Author POV

Some moments don’t announce themselves.

They just… happen.

Quietly.

And later, you keep thinking about them more than you should.

That night, after everyone had gone to their rooms, the Malhotra house finally became silent.

Too silent.

Kitchen – Late Night

Rhea stood near the stove again.

Same place.

Same position.

But this time, she wasn’t working.

She was just… standing.

A glass of water in her hand, untouched.

Her mind replaying that one scene again and again—

Harshita holding Karthik’s arm.

Standing too close.

Talking like she had a right.

Rhea closed her eyes.

"Why does it matter…"

She whispered it to herself.

Because it shouldn’t.

It really shouldn’t.

Just then—

Footsteps.

She didn’t turn.

She already knew.

Karthik.

He walked in, slower than usual, like even he didn’t know why he came there.

He opened the fridge, took out a bottle, but didn’t drink.

Silence.

Same room.

Same distance.

Too many unsaid things.

He finally spoke.

"You didn’t eat properly."

She blinked.

That was not what she expected.

"I did…"

"You didn’t."

Pause.

She looked at him for a second.

"You were watching?"

He frowned slightly.

"I notice things."

She looked away.

"Not everything."

That sentence slipped out before she could stop it.

Silence.

He slowly closed the fridge.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She shook her head.

"Nothing."

"Then don’t say it."

"I said nothing."

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

That annoyed him.

"Stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Acting like everything is fine."

She looked at him now.

Properly.

"For you, it is."

That hit somewhere.

He took a step closer.

"Say clearly."

She hesitated.

This was the point where she should stop.

But she didn’t.

"You don’t like me talking."

"You don’t like me being in kitchen."

"You don’t like me asking anything."

"So I stopped."

Her voice didn’t shake.

But her fingers did.

He noticed.

His tone changed slightly, but still controlled.

"I never said that."

"You didn’t have to."

Silence.

Long one.

He looked at her.

Trying to understand.

Trying not to.

"You’re overthinking."

She gave a small, almost tired smile.

"Maybe."

He stepped closer again.

Now the distance was less.

Not too close.

But not normal either.

"You saw something?"

That question came suddenly.

Direct.

She froze.

For a second, she thought of lying.

But then—

"I saw enough."

His jaw tightened.

"What did you see?"

She looked at him.

Eyes clear.

"That you don’t need to explain."

Silence.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Real.

He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated.

"Don’t assume things."

"I’m not assuming."

"You are."

"Then tell me I’m wrong."

That… stopped him.

Because he didn’t answer immediately.

Because he didn’t even know what to say.

And that silence—

that one second of silence—

felt louder than any answer.

Rhea looked away.

"That’s what I thought."

She turned to leave.

But his hand caught her wrist.

Not tight.

But enough to stop her.

She froze.

He didn’t pull her.

Didn’t say anything immediately.

Just… held.

Like he also didn’t understand why.

"You think too much."

His voice was lower now.

Closer.

She looked at his hand on her wrist.

Then at him.

"You think too less."

That almost made him react.

Almost.

A small breath of air passed between them.

Neither moved.

Neither stepped back.

For a moment—

everything slowed down.

No shouting.

No Ayesha.

No Harshita.

No house.

Just this weird, confusing space between them.

Where nothing was clear.

And everything felt… different.

He slowly loosened his grip.

But didn’t fully let go.

"Next time… don’t walk away like that."

She frowned slightly.

"Why?"

He paused.

Searching for answer.

Didn’t find one.

"Just don’t."

She looked at him for a second longer.

Then gently pulled her hand back.

This time, he didn’t stop her.

She stepped back.

"Good night."

Simple.

Normal.

Like nothing happened.

She walked out.

And he stayed there.

In the kitchen.

Looking at the empty space where she was standing a second ago.

Confused.

Irritated.

And for the first time—

slightly affected.

Author POV

That wasn’t love.

Not even close.

But it wasn’t nothing either.

It was that dangerous middle point…

where two people start noticing each other more than they should.

And once that starts—

everything becomes complicated.

Because now…

it’s not just about ego anymore.

How was the chp !??

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