She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Thats when,her phone rang. Saloni — the name lit up her screen,
She picked it up.
"Hey," Saloni's voice came through, a soft blend of concern and comfort. "How're you doing?"
"I'm good. I'm doing good," Aisha said — but her voice cracked.
"You're thinking about it again, aren't you?"
"No… I mean—yeah. It just hit all of a sudden."
"Aish," Saloni sighed, gentle but firm. "You have to stop blaming yourself. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have changed anything. All you can do now is wait… wait for what your papa finds out. That's all."
Aisha didn't say anything for a moment. Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone. "Yeah… ye-ss. I guess."
They kept talking. Bit by bit, Aisha started to feel lighter. Her chest didn't feel as heavy. She took a deep breath, finished her pizza.
She thought about telling Saloni about Ved. That terrace moment. But she convinced herself it was nothing. Just a flicker. Nothing worth telling.
She washed her hands while Saloni spoke about something random.Then she flopped onto the bed, her body sore from the weight of the day.
She didn't even realise when her eyes closed.
---
Saloni wasn't just her best friend. She was blood without biology. Their dads were college roommates, practically brothers. Aisha didn't have a single memory of growing up without Saloni in it.
---
Ding-Dong!!
Aisha woke up to the calling bell, blinking into the blur of morning.
She groaned and reached for her phone. 8:30 a.m.
Who rings at this hour?
Ding-dong. *Again*.
She rolled off the bed, half-cursing under her breath, rubbing her eye like a grumpy toddler. Her hair was a wild nest. Her T-shirt was crumpled. And she absolutely did not care.
She unlocked the door and pulled it open—
Good morning, sunshine," Ved grinned, his eyes scanning her sleepy face. "Someone slept real good, I assume."
Aisha blinked hard.
Standing at her door—like it was the most normal thing in the world—was Ved.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" she snapped, pulling her oversized T-shirt down a little.
Ved didn't reply. Instead, he casually walked past her, straight into the room, and plopped down on her bed like it belonged to him.
"Where are we going today?" he asked, looking around like he'd just claimed the space.
Aisha stood frozen, still processing the audacity.
"We?" she echoed.
"Yes, we," Ved said, cool and confident.
"We're not going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Oh, come on," he said, waving her words off like a mosquito. "You're here to explore Delhi, right? So am I."
He cleared his throat. "Why don't we just… accompany each other? I've been here twice before, so technically, I'm your free guide."
He gave her a teasing smirk. "I don't bite… unless provoked."
Aisha let out a dry, irritated smile, folding her arms across her chest as she leaned against the doorframe.
"And let me add one more thing," he said, stretching his legs on her bed, "you don't really have an option."
He looked up at her, smug. "Because I'm not leaving."
Aisha narrowed her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're unbelievable."
Ved gave a slow shrug. "That's what they all say."
"Okay okay!! Please, Aisha," Ved pleaded with mock desperation, hands folded dramatically.
Aisha couldn't help but grin, finally giving in. "Okay," she said, rolling her eyes.
"But I have to get ready," she added, glancing at him up and down. He was already dressed, hair done, smelling like fresh cologne—as if he hadn't just barged into someone's room at 8:30 in the morning
It's gonna take some time," said Aisha.
"Take forever, I have plenty of time," Ved replied, flashing that stupid confident smile.
Aisha was so done with his flirting. She rolled her eyes, walked into the bathroom with her towel and bathrob, and shut the door behind her.
She turned on the geyser, let the water warm. Washed her hair with shampoo, the smell filling the small space—then applied conditioner, slowly massaging it.She picked up her strawberry body wash and started washing her body with it. It smelled sweet, felt nice. Her body was covered in foam now—soft lather sliding down.
As the hand shower ran down her skin, her thoughts drifted—
Ved.
His hands around her waist.
The warmth of him behind her.
Him Pulling her closer under this same water stream,wrapping her in his arms,kissing her neck from behind-gently biting her earlobe.
It made her body react in ways it never did before.
She never felt something like this—not about a stranger, not with someone she barely even knew.
"stop it", she whisper to herself
When she was done, Aisha stepped out of the bathroom—hair wrapped in a towel, skin dewy, bathrobe tied loosely around her.
Ved was sitting there casually, flipping through a novel she'd left on the small table beside her bed.
"Don't touch my things without permission," she said sharply, trying not to meet his eyes. Her voice was steady, but her face gave her away.
Ved smirked but said nothing, still holding the book in his hand like it didn't matter.
Aisha walked to the mirror, opened the cap of her moisturizer, and began applying it gently to her cheeks and forehead.
"So," she said, tone light but with an edge, "where are we going today, Mr... mm... so-called guide?"
She raised an eyebrow at his reflection in the mirror—just for a second—then looked away just as quickly.
"What about the 7th Wonder?" Ved asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Aisha paused, still massaging moisturizer into her skin. She looked at him through the mirror, lips pursed in thought.
"Okay," she finally said with a small nod.
Aisha was still rubbing moisturizer into her face, eyes cast downward, lost in thought.
"Thinking something?" Ved asked, watching her.
Aisha flicked her eyes up briefly. "No, just… what should I wear?"
Ved laughed. "Nationwide female problem,i guess!"
"Shut up," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Could you give me some me-time to get ready?" she added, looking at him pointedly. "I promise I'm not running away."
"Unlock your phone," Ved said suddenly.
"What?"
"Just do it."
Aisha hesitated, then handed him her phone. Ved quickly tapped in his number and called it. His phone rang.
"Call me when you're ready to go," he said, grinning. "I'll be watching the road till then."
He stepped out, then popped his head back in through the half-closed door. "And hey—I'm watching you. Don't even think about running away."
Aisha just shook her head, trying not to smile as the door finally clicked shut.