Chapter 5 5.

Mishka's pov~

The ride back home was quieter, but the tension between us was anything but quiet. I could feel Arsh's gaze flicker toward me every few seconds, and I kept my eyes firmly on the road ahead, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up my neck.

As we pulled up to my house, I fiddled with the edge of my saree, feeling slightly self-conscious under his intense gaze. He parked the car and turned off the engine, but neither of us moved to get out.

"You didn't have to come with me, you know.I could've handled myself." I said softly, still looking out the window.

Arsh chuckled, the sound low and teasing. "Oh, I'm sure you could. But that doesn't mean I would've let you go alone."

I turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "You're awfully protective for someone who claims to be an unbothered person."

His eyes darkened, and a playful smirk tugged at his lips. "Never for you, plus unborthered people can be protective, Mishka."

"Not this protective." I muttered, earning another chuckle from him.

He finally stepped out of the car and came around to my side, opening the door for me. I couldn't help but smile at how gentlemanly he always was, even when he was being infuriatingly overbearing.

As we walked toward the front door, he said, "Suniye Mishka?"

"Kahiye." I asked and paused, looking up at him.

"You know, I've been meaning to ask... Do you think I could help you decorate your room?"

My eyebrows shot up, surprised. "Decorate my room? You still remember that?"

He shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Bade aye aap, Ek din bola tha maine." I said and turned myself away from him.

"Arey Baba, I'm sorry, lo kaan pakad liye mene." He interrupted with a laugh, holding his ears. Gosh he's so cute.

I nodded, my cheeks heating.

"Yeah, you kind of ignored me then, and don't do that." I said and pointed towards his now-turned-red ears.

"Oh, I didn't ignore you. I was just... distracted." He whispered and stepped closer, towering over me with that familiar smirk playing on his lips.

"Distracted?" I questioned, crossing my arms in mock offense while ignoring my raged breathe.

Arsh's eyes lingered on my face before dropping briefly to my lips, then quickly back up to my eyes. His voice dropped lower. "Distracted by you, Mishka."

Stop it Mishka.

I rolled my eyes but smiled despite myself.

"Flattery won't get you out of this one. Are you going to help me or not?" I asked.

He grinned. "Lead the way."

We headed inside, and as I unlocked the door, I couldn't help the little flutter of excitement in my chest.

Having Arsh here, in my space, felt strangely intimate. It was like the lines between us were blurring in a way I wasn't entirely prepared for, but I wasn't about to stop it either.

Once inside, I led him to my room, where boxes of decorations were still stacked in the corner. My room was plain, with just the essentials, bed, desk, and wardrobe, but I had grand plans of making it more personal.

"So, what's the plan?" Arsh asked, surveying the space.

"We start with these." I grinned, pulling out some fairy lights from one of the boxes.

"Fairy lights, huh? I should've guessed." He shook his head, amused.

"You're lucky I'm not asking you to paint the walls pink," I teased, plugging the lights into the wall to check if they worked. A warm, golden glow filled the room, casting soft shadows along the walls.

Arsh watched me carefully as I draped the lights along the bedframe, his eyes never leaving me. "You know, you're really into this decorating thing."

"Well, I want it to feel like home." I explained, climbing onto the bed to reach the top of the wall. "Baba's always busy, so it's nice to have a space that feels like mine."

He reached out instinctively to steady me as I stretched up, his hand resting on my waist. I froze, my heart thudding in my chest at the simple touch. I could feel the heat of his hand through the thin fabric of my saree, and for a moment, neither of us moved.

"You're going to fall." Arsh murmured, his voice soft and deep.

"I'm fine." I whispered, but my voice sounded breathless, even to my own ears.

He didn't let go. In fact, his grip tightened slightly, and when I turned to look at him, I found his face closer than I'd realized. His eyes were locked on mine, and for a brief, heart-stopping second, I thought he was going to kiss me.

But he didn't.

Instead, he gently helped me down from the bed, his hand lingering at my waist even as I stood on solid ground. I looked up at him, confusion swirling in my mind.

"Arsh?" I asked softly. "Why did you never kiss me?"

He blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. For a moment, I thought he might brush it off, but then his gaze softened, and he stepped back, running a hand through his hair.

"It's not that I don't want to." he admitted, his voice rough. "I do. More than you probably realize."

"Then why?" I pressed, my heart racing at his words.

He sighed, looking at me with a seriousness I hadn't expected. "Because I respect you, Mishka. I'd never want to make you uncomfortable or push you into something you're not ready for."

I swallowed, touched by his honesty. "But I"ve never said I wouldn't want that."

His jaw tightened, and he stepped closer again, his hands gently framing my face.

"I know. But I also know you, and I don't want to rush anything. I'd rather wait until I'm sure it's what you want, without any doubt."

The sincerity in his eyes made my chest tighten, and I couldn't help but smile up at him, touched by how much he cared. "You're such a complicated man, Arsh."

He smirked, dropping his hands. "I"ll take that as a compliment."

I laughed, the tension between us easing slightly. "It is. Now, help me hang these lights before we're here all night."

We spent the next hour decorating, with Arsh making sarcastic comments about my choice of throw pillows and me playfully swatting him away whenever he got too close. But through it all, there was an undeniable connection between us, a bond that felt stronger with every passing minute.

Just as we were finishing up, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.

"Baba's home!" I exclaimed, hurrying to the living room. Arsh followed behind, quieter now, knowing how Baba felt about him.

Baba walked in, looking tired but content after a long day of surgeries. His eyes landed on me first, a warm smile spreading across his face, but then they shifted to Arsh, and the smile faltered slightly.

"Arsh." Baba greeted him with a nod, his tone polite but distant.

Arsh straightened, offering a respectful smile. "Good evening, sir. I was just helping Mishka with some decorating."

Baba's gaze flickered to me, and I smiled, trying to ease the tension. "He was really helpful, Baba."

"Was he now?" Baba muttered, clearly not convinced, but he didn't push it.

"I should get going." Arsh said, sensing the shift. "Thank you for letting me help, Mishka."

I walked him to the door, feeling a strange mix of disappointment and gratitude. As he stepped outside, he turned to look at me one last time, his expression soft.

"Good night, Mishka."

"Good night, Arsh." I whispered, watching him walk away until he disappeared into the night.

And even though he was gone, the warmth of his presence lingered, leaving me with the feeling that no matter what, Arsh would always find a way to be close to me.

"Baba." I said turning around, feeling bad for him.

"Marriage Mish, Marriage." He half smiled, eyes tired still warm for me. Saying that he left the hall to his room.

"Marriage." I whispered to myself.