บท 11: Chapter 11:- How I Met Your Father 3

As they reached her house, she hesitated for a second, unsure if she should say what was on her mind. Her heart raced, and before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out.

"If you don't have a place to stay, you can… you can stay here at my house. I mean, I live alone, and it's too big just for me, so—"

She stopped, her face turning bright red as she realized how it sounded. Quickly, she waved her hands in panic, trying to fix the misunderstanding. "No, no! I don't mean it like that! I'm not trying to… to… I'm not that kind of girl, I swear! I just—"

Arjun chuckled softly, his eyes filled with amusement. Seeing her so flustered, he gently patted her head, his touch light and reassuring.

"I know what you meant," he said, still smiling. "Don't worry. And I'd love to stay, if you're okay with it."

She froze for a second, feeling his hand on her head, then blushed even deeper. "O-Okay… I'm glad," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

She led him inside, feeling a mix of excitement and embarrassment. Her house was indeed large, with high ceilings and spacious rooms, all beautifully decorated but somehow lonely, as if missing the warmth of another person.

Arjun looked around, clearly impressed. "This is really nice. You live here all by yourself?"

She nodded, her voice quieter now. "Yeah, it gets pretty lonely sometimes. That's why… well, it's kind of nice to have company."

She showed him to a guest room, which was just as large and well-decorated as the rest of the house. "You can stay here," she said, gesturing to the room. "I hope it's comfortable enough."

Arjun set his bag down on the bed, nodding. "This is more than enough, thank you."

There was a brief moment of silence before she awkwardly joked, "Just don't, uh, sneak into my room at night, okay?"

Arjun laughed softly. "I'll try to resist the temptation."

She blushed again, realizing her words could be taken the wrong way. "That's not what I meant!" she said quickly, waving her hands. "I just—"

He smirked, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "Relax, I'm just teasing. I know what you meant."

They shared a light laugh, the tension easing between them. She felt more comfortable now, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

As Arjun started unpacking his things, she stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him. She couldn't believe how quickly things had changed.

Just hours ago, she had been terrified, feeling completely helpless and lonely. And now, here she was, feeling safe and at ease with a stranger who had saved her life.

"Well, I'll let you get some rest," she said, turning to leave. "If you need anything, I'll be just down the hall."

"Thanks," Arjun replied, giving her a warm smile. "And, really… thank you for letting me stay. It's nice to have a roof over my head for once."

She smiled shyly. "You're welcome. Goodnight, Arjun."

"Goodnight," he said softly.

As she walked to her room, her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. For the first time in ages, she didn't feel alone.

There was someone in her house—someone who made her feel safe and understood. And as she lay in bed, she found herself smiling, replaying the events of the day in her head.

Meanwhile, Arjun lay on the guest bed, staring up at the ceiling with a smile of his own. He had been on countless journeys, met so many people, but this encounter had been different.

There was something about her—something genuine and kind. And, despite the unexpected invitation to stay, he felt comfortable here.

As sleep slowly took over, he thought about her awkward joke and couldn't help but chuckle to himself again.

In the next room, she was doing the same, feeling a sense of warmth that she hadn't felt in a long, long time.

Tonight, for both of them, was the start of something new.

Over the next few days, they spent their time together, exploring the city. She found herself drawn to him—his curiosity, his calm nature, his gentle way of speaking. He asked her about her life, about the places they visited, always listening intently.

One evening, they stood on a bridge overlooking the city as the sun set behind them. She felt her heart race, but it wasn't from fear this time.

She glanced over at him, realizing she was falling for him. Slowly, day by day, without even noticing it, she had started to fall in love with the man who had saved her.

Over the next few days, the two of them fell into an easy routine. They explored the city together, visited quiet cafes, and spent hours walking through parks, simply talking. She was amazed at how natural it felt to be around him.

There were no awkward silences, no forced conversations—everything just flowed, like they had known each other for much longer.

It was during one of those walks that she first felt it—something fluttering in her chest. They were walking side by side through a park when Arjun suddenly stopped, his eyes catching something.

She followed his gaze and saw a little girl struggling to get her kite out of a tree. Without a second thought, Arjun jogged over, offering his help.

