Aisha woke up, feeling an unfamiliar warmth surrounding her. As her eyes fluttered open, she realized she was still wrapped in Rishi's arms. His steady breathing tickled the top of her head, his strong arms holding her close as if he had no intention of letting her go.
For a moment, she just lay there, soaking in the feeling. It was strange, comforting, yet utterly terrifying at the same time. She could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong beneath her cheek.
She tilted her head slightly to look up at him. His face was relaxed in sleep, a softness she had rarely seen in him. The usual sharp intensity was missing, replaced with something peaceful. And that did something to her heart.
But then reality crashed in.
This was Rishi.
Her best friend. The man who had protected her, stood by her, challenged her, and now....kissed her like she was the only thing that mattered in the world.
She had kissed him back.
No, she had done more than that. She had given in, let herself drown in him, let herself want him. And now, in the bright light of the morning, the weight of it all settled heavily on her chest.
Carefully, she started to move, trying to slip out of his embrace without waking him up. But the moment she shifted, his arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer.
"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was husky, still laced with sleep.
Aisha froze. "I....I thought you were asleep."
He smirked, his eyes still closed. "I was. Until you started squirming."
"I wasn't squirming," she muttered, feeling her cheeks heat up.
Rishi cracked one eye open, amusement dancing in his gaze. "Liar."
She huffed, pushing against his chest. "Let me go."
Instead of releasing her, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him in one swift movement. Aisha gasped, staring up at him, her breath catching at the way he was looking at her....like he could devour her all over again.
His fingers traced her jaw, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. "Tell me, Aisha," he murmured, his voice rough. "Do you regret it?"
Her heart pounded. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Because did she? Did she regret the way he made her feel? Did she regret the way she had melted into him?
Rishi's expression darkened at her silence. "Say it," he pressed, his fingers tightening just slightly. "If you regret last night, say it, and I'll let you go."
Aisha swallowed hard. "I...."
The sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand shattered the moment. Rishi sighed, his jaw clenching as he pulled back, allowing her the space to grab it. When she saw the name flashing on the screen, her stomach twisted.
Ranvir.
Rishi saw it too, and his entire demeanor changed. The warmth in his eyes was gone, replaced by something cold. He sat up, running a hand through his hair, his jaw ticking as he looked away.
Aisha stared at the screen, her fingers trembling. A knot formed in her stomach as she read Ranvir's message.
"So this is who you are now? Running to another man the moment things get tough? Pathetic."
Her breath hitched. The words sliced through her, filling her with guilt, anger, and something else she couldn't name. Another message popped up.
"You were never this heartless before. Guess you've really changed."
And another.
"Was any of it even real for you? Or was I just some game you got tired of?"
Her mind spiraled, torn between the past and the present, between the man she once loved and the one holding her heart now. Was he holding her heart now ? Or is this just her loneliness? Her fingers trembled, hovering over the keyboard, unsure whether to respond or let silence be her answer. Another message popped up.
"You think ignoring me will change anything? You owe me a damn explanation, Aisha."
And another.
"I know you're with him. Do you really think he cares about you? He's just pitying you. In the end he's my brother. He will be by side , you must have manipulated him , you think you can manipulate him forever?"
Her breath grew shallow as she stared at the words, her fingers tightening around the phone. A strange mixture of fear and frustration coiled in her chest.
Rishi, watching her, snatched the phone from her grip before she could react. His expression darkened. "He's still trying to control you." His voice was dangerously low.
Aisha swallowed hard. "I just... I don't know why he won't let go."
Rishi met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "Because he knows he lost. And he can't handle it."
Rishi noticed the shift in her expression. "What did he say?" His voice was sharp, demanding.
Aisha bit her lip, hesitating.
Rishi didn't wait. He unlocked her phone, his eyes scanning the text before his jaw clenched. "This as*hole…"
Aisha grabbed the phone back, her mind screaming with indecision. But then, something clicked. Why was she even letting him get to her? Why was she still allowing Ranvir to hold this much power over her emotions?
With a deep breath, she pressed her finger against the screen, blocked his number, and tossed the phone aside.
She turned to Rishi, her voice quieter but firmer. "I'm done."
Rishi's eyes softened, his hand cupping her cheek. "Good. He doesn't deserve a place in your life anymore."
Rishi studied her for a long moment, his thumb brushing idly over her cheek. "You never answered me, Aisha. Do you regret it?"
