him try on different pairs while I snapped pictures of him. He kept protesting but reluctantly played along. Later, we joined the group of my friends for lunch and explored a few more nearby spots before heading back to the hotel in the evening.
Throughout the outing, Krishna behaved normally in front of everyone, blending in seamlessly with the group with his charm. But whenever we were alone, he would retreat into silence, reminding me my guilt again and again.
The awkwardness reached its peak that night when he built a wall of pillows between us on the bed saying ..... "You said today's morning that you didn't sleep well.... So, let's make a barrier to ensure we both get proper rest tonight," he said, arranging the pillows firmly.
"There's no need for that!" I protested, trying to remove the barrier.
"Ohhh.... you say that now," he replied, grabbing the pillows back. "But last night, in your sleep, you touched me here and there so many times. I didn't say a word because I'm a good boyfriend....., but if you accuse me of something later on...., I can't take that risk. No more baseless allegations for innocent me!"
He finished building the wall, turned his back to me, and pulled his blanket over himself, leaving me speechless. I could only stare at the ridiculous pillow wall between us, a mix of frustration and amusement bubbling inside me.
I was sitting with my head in my hands, cursing myself over and over again. For the next three or four days, Krishna had been acting the same way-distant and aloof. But instead of giving up, I had started trying harder to get closer to him.
When we went to the lake, I deliberately asked him to take a photo with me in front of everyone, knowing he wouldn't refuse in such a situation.
(Credit - Kdrama Doctor slump)
I also fed him with my own hands in front of everyone, held his hand repeatedly, and tried every way I could think of to win him over. I even used a bunch of cheesy pick-up lines for him.
But he? ....Oh, he was basking in all the attention, playing along but refusing to let his guard down. When I finally mustered up the courage to use the pick-up line that chikkuu told me.... about how he was my "moon" and I didn't need to see the real moon anymore, but he crushed my heart by replying, "You're absolutely right-I'm like the moon. Just like everyone admires the moon from a distance, you like me only from afar..... That's what you meant, didn't you?"
Saying this, he pouted dramatically and walked ahead, leaving me standing there stunned.
For the past three or four days, I had been feeling as though that instead of me .... he was my girlfriend and I was his boyfriend.... It was strange-he was showing more tantrums just like how girls shows to boys ... But wait... wait...was I really starting to think of him as my boyfriend.....?
When this realization struck me, something inside me shifted. Every time I looked at him, a new, indescribable feeling began to bloom within me. It wasn't something I could articulate with words, but it was powerful, overwhelming, and deeply confusing.
It was as if my heart had begun crafting a story of its own-a story where I could no longer ignore how my emotions were changing. Something about him, about us, had started to feel undeniably different, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying all at once. A feeling which start having a tag. The moment that realization hit me, I began to see him in a completely different light.
December 31st was an unforgettable night for me. As we all sat around waiting for the clock to strike midnight, each of my friends sat close to their respective boyfriends. When the clock hit 12, fireworks lit up the night sky, filling it with shimmering colors.
But my gaze wasn't on the fireworks-it was fixed on Krishna. I was watching him intently, trying to summon the courage to finally tell him, Yes, I love you so much.
Just as I was about to speak, he suddenly turned his gaze from the sky to me. My heart skipped a beat, and those words I had gathered with so much difficulty froze in my throat. My nervousness kept me silent.
It was freezing outside that night, so Krishna took off his jacket and wrapped it around me without a word. Seizing the moment, I moved closer to him, pretending to shiver even more from the cold, just to be near him.
We sat like that for a while, enjoying the warmth of the jacket and each other's silent company. Suddenly, Alia broke the moment by exclaiming, "Let's play Truth or Dare!... None of us are sleepy anyway!"
Everyone agreed to her suggestion almost immediately. Krishna also stood up to join them, but before he could move, I grabbed his hand and said, "Do you even know what that game is? .. Let's just skip it!"
"Don't worry. I won't make you feel awkward because of me,..." he said with a smile and walked off to join the others, leaving me no choice but to follow him,I was scolding myself for not stopping him.
The game began, and at first, everything was light-hearted and fun. The questions and dares were manageable, like when someone asked me which song came to my mind whenever I looked at Krishna. I had shyly answered "Blue Song by yung kai."
