AUTHOR'S POV:

Three days had passed since that memorable evening on the hilltop. The lightness that had enveloped Aarna and Rudran lingered, but with it came a new, unspoken tension. They found themselves drawn to each other more often, as if some invisible thread kept pulling them together.

It was a Thursday evening when Aarna, took a break from her online work , decided to bring over dinner to Rudran's apartment. The project was successful and she was feeling a sense of accomplishment.

 Cooking for Rudran felt like the perfect way to unwind, though she knew it was also an excuse to spend more time with him.

The faint aroma of spices filled the hallway as she carried a steaming pot of biryani to Rudran's door. When he opened it, the sight of him in a casual T-shirt and track pants made her heart skip a beat. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he had a faint ink smudge on his fingers—a telltale sign he had been grading papers or preparing for his government exams.

"Biryani?" he asked, his eyebrows lifting in surprise and delight. "You spoil me, Aarna."

Aarna rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't get used to it," she teased, stepping inside and setting the pot on his dining table. "You seem busy. Have you even eaten today?"

Rudran shrugged, a sheepish grin forming on his face. "Tea counts, right?"

She sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible. Sit. I'll plate this for you."

As she moved around his kitchen with an ease that came from familiarity, Rudran leaned against the counter, watching her. "You know," he began, his tone teasing, "I think Amma will be shocked to see you being so comfortable in my presence."

Aarna smirked. "Maybe. But it's not like you're making it hard."

They ate together at his dining table, the conversation flowing between bites. But beneath the laughter and easy banter, there was a subtle undercurrent of tension. Rudran noticed the way her gaze lingered on him a second too long, and Aarna caught the way his fingers tapped nervously against the edge of the table when their hands accidentally brushed.

Later, as they moved to the living room, Rudran pulled out his guitar, strumming it absentmindedly. Aarna sat cross-legged on the couch, sipping on the hot chocolate he had made. The melody he played was soft and soothing, yet it seemed to stir something unspoken between them.

"Do you always play when you're stressed?" she asked, breaking the silence.

He glanced at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Not always. Sometimes it's just... a way to think without thinking. Does that make sense?"

She nodded, her eyes meeting his. "It does."

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics—childhood memories, embarrassing moments—but the air between them felt charged. Aarna caught herself laughing a little too hard at his jokes, and Rudran found his gaze flickering to her lips more often than he wanted to admit.

As the evening stretched into night, the sound of a suitcase being wheeled down the hallway broke the spell. Aarna turned toward the door, her heart skipping a beat.

"Amma's back," Rudran said, standing up and moving to open the door.

Roopa entered, her face lighting up when she saw Aarna. "Devi! I knew I'd find you here," she said, her tone affectionate. "You two seem to be spending a lot of time together these days."

Aarna smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Welcome back, aunty. thathayagaru ela vunnaru ippudu?"
(How's grandpa doing now?)

Roopa sighed. "He is doing good.. for now." but quickly changed the mood. "there's no place like home. And I see you've been taking good care of my son."

Rudran groaned. "Amma, please."

Roopa chuckled, setting her bag down and walking into the kitchen. She peeked into the pot on the stove and turned back with a knowing smile. "Biryani? Devi, you've outdone yourself again."

The three of them settled in, sharing stories and laughter. But even as the atmosphere grew warm and lively, Aarna couldn't ignore the way her heart seemed to race every time Rudran's gaze lingered on her just a moment too long. And Rudran, for all his attempts to keep things casual, found himself drawn to her in ways he hadn't allowed himself to feel before.

As the night wound down, Roopa excused herself to unpack, leaving Aarna and Rudran alone in the living room. The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. Aarna fiddled with the hem of her kurti, feeling the weight of Rudran's gaze.

"Thanks for dinner," he said softly. "And for... everything else."

She looked up, her eyes meeting his. "You don't have to thank me, Rudra. You and aunty have done so much for me. This... this is the least I can do."

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's not about owing anything. I just... I appreciate you."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, she thought he might say more. But then the sound of Roopa's voice calling from the other room broke the moment, and the spell was shattered.

Aarna stood. "I should get going," she said, her voice softer than she intended.

Rudran walked her to the door, his hands shoved into his pockets. "Good night, Aarna," he said, his voice low.

"Good night," she replied, her heart feeling heavier than it should have.

As she walked back to her apartment, her mobile tinged so open up the message to see it was from Rudra. She looked back at the closed door and proceeded to open her flat's door. the message read "Biryani was tasty." 

She furrowed her eyebrows, smile constantly on her face.
"you could have said it there. why message for that?" she replied only to receive.
"yeah... but that was a reason to start this convo." she laughed
The conversation continued until Aarna had to get back to her work and Rudra to his preparation but one thing is for sure.
The constant smile and syncing heartbeats which denotes only one thing that they are yet to realize ...LOVE or?
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Author's Note❤️
Stay tuned to know😉and don't forget to vote.