Who Moved First
553 Words
They were still tangled when the teasing began.
“You definitely moved first,” Manav said lazily, eyes still half closed.
“I did not,” Aarti whispered back. “You pulled me.”
“You crawled into my side.”
“I would never crawl.”
He almost laughed. “You were practically hugging me.”
“I was not hugging you!” she protested, finally turning to face him fully.
That was a mistake.
They were too close now.
His arm was still around her waist.
Her hair slightly messy against his pillow.
He looked entirely too calm for someone accusing her of invasion.
“You were,” he insisted quietly.
“I don’t even move in my sleep.”
“You do. A lot.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re making that up.”
“Am I?”
He leaned slightly closer.
The air shifted again.
She immediately broke eye contact.
“Fine,” she said, trying to regain control. “Even if I did, it doesn’t mean anything.”
He didn’t respond.
That silence made her uncomfortable.
She carefully lifted his arm off her waist and sat up.
“We should get up,” she muttered. “It’s late.”
She stood from the bed — slightly flustered, slightly defensive.
And definitely blushing.
“I have things to do.”
“Aarti.”
She didn’t turn. “What?”
There was a softness in his voice she didn’t want to face.
So she started walking toward the bathroom instead.
Two steps.
That’s all she managed.
Before he reached out and caught her wrist.
Not forcefully.
Just enough.
She turned back, surprised.
He gently pulled her toward him again.
She stumbled slightly, landing back on the edge of the bed.
“Why are you running?” he asked quietly.
“I’m not running.”
“You are.”
Her annoyance returned as defense. “I am not scared of you.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
He stood up slowly now, standing close enough that she had to tilt her head up to look at him.
“You get irritated when you’re embarrassed,” he observed calmly.
“I am not embarrassed.”
“Your ears are red.”
She instinctively touched her ear.
He almost smiled.
“Aarti.”
This time, she didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t argue.
Just looked at him — waiting.
And before she could prepare herself—
He leaned forward.
Not dramatically.
Not claiming.
Just softly.
And pressed the lightest kiss against her forehead.
Barely there.
But deliberate.
Her breath caught.
He pulled back almost immediately.
“There,” he said quietly. “Now you can go.”
She stood frozen for a second.
Heart racing.
Mind blank.
He had already turned toward the cupboard like nothing monumental had happened.
Annoyed at herself for reacting so strongly, she grabbed her clothes and muttered—
“You’re impossible.”
But her voice wasn’t truly annoyed.
And when she closed the bathroom door—
She leaned against it.
Hand touching the exact spot where his lips had been.
Trying very hard not to smile.
---
Outside, Manav stood still for a moment.
Exhaling slowly.
He hadn’t planned it.
But he also didn’t regret it.
And for the first time—
Neither of them were pretending anymore.
- Writer
