Chapter 27

Naina was observing Meera and Ayaan talk. She felt weird about it. Was she jealous? Or was she scared? She didn't know. But what she did know was that she felt very weird by it.

Tearing her eyes away, she looked back at the group as she saw them join the group. Meera sat down next to Naina, as Naina started talking to her. Meera chuckled at the antics of her friend.

"Naina!" Ananya suddenly said, "Can you grab my bag? It's kept at home. I would go but I need to start working on stall and I need Meera."

"Sure." Naina smiled and got up.

While she was retreating out of sight, Meera looked at Ayaan and gestured him to go with Naina. Ayaan nodded, smiled and got up saying that he needs to meet a professor. No one suspected anything as they were all very busy.

Ayaan walked towards her and turned around to see that he was fully out of sight from the rest of the group. Then, he smiled and walked towards the girl in front of him.

She was walking silently, until she felt a small tug on her arm. Stopping, she turned around and saw Ayaan smiling at her. She looked at him with her eyes widening a little, "What?"

"I came to walk with you." He said, slowly.

"I'm good." She said and started walking, "You can go back to the group."

Ayaan chuckled and caught up with her. Then he walked next to her, "Itna Gussa..."

She looked at him, "I'm not angry."

"Acha? Then why do your eyes seem angry?"

"They don't." Naina replied.

He held her hand and stopped her, "Kya hua hai, Naina? Why are you angry?"

She looked into his eyes. For a minute, it felt like time was freezing. She couldn't see anything else but his eyes. What was he doing? She thought.

She felt herself being pulled towards him until the sudden sound of a horn brought her back. She quickly looked away and then stepped back.

Meanwhile Ayaan, who was also lost in trance, internally groaned at the distraction that pulled Naina and him away. He looked at the girl whose hand he held tightly. He noticed her looking away and stepping back, until she could before his hand caught her again, pulling her back in place.

"Don't run away from me." Ayaan whispered, earning goosebumps from Naina.

"I... I'm not." She said, looking down, "Leave me. I need to get her bag."

He chuckled and let go, but walked with her as she went towards her accommodation. Once they reached, she entered and saw him standing outside. Surprised, she asked him, "Aren't you coming in?"

He looked at her as he leaned against the wall and smiled, "Only if you don't mind, Naina."

She looked at him. She was taken aback that he asked her for permission before coming in. She assumed he would just enter, but a sense of comfort and warmth spread across her heart in his regard, as she replied, "Come."

He entered, feeling satisfied and content that she trusted him enough to let him inside. She walked inside while he shut the door. Looking around, he noticed how tidy the house has been kept. It made him happy. Then, he walked towards the kitchen and was interrupted by her voice, "You can eat something from the fridge."

"I'm good. Thanks." He replied back.

She walked towards Ananya's room to get her bag. Then, she went towards her room and noticed Ayaan looking outside the main balcony.

He looked so good, she thought.

His white shirt was sticking onto his skin, his sleeves rolled up. He ran a hand through his hair and tousled it. Then, as if sensing her presence, he turned around. "All good?" He asked her.

She nodded, and felt herself coming closer to him into the balcony. It was difficult. Her mind was screaming that stay away, but her heart wasn't ready to accept that. Her heart was going closer to him, despite the warnings. She settled herself next to him in the balcony, staying silent.

He looked at her. Her hand clutching her sweatshirt tightly. Her eyes looking down, trying to avoid his. He felt a magnetic pull towards her. His eyes, then betraying himself, fell on her lips.

Oh God, he thought to himself.

He groaned and looked away, her looking at him in the process. "What happened?"

Her voice pulled him out of his trance. He looked at her confused face, "Nothing."

"Are you sure?" She asked him, again. His face was not being honest to himself, or her.

He looked at her and then out into the balcony view, "Sach sun nahi paogi."

Naina was confused. Why was he talking in riddles? She creased her eyebrows together, "Try toh karo."

He looked at her and smiled, then stepped closer to her and held her hand, "Okay. The truth is," his eyes coming closer to hers, as if pinning themselves onto her, "I want to kiss you."

Naina got caught off-guard at the directness in his tone, "W...What?"

He chuckled, "I told you. You wouldn't be able to hear the truth."

She tried to leave but he held her hand and pulled her closer from her waist. His hand settled on it tightly, his mind briefly going back to the night of the party. The same feeling, he thought. His thumb caressed her waist through the thin sweatshirt, while his hand cradled her jaw. He didn't move her face, just cradled it.

She felt goosebumps on her skin, and while her skin was safely hidden, she still was able to feel them out loud. She was sure he was as well. His eyes were piercing into hers, but she didn't dare to meet his eyes. She couldn't.

She wasn't able to.

But, he held her face, and slowly tiled her face so she looked up at him. His eyes were boring into hers, and she felt exposed. He made her feel like she was the only person in the world. As if there was nothing else to see.

"Look at us, Naina." He whispered against her skin, "There's undeniable chemistry. How can you say that you and I don't feel anything?" His words came slow and rough, almost assertive. "How can you say that there's nothing here?"

Naina, on the other hand, felt paralyzed. Almost afraid to look at him because her guard would drop. But she couldn't let go. Not just because his hold on her was secure and tight, but also because she didn't want to go.

"Look at me." He said, tilting her slowly. "Don't shy away from me."

She looked at him. His eyes were reading her soul, picking apart all the lies she told him. He chuckled, "It's only a matter of time, Naina, you will admit it. And when you do, I'll be right here, ready to hear it with open ears."

And just like that, before she could react, he let go, giving her the space she needed - or thought she needed. He stepped back, but didn't leave. He was waiting for her to do something, or say something, but she was too frozen for it.

He smiled, "You don't need to say or do anything instantly, Naina. Just be there. Take one step and I'll take the remaining ones."

She didn't reply, but she looked at him, as if trying to figure out if this was real or fake.

Ayaan looked at her, then held his hand out to her, "Everyone must be waiting. Come."

She slowly nodded, and gave him her hand, which he tightly grasped. The two silently locked the door and walked towards the group again.

Ayaan looked down to see their held hands. She had indirectly accepted his offer and taken one step.

She just had to take one step in that direction.

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