Chapter-27 "From Goodnight to Good Morning (In His Arms)"

Night – Call Between Nirvay and Aarohi

Aarohi:

"Hello?"

Nirvay:

"I want to talk."

Aarohi:

"Yeah, tell me."

Nirvay:

"You went out with your friends today instead of spending time with me."

Aarohi:

"So? What's wrong with that?"

Nirvay:

"Tomorrow is Saturday and the day after is Sunday. We won't be able to meet tomorrow, and on Sunday your brother is coming."

Aarohi:

"We can meet on Monday. Tomorrow Sukhi is coming, and you have plans with Ayush too. How can I say no to my brother?"

Nirvay:

"Hmmm..."

Aarohi:

"Come on, let's talk about something else. Tell me something."

Nirvay:

"What should I tell you?"

Aarohi:

"You once said you've loved me since the first day of 11th grade. How is that even possible?"

Nirvay: (teasing)

"I just said that to impress you."

Aarohi:

"Really?"

Nirvay:

"Actually, it's true. When you came to school on the first day, I don't know if you remember, but we saw each other at the school gate. I don't know why, but you seemed different to me… it's hard to describe that feeling. You just looked… really cute."

Aarohi couldn't stop smiling on the other end.

Nirvay: (continuing)

"I started feeling attracted to you. And you? You kept ignoring me. I wasn't used to that."

Aarohi:

"Of course, back then you were always surrounded by girls."

Nirvay:

"Well, I am pretty handsome."

Nirvay: (continuing)

"At first, I was in denial. But the feelings just kept growing stronger. I told you yesterday too. One day I realized I had fallen for you. And you… you acted like it didn't even matter. You never showed me how you felt."

Aarohi smiled again, silently listening.

Nirvay:

"Then Jai's health issues happened, and all those misunderstandings… Anyway, you tell me—when did you start having feelings for me?"

Aarohi: (cheekily)

"Yesterday."

Nirvay:

"What? Seriously?"

Aarohi:

"I'm feeling sleepy, I'm going to bed now."

Nirvay:

"No cheating. Answer properly."

Aarohi:

"Okay, fine. I started feeling jealous whenever you talked to Shreya. I kept telling myself we're just friends—and I told Sukhi the same because she started suspecting something. But the way I reacted to your words, the way I got hurt… that's not what happens in just friendship. I missed you a lot after you left school, but I always thought you were never serious about our friendship. After learning the truth about Shreya, I felt so guilty. I thought I should stay away from you. That's why I pushed you away."

Nirvay:

"That was such a special moment for me when you hugged me in the office."

Aarohi:

"I realized after you left school that it was more than friendship. And when I found out you worked in the same office, I just couldn't stop myself—I hugged you."

Nirvay:

"I told you—I'll never give up on you. And I never will."

Aarohi:

"Thank you for never giving up. Now go to sleep, it's really late."

Nirvay:

"Aarohiii... I love you."

Aarohi:

"I love you too. Bye."

---

Next Morning – Aarohi's Flat

The phone kept ringing. The doorbell buzzed non-stop. Aarohi's eyes snapped open as she heard the noise.

Aarohi: (half-asleep)

Sukhi you are alive or dead right now?"

She glanced at her phone—

10:00 AM.

Ten missed calls from Sukhi.

Aarohi:

"Oh God, oh God…"

Trying to act normal, she walked to the door.

Sukhi: (grinning)

"Oh wow, you're alive! I thought you died in Nirvay's love."

She burst out laughing and walked in.

Sukhi:

"Why did it take you so long to open the door? I've been standing out here for 30 minutes. Did Nirvay keep you awake all night?"

Aarohi: (smiling)

"It's my weekend. I slept late. And by the way, Nirvay and I live in separate flats."

Sukhi: (teasing)

"I meant, did he keep you awake on the phone all night? Aarohi, you're so quick to get defensive!"

Aarohi:

"You came this early just to tease me, didn't you?"

Sukhi:

"Nope, I came to hear every single detail! Hurry up and tell me!"

Aarohi:

"Let me get changed first, then I'll tell you everything."

Sukhi:

"Okay, I'll make some tea in the meantime."

---

Later – Sukhi and Aarohi's Conversation

Aarohi:

"After the ceremony, he told me 'I love you' the very next morning. I was so shocked, I didn't know what to do… so I ran away and started ignoring him. The more I ignored him, the more determined he became. He made me his personal assistant and even put me on the chair right next to his and said, 'Now try ignoring me.'"

Sukhi: (laughing)

"That's why I like this guy! But why were you ignoring him in the first place?"

Aarohi:

"I had my reasons, which are now clear."

Sukhi: (teasing)

"So… did you guys kiss? Poor Nirvay's been waiting for years to kiss you!"

Aarohi:

"What?!"

Sukhi:

"Don't dodge the question! Did you kiss him or not?"

Aarohi blushed and nodded shyly.

Sukhi: (hugging her)

"Awww! I'm so happy for you! I'm seriously so happy for both of you."

Aarohi:

"I'm going to order breakfast now. You didn't eat, did you?"

Sukhi:

"Nope, order something. I'm starving."

Sukhi:

"I'm also stressed, you know. My dad is calling me back home. Ever since my sister married against his wishes, he's been angry and now he wants me to come back."

Aarohi:

"Will you go back?"

Sukhi:

"No way. I'm not leaving you guys behind."

They kept talking the whole day.

Sukhi:

"By the way, Ayush hasn't called me all day."

Aarohi:

"Nirvay and Ayush are together. I haven't heard from Nirvay either."

Sukhi:

"Ah, typical. When guys meet their friends, they forget about their girlfriends."

