Chapter 13

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Esha awoke from the deepest sleep she had had in weeks, finally feeling the rest she had longed for.
As she blinked her eyes open, she took a moment to orient herself, her mind slowly catching up with her surroundings. 
The unfamiliar room was a reminder that she was still at Aditya's place. After a quick freshen-up, she decided to say her goodbyes.
But as she stepped out, there he was again, standing in the kitchen with that effortless allure, shirtless and unabashed.
The sight of his sculpted abs made her pause, her eyes betraying a flicker of appreciation before she masked it with indifference.
"Aaj kya hua aapki shirt ko? Is it wet again?" she teased, making her way to the kitchen island.
He flashed a cocky grin, "You like seeing me shirtless, don't you? Thought I'd save you the trouble of imagining it."
She rolled her eyes, feigning disinterest. "Don't flatter yourself. I've seen better."
He leaned in slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You're a terrible liar, Rose. I can see right through you."
He placed a plate in front of her, then one for himself, the air between them charged with unspoken tension.
Esha rolled her eyes, dismissing his playful banter with a simple "whatever" before taking a bite of her toast.
Aditya chuckled and disappeared into his room, returning moments later with a t-shirt on, ready to join her for breakfast.
"Ab tumhe dekhne nahi milega. I'm hurt," he said, pretending to wipe away imaginary tears.
Esha smirked, her confidence shining through. "I'll see it whenever I want."
"Kaise?" he asked, genuinely intrigued by her boldness.
She picked up a strawberry, biting into it with a slow, deliberate sensuality. "I have my ways," she replied, her eyes never leaving his.
Aditya leaned back, clearly impressed. "I see." He wished he was that strawberry.
"Is it working?" she teased, her voice laced with challenge.
He smiled, a hint of vulnerability in his gaze. "You could be doing nothing, and with just a sight of you, I'd be long gone."
Esha smiled shyly, her eyes twinkling as she responded, "Oh, really?"
"Yes," Aditya replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
As she finished her breakfast, preparing to bid him goodbye, Aditya suddenly spoke up, "Can I ask you something?"
"You can," she replied, curious.
"There's a charity gala the day after tomorrow. Will you be my date?" he asked, his voice calm, but internally, he was brimming with hope. "I don't want to take anyone other than you."
"Day after tomorrow?" she echoed, thinking it over.
"Can I let you know by evening?"
"Yeah, sure," he agreed, then added with a faint smile, "And Rose, please say yes."
She nodded, gathering her books. "I'll leave now."
"Wait," Aditya interjected. "I'll drop you off. My office is just 15 minutes from your house. I'll go after dropping you off." Without waiting for her response, he dashed towards his room to change.
Esha couldn't help but smile at his endearing eagerness.
In just a few days of knowing Aditya, she had discovered how easygoing he was, how he paid attention to the little details she had once prayed for in her last relationship.
He was calm, composed, and caring. But as her feelings for him grew, so did her doubts.
She couldn't shake the feeling that he was out of her league, someone who deserved more than she could offer.
After all, he was her best friend's brother-a line she wasn't sure she should cross. she will
Conflicted, she tried to suppress the emotions that were slowly blossoming within her.
He opened the car door for her, a simple gesture that made her heart skip a beat. 
No one had ever done that for her before, and the shy smile she gave him was a silent acknowledgment of how his small acts of kindness were slowly drawing her in.
The ride to her house was mostly quiet, filled with the soft hum of work calls and the occasional stolen glance, a silent conversation that spoke louder than words.
When they arrived at her house, he was quick to get out and open the door for her again. 
She stepped out, whispering a quiet "thank you" as their eyes met.
He smiled back, but before he could react, something  completely unexpected happened. 
She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. The scent of chocolate lingered on her skin, a sweet reminder that she had used his body wash that morning. 
The mix of that scent with the faint fragrance of roses left him breathless, as if he had been transported to another world.
"Can we stay like this for a minute?" she asked softly.
"Of course we can," he replied, pulling her closer, his arms encircling her waist. 
Internally, he was thinking, *We could stay like this forever, baby.* She was unpredictable, but in the best way possible.
After a moment, she looked up at him, her hands still resting on his neck. "I'll be your date for the gala," she announced, her voice confident yet tender.
"Really?" he asked, surprised. "You said you'd let me know in the evening."
"You refused to accept any payment for helping me," she said, meeting his gaze with equal intensity. "I should repay your kindness in some form."
He chuckled, stepping even closer. "Then I'll gladly accept your kindness, Rose."
It was then that she seemed to realize how close they were-just a breath away from their noses touching.
Reluctantly, she let go of his waist, but not before rising on her tiptoes, leaving him wondering what she would do next. 
His heart raced, pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it too. Then, in one swift movement, she tilted her head and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Good day, Aditya," she whispered in his ear before turning and running toward her house, leaving him stunned.
He touched the spot where she had kissed him, utterly dazed. 
One moment she had hugged him, the next she had kissed him on the cheek, leaving him utterly confused and completely captivated. 
Before he could react, she had already closed the door behind her, a wide smile on her face.
His day was made.
Sitting back in his car, his hand still on his cheek, he couldn't believe what had just happened.
Pinching himself to make sure it wasn't a dream, he made a mental note: he wasn't going to wash his face anytime soon.