Everything was going smoothly-until the game took a sudden turn. Now, the dares were turning into the ones that were specially meant for couples. I could feel the tension creeping in, and my heart started racing as I realized the situation we were heading into.
The scene was unfolding like a moment straight out of a dramatic movie. As one couple in front of us kissed during their dare, I had been nervously looking around, trying to avoid Krishna's gaze. I managed to avoid eye contact during everyone else's turns, but when my turn came, my heart sank.
To make matters worse, our dare was the last one of the night, and everyone was already getting ready to head back to their rooms. The tension hung in the air as we stood there, knowing our challenge wasn't going to be simple. Tanya, who had brought a box of strawberries earlier that afternoon, suggested something unexpected. The dare was set: Krishna had to hold one strawberry between his lips, and I had to take it from him-using my lips. But there was one crucial rule: not a single atom of our lips could touch during the exchange of strawberry. If we failed this challenge...., then....Krishna would have to carry me all the way back to our room, in his arms, as the penalty.
At first, I tried to refuse, blushing furiously, but Krishna calmly picked up a strawberry, placed it lightly on his lips, and said with the soft whisper, "Trust me....." His voice was steady and deep, almost hypnotic, and I felt like I had no choice but to go along with it. Forcing an awkward smile, I turned my chair toward him and sat down, my heart pounding like a drum.
Everyone around us was laughing, teasing, and cheering us on, making my embarrassment skyrocket. I could feel my cheeks burning, and I couldn't bring myself to look directly at him. Finally, I lifted my gaze and found him leaning slightly toward me with strawberry into his lips, sitting on the edge of his chair. His eyes met mine, steady and confident, as if he was entirely unaffected by the absurdity of the situation.
But what about me...? My heart was on the verge of giving out. I couldn't make myself lean forward....; my lips refused to move closer to the strawberry resting so temptingly on his lips....My breath and heart rate both became restless by seeing leaning too close to me..... Everyone's eyes were on us, and the pressure was unbearable.
Then, suddenly, Krishna placed one hand gently on my waist and the other lightly on the back of my neck. My entire body froze as electricity seemed to course through me at his touch. My breath caught, and I thought in my mind, This is it..... This is how I will die-from my sheer nervousness.
His hands pressed slightly, urging me closer. I closed my eyes tightly, unable to face what was happening. My lips hesitantly reached for the strawberry, and then....the disaster occurred.
In my panic, I accidentally brushed against his soft butter like rozy lips while grabbing the strawberry. The moment our lips touched, even for the briefest instant, my eyes flew open in shock....My hands were holding my own jacket so tightly out of nervousness. My heart felt like it had skipped a thousand beats. But before I could process what had just happened, I panicked further and swallowed the entire strawberry in one go.
It got stuck in my throat. The room erupted into chaos as everyone rushed to get me water, their teasing forgotten in their concern. Meanwhile, I was coughing and sputtering, my embarrassment reaching a whole new level. Once I finally managed to catch my breath, my friends immediately started teasing me again.
"Who gets this much shy around their own boyfriend.....?" they laughed. "You are behaving like it's your first time... !" they start teasing me with more things this and that ...I turned into red tomato ...And was feeling warm due to my embarssment.
Krishna, meanwhile, was quietly watching me with a small, knowing smile on his face....And was patting me on my back to get me relax. And though I was still mortified, I couldn't help but steal a glance at him, my mind racing with thoughts that I wasn't quite ready to admit to myself.
The conversation had finally ended, and after exchanging New Year wishes once more, we started heading toward the room, just as per the bet.... Krishna had picked me up in his arms, he effortlessly carried me. My head rested slightly below his shoulder, while one of his hands supported my back and the other held my legs securely. My friends, walking behind us, were teasing us incessantly, their laughter echoing in the corridor.
I found myself looking up at him from this close angle, and my gaze kept getting stuck on his lips. No matter how hard I tried to look elsewhere, my eyes refused to obey me. His red lips seemed to have an inexplicable pull on me, as if they were calling out to me.
The silence between us felt heavy, almost deafening. He wasn't saying a word, just quietly looking ahead, his face was unreadable. When we finally reached the room, he gently set me down and, with a soft, almost regretful tone, said, "I'm sorry... I couldn't win for you...."
