"tere sang chain bhi mujhko
tere sang bekaraari hai"

JANHAVI

I could feel him coming closer to me.

Is he going to backhug me?

Before I could react (not that I was capable of reacting), Ishan ji pulled me to face him. As he pulled me, out chests collided, I lost my balance and clutched his shirt for support. The sudden force imparted, tore the first fastened button of his shirt.

His bare muscular chest was was making it difficult for me to breath. The 'Trust your Struggle' tattoo was making it more tempting.

I opened my mouth to apologise for that but immediately shut it because my mind had gone jelly and I had no capacity of sentence formation.

He noticed my gaze and replied in the huskiest voice, "it's fine"

When I got back 20% of my senses, I noticed that we were even closer than yesterday. Our bodies were sticking to each other, faces inches apart and his hands firmly resting on my waist.

Thank god I'm not wearing a Saree.

"Aap kya... b..baat karenge bol rahe the?" I asked stuttering.
"Pehle aapko dekh lene dijiye" he said, while removing locks of hair from my face.

My throat and lips were getting dry in nervousness.

I closed my eyes, while he was caressing my cheeks.

God I'm not supposed to enjoy this
Brain ain't braining.

"Ish..han j..ii?"
"Hmm?"
"Wh..at has ha..ppened t..to you?"
"I'm perfectly normal, it's you who is sweating and stuttering. You've closed your eyes so tight that it seems I'm going to fuck you right here"
"Wh..what?" I opened my eyes in a jolt.

Why is he so damn sexy?

He smirked at the suddenness of me opening my eyes. I facepalmed myself, unable to digest this all.

"You are blushing so bad", he whispered.

Janhavi get a fucking grip on yourself. You are getting divorced within this week goddamnit!

Before I could say anything, my phone's ringtone echoed in the hall. I peeped over to see Maa was calling. Taking the advantage of Ishan Ji's grip loosening, I immediately escaped.

Grabbing the phone, I literally ran to the bedroom and locked the door from inside. I was panting, resting my back on the door.

After ringing for a while, the call got disconnected. I was obviously not in a state to talk to maa. Not now.

ISHAN

As Janhavi fled to the bedroom, leaving me standing there, a whirlwind of emotions crashed over me. Confusion, frustration, desire – all battled for dominance as I tried to make sense of what had just happened between us.

What am I doing?

I looked down at my shirt whose button has been tore. The way her fingers were touching my chest were sending shivers down my body. The way she was gazing at my tattoo.... I've never felt my body to be this beautiful before.

I had spent days blaming me and myself for our break-up but now it seems like a past memory. Janhavi makes me feel that may be I'm not that bad after all.

Somebody put a bar to my thoughts please

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my racing heart. This was not how things were supposed to go. We were getting divorced, for god's sake. We shouldn't be standing here, inches apart.

But damn, she looked so beautiful just now.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Everything was going beyond my control, I was falling for her while she wasn't. I want to make her mine but...

Divorce. We're getting divorced.

But Shubi said that she will also eventually fall for me and then this whole divorce thing will be cancelled? But I do not at all see her falling for me. What will happen if I love her and she doesn't love me back?

Wait did I use the term love?
Woah dude what's happening to me??

Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the bedroom door. I hesitated for a moment, before finally knocking on the door. I noticed that the lock was already open. I got inside.

Janhavi was sitting on the bed, her back pressed against the headboard, her phone lying forgotten in her lap. She looked up as I entered, her eyes wide with a mixture of apprehension and something else – something I couldn't quite name.

"Janhavi," I began, as I approached her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, her gaze dropping to her hands, which were clenched tightly in her lap. "I'm fine," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just... a little overwhelmed, I guess."

I took a seat beside her, careful to leave some space between us. "I'm sorry," I said softly, my heart heavy with guilt. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

She looked up at me. "I know," she replied. "I'm... I'm anything but uncomfortable near you Ishan ji. You are the most decent and genuine person I've ever seen" she smiled

Seriously she feels so?

"Just... Just the situation is too complicated right now"

I nodded, understanding all too well the weight of her words. "Yeah," I murmured, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. "They are."

As soon as I held her hand, she gazed at our entangled hands. I tried to pull away my hand, feeling that she might not like it, but she tightened her grip, not letting me go.

For a moment, we sat there in silence, the air heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. And then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, Janhavi leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder.

Is this for real?

I froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then, instinct took over, and I found myself wrapping an arm around her, pulling her close in a gesture of comfort and solace. It was kind of a side hug.

I slowly placed my head above hers, and I could feel peace coming to me. I've never ever felt this cozy before.

And as we sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. Would we find a way back to each other, or were we destined to remain forever apart?

Only time would tell.

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