The night air was thick with the scent of rain, the city lights reflecting off the damp streets as Aisha and Rishi walked side by side. The restaurant had long emptied, but neither of them seemed eager to call it a night.
"So, tell me, Mr. Rishi," Aisha mused, glancing up at him with a smirk. "Since when did you become such a smooth dancer? I distinctly remember you stepping on my foot at that wedding years ago."
Rishi placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "That was a one-time mistake, and you swore you'd never bring it up again."
Aisha laughed, bumping her shoulder against his. "Oh, come on. It's one of my fondest memories. Watching you struggle, all stiff and awkward."
Rishi shot her a sideways glance, his smirk darkening. "I wasn't stiff everywhere that night."
Aisha's steps faltered, and she turned to him with wide eyes. "Excuse me?"
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into something deeper, smoother. "You heard me."
A shiver ran down her spine, but she quickly recovered, crossing her arms. "Well, someone's feeling bold tonight."
Rishi chuckled, his hand brushing against hers....light, fleeting, but enough to make her skin tingle. "Maybe it's the company."
The night was cool, the streets dimly lit, laughter still lingering between them. The world felt strangely quiet, too peaceful, as if holding its breath.
Then, out of nowhere, headlights came speeding toward them. Aisha barely had a second to react before she felt a sudden force....Rishi's hands shoving her out of the way. The air rushed out of her lungs as she hit the pavement, but before she could even register the pain, a sickening thud echoed through the night.
"Rishi!"
Her scream cut through the silence. Panic gripped her as she scrambled to her feet, her vision blurring with tears. Rishi lay on the ground, unmoving, blood pooling beneath him.
"No, no, no," she gasped, dropping to her knees beside him. "Rishi! Wake up!"
He remained completely still, his chest barely rising, his face devoid of any response. Panic surged through Aisha as she shook him gently, but there was nothing....no movement, no sound, nothing to reassure her that he was still with her.
The driver's door of the car swung open, but before Aisha could see the person inside, they disappeared into the night. She didn't care....her entire world had shrunk down to the man in her arms.
She frantically reached for her phone, but the screen was shattered beyond use. Desperation clawed at her as she turned to Rishi's pocket, only to find his phone in the same ruined state.
"Somebody help!" she cried out, looking around desperately. "Please, we need an ambulance! He....he's not waking up!"
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched Rishi's shirt, pressing her forehead against his. "You have to be okay," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I never told you… I never told you how much you mean to me. How much I love you."
She hugged him tightly, pressing her hands over his wounds, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. "Please, Rishi. I can't lose you. You're everything to me."
Sirens wailed in the distance, and within moments, paramedics were pulling her away from him. "No!" she screamed, struggling against them. "I have to go with him!"
They let her ride in the ambulance, but the sight of Rishi....pale, lifeless....was unbearable. She held his hand the entire way, whispering broken promises, desperate prayers.
By the time they reached the hospital, her hands were stained with his blood.
The waiting room felt like a cruel limbo. Aisha sat hunched over, her fingers tangled in her hair, her body trembling. Every minute felt like an eternity. Then the doctor emerged, his expression grim.
"We're doing everything we can," he said carefully, "but… the injuries are severe. There's a chance he might not make it."
Aisha felt the floor disappear beneath her. The world tilted, her heart seized in agony. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, he has to make it."
The doctor gave her a sympathetic look before walking away, leaving her drowning in her emotions.
She stood, her legs weak, and rushed into Rishi's room. The sight of him....hooked up to wires, his face bruised and pale....broke something inside her.
Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed beside his bed, gripping his hand tightly. "You idiot," she choked out, pressing his knuckles to her lips. "Why did you do that? Why did you save me?"
Her voice cracked, her sobs uncontrollable now. "You can't leave me, Rishi. I never got to tell you....I never got to say it." She sucked in a trembling breath, staring at his still face. "I love you. I love you so much, you hear me?"
She let out a broken laugh. "You always teased me, always pushed me, and I fought it for so long. But I can't anymore. I can't pretend I don't feel this. I need you, Rishi. I need us."
Her fingers brushed against his cheek. "You said you'd always be there for me. Don't break your promise now. Open your damn eyes and look at me."
She squeezed his hand, her tears falling onto his skin. "I wanted forever with you, Rishi. I wanted late-night talks, stupid fights, and mornings where I'd wake up next to you. I wanted it all. And I was too afraid to say it before, but I love you. I love you more than anything in this world."
But he didn't respond.
A sob ripped through her chest, and she buried her face against his hand. "Please," she whispered. "Come back to me."