Aarohi:

"Call him then."

Sukhi:

"Not now. Later."

After some time, Sukhi left.

Aarohi:

"I need a little rest now. I barely slept last night, and Sukhi's leg-pulling today completely drained me."

---

One Hour Later

Sukhi called.

Aarohi:

"What is it now? I just fell asleep!"

Sukhi:

"I'm sending you a location. Come quickly."

Aarohi:

"Why?"

Sukhi:

"They're both fully drunk, and I can't handle them alone."

Aarohi:

"Okay, send me the location. I'm coming."

---

At the Bar

Nirvay: (completely drunk)

"Aarohi, I love you. You're the love of my life. I see you everywhere—even now, in this blue dress… you're right in front of me."

Meanwhile, Sukhi was struggling to hold Ayush, laughing at the chaos.

Aarohi: (angrily)

"You're seeing me because I'm actually here!"

Nirvay: (stumbling while trying to touch her)

"Really? You're actually here?"

He lost balance and almost fell.

Sukhi:

"I'm booking a cab. I'll take Ayush. You handle Nirvay."

Ayush:

"I'm happy for you, bro. Let's get one more drink!"

Nirvay:

"Yeah, let's go for one more!"

Aarohi and Sukhi (together):

"Stop it!"

Sukhi:

"Look at your condition! If either of you drinks another drop, I swear I'll kill you."

Sukhi's cab arrived.

Sukhi:

"I'm leaving with Ayush. Your cab will arrive in one minute. Bye!"

---

In the Cab

Nirvay clung to Aarohi's side while she sat there, fuming.

Aarohi:

"What's this?"

Nirvay:

"What? It's celebration! I found you, right? Muah!"

Aarohi:

"Stay away from me."

Nirvay:

"Why? You're my girlfriend. I'm not going anywhere."

He hugged her tightly.

Aarohi (thinking):

"There's no point arguing with him right now."

---

At Nirvay's Flat

Aarohi:

"What's the door password?"

Nirvay:

"Password? Oh, it's 22.07."

Aarohi:

"That's my birthday!"

Nirvay:

"All my passwords are your birthday. I might forget everything else, but never you."

She took him to his room and helped him to bed.

Aarohi:

"Go to sleep. I've kept some water here. I'm heading home."

Nirvay:

"Where are you going?"

Aarohi:

"Back to my flat. It's late."

Nirvay:

"Stay here tonight. Please."

Aarohi:

"Are you crazy? I'm leaving."

As she turned to go, he caught her hand and pulled her close.

Nirvay:

"Just sleep next to me tonight. Please. I promise, just sleep. Nothing else."

Without giving her a chance to leave, he gently pulled her onto the bed and hugged her tightly from behind.

Aarohi tried to free herself, but Nirvay was holding her firmly, as if he was scared she might disappear.

Aarohi (thinking):

"When he falls into deep sleep, I'll quietly leave."

But she didn't even realize when she herself fell asleep.

---

Next Morning – 9 AM

Nirvay woke up to the sound of Aarohi's phone buzzing.

Nirvay:

"Ah, my head… wait, why's Aarohi here?"

Suddenly, all the memories of last night came flooding back.

Aarohi, still half-asleep, answered the call.

Aarohi's Mom:

"Still sleeping?"

Aarohi:

"Yeah."

Mom:

"Your brother will leave in an hour. He'll reach you in two hours. I'm sending your favorite things with him. When are you coming home?"

Aarohi:

"Next weekend. Bye."

Aarohi:

"Ouch! My back!"

Nirvay: (teasing)

"Aarohi, did you take advantage of me last night?"

Aarohi (angrily):

"Yeah, totally. You'll be pregnant soon."

Nirvay: (laughing uncontrollably)

"What are you even saying?"

Aarohi:

"Stop joking! I slept in the same position all night because of you. My back hurts so much, and you're laughing!"

Nirvay: (concerned)

"Why didn't you move?"

Aarohi:

"Because you were holding me so tight, I couldn't."

Nirvay:

"Let me get some spray. Try to move a little."

Aarohi:

"I can't."

Nirvay:

"Should I spray over your dress?"

Aarohi:

"Unzip my kurti. Otherwise, it won't work."

Nirvay: (while unzipping)

"My room, my bed, my love of life, and I'm unzipping her dress to apply spray. How many more tests will life throw at me?"

Nirvay:

"Should I massage it too?"

Aarohi:

"No, just zip it back. It'll be fine in a while."

A little later, her pain eased.

Aarohi:

"I feel better now. I'm leaving. My brother will arrive soon, and what will he think if he finds me here?"

Nirvay:

"I'll drop you."

Aarohi:

"Look at your own condition first! If my brother sees us together like this, he'll kill you."

Nirvay:

"Oh really? Your brother's in the army, but I'm a strong civilian too."

Aarohi:

"Exactly, so you'll lose. I'm going."

As she turned to leave, Nirvay hugged her from behind.

Nirvay:

"Just five more minutes? I can't believe I'm such a fool—you slept next to me all night, and I didn't even realize it. I could've taken advantage and made you pregnant!"

Nirvay:

"Wait… are you blushing?"

Aarohi:

"No, I'm not."

Nirvay:

"Check the mirror, sweetheart."

Aarohi (blushing hard):

"I'm leaving."

Nirvay:

"At least give me a goodbye kiss."

Aarohi:

"My cab's here."

She quickly gave him a small kiss on the lips.

Aarohi:

"Go brush your teeth!"

Nirvay: (smiling)

"Okay. Call me when you reach your flat."

Aarohi:

"Sure."