Chapter 48

                                    

                                          
Tum toh darasal khwaab ki baat ho
Chalti mere khayalon me tum sath sath ho
Milti hai jo achaanak woh saugaat ho
Tum toh darasal meethi si pyaas ho
Lagta hai ye hamesha ke tum aas paas ho
Thehra hai jo labon pe woh ehsaas ho.
Teri adaa,adaa pe marta main
Wafaa,wafaa si karta kyun
Hadon se hoon guzarta main
Zaraa zaraa zaraa.
Avani's Pov:
As I looked into the mirror, I couldn't help the blush that crawled up my cheeks. My face was practically red, a wide smile plastered on my lips which wouldn't fade even if I tried hard. My eyes sparkled with a joy I'd never seen before, reflecting back at me like stars in a night sky. I felt pretty and beautiful, but more than that, I felt cherished and loved.
My fingers traced the curve of my lips, still tingling from his kiss. A surge of confidence that I had tried to feel my entire life peaked the moment he confessed. The words 'I love you' echoed in my mind, each repetition sending a shiver down my spine. I hugged myself tightly, reveling in the warmth that spread through my chest. For the first time, I truly saw myself and I couldn't be happier. 
I was now dressed in a dry pair of clothes-his clothes. I had been reluctant when he first offered, insisting I could manage with my wet ones. But the moment he closed the distance between us and pointed out how transparent my white T-shirt had become, I felt embarrassed. How foolish of me to keep embarrassing myself in front of him.
The light blue shirt I wore was far too large for my frame, but, being the resourceful woman I was, I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows to make it fit better. The shorts he lent me reached down to my knees, and though they were a bit loose around my hips, I managed to tighten them with a shoelace.
God! He made me love myself. 
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. Running my fingers through my damp hair, I attempted to detangle the wild curls that had formed in the rain. Shaking my head vigorously, I tried to remove the excess moisture. With my eyes closed, I focused on steadying my racing heartbeat. Arjun's fever still hadn't subsided, and I needed to make sure he was alright. Earlier, I had planned to use cool forehead pads to bring his temperature down, but after spending such a memorable time in the rain, that would only worsen his condition.
 Preparing myself to face the situation, I decided to leave the confines of the bathroom. My hand hesitated on the doorknob but with another deep breath, I yanked the door open. My heart raced as I stepped out, my eyes searching for Arjun. I found him laying on the bed - shirtless. 
I closed my eyes shut, trying to control my elevated hearbeats and my surging hormones. This man loved to toy with my emotions. As I approached him, he opened his eyes lazily, looking at me with a small smile and love shining in his eyes. 
"Why are you naked? Don't you have clothes to wear? ", I questioned him seriously, my hands planted on my hips as I playfully glared at him. His smile widened, and he covered his eyes with his forearm, shaking his head in blatant refusal.
A gasp escaped me, my eyes widening at his sudden playful nature. Before I could give him a piece of my mind, he grabbed my hands and pressed a chaste kiss to my palms, making me blush. I never thought I would feel shy around anyone, but this particular man was slowly challenging that belief.
"Let me put my head in your lap, Fragolina?"
Warmth pooled in my belly at his request-so respectful, so loving. My heart fluttered as I looked down at him. Beneath the playful exterior, the vulnerability and sadness from earlier still lingered in his eyes. His body was still warm with fever, yet he tried so hard not to show any weakness-for me.