And then…
A weak squeeze.
Aisha gasped, her head snapping up. She looked at Rishi's hand....his fingers barely twitching in hers. Then, a groggy voice....hoarse, weak, but unmistakable.
"You love me, huh?" His voice was raspy, but the teasing lilt was still there. "Didn't know a car crash was what it would take for you to admit it."
A choked laugh escaped her, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "You idiot," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his hand. "You scared the hell out of me."
His lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Had to… make sure you finally admitted it. But damn, Aisha… if I knew this was all it took, I would've thrown myself in front of a car sooner."
Aisha let out a watery laugh, leaning down to rest her forehead against his. "Don't ever do this to me again."
His eyes fluttered open slightly, and even in his pain, his gaze held nothing but warmth. "Wouldn't dream of it."
And in that moment, nothing else mattered....except the way his fingers weakly curled around hers, the warmth of his breath against her skin, and the unspoken promise in his gaze that he would never let go. He kissed her. Aisha smiled through her tears before leaning down, pressing her lips gently against his. "You're mine, Rishi. And I'm never letting you go."
His weak chuckle sent a shiver through her. "Damn right, you're not."
Ranvir stood frozen at the doorway, his heart sinking as he took in the sight before him. He had come rushing to see his brother as soon as he heard the news, but nothing could have prepared him for this....Aisha, holding Rishi's hand, whispering words filled with love, the depth of her emotions spilling freely. A pang of regret stabbed through him as he watched them, realizing just how much he had lost. He had lost someone who would do anything for him, no matter what he did to her.
He let out a quiet sigh, his hands clenching at his sides before he murmured under his breath, "Guess I really did lose, huh?" With one last glance at Aisha and Rishi, he straightened his shoulders and stepped inside, forcing a smile as he approached his brother's bedside.
Rishi, Aisha, and Ranvir sat in a tense silence before Ranvir finally cleared his throat. "I messed up, didn't I?"
Aisha looked at him, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "Took you long enough to admit it."
Ranvir exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness, but I had to say it. I was wrong....about everything. About you, about Rishi, about what I thought I had. And now... I've lost it all."
Rishi, still weak but alert, smirked faintly. "Well of course, you did."
Ranvir let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Of course, even half-dead, you would still rub it in."
Aisha softened just a little, her gaze flickering toward Rishi. "It's not about winning or losing, Ranvir. You just didn't see what was right in front of you. And now... it's too late."
Ranvir swallowed hard, nodding. "Yeah... I get that now." He hesitated, then reached out, resting a hand lightly on Rishi's arm. "Just... take care of her, alright? Don't screw this up."
Rishi gave a lopsided grin. "I'd rather take another hit from a car than let her go."
Aisha groaned, rolling her eyes. "Not funny."
Ranvir smiled sadly. "It kinda is." He took a step back, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I should go. I think... I think I've done enough damage for one lifetime."
Aisha and Rishi watched as Ranvir turned and walked away, his figure disappearing down the hallway. Aisha sighed, leaning against Rishi's bed. "Well... that was something."
Rishi squeezed her hand. "Yeah. But you know what? I don't really care about him right now."
She arched a brow. "Oh? And what do you care about?"
He grinned. "Kissing my girlfriend, for starters."
Aisha smirked, tilting her head. "Who said I was your girlfriend?"
Rishi arched a brow, his grip on her hand tightening just a little. "Oh, come on, after everything we just went through? You love me. You literally cried your heart out."
Aisha crossed her arms, feigning deep thought. "Hmm... I don't recall saying anything about being your girlfriend. You didn't even propose yet."
Rishi smirked, tilting his head. "Oh, is that what you're waiting for?"
Aisha shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I mean, a grand gesture wouldn't hurt."
Rishi leaned in, his lips barely brushing her ear. "How about I propose when I'm out of this hospital? That way, you can't say no."
Aisha bit her lip, a smile creeping onto her face. "Cocky much?"
"Confident," he corrected, his fingers intertwining with hers. "And madly in love with you."
Rishi leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Also let me remind you why you should be my girlfriend." His lips brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Because if you're not, that means I can do all sorts of things to convince you."
Aisha bit her lip, barely suppressing a smile. "Like what?"
His smirk deepened. "Like this." And before she could retort, he pulled her in, capturing her lips in a kiss that left no room for argument.
Aisha laughed, shaking her head. "You really are impossible."
"And you love me for it."
She sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately."
Rishi tugged her closer. "Then stop talking and kiss me already."
And so she did.