Aisha hesitated, her mind warring with itself. "I don't know... I just....everything is happening so fast. I can't think straight."
Rishi's gaze darkened slightly. "Thinking isn't always necessary," he murmured, leaning in just a fraction, his breath fanning across her lips. "Sometimes, you just need to feel."
Her pulse quickened. "Rishi..."
He tilted her chin up. "I won't force you to say anything. But if you tell me you regret it, I'll walk away right now."
Aisha stared at him, her heart hammering against her ribs. Regret? No. Fear? Maybe. Want? Definitely. The words tangled in her throat as she tried to find the right thing to say. Instead, she simply looked into his eyes, letting the silence speak for her.
Rishi exhaled, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. "That's all I needed to know," he murmured, his fingers grazing her chin. His voice softened, turning almost teasing. "But if you ever do figure it out, Aisha... let me know."
Rishi sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stood near the door. "I think it's time I move out. Everything's sorted, and you're okay now," he said, his tone calm but distant.
Aisha's stomach twisted. Was he leaving because of last night? Because she couldn't give him the answer he wanted? "You're leaving..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rishi nodded. "Yeah, I need to get back to my own place. You're safe now, and that's what matters."
Aisha clenched her fists, feeling an ache spread through her chest. "Is it because of me? Did I... hurt you?" Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the emotions she was trying so hard to contain.
Rishi's expression flickered for a moment before he forced a smirk. "Don't overthink it, Aisha. It's just the right thing to do."
But Aisha wasn't convinced. She felt helpless, like she was losing something she didn't even know she had. And the worst part? She didn't know how to stop it.
A few hours later, Rishi packed his things, ready to leave. Aisha stood by the door, watching him silently as he adjusted the strap of his bag. The reality of his departure settled in, making her chest tighten.
Just as he stepped past the threshold, she found her voice. "Wait."
Rishi paused, turning to look at her. Her eyes were wide, desperate, searching his for something....anything.
She hesitated for a split second before closing the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt as if afraid to let go. "Is this the last time I'm seeing you?" her voice was barely above a whisper. "Will you really leave me? Is our friendship... broken?"
Rishi stiffened for a moment before sighing, his arms slowly coming around her, holding her just as tightly. "Aisha..." he murmured, his voice low. "Nothing between us is broken."
Aisha swallowed hard, pulling back just enough to look up at him. "I don't want you to leave, this is all my fault. You're my best friend, Rishi. I don't want to lose you."
Rishi brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering. "You're not losing me, Aisha. I'm simply leaving because everything here is fine and also my home is fully renovated. And don't give me that look, Aisha. I'm not abandoning you....." He smirked, tilting her chin up with his fingers. "Besides, do you really want me hovering around all the time, making you question everything?"
She bit her lip, nodding slowly. "You're the best friend I never want to lose."
A small, bittersweet smile tugged at Rishi's lips. "And you won't. No matter what happens, Aisha, you'll always have me." He pulled her closer for one last moment, stroking her hair gently before pressing a kiss on her forehead. "Come here, you little baby," he teased, his voice softer than usual. "You're stuck with me for life."
Aisha let out a shaky breath, holding onto his shirt for a second longer before finally loosening her grip. "Then don't make me miss you too much, idiot."
Rishi smirked. "No promises."
With one last glance, he stepped back and walked away, leaving Aisha standing at the doorway, her heart heavier than she expected.
Months passed....six, to be exact. On the surface, everything seemed normal, but beneath it, something lingered. The laughter they shared was effortless, familiar, but woven between the jokes and the stolen glances was something deeper. Every now and then, their conversations would pause a second too long, their eyes locking, as if drawn by an invisible thread neither dared to name.
They still met up, still teased each other, still leaned on one another when the world became too heavy. Aisha would challenge him at work, calling him out on his overconfidence, and he would retaliate with playful jabs, making her roll her eyes. They acted as if nothing had changed. But it had.
There were moments....small, fleeting, but impossible to ignore. Like the way his hand would linger just a second too long when he handed her a file, or how she found herself glancing at her phone, waiting for his messages, pretending she wasn't. Late-night meetings turned into casual dinners, and casual dinners turned into something else entirely....a quiet understanding, a pull neither of them had the courage to acknowledge.
It wasn't just friendship anymore. It hadn't been for a long time.