The apartment felt smaller and warmer after the rain, the dampness still clinging to their clothes and hair. Hiten’s arm lingered around Aarya as the light flickered and went out, plunging them into a dim, silvery glow from the streetlights outside. The storm rumbled softly, a lullaby and a drum at once, and for a while, they stayed like that—close, breathing together, neither wanting to speak.

Then came the knock. Three sharp taps at the door that cut through the hush of the storm.

Hiten stiffened for a fraction of a second before gently sliding his arm from around Aarya’s shoulders. “Wait here,” he whispered, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face.

Aarya’s pulse quickened. “Who…?” she began, but Hiten only smiled faintly, an unreadable look in his eyes, and moved toward the door.

When he opened it, a young man stood there, rain dripping from his shoulders, umbrella folded in one hand. “Hey,” he said, voice casual. “I’m looking for my neighbor. Have you seen them around?”

Hiten frowned, glancing past him. “Uh… sorry, I don’t know. Haven’t seen anyone,” he replied, keeping his tone even.

The man nodded once and gave a small wave. “Okay, thanks. Just checking.” With that, he turned and disappeared into the wet night. The echo of his footsteps faded, leaving the apartment quieter than before.

Hiten closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling. “Probably a neighbor… or a relative. Nothing we need to worry about,” he said casually, though his pulse had thumped against his ribs the entire time.

Aarya, still seated on the couch wrapped in a towel, tilted her head. “Really? That’s it?” Her voice was teasing, but her eyes were curious.

He shrugged, dropping his hand onto the small of her back. “That’s it. Now… where were we?” His smile carried a warmth that made her chest flutter.

They sank back onto the couch together. Hiten grabbed a blanket, tugging it over both of them. The wet chill from the rain lingered in her hair and clothes, but beneath the warmth of the blanket and the soft hum of the storm, the apartment felt like their own little cocoon.

Aarya leaned against him, careful not to push too close, yet unable to resist the magnetism of his presence. Hiten’s hand found hers resting on the couch, their fingers brushing softly. He didn’t speak immediately, letting the touch linger, testing boundaries in silence.

“You’re quiet,” she murmured, her voice softer than intended. “Thinking about… what?”

“About… how weirdly quiet it is after the storm,” he said, letting his thumb brush against her knuckles. “Everything outside is soaked and chaotic, but in here… it’s calm. Almost like we’re the only two people in the world.”

Aarya smiled faintly, heart thumping. “It does feel like that.”

Hiten tilted his head, studying her face, the way her damp hair clung to her cheeks, the faint pink from the cold. “And yet… we’re still wet,” he said, half-teasing. “You know, we should probably change or dry off properly.”

“Or… we could just stay like this a little longer,” she whispered, her tone daring, testing him.

His lips curved in a soft smile. “A little longer sounds… tempting.”

They shifted slightly under the blanket, the closeness settling into something comforting and new. Each accidental brush of fingers, each shared shiver, was a quiet statement neither wanted to speak aloud. Aarya’s hand found its way onto his forearm, holding it almost subconsciously, and Hiten didn’t move away. Instead, he let the warmth of their shared body heat seep into his bones, feeling the rhythm of her breathing against his chest.

“You smell like… rain and chai,” she said suddenly, her nose brushing against his damp collar. “And… something else.”

Hiten chuckled softly, low and warm. “Something else?”

She nodded, a little flustered. “I don’t know. Like… you. You smell like… you.”

He looked down at her, expression unreadable for a second, then smiled. “I guess… I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Aarya laughed quietly, head tilting to rest against his shoulder. “It is,” she admitted.

Time passed in soft murmurs, the rain drumming gently against the window and balcony doors. They shared small stories, random thoughts, whispered secrets. The ordinary had turned magical, the storm outside a backdrop for their growing closeness.

Eventually, Hiten’s hand drifted from hers, resting lightly on her shoulder, tracing lazy, accidental patterns that made her chest tighten. Aarya responded with subtle movements, leaning just enough into him to encourage the touch without saying a word. Each gesture, each brush of skin against skin, deepened the tension that had been building since the balcony.

“You know,” Hiten murmured, “I didn’t think a rainy night could feel like… this.” His voice was quiet, almost reverent, as if admitting it could make it vanish.

“This?” Aarya asked, teasing but tentative. “Being wet, cold, and suspiciously close to each other?”

“Being… here,” he said, gaze steady. “With you. Everything else fades, and it’s just… us.”

Her heart beat faster. She wanted to say something, but words seemed heavy, unnecessary. Instead, she leaned slightly closer, letting her shoulder brush his. Hiten didn’t pull away.

The storm outside began to quiet, thunder retreating to distant murmurs. The apartment felt even warmer now, cocooned in blankets, soft light, and shared breaths.

Then Aarya’s stomach grumbled softly, breaking the intimate bubble. She laughed, embarrassed. “Dinner leftovers?”

Hiten chuckled, leaning back. “Yeah, if you’re still hungry. Though… I think we’ve already eaten enough feelings tonight.”

She rolled her eyes playfully but didn’t move away. “I think… I like this. Even more than the pakoras.”

He smiled, brushing a wet lock of hair behind her ear. “Good. Because… I’m not done with this night yet.”

They settled into quiet comfort, hands occasionally brushing, laughter mixing with whispered words. Nothing rushed, nothing forced. Just two people, a storm outside, and a room full of possibilities.

Aarya finally broke the silence. “So… who knocked earlier?”

Hiten smirked lightly, letting his arm drift around her shoulders again. “Probably a neighbor. Or a relative. Someone checking if we were still alive.”

“Hmm,” she said, mock suspicious. “You sound too casual about it.”

He winked. “Trust me, nothing could ruin this night. Not even unexpected visitors.”

The overhead light flickered back on, returning the room to its gentle yellow glow. Hiten squeezed her shoulder, just lightly enough for her to notice.

Outside, the rain had mostly stopped, leaving the scent of wet earth and jasmine drifting in through the open window. Inside, the soft warmth, shared blankets, and lingering tension left the world feeling suspended.

Aarya’s thoughts drifted, imagining what might come next, aware that the night had only just begun. Hiten caught her gaze and held it, as if promising the storm outside wasn’t the only thing stirring hearts tonight.

The night feels endless, the storm may be gone, but the electricity between them is far from over. What will happen when the playful, flirty, quiet tension turns into laughter, pillow fights, and whispered poetry

The streets were clear, but the storm inside them was far from over. Click Next to see what happens next?

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