The rain outside had softened to a gentle drizzle, leaving the world misty and calm. Inside, Hiten sat on the couch, a soft blanket draped over his shoulders. Aarya, ever attentive, had returned with a steaming cup of tea, settling beside him on the armrest.

“You’ve been resting enough?” she asked softly, her eyes scanning his pale face.

Hiten gave a faint smile, still trying to mask the flutter of excitement in his chest. “Yeah… thanks to you, I feel much better.”

She smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Good. I was worried, you know.”

For a while, they sat in companionable silence. Aarya began reading a short story aloud, her voice a gentle rhythm that seemed to make the soft ticking of the clock disappear. Hiten’s gaze flicked from her words to her face, taking in the curve of her lips as she spoke, the soft concentration in her eyes, and the subtle way her fingers turned the pages.

Every so often, their hands brushed. Each touch was brief, accidental, but it sent sparks that neither could ignore. Hiten caught himself smiling faintly every time, feeling a warmth he had never admitted aloud.

After a moment, Aarya looked up from her book. “You’re awfully quiet. Thinking about something?”

Hiten’s eyes flicked toward the window, watching the rain trace patterns down the glass. “Maybe… just thinking,” he said, keeping his tone casual. But inside, he was mentally rehearsing every word of the surprise he had been planning. Soon… she’ll know. I just hope she’ll say yes.

Aarya tilted her head, sensing something was off. “Hiten… is there something you’re not telling me?”

He shook his head quickly, smiling faintly. “No… nothing serious. Just… ideas floating around.”

But his phone buzzed on the table beside him. His hand instinctively covered it before Aarya could see the screen. The small gesture was innocent, yet Aarya’s curiosity spiked.

“You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?” she asked, leaning slightly closer.

Hiten’s smile deepened, a mixture of mischief and warmth. “Maybe… but not yet. Patience, that’s all I ask.”

Aarya pouted playfully, though her eyes softened with trust. “You’re impossible.”

Hiten’s heart swelled at her tone. She had no idea how close she was to the secret he had been keeping, and every moment like this made him more determined to see her reaction.

The afternoon waned, and the drizzle outside faded into the soft hum of a quiet evening. They shared small, intimate moments—her reading aloud, his gentle glances, hands brushing against each other and lingering just slightly longer than necessary. The room was warm with unspoken affection, the rain’s faint rhythm blending with the soft thrum of their hearts.

Finally, as she stood to refill his cup of tea, Hiten let himself speak, his voice barely above a whisper. “Aarya… soon… you’ll understand everything. I just… I can’t tell you yet.”

She glanced at him, puzzled but smiling, unaware of the tiny box tucked away in his pocket, hiding a surprise that would change everything.

The chapter closed with a quiet tension, a promise dangling in the air: Hiten’s secret was close to revelation, and the next step in their story would come suddenly, leaving hearts racing.

Hiten watched her carefully, the tiny box in his pocket pressing against his hand. Soon… everything would change. But would she say yes?