Normally, a question like that would have lit up her face. She would have smiled, laughed even, maybe teased him with her usual charm and infectious excitement. But not today.
Today, her voice was flat. No joy. No sparkle. Just a quiet acknowledgment.
That silence, more than her words, gnawed at Arnav. Then, unexpectedly, she reached out and placed her hand over his, her fingers warm and steady. Without a word, she leaned her head gently against his shoulder. The gesture was small, but it meant everything.
Traffic moved sluggishly around them. The city buzzed with the chaos of daily life, but inside the car, there was a stillness that felt almost sacred. Arnav tightened his grip on the steering wheel with one hand, but he didn’t let go of her with the other. He held her hand firmly, sil
