Naira stood at the bottom of the stairs, her heart sinking as she watched the playful exchange between Ekansh and Samyuktika. The way he looked at her, the soft smiles they sharedâit all ignited a wave of jealousy within her. She clenched her fists, trying to shake off the feeling as she made her way toward the kitchen.
Just as she reached the threshold, she bumped into Rihaan, who was heading in the opposite direction. Startled, she lost her balance, and before she could regain her footing, he instinctively reached out to catch her. However, in the chaos of the moment, Rihaan also lost his balance, and they both tumbled to the floor together.
As they fell, their lips brushed against each other, sending a jolt of surprise through them like a 440-volt shock. Naira's eyes widened in shock, and for a heartbeat, time stood still. She felt a rush of adrenaline, her heart racing not just from the unexpected fall but from the electrifying contact.
Rihaanâs eyes went wide as he realized what had just happened. He quickly scrambled back, his face flushing with embarrassment. âIâIâm so sorry!â he stammered, scrambling to his feet and offering her a hand.
Nairaâs cheeks burned, a mixture of embarrassment and confusion washing over her. âNo, itâs fine. I should have been paying more attention,â she replied, her voice shaky as she tried to brush off the moment.
But inside, her thoughts raced. This was not how she had imagined her day starting, and the kiss, albeit accidental, ignited a flutter of emotions that she hadnât anticipated.
Rihaan, still flustered, quickly offered his hand to help Naira up. âIâm so sorry,â he repeated, his voice filled with genuine concern, his eyes searching hers for any sign of discomfort. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, clearly embarrassed by the unexpected situation.
Naira, trying to shake off the shock of what had just happened, avoided his gaze as she stood up with his help. âItâs⦠fine,â she muttered, though her cheeks were still flushed. She glanced at him for a moment, her mind reeling from both the fall and the accidental kiss.
The awkward tension between them was palpable, but Naira, wanting to regain some sense of composure, quickly smoothed out her clothes and cleared her throat. âI was just⦠heading to the kitchen,â she said, trying to sound casual.
Rihaan nodded, still looking a bit shaken. âRight... I didnât mean to bump into you like that,â he said, his voice softer now.
Naira gave a small nod, but inside, her emotions were a storm. The frustration from watching Ekansh and Samyuktika moments earlier now mixed with the confusing jolt she had just experienced with Rihaan. She tried to push it all aside, but the strange electricity of that accidental touch lingered, leaving her more unsettled than before.
Rihaan left for the living room, still embarrassed, but Naira remained frozen for a moment, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She wasn't used to feeling this wayâflustered, off-balance, and with a blush creeping across her face. Normally, she was composed, never one to let emotions get the best of her, especially not something as silly as a blush.
But as she walked back to the kitchen, she could still feel the heat in her cheeks, her mind replaying the moment when their lips accidentally touched. She hurried into the kitchen, her movements uncharacteristically clumsy as she tried to busy herself with breakfast, her mind racing.
What was that? she thought, confused by her own reaction. Naira had never been the type to get flustered around anyone, but something about that moment had thrown her off completely. Her heart was still racing, and she hated that it was because of someone like Rihaan, someone she barely even noticed before.
She sighed in frustration, shaking her head as she tried to push the memory aside. But no matter how hard she tried, the warmth of the accidental kiss lingered, and it unnerved her in a way she hadnât expected.
Naira frowned, her hands stilling as she paused in the middle of preparing breakfast. Why am I even thinking this way? she questioned herself, her mind swirling with confusion. She wasnât the type to get caught up in such trivial moments, especially not with someone like Rihaan, who had never really been on her radar.
But now, the accidental kiss, his touch, the way her heart racedâit was all clouding her thoughts. She couldn't understand why her reaction was so intense. It was just a mistake... an accident, she told herself firmly, trying to shake off the unfamiliar feeling.
Still, the more she tried to dismiss it, the more it lingered. It wasnât like her to get flustered, much less blush. She had always been confident, focused, especially when it came to Ekansh. So why now? Why him?
With a deep breath, Naira tried to clear her head, but it was no use. The strange sensation, the memory of their brief touch, kept creeping back in, leaving her frustrated and even more unsettled. She was determined not to let this moment affect her, but somehow, it already had.
.
.
.
Rihaan sank onto the couch in the living room, his heart still pounding from the encounter with Naira. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of the strange whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. What just happened back there?
He had bumped into people beforeâaccidents happened all the timeâbut this was different. That brief, accidental kiss had sent a shock through him, one he couldnât seem to shake off. He could still feel the warmth of her lips, the way their bodies collided so suddenly, and the way his heart raced afterward.
Why am I still thinking about it? he wondered, confused. He wasnât one to get flustered, and Naira had never been more than a passing figure in his life, someone he saw around but never paid much attention to. She was Ekanshâs best friend, focused, confident, and always seemed so distant. But in that moment, when she fell and he tried to catch her, something shifted.
He glanced toward the kitchen, his thoughts wandering back to the way she had blushed, how flustered she had lookedâso unlike her usual self. It was strange, but there was something about seeing her like that, vulnerable and off-balance, that stirred something inside him.
Rihaan shook his head, trying to dismiss the thoughts. It was nothing. Just a stupid accident. But despite his efforts, the memory kept resurfacing, making him question why he couldnât just forget about it.