We Will Fall In Love If We Stay Close

The First Touch

Episode 11: The First Touch

The night outside the apartment was unusually quiet. No cars. No honking. Only the sound of crickets from the small garden below and the steady ticking of the wall clock inside.

11:47 PM.

It had been exactly 60 days since Aarav and Neera signed the contract. 60 days of living under one roof and yet living miles apart.

60 days of "Good morning" that never came.

60 days of dinners eaten in silence.

60 days of pretending they were just roommates.

Aarav was in his study room, files scattered on the desk. As a Police Officer, his job never ended. But tonight his mind wasn't on the case file in front of him.

It was on the sound he had heard 5 minutes ago. A small thud. From the kitchen.

He told himself to ignore it. For 2 months he had mastered the art of ignoring her.

But then came another sound. A soft gasp.

Aarav's pen dropped.

He pushed the chair back and walked out. His steps were fast but silent. When he reached the kitchen, he saw her.

Neera was sitting on the cold tile floor. One hand was holding her wrist. The other was pressed against the floor to balance herself. A glass of water was shattered beside her. Water and small pieces of glass were spread around.

Her hair was messy. Her eyes were closed. And her lips were pressed tight, like she was trying not to cry.

"Neera," Aarav said.

His voice startled her. She opened her eyes quickly.

"A-Aarav? I... I'm fine. I just slipped. It's nothing."

But her voice was shaking. And her wrist was already turning a little red.

Aarav didn't answer. He walked in carefully, avoiding the glass. He crouched down in front of her. For the first time in 2 months, he was this close to her.

He could smell her shampoo. Faint. Floral.

"Move your hand," he ordered softly.

Neera hesitated but then slowly removed her hand from her wrist.

Aarav took her wrist in both of his hands. His palms were warm. Rough from training. But his touch was gentle. Too gentle.

He turned her wrist slightly to check for swelling. His thumb brushed over her skin by accident.

Neera flinched. Not from pain. From the touch.

Aarav noticed. He looked up. Their eyes met.

For 60 days they had avoided this. Eye contact. Real conversations. Feelings.

"Does it hurt?" he asked. His voice was lower now.

Neera nodded. A single tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.

That tear broke something inside Aarav.

Two months. Two months of watching her cook for him and not eating with her. Two months of hearing her laugh on phone calls and pretending he didn't care. Two months of coming home late just to avoid her.

All for what? A stupid contract?

"Don't cry," he whispered.

But Neera couldn't stop. The pain in her wrist, the loneliness, the pressure of this fake marriage... it all came out at once.

Silent sobs shook her shoulders.

Aarav's jaw tightened. He let go of her wrist and before he could think, he reached out and cupped her face with both hands.

His touch made Neera freeze.

"Shhh," Aarav murmured. His thumb wiped the tear from her cheek. "Don't. Please don't cry because of me."

Neera looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Aarav took a deep breath. His police training, his discipline, his walls... all of it was crumbling right now.

"I mean this," he said.

"I lied to myself for 60 days, Neera. I told myself this marriage was just on paper. I told myself I wouldn't get attached. I told myself I was doing this for my mother's sake."

He paused. His eyes searched hers.

"But the truth is... I fell for you. Somewhere between the silent breakfasts and the nights I heard you reading in your room. I fell for you."

Neera's breath caught.

"What?"

"I don't want this contract anymore," Aarav continued. His voice was firm now. Honest. "I don't want to pretend you're just my wife on paper. I want to be your husband. For real. If you'll let me."

The kitchen was silent except for the dripping of the tap.

Neera couldn't speak. Her heart was pounding so loud she was sure Aarav could hear it.

Was this real? After 60 days of coldness, was he finally saying this?

Tears fell again, but this time they were different tears.

Aarav saw the confusion and fear in her eyes. He didn't want to pressure her.

So he did the only thing he could think of.

He leaned forward slowly. Giving her time to pull away.

When she didn't, he pressed the softest, most careful kiss on her forehead.

The first touch.

After 60 days of distance, his lips on her skin felt like fire and peace at the same time.

Neera closed her eyes.

"I... I need time," she whispered.

Aarav pulled back and nodded. "Take all the time you need. No pressure. I just needed you to know."

He stood up, careful not to step on the glass. "I'll clean this. You go rest. Ice your wrist."

Neera nodded and stood up slowly. As she walked to her room, her heart felt lighter than it had in months.

But she didn't know peace was short-lived.

Because the moment Aarav was alone in the kitchen, his phone, which was on the counter, lit up.

A new message.

Unknown Number: "Aarav. It's me. I'm back in Dhaka after 5 years. We need to talk. It's important. - Riya"

Aarav stared at the name. His face went blank.

Riya.

His ex. The girl who left him 5 years ago without an explanation.

And she was back.

At that moment, Neera, who had forgotten her phone in the kitchen, came back to get it.

She saw the message on Aarav's phone before he could lock it.

Her heart, which had just started to hope, sank again.

Who was Riya? And why was she contacting Aarav at midnight?

Aarav turned and saw Neera standing there.

"Neera, I can explain—" he started.

But Neera just picked up her phone and walked away without a word.

The door to her room closed softly.

And Aarav was left standing in the kitchen, with broken glass on the floor and maybe, broken trust in the air.

To be continued...

Episode 12 Coming Tomorrow