Chapter 16: chapter 16

The days passed in a blur of routines and stolen glances. Anushri didn’t understand when it began or why, but the realization crept in slowly, filling her heart with an ache she couldn’t ignore. She was falling for Amey.It was the way his hair fell messily over his forehead when he was deep in thought. The way his jaw clenched ever so slightly when he was annoyed, or how his lips quirked into a lopsided grin whenever he teased her. She caught herself staring at him more often than she cared to admit, her heart skipping a beat when he glanced her way.This wasn’t what she had expected—falling for a man who barely let her in. Yet, here she was, drawn to every little thing about him.---One morning, as she sat on the porch sipping her tea, Amey walked out, his usual cup of black coffee in hand. He stood beside her, the quiet between them strangely comforting.“What are you thinking about?” he asked, his voice low and steady.She glanced at him, startled by the question. “Nothing,” she lied, her cheeks warming.“Nothing?” He raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.She quickly looked away, focusing on the garden instead. The sunlight cast a golden hue on his features, and for a moment, she was mesmerized by the sharpness of his cheekbones and the way his eyes softened when he wasn’t guarded.“Anushri?”“Huh?” she said, snapping out of her thoughts.He smirked. “You’re distracted today.”“i'm not,” she retorted, a little too quickly.He chuckled, shaking his head. “If you say so.”---That evening, as she watched him from across the room, her feelings became harder to ignore. He was sitting on the couch, reading something on his tablet. His brow furrowed in concentration, and he absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair.She didn’t realize she was staring until he looked up, catching her in the act.“What?” he asked, a small smile playing on his lips.“Nothing,” she mumbled, quickly looking away.But it wasn’t nothing. It was everything. The way his presence filled the room, the way he made her feel seen even when he wasn’t trying.---Over the next few days, Anushri found herself noticing more about him. The way he subtly took over tasks when she seemed overwhelmed, like switching off the stove when she was preoccupied or quietly cleaning up after dinner.It was in these small gestures that she saw a side of him he never spoke about—a caring, protective side that he seemed almost afraid to show.She found herself smiling more, laughing at his dry humor and even enjoying their teasing banter. He still kept his emotional distance, but there were moments, fleeting yet precious, when she felt like she caught a glimpse of the real Amey.---One night, as they sat together watching a movie, her heart betrayed her again. He was sitting close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. His eyes were fixed on the screen, but she couldn’t focus.Her gaze drifted to his profile—the sharp line of his jaw, the slight stubble that gave him an effortlessly rugged look. She wanted to reach out, to touch him, but she held back, unsure of how he’d react.“Anushri,” he said suddenly, startling her.“Yeah?” she replied, her voice a little too high-pitched.“Are you even watching the movie?”“Of course!” she lied, her cheeks burning.He smirked but didn’t press further.---That night, as she lay in bed, Anushri tried to make sense of her feelings.“What is wrong with me?” she whispered to herself.But deep down, she knew the answer. She was falling for him—completely, undeniably. And it terrified her because she didn’t know if he felt the same.Yet, even as doubt clouded her thoughts, she couldn’t stop her heart from racing whenever he was near.For better or worse, Amey had become the center of her world.