The morning light barely filtered through the curtains when Hiten woke first. Aarya was still asleep beside him, her hair slightly damp from the lingering mist of last night’s rain. The gentle rise and fall of her chest, the soft flutter of her eyelashes, made him pause. She’s so calm… and yet she has no idea how much she stirs me, he thought quietly. Carefully, he leaned over and whispered, “I’ve taken a bath. Get your clothes ready.”

Aarya stirred, blinking sleepily. “Okay…” she murmured, still cocooned in warmth, the towel-wrapped hair giving her an innocent, endearing look. Hiten’s chest tightened slightly at the sight, though he tried to keep his expression neutral.

As she moved to the bathroom, he prepared a simple breakfast — steaming chai, golden toast, and eggs sizzling lightly in the pan. The faint scent of petrichor still lingered, mingling with the aroma of breakfast. It was peaceful, a rare calm in which the world seemed to slow down just for them.

When Aarya returned, brushing droplets from her hair, they exchanged teasing smiles. “You really are good at this,” she said softly, taking a sip of chai.

“Well, I have a skilled audience now,” Hiten replied, smirking, though his eyes betrayed a quiet warmth.

They ate together at the small kitchen table, sharing bites and laughing at the smallest things — a spilled piece of toast, a missed sip of chai, a playful elbow bump. Each glance lingered longer than necessary, each word seemed charged with an unspoken understanding.

After breakfast, they sat side by side on the couch, the soft hum of the radiator and the faint patter of rain outside creating a cocoon of quiet intimacy.

Aarya toyed with her mug, looking down at her fingers. Am I… getting too close? she wondered, a flutter of nervous excitement stirring in her chest. Or is this… destiny?

Hiten’s mind mirrored hers, quietly tense yet calm. It feels… right. But are we moving too fast? he thought. Some things are just meant to be, though… aren’t they?

The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, it was heavy with the soft weight of their thoughts, each absorbed in their own reflections yet aware of the other’s presence.

Finally, Aarya stretched, brushing hair from her face. “We should get going… school won’t wait,” she said, though her voice had a reluctant softness.

Hiten nodded, a quiet grin tugging at his lips. “Yeah… but I don’t want to let this morning end just yet,” he said, his words low, almost a whisper.

They gathered their things, still stealing small glances at each other, each aware that the day outside might bring distractions, but inside this small apartment, time seemed suspended.

As they stepped out, the streets glistened with leftover rain. Hiten opened the umbrella, and they walked side by side, the world around them blurred by the early morning drizzle. Small brushes of hands, shared smiles, and quiet laughter marked the walk.

Aarya’s thoughts kept drifting: Why does it feel like I can finally breathe when I’m with him?

Hiten’s mind quietly mirrored hers: We’re close… maybe too close? But something tells me this is right.

And as the first distant car honks broke the soft silence of the morning streets, neither of them knew what awaited ahead, yet both felt the subtle thrill of moments quietly building into something more.

The morning sun felt warm, but an unseen tension hung quietly in the air. Click Next to see what happens next?

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