The night had grown deep and still. The soft hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound in the house, the shadows of the lamps stretching across the hall. Nidhi, exhausted but stubborn, had curled up on the couch, hugging her panda tightly. Her eyes had grown heavy, but she didn't move to her room. She wanted to wait for him, for Rahul. Somehow, she knew he would come.

And then he did.

Rahul entered quietly, his shirt slightly rumpled from the day's work, eyes immediately scanning the hall. His heart skipped when he saw her, curled up on the couch, hair slightly messy, face soft and peaceful even in sleep. She looked smaller than usual, delicate, almost fragile.

A sudden warmth spread through him. He had resisted so much today, ignored his hunger, pushed down his feelings, but seeing her like this—waiting, trusting him—made something inside him break gently.

He stepped closer, barely making a sound, and for a moment just stood there, watching her. Her lips twitched in a faint smile even in sleep. Her hands clutched the panda like it could shield her from the world.

Rahul's chest tightened. He wanted so badly to bend down and kiss her, softly, just once—but he restrained himself 'no wtf i am thinking rahul this is not correct.". Instead, he knelt beside the couch, hesitating, studying her delicate features. She was too cute, too perfect in her innocence.

Without thinking, his hands gently slid under her shoulders and waist. Carefully, like she was made of glass, he lifted her in his arms. Her weight was soft, comforting, intoxicating. He carried her across the hall, up the stairs, his heart beating in a frantic rhythm, not daring to make a sound.

When he reached her room, he laid her down gently on the bed. He leaned over her for a brief moment, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. The warmth of her skin pressed against his lips, and a shiver ran through him. It was intimate, tender, and utterly consuming.

He straightened to leave, intending to give her space, but then, almost unconsciously, Nidhi shifted in her sleep and pulled him closer, her hand curling slightly around his wrist. Her small, sleepy motion sent a jolt of panic and desire through him.

Rahul froze. His chest tightened, his pulse racing. He didn't want to wake her, but at the same time, he couldn't pull away. For a few heartbeats, he just stayed there, heart thudding, staring at her peaceful face, feeling the softness of her in his arms.

Finally, with a reluctant sigh, he removed his hands, careful not to disturb her more than he already had. He stepped back, his cheeks warming, his heart still tangled in the afterglow of holding her so close.

And yet, as he looked at her one last time before leaving, a small, shy smile tugged at his lips. He felt... happy, satisfied, and strangely light. Holding her, even for that brief moment, had left an imprint on his heart. He hadn't just cared for her—he had felt her presence, her trust, her warmth... and it had been intoxicating.

Rahul left quietly, closing the door gently behind him. He leaned against it for a moment, exhaling shakily, and for the first time in days, he allowed himself a small blush.

Her arms had felt so safe, so comforting, so hers. And the thought of it lingered long after he was  gone.

.

.

The morning sun filtered lazily through the windows, golden and warm, giving the house a calm, sleepy feeling. But inside, the atmosphere was tense, fragile. Nidhi was sprawled on the couch, her bag already in hand, chatting animatedly with her friends over the phone about the shopping plans for the day.

Rahul, already dressed in his police uniform, leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. Even though it was Sunday, he hadn't left his work behind. The news from the station had kept him on edge—Rakesh Devgan, the criminal who had escaped last week, was still at large, unpredictable and violent.

"You're going where?" Rahul's tone was low, calm on the surface, but the rigid line of his jaw betrayed the storm beneath.

"Shopping with friends," Nidhi replied cheerfully, completely oblivious to the tension in his body.

Rahul's eyes darkened. "You can't. Not alone. I can't send you out, Nidhi. Not today."

She blinked, momentarily surprised. "Why? It's Sunday... I just want to go out for a few hours. You're overthinking."

"I'm not overthinking. I'm serious. You stay home. Don't argue." His voice was sharper now, commanding, unyielding. He had to leave for the station soon, and he couldn't bear the thought of her being alone while the criminal roamed free.

Nidhi's brows furrowed, lips pressing together stubbornly. "I don't care. I'm going. I'll be fine. Stop treating me like a child."

Rahul's hand tightened on the doorframe. He wanted to protest, to yell, to drag her back, but he couldn't afford distractions now. "Nidhi... I said no. Stay home!"

But she was already slipping on her shoes, grabbing her bag. "I'will go! what do you think of yourself" she said, voice firm. And with that, she left.

"you are not and if you disobey me the consequence will be bad."

"i will go." she replied stubbornly.

"wait i will call to vedansh and tell that you are going alone for shopping." 

