Tangled Hearts

Chapter 3 – The Unexpected Storm

After a long drive, Rhea Malhotra and Aryan Mehra finally arrived at the client’s office on time. The journey had been almost entirely silent, except for discussions strictly about business. Aryan had taken charge of preparing the presentations and meticulously walked Rhea through every detail of the deal—how to pitch, anticipate questions, and guide the clients toward the agreement. Rhea, a quick and sharp learner, absorbed everything with impressive ease.

During the meeting, Rhea delivered the presentation flawlessly. The clients were visibly impressed, praising her clarity, confidence, and insight. Aryan, while secretly not surprised, found himself silently admiring her skills all over again. She truly was remarkable.

Once the meeting concluded, Aryan excused himself, leaving Rhea to wrap up with the clients. He headed to the parking area, only to find Rhea fuming over the phone.

“What’s going on?” he asked, tilting his head, a teasing lilt in his voice.

“Nothing!” she snapped, slamming the phone down, her frustration barely contained.

“Really? Because your face says otherwise,” Aryan observed with mock concern.

“My car’s still not repaired,” Rhea said, exasperation evident in her tone.

“Okay… and?” he replied coolly, watching her glare sharpen.

Rhea’s eyes practically burned red. “And how am I supposed to get home?”

Aryan pointed toward his car with a sly grin. “Exactly the same way you came. I will drop you.”

“I’m fine,” she said briskly. “My driver is on the way, the car should be ready in a few minutes.”

Aryan crossed his arms, studying her. “And until then… what? Stand here and freeze in this weather? Look at those clouds — it could rain any minute. Come on, get in.”

Rhea instinctively reached for her phone to call her driver, but Aryan gently snatched it from her hand.

“Hey! Give that back!” she protested, trying to reclaim it.

“It’s getting darker,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Better to leave now before the rain starts.”

Rhea froze. Despite her annoyance, part of her heart always responded to this protective, authoritative tone of his. She hated how much it still affected her.

A sudden clap of thunder made her flinch, and without thinking, her hand jerked into his.

“Relax,” Aryan said softly, placing his hand over hers, anchoring her. Their eyes met for the briefest moment before Rhea, regaining composure, withdrew her hand quickly.

“Get in. We need to leave,” he instructed, moving to open the car door.

“I will come,” she said, reluctantly. “But give me my phone first.”

“Phone later. You get in first,” he replied, half-teasing, half-commanding. Rhea shot him a killer glare but climbed into the car nonetheless.

The drive began in silence. Rhea stared out the window, arms crossed, cheeks slightly flushed from lingering frustration. Aryan, sensing the tension, switched on the radio, playing a light tune to break the quiet.

Suddenly, the car jerked to a stop. Aryan tried starting it, but the engine refused to respond.

“Oh no, what now?” he muttered, hopping out to inspect the vehicle. Rhea followed, concerned and curious, mingling with annoyance.

“What happened?” she asked, stepping closer.

“Tyre is punctured,” Aryan replied, turning to her with a grin. “Thank God.”

“What? Your car’s tyre is punctured and you are thanking God?” she said sharply, her corporate boss persona slipping through.

“Exactly. Look there,” he gestured toward a mechanic shop across the street. “We will get it fixed there.”

Rhea rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. “I should have waited for my own car instead of coming in this… disaster of a vehicle.”

Aryan chuckled. “Funny thing is, you did attend the meeting on time because of this ‘disaster.’ So maybe thank them instead.” He winked, making her scowl even harder.

“You…” she began, pointing at him, but he raised a hand, stopping her.

“Enough. Let’s get this fixed,” he said, striding toward the mechanic shop, leaving a glaring Rhea behind.

The repair was going to take some time. Rhea and Aryan found themselves standing under a large tree near the shop as light rain began to fall. Rhea shivered slightly in the cool breeze, rubbing her arms. Aryan, noticing her discomfort, stepped closer.

“Here,” he said, extending his overcoat.

“I’m… fine,” she murmured, teeth chattering slightly.

He did not wait. Moving forward, he draped the coat over her shoulders, wrapping her in it. His hands lingered at her sides, holding the coat snugly, encasing her within his arms. She looked at him, startled by the intimacy, but made no move to step away.

The rain grew heavier, accompanied by a rolling thunderstorm. A sudden clap of thunder made Rhea instinctively press against him, clutching his chest and closing her eyes tightly. Aryan instinctively wrapped one arm around her waist, the other shielding her head.

“Rhea… relax,” he murmured, stroking her hair softly. She melted slightly into his arms, her fear giving way to comfort.

They stayed like that, rain drenching them, hearts beating in tandem. After a few moments, as the thunder subsided, Rhea slowly opened her eyes to find herself enveloped in his embrace. She lifted her head, and their eyes locked. Their hands still rested around each other’s waists.

Aryan leaned closer, his gaze soft yet intense. Rhea instinctively closed her eyes, holding him tighter. When their lips met, it was slow, tentative, and full of unspoken longing. He pulled her slightly closer, deepening the kiss, before she suddenly pulled away, memories flashing across her mind.

Her little finger remained linked with his, enough to make her heart race, yet she stayed still like a statue as tears traced down her cheeks. Aryan’s eyes softened instantly, and he drew her into a tight, crushing hug.

“Please… come back to me,” he whispered, voice full of desperation. Rhea’s eyes fluttered open, meeting him, and in that instant, she saw everything: his longing for her, his profound love.

No words were needed; his eyes conveyed it all.