Before I could say anything, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, lost in my thoughts.
I sat on the bed, my fingers unconsciously brushing over my lips as the memory of that moment replayed in my mind. My cheeks grew warm with a mix of embarrassment and something I couldn't quite name. After changing in the bathroom, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. My lips... my traitorous lips wouldn't let me forget what had happened. A small smile crept onto my face before I shook my head, scolding myself.
"It was just an accident... nothing more....It doesn't even count as a kiss.....It is nothing .... ," I muttered to myself, trying to convince my racing heart. But deep down, I knew....
When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Krishna sitting casually with a box of strawberries in his hand, eating one by one as if nothing had happened.
As soon as he noticed me, he held out the box towards me and said, "Heyy ...Wanna have one??." His tone was calm, almost indifferent, like the events from earlier had been wiped from his memory.
I quickly looked away, my face heating up again. "What are you doing.... eating strawberries in the middle of the night? ....and ....I'm not hungry...!" I muttered, pretending to busy myself by packing my clothes into my bag.
He smirked, completely unfazed. "I thought you liked strawberries.....After all,... you have a lip balm with the same flavor, don't you?" His casual remark sent my heart into overdrive.
"What?!...." I blurted out, quickly covering my mouth with my hand, horrified at my own reaction.
"I'm feeling sleepy... you can eat it tomorrow... just move aside... now...!" I was saying while placing my pillow on the bed, avoiding his gaze entirely. I was still caught in the whirlwind of everything that had happened.
"Alright, sleep then... I'll turn off the light.... And listen, don't forget to place a pillow between us... I don't like invading other people space unnecessarily....!" he was saying this as he walked toward the switch, his voice was calm but laced with his usual playful undertone.
"Okay..." I murmured softly, the shyness evident in my voice, my cheeks still flushed.
Just then, he turned on his phone, in the dark room.....and He handed it toward me, holding it out by laying down at other side of the bed, and said, "That song you mentioned earlier... the one you said dedicated for me.... Let me listen to it..... I'm just curious."
I silently took his phone, avoiding his eyes, and played up the song for him. Holding the phone , I layed down into my space, my heart pounding from the weight of unspoken emotions.
As the song began to play, a profound stillness settled between us. The only sound in the room was the melody weaving through the darkness. I closed my eyes, the lyrics wrapping around me like a soft embrace. Slowly, my mind wandered to the moments I had shared with Krishna. Every glance, every word, every accidental touch replayed in my head like scenes from a movie.
As the final paragraph of the song faded into the quiet,
My love will always stay by you...
I'll keep it safe so don't you worry a thing,
I'll tell you I love you more
It's stuck with you forever so promise you won't let it go
I'll trust the universe will always bring me to you
I'll imagine we fell in love
I'll nap under moonlight skies with you
I think I'll picture us, you with the waves
The oceans colors on your face
I'll leave my heart with your air
So let me fly with you
Will you be forever with me?
Suddenly after the last line, his voice broke through my reverie, pulling me back into the present.
"Yes.... I mean, I have to admit, you have pretty great taste in music,.....Good night...bakaa!!"he said, his voice was soft yet playful, as the words melted into the dim stillness of the room. Without waiting for a response, he reached out in the darkness, gently taking the phone from my hand. His fingers brushed mine for the briefest moment, sending a wave of warmth through me.
And just like that, he turned away and silently headed to his side of the bed, leaving me alone with my swirling emotions.
I sat there, frozen, my gaze following him as he disappeared into the shadows. My mind, however, was entirely fixated on the spot where his hand had briefly touched mine.
A nervous, shyly smile tugged at my lips as I leaned forward and buried my face in my pillow. My heart was racing, my thoughts looping through every little detail of what had happened that night-every glance, every accidental touch, every unspoken moment.... that seemed to scream louder than words ever could.
As I closed my eyes, I allowed myself to sink into those memories, reliving the spark of his presence in every heartbeat. I can't believe I am here with my love.... with my crush ....I am here with the one to whom I used to adore from far.... yes today I can say I have my own moon with me. The soft pillow cradled my flushed cheeks as I drifted off into sleep while cherishing his touch.
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