Third person's pov!

Shraddha's breath caught in her throat.

Me! The simplicity of the word, yet the depth of its implication, echoed in her mind. She stared at Dhruv, her eyes wide with surprise. Was he offering her a momentary solace or something more enduring? The uncertainty stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her.

Her heart raced as she grappled with his declaration. Did he mean that he wanted to be there for her in a fleeting, casual way? Or was he hinting at a deeper connection, perhaps even a future together? The very thought made her both hopeful and apprehensive.

"Dhruv, I..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked away, her gaze settling on the stars as she tried to compose her thoughts. "I don't understand what you are saying."

He leaned slightly closer, his presence warm and reassuring.

"I am saying you don't have to face everything alone anymore," he said softly. "You can rely on me."

Her eyes flickered back to his, searching for any sign of insincerity. All she saw was earnestness and a hint of vulnerability she hadn't noticed before.

"But why?" She asked, her brows knitting together in confusion. "Why would you want to be there for me?"

A gentle smile touched his lips.

"Because I care about you, Shraddha. More than I can explain. There's something about you that draws me in." He said honestly.

Her heart fluttered at his words. Part of her wanted to accept his offer immediately, to embrace the possibility of having someone to call her own. A family. Something she had yearned for all her life. But doubts lingered.

"I... I don't know what to say," she admitted, her fingers nervously twisting together in her lap. "This is all so sudden."

"I understand," Dhruv replied, his tone patient.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind inside her.

"You barely know me," she whispered.

"A week ago, when you said that, you were right. But now, I know you a whole lot better." Dhruv said and Shradda remained silent, because there was a ring of truth in his words.

A week ago, she knew nothing about him. But now she knows more. She knows that he prefers to start the morning with a black coffee. She knows that he likes to be in charge always, no matter what the situation is. She knows that he is a man who grew up without the love of his parents, just like her. But was that enough?

The sincerity in his eyes made her heart ache. This was everything she had ever wanted, yet fear held her back.

"I am scared," she confessed.

"Of what?"

"Of getting hurt. Of hoping for something that might not last," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I have been alone for so long. I don't know if I can trust this."

Dhruv reached out slowly, his fingers brushing lightly against hers.

"I can't promise you that everything will be perfect. Nothing is ever perfect, Shraddha. All we can do is be happy with each other's imperfections."

She looked down at their barely touching hands, the simple contact sending a reassuring warmth through her.

"I want to believe you," she said.

"Then do," he urged gently. "Let yourself take this chance."

She met his gaze once more, seeing the hope and earnestness reflected there. The walls she had built around herself wavered, cracks forming in the barriers she had so carefully maintained.

"Okay," she whispered finally. "But I need time. This is all new to me."

"This is all new to me too. Let's learn together, Shraddha." Dhruv assured her, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

***

The quiet hum of the night deepened as Shraddha's whispered okay lingered in the air, a fragile bridge between her fears and the promise of something new.

Dhruv's smile warmed her, melting the last bit of resistance she had been clinging to. She hadn't expected this — hadn't expected him — to break through the walls she had built for so long. And yet, here they were, standing at the edge of something she could barely understand.

Dhruv didn't push, didn't rush her. His fingers, still lightly touching hers, sent a steady pulse of warmth, offering quiet reassurance. She realised then how different this felt—how different he felt. In the past, she had always been alone, always forced to stand on her own two feet. But now, for the first time, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could allow herself to lean on someone else. Even if just a little.

Shraddha glanced up at him again, and the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. There was something deeper behind his eyes, something she couldn't quite name, but it made her feel safe. Safe enough to let herself hope. But hope was dangerous, wasn't it? The fear of being hurt again gnawed at her.

"Time," she said softly, almost to herself. "Time... that's what I need."

"We will take it slowly, Shraddha. I will be there for you." Dhruv said.

The way he said it — so certain, so steady — made her heart ache in ways she hadn't expected. No one had ever said that to her before. No one had ever stayed.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, though her eyes still held traces of uncertainty.

"You say that now," she whispered, "but people... they always leave."

Dhruv's expression shifted, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. He knew what she meant. He, too, had been left before — left by parents who should have loved him, left by the security of a family he had longed for his whole life. In a way, they were the same, weren't they? Two people, shaped by abandonment, now standing at the edge of something neither of them fully understood.

"I am not those people, Shraddha," he said softly. "I know what it feels like to be left behind. I won't do that to you."

The air between them felt heavy with unspoken words, with a shared understanding of pain and abandonment. For a moment, the world around them faded, leaving just the two of them standing under the quiet night sky, hearts fragile yet yearning for something more. The warmth of Dhruv's hand on hers was an anchor, a lifeline to the promise he had made. His gaze never wavered from her, the intensity of his presence filling the space between them.

Shraddha's heart thudded in her chest, her defences weakening under the weight of his words. I won't do that to you. His voice had been soft, but the meaning behind it was immense— an unspoken vow that reverberated through her. For so long, she had been drifting, alone and afraid to let anyone in. And now, here was this man, offering her not just companionship, but a promise to stay. Could she let herself believe him? Could she trust this?

Her eyes met his, and in that moment, the vulnerability she had been trying so hard to hide surfaced. She had never felt so exposed, so open. And yet, Dhruv wasn't looking away. He wasn't pulling back. Instead, there was a tenderness in his expression, something that reached deep into her soul and quieted the fears that had been swirling inside her.

He lifted his free hand, fingers brushing a strand of hair away from her face with a gentleness that made her heart ache. She closed her eyes briefly, letting herself sink into the warmth of his touch, the soothing presence he offered. When she opened them again, his face was closer, his breath soft against her skin.

Without saying a word, Dhruv leaned forward, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he was giving her all the time in the world to pull away. But she didn't. She couldn't. His touch, his nearness — it was something she hadn't known she needed until this very moment.

Then, as if the moment had been building to this, Dhruv pressed a tender kiss on her forehead.

A/N

Hey guys...

Dhruv is not a bad guy peeps, just a bit misguided and then there is the negative upbringing by his grandfather. But he still has one of his parent's good genes in him. So, let's see how he is gonna be with Shraddha in the future...

Please do vote and comment....

Love,

SF❤️