Qayamat Tak Ka Intezar
The sun dipped low over Mumbai, splashing hues of orange and crimson across the sky. The ETF headquarters buzzed with its usual energy—agents scurrying about with case files, the occasional ring of a desk phone, and the low hum of keyboards clicking. But amidst the chaos, Arjun Suryakant Rawte sat at his desk, his jaw clenched, fingers drumming against the table, and his eyes fixated on a single object—a small, elegant silver ring.
His fingers grazed over the smooth metal, his gaze dark with determination.
“Bas. Aaj nahi rukunga. Chahe jo ho jaye... aaj main Riya se apni dil ki baat keh kar hi rahunga.”
For weeks now, he had been battling his own hesitation. The brooding cop who was once known for his cold, impenetrable exterior had crumbled—bit by bit—under the warm, disarming smile of Riya Mukherjee. The woman who had walked into his life with her fiery spirit, clumsy charm, and unyielding dedication to justice. She had carved her place in his heart with her relentless courage and compassionate soul.
But it hadn’t been easy. Every time he gathered the nerve to confess, fate seemed to mock him. Either a case interrupted him, or Riya was called away on duty, or worse, he choked on his own feelings, swallowing the words back into his throat. But not today. No distractions. No hesitation. Today was going to be different.
Arjun pocketed the ring and exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing with resolve.
***
Riya sat at her desk, oblivious to the storm brewing in Arjun’s chest. Her delicate fingers skimmed through the pages of a case file, her brows furrowed in concentration. She had a faint smudge of ink on her cheek, and her hair was carelessly tucked behind her ear—a sight that made Arjun’s lips twitch into an involuntary smile.
“Riya,” his deep voice called out, a rare softness coating his tone.
She looked up, her brown eyes meeting his dark, intent gaze. “Haan, Sir?”
He paused for a fraction of a second, feeling his throat tighten. But before he could say another word—
“Sir!” Shree burst into the room, breathless. “Ek naya case aaya hai—double murder, Vile Parle mein.”
Riya immediately grabbed her notepad and stood up. Arjun’s jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists.
“Phir se?” he muttered under his breath, glaring at the injustice of timing.
She caught his fleeting expression of disappointment but mistook it for his usual annoyance.
“Sir, chalenge?” she asked, her eyes hopeful.
Without a word, he nodded and walked out. The silver ring remained a cold weight in his pocket.
***
The case dragged on into the evening, and by the time they wrapped up, the city was blanketed by a heavy downpour. The rain hammered down in thick sheets, drenching everything in sight. Riya and Arjun stood beneath a dimly lit streetlamp, their clothes plastered to their skin. The case had been grim, and fatigue lined their faces.
Riya rubbed her arms, shivering slightly. “Sir, gaadi tak daud kar chalein? Yeh baarish rukne ka naam hi nahi le rahi.”
Arjun’s eyes softened as he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
“Tumhe thand lag jayegi.”
She smiled, her eyes wide with surprise. “Aapko bhi toh lagegi, Sir.”
He smirked faintly. “Mujhe aadat hai.”
For a moment, they simply stood there, the rain creating a veil around them, making the rest of the world disappear. His fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and cup her face, to brush the wet strands of hair away from her forehead, and to taste the rain from her lips.
“Riya,” his voice was barely above a whisper.
Her eyes snapped to his, startled by the unfamiliar tenderness. “Haan?”
“Main tumse—”
Before he could finish, a sudden screech of tires pierced the air. A van swerved dangerously close, splashing muddy rainwater over them. Riya shrieked in surprise, instinctively clutching Arjun’s hand.
“Riya!” he yelled, tugging her close, shielding her.
The moment was lost. By the time he turned back to look at her, she was laughing at the absurdity of their drenched state, the near-miss forgotten. She shook her head, droplets flying from her hair.
“Bach gaye, haan.” She smiled playfully, completely unaware of the turmoil behind his eyes.
He clenched his jaw, forcing a tight smile. “Haan... bach gaye.”
And so did his words—once again, slipping away into the rain.
***
Two days later, Arjun finally mustered the courage to invite Riya over for dinner at his apartment—a rare and personal gesture. She had agreed without hesitation, her face lighting up with excitement.
She arrived at his door, her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, wearing a soft pink summer halter neck midi dress and flats. The moment he saw her, he felt his breath hitch. She was breathtaking, even in her simplicity.
They sat across from each other at the dining table, the candlelight flickering softly. Her laughter filled the space, making his apartment feel less like a house and more like a home.
“Sir, aapko khana banate dekh ke toh mujhe sach mein yakeen nahi ho raha!” she teased.
He arched a brow. “Bohot kuch hai jo tumne abhi tak nahi dekha.”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Acha? Jaise?”
“Jaise... mera pyaar tumhare liye,” he nearly blurted, but before he could utter the words—
DING DONG!
The doorbell rang, shattering the moment.
Arjun shut his eyes briefly, fighting the urge to slam his fist against the table. He opened the door to find Rathore standing there with Shree and Chotu, all grinning.
“SURPRISE!” they chorused.
Riya’s eyes widened in delight. “Aap log? Yahaan?”
Shree winked. “Bas socha aap dono ki date kharaab kar dein.”
Arjun shot him a death glare, but Shree only grinned wider. Rathore clapped Arjun on the shoulder.
“Tension mat lo, Rawte. Hum zyada der nahi rukenge.”
But they did. Hours stretched into laughter, jokes, and memories. By the time they left, it was too late. Riya yawned, blinking sleepily.
“Main chalti hoon, Sir.”
Arjun’s hand slipped into his pocket, feeling the ring there, but he knew he couldn’t do it tonight. Not like this.
***
Days turned into weeks. The universe seemed determined to thwart his every attempt. Arjun had almost given up. But tonight was different.
He knocked on Riya’s apartment door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see him there, unannounced.
“Sir? Sab theek hai?” she asked, concerned.
Without a word, he stepped in, grabbed her face in his hands, and kissed her. Her eyes widened in shock before she melted into him, her arms slipping around his neck. When they broke apart, both of them were breathless.
“Mujhe kehna tha, Riya,” his voice was hoarse with emotion. “Main tumse pyaar karta hoon. Har baar baat adhuri reh gayi... lekin ab nahi. Main tumse... bas tumse hi pyaar karta hoon.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she let out a soft laugh of disbelief.
“Aapko itni der kyun lagi?”
He smirked, his eyes softening. “Shaayad universe bhi chahta tha ki tumhe paane ke liye main poori tarah se bechain ho jaun.”
She smiled against his lips, and this time, the universe didn’t interrupt.
~The End~
This story is based on a delightful prompt by DreamOfEndless! Arjun is determined to confess his love to Riya, but every time he tries, something—or someone—gets in the way. It’s almost like the universe itself is playing tricks on him!
I had so much fun bringing this idea to life, and I hope you all have just as much fun reading it! Get ready for a mix of romance, frustration, and a whole lot of Arjun’s patience being tested. Enjoy! ❤️✨
Love,
Saraf 🦋
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Sensational South
Bigg Boss 19
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