Part 1 - Khwaish
The heat crawled up his arm, burning his resolve in its wake. It hissed and it clawed as it made its way up his neck. Aryan folded in on himself, shrinking till he knew he couldn't any further. Knees drawn to his chest he buried his head between his legs as his body began to shake with fear.
The shadows of that night danced. Danced to the old tune of screams and howls, to the tune of cries and pleas, to the tune of his broken strength. His hands flew up, pressing against his ears to block it out. To block it all out, and yet it whispered the words that were once assurances only to become a haunting nightmare.
'Aaj se main aap ki bhi raksha karunga'
The reminder of a failed promise. The words swirled in his head, as the haunting screams only grew louder. It was all too much, the heat, the pain, the screams it was all too muc-
"Aryan"
the voice breaks through it all, he lifts his head from between his knees to see the familiar figure bending down next to him.
She engulfs him in her warmth and it all seems to vanish. The heat is no longer clawing at him, but a warmth floods his chest. Her hands weave through his hair gently stroking as she holds on to him. He in response only tightens his hold around her, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
The familiar scent of lavendar envelopes him and he seems to relax under her embrace. She slowly tries to ease herself on to the ground beside him but he doesn't let go. Instead he straightens his legs out and pulls her onto his lap.
She finally gets a good look at his face. The blood shot eyes, the messy hair, the tremble in his lips. It all broke her heart. Seeing him in pain broke her.
"Better?" she whispers as her palm finds his face, her thumb stroking his cheek bone. Her hands move to his right eyebrow, the one that held the scar, slowly brushing it.
A ghost of a smiled appeared on Aryan's lips at her action.
"You really adore that scar don't you?" he asked almost amused
Imlie only hummed in response. He shook his head as if he couldn't understand, was he that oblivious? Suddenly her fingers stilled and her head slanted in question.
"How did you get this cut?" she asked
Aryan raised his eyebrows in surprise but answered anyways
"It is a gift from my stupid 4 year self, fell while running" Imlie giggled as her eyes lit up
" I wish I had met young Aru, he would have been a delight to be around."
At that Aryan frowned. He caught her hand and pulled her closer.
"Am I not a delight to be around now?" he asked
Imlie bit her lips... her eyes floated up to meet his and she quickly shook her head in a no. Aryan's eyes widened in response. But before he could do anything Imlie leapt off him and was already running.
What was next? He was up in a second and right behind her. His hands found her waist and he pulled her back against him as she squealed in surprise.
"Mujhse bach kar kaha bhaagogi?" He asked, his lips against her ears, his voice a mere whisper and his breath fanning her neck.
Imlie's breathing quickened, her chest rapidly rising and falling. She struggled against him, but he was stronger. She sighed at her repeated failure to slip out his hold.
Aryan chuckled at her futile attempts. She was so fun to tease!
"Mrs Rathore... aana toh tumhe yahi hai" and with that his hold on her loosened and he stepped away. The lack of his warmth awaking her from the stupor she had fallen into. And before anything else could be said, she ran shying away from the man's intense gaze.
As Aryan watched her receding figure he could only think of one thing. How did he, a broken man get so lucky?
Manzil yahi hai, yahi kaarwan hai
Jeene ki khwahish mein marna yahaan hai...
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Hope you guys liked the update! More to come soon!