The following day, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room.
Karan stirred, his eyes opening to the sight of Iraa and Vedang asleep on the couch, their arms intertwined.
A soft smile spread across his face.
Later that morning,
Iraa woke first, carefully disentangling her hand from Vedang's. She stood up, stretching and looking around.
The events of the previous night played in her mind, making her heart feel heavy yet oddly light at the same time.
She saw Karan was already up. She checked on him once and moved towards the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast.
Vedang stirred shortly after, blinking at the empty space beside him. He rubbed his eyes, recalling Iraa's warmth next to him.
He sat up, noticing Karan awake and watching him with a knowing smile.
"Good morning," Vedang said, feeling a bit awkward under Karan's gaze.
"Morning," Karan replied, his smile turning into a smirk. "Comfortable couch?"
Vedang chuckled, feeling a slight blush rise to his cheeks. "Yeah, it's not bad."
Iraa's voice called from the kitchen, "Guys are you up? Breakfast is almost ready. You guys hungry?"
"Starving," Karan replied, trying to sit up.
Vedang quickly moved to help him. "Aaram se oye. Take it slow." Karan smiled sheepishly.
As they made their way to the kitchen, the smell of fresh parathas filled the air.
Iraa had already set the table, her movements graceful and efficient.
She glanced up, smiling at the sight of them together.
"Sit sit," she said, her tone light yet caring.
Vedang couldn't help but admire her. Despite everything, she managed to keep things together. He went to help her.
As they ate, the conversation was light, filled with occasional laughter.
For a moment, it felt like they were a small family, bound together by more than just circumstance.
"Waise when is everyone else returning?" Iraa asked munching on her food. "I didn't check my phone" Vedang replied looking here and there for his phone.
"I talked with them. Waha snow jum gya hai so they will return by evening" he said as the other two nodded.
"Maa ne kitne sawal puche?" She asked giggling. "BOHOT!" Karan said with a exaggerated sigh making both of them laugh.
"Huhhh I can't believe it's been 3 days almost" Iraa said checking her phone.
"I know right abh I can't even properly enjoy then next days because of this cast" Karan huffed.
"koi na we can come again" Vedang said patting Karan's back. "waise bhai...." Iraa started smirking at him.
"someone else asked about youð" "who?" "You know..." she said again eyeing him when he realised. "Adi-"
"blah blah mind your words someone is next to us" she said pointing at Vedang.
"So what? if he can hit on my sister I can too" he said.
"What the fuc-" Vedang almost chocked on his food said as Karan took his phone and ran away.
"BHAGO MAT!" Iraa shouted while patting Vedang's back who was coughing.
"You fine?" she asked him, unable to control her laugh. He nodded embarrassed.
She got up cleaning the table as he continued to eat.
"I didn't know you were hitting on me?" she teased him. As he once again choked making her laugh more. "I....I'm not" he tried to justify himself.
"ohh that's sad" she giggled putting the plates in the basin and turned round only to find herself cagged by Vedang.
"Sad huhh?" he asked raising one of his eyebrows.
"I meant" she tried to stay. "You meant?" he repeated. "that" "that?" she got quiet. He enjoyed it. Teasing her this way, she would always get all quiet with a red face.
He giggled softly as she looked at him. "haww you!" she laughed hitting his shoulder going away.
"Maine kya kiya" he asked sheepishly smiling running behind her.
"tum mere piche kyu aa rahe ho" she giggled as she ran. "aap bhang kyu rahi hai? you said saddd" he said.
"I was jok-" she turned around but stumbled on the fold of the carpet laying on her back. Vedang lost control n fell on her too.
"Wow you again fell" he murmured laughing at her. "because of you! ahh my hair" she cried as she spent lot of time to style them but now they were all over her face.
Vedang kept laughing. He supported his body on his elbows not to put weight on her. They both giggled unaware about the distance between them.
"Since when do you laugh so much haaa?" she asked him in a angry way pouting. "cant help it if someone keeps falling like this" he said again laughing.
Iraa's POV
The way he laughed. I don't know what and why but this man was literally so beautiful.
I never saw him laughing this much. His cheeks became slightly pink, his eyes shine..
wow I thought. "You're pretty" I said unknowingly. He stopped laughing and just smiled looking at me.
I felt like I had lost my senses when I realized how we were. But yet it wasn't anything weird.
"thank you miss Singhania" he whispered softly.
Vedang's POV
That was the most different compliment I ever heard. So was it unexpected. Pretty?
How do I tell her how pretty she looked right now? Wait! what am I thinking?
She looked at me with those doe eyes, partially covered with her hair.
Author's POV
Lost in his thoughts, Vedang's hand went towards her face moving away her hair.
He did it unknowingly. Iraa's heartbeated as he did it. Her face became red as usual.
His hand softly grazed her cheeks while putting them behind her ears.
She liked it, for some reason she just did.
"umm the floor is kinda cold.." Iraa whispered still shy. Vedang came back to his senses and softly laughed before getting up and helping her.
He was embarrassed. "I..I'll go change" he said, scratching his neck awkwardly and ran away.
Later...
After breakfast, Karan insisted on resting more, still feeling the aftereffects of his accident.
Iraa and Vedang found themselves alone again in the living room, the silence between them comfortable yet charged with an unspoken tension.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Vedang suggested, looking out at the snow-covered landscape.
Iraa hesitated. "But the storm..." "It's over we can go just a bit far not too away. Fresh air you know?" he said
She nodded, grabbing her coat. They stepped outside, the cold air hitting them instantly. They walked in silence, their breaths visible in the frosty air.
After a few minutes, Vedang broke the silence. "You know, I've never been to Manali before. It's beautiful."
Iraa smiled, looking around. "I know right. I used to come here often as a kid. My family loves it here."
Vedang glanced at her, noting the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about her family. "I'm glad I got to experience it"
Iraa's heart skipped a beat. "I'm glad too. Despite everything, it's been... nice."
They continued walking, the silence between them comfortable yet charged with a new awareness.
Iraa found herself stealing glances at Vedang, her mind swirling with confusion.
What was it about him that made her feel this way? And why now, when everything seemed so uncertain?
She took a deep breath, an unknowing feeling that made her heart flutter.
Meanwhile Vedang wasn't feeling anything different. He was feeling the same. He wasn't sure what it was.
"Iraa" "Vedang,"
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Long Chapter for you lovelies! Comment n Vote tell me if u like it and anything to expect to see from Vedang and Iraað©·