The morning light trickled through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the room. Aarav stirred, his eyes fluttering open, only to find Nisha lying peacefully beside him. Her hair cascaded across the pillow, her face softened with tranquility. A soft smile played on his lips as he watched her sleep, wrapped in the warmth of their closeness from the night before. His hand moved gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, careful not to wake her. He lay there for a moment longer, memorizing the contentment that radiated from her, before finally slipping away from her side to get ready.
After freshening up, Aarav moved into the kitchen, his thoughts still lingering on the events of last night. Every moment with Nisha felt like a memory in the making, an indelible mark etched onto his heart. With a smile, he started preparing breakfast, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the room. Plates filled with eggs and toast sat neatly on the counter as he carried two cups of coffee back to the room.
He placed the tray on the nightstand and settled back onto the bed beside her, his arms winding around her as he pulled her close. She stirred, mumbling in her sleep, and instinctively snuggled deeper into his embrace. He couldn't help but smile, the memory of their intimacy a spark in his chest. Her warmth, her softness, her gentle breathing—it was everything he needed, grounding him in a way nothing else could.
A few moments later, Nisha's eyes fluttered open. As she registered him watching her, a blush crept across her cheeks. She quickly tucked her face against his chest, hiding her expression. Aarav chuckled, his hand tracing soothing circles on her back.
"Why are you hiding, hmm?" he teased, his voice filled with warmth. "After last night, I didn't think shyness was part of the package."
She playfully swatted his shoulder, her face still buried against him. "Stop teasing me," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. But his laughter only grew, filling the room with an infectious warmth. Unable to resist, he tipped her chin up, their eyes meeting as he leaned down to capture her lips in a tender kiss, gentle and lingering.
He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Why should I? I like this shy side of yours." He brushed his lips against her forehead, savoring the simple, quiet intimacy of the morning. Every second with her felt perfect. Nothing else mattered when he was with her, like the world outside had just stopped.
Unable to resist, he tipped her chin up, their eyes meeting as he leaned down to capture her lips in a tender kiss, gentle and lingering.
She melted into him, her arms sliding around his neck as they savored the quiet, intimate moment. His fingers slipped through her hair, his touch warm and possessive, a silent promise between them. Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, a sharp sound broke through the calm—the jarring ring of his phone.
Aarav sighed, reluctantly pulling away. "Hold that thought," he murmured, brushing a last kiss to her forehead before he reached for his phone. Breaking the moment, he glanced at the screen, noticing it was a call from Rohit.
"Aarav," Rohit's voice was tense on the other end. "You need to come back to India. It's...it's urgent."
"What's going on, Rohit?" Aarav asked, his brow furrowing with worry. "Is everything alright?"
There was a brief silence on the other end, and Rohit's voice cracked slightly. "It's...it's Meera. She's in the ICU. I don't have time to explain. Just come back as soon as you can."
Aarav's heart dropped, his mind spinning as he tried to process the sudden urgency in Rohit's voice. "I'll be there tomorrow. We're leaving now." He hung up, his grip tightening around the phone, his face a mixture of confusion and dread.
As he hung up, Nisha sat up, her face shadowed with concern. "What's wrong, Aarav?" she asked softly, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "You look… worried. Who was that?"
He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "Rohit called. He said… Meera is in the ICU. He wants us to come back as soon as possible."
Nisha's face turned pale, her mind racing. "But… she was fine when I spoke to her few days back." She trailed off, her worry mirroring his.
Without another word, they sprang into action, hurriedly getting ready. Aarav pulled out their bags, and together they packed in silence, each lost in their thoughts, their concern mounting with every minute that passed. The bond they shared had deepened through all their years together, and the thought of anything happening to a loved one was almost unbearable.
As Aarav zipped his suitcase shut, he grabbed his phone again, quickly dialing his pilot. "Prepare the jet. We need to leave for India immediately," he instructed, his tone firm and decisive. Hanging up, he turned to Nisha, reaching out to pull her close one last time before their departure.
"Are you ready?" he asked, his eyes softening as he looked at her. Despite the urgency, he wanted to make sure she was okay, to reassure her in whatever way he could.
Nisha nodded, taking a deep breath as she met his gaze. "With you? Always."
In a matter of minutes, they were on their way, the weight of the situation hanging heavily between them. The drive to the jet was quiet, filled with unspoken fears and silent reassurances, hands tightly clasped as they shared their unbreakable bond in the midst of uncertainty. Nisha rested her head against Aarav's shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her, grounding himself in her presence.