"You can't do like that..." She said.

" I will...and don't take it as a joke.." he said.

She sighed and cursed him little bit 😅 and went to her room.

Hours passed. Rahul had barely eaten, barely moved from the station. But the lunch hour approached, and he returned home briefly, hoping to at least see Nidhi. He opened the door and froze.

The house was empty.

His heart skipped a beat, his stomach tightened. The tracker in his hand screamed the truth—she was at the mall. Alone. Surrounded by crowds, blissfully unaware of the danger lingering in the city. His mind raced. Thoughts flashed violently: what if the criminal finds her? What if something happens?

Meanwhile, Nidhi was laughing with her friends, completely engrossed in shopping, oblivious to the tension and fear her actions had triggered. She tried on dresses, shared selfies, joked and giggled, her innocence and joy bright in the crowded mall.

"It is easy to make Bava fool.." she said and laughed.

But danger was closer than she knew.

In a shadowed corner, a tall, menacing figure moved with unnatural stealth. It was Rakesh Devgan—the escaped criminal. His gaze fixed on a young girl walking ahead, alone, carrying a bag. With a swift, practiced motion, he grabbed her from behind, trying to drag her into the nearby alley. The girl screamed, kicking and thrashing, but he was strong, his intentions horrifying.

Nidhi, walking just a few feet away, noticed the struggle. Her heart skipped. Without thinking, she ran, shouting at the top of her lungs. "Hey! Let go of her!"

The criminal froze, turning toward the voice. The girl twisted, using the moment of distraction, but his grip was firm. Nidhi ran faster, shouting again, her voice echoing through the mall. "You think you can scare people? Shame on you! Let her go!"

Shoppers turned, startled by the commotion. Security rushed toward the scene, but the criminal's eyes flicked to Nidhi, the first person daring to challenge him. For a moment, he sneered, humiliated by her audacity.

And then—a familiar figure appeared.

Rahul.

He had been tracking her through the GPS, heart hammering as he rushed from the station, instincts sharper than ever. He reached the scene, spotting Rakesh struggling with the girl. With a controlled, cold fury, Rahul stepped forward, shouting: "Police! Drop! Don't move!"

The criminal froze, then bolted, dragging the girl along. A dozen police officers swarmed, trying to block him, but the crowd and chaos gave him room to escape.

Rahul, however, didn't take his eyes off Nidhi. He rushed toward her, grabbing her by the shoulders, pulling her close. "What were you thinking?!" he yelled, voice shaking with anger, fear, and frustration.

Nidhi, still breathing heavily, stared at him, eyes wide, cheeks flushed. "I... I wanted to help..." she said softly, barely able to get the words out.

Rahul's hands clenched at his sides, jaw tight. His voice lowered, trembling with controlled fury. "I told you to stay home! I told you—Nidhi, do you even realize what could have happened?!"

Tears welled up in her eyes, partly from the adrenaline, partly from the fear and the lash of his anger. "I... wanted some fresh air. I swear i didn't know this could happened."

Rahul's chest tightened. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. His hands dropped, but his eyes, dark with fear and anger, held her like she might vanish if he let go. "Do you have any idea how it feels to think I could've lost you...?"

Nidhi's tears slipped freely now, rolling down her cheeks. "I... I didn't mean to..."

He stared at her, the fury in his eyes clashing with the heartbreak. His voice softened, almost breaking. "You could've been taken... by a monster... and I wouldn't have been there to stop him."

She sobbed quietly, wrapping her arms around herself. The mall noise faded into the background. Her heart felt heavy, and suddenly, the gap between them seemed too wide, filled with fear, anger, and the sharp sting of unspoken love.

Rahul looked at her, chest tightening. He wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her she was safe—but the anger, the fear, the sheer weight of the day held him back. He clenched his fists, trying to control the storm within him.

Nidhi felt it too—the tension, the frustration.

The crowd slowly dispersed. Police searched the nearby area for the criminal, but he had vanished into the maze of streets outside. Rahul and Nidhi stood alone for a moment, both breathing heavily.

Rahul's voice finally came, low, strained, edged with something softer beneath the anger. "I don't know how many more times I can let this happen, Nidhi. I... I can't lose you. Not even for a second."

Nidhi looked up, tears in her eyes, heart aching. "I... I didn't mean to make you feel that way...sorry for burdening you..soon i will search a pg for myself and vacate your home."

"Are you mad? nenem cheptuna nuvem matladutunav...where the hell burden come from." he pulled her hand but she freed and left.

HOW IS THIS CHAPTER GUYS...

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