He didn't do anything dramatic—he simply climbed the tree, carefully untangling the kite before handing it back to the girl with a gentle smile. The girl's face lit up, and she thanked him, running back to her mother.

As he walked back toward her, his smile soft and easy, her heart gave a little leap. It was such a small moment, but something about it made her chest feel tight, in the best possible way.

"That was sweet," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

He shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "It was nothing. Just wanted to help."

But it wasn't nothing to her. That simple act, his kindness, made her see him differently. She found herself thinking about it later, smiling to herself for no reason.

A few days later, they were in a small bookstore. She had told him about her love for reading, and Arjun had been curious to see her favorite place in the city. As they browsed the shelves, she could feel his presence beside her, calm and steady.

At one point, he reached up to grab a book from a high shelf, and without thinking, she said, "You really are tall."

He chuckled, handing her the book. "Comes in handy sometimes."

She laughed too, but then noticed how close they were standing. His arm brushed against hers, and she felt a sudden warmth rise to her cheeks.

It was such a simple, innocent touch, but her heart sped up, and she found it hard to focus on the book in her hands.

Another evening, they were sitting by the river, watching the sunset. She had been feeling a little down that day, missing her family, though she hadn't told him that.

Yet somehow, he knew. He didn't pry or ask too many questions, but just sat with her, offering silent comfort.

As the sky turned shades of pink and orange, he spoke quietly, "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But if you ever feel like talking, I'm here."

It wasn't much, just a few words, but they struck her deeply. His understanding, the way he didn't push her to open up, made her feel safe—like she could trust him completely. She glanced over at him, her heart swelling with emotion.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice soft but sincere, as she rested her head on his shoulder feeling peace in his presence.

He just smiled, that same warm, easy smile that made her feel like everything would be okay.

Day by day, she found herself falling for him a little more. It wasn't just the way he looked at her with those kind eyes, or the way his laugh made her heart skip a beat.

It was the small things—the way he listened to her, the way he made her feel understood, the way he was always there, even in silence.

One night, they were walking back to her house after dinner. The moonlight bathed the street in a soft glow, and she felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Her heart was racing, and she knew she couldn't keep it inside any longer.

As they reached her doorstep, she stopped and turned to face him. Her chest tightened with nerves, but she took a deep breath.

"Arjun, I… I need to tell you something."

He looked at her, his expression calm but curious. "What is it?"

She bit her lip, trying to gather her courage. "These past few days… spending time with you… it's been amazing. And… I don't know how to say this without sounding silly, but… I think I'm falling for you."

Her heart pounded in her chest as the words hung in the air. She looked down, too scared to meet his eyes, afraid of what he might say. There was a moment of silence that felt like an eternity, and she braced herself for rejection.

But then, she felt a gentle hand lift her chin. Arjun was smiling softly at her, his eyes warm and understanding.

"I've been feeling the same way," he said, his voice low and sincere.

She blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "You have?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to make things awkward, you know I'm just a traveller but… I'm falling for you too."

Her breath caught in her throat, a wave of relief and happiness washing over her. She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face.

"I'm really glad you feel the same," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arjun chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "How could I not? You're so amazing."

She blushed, feeling her heart swell with warmth. Without thinking, she stepped closer, resting her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her gently, and in that moment, everything felt right.

Neither of them said anything for a while, just enjoying the quiet comfort of being close.

And as she stood there, wrapped in his arms, she realized something: she wasn't lonely anymore. Not with him by her side.

"I'm really happy you stayed," she murmured against his chest.

"So am I," he replied softly, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head.

That night, both of them slept together, there was nothing sexual but just pure wholesome love, her heart was lighter than it had ever been before. She smiled in Arjun's embrace, knowing that this was the start of something beautiful.

And for the first time in a long time, she fell asleep with a heart full of love feeling protected by Arjun's arms held her dearly.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Just a quick update: my main focus is currently my MHA fic, so this new story will have slower updates. But if you're want to read ahead, I've got some special options for you on Patreon!

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[https://patreon.com/EmperorNumix]

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