18|locked him in my heart

18| locked him in my heart

Aaradhya’s POV

After walking with Eshaan, I couldn't help but blush at his flirting. Every playful smirk, every teasing word—it all sent a rush of warmth through me. I tried to act unaffected, but deep down, I knew I was failing miserably.

As we reached his house, he turned to me with a soft smile.

"Go inside safely," I told him, trying not to sound reluctant to leave.

He nodded. "Bye, Aaradhya."

I wanted to hold onto the moment, to stay just a little longer, but instead, I forced a small smile and turned away. I didn’t want him to see the sadness creeping into my eyes. But Eshaan noticed. I could feel his gaze lingering on me even as I walked away. And though I didn't see it, I knew—he was happy.

Once I reached home, I went straight to my room, the silence wrapping around me like a heavy blanket. I took a deep breath, pushing away the lingering warmth of his presence. I headed to the bathroom, letting the cold water wash over me, hoping it would cool the emotions stirring within me.

Dressed in my nightwear, I walked to my study table near the window and switched on the small orange lamp beside it. The warm glow filled the dim room, casting soft shadows on the walls. Outside, the night stretched endlessly, silent and still.

I pulled open my drawer and took out my diary, the one place where I could pour my heart out without fear. My fingers traced the pages before I picked up my pen and, without hesitation, began to write:

நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்

நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்

இங்க எத்திசையில் எம்பொழப்பு விடிஞ்சிருக்கோ...

(I have locked you inside my heart

I have locked you inside my heart

In which direction has my life awakened now?)

வெள்ளை பார்வை வீசிவிட்டீர் முன்னாடி

இந்த தாங்காத மனசு தண்ணி பட்ட கண்ணாடி

(Your white gaze has touched me

This fragile heart is like wet glass, ready to break.)

நீர் போன பின்னும் நிழல் மட்டும் போகலயே

(Even after you left, only your shadow remained...)

The ink bled onto the paper as my emotions poured out. The room was silent, save for the faint scratching of my pen and the rhythmic sound of my heartbeat—both whispering his name.

I leaned back, my gaze falling upon the soft orange glow of the lamp. The warmth of the light reminded me of him—comforting, constant, yet distant.

I sighed, my fingers brushing over the words I had just written. No matter how much I tried to hide it, no matter how much I told myself otherwise...

I had locked him inside my heart.

I ran my fingers over the inked words, tracing each letter as if they held the emotions I couldn’t speak out loud. The dim orange light flickered slightly, casting long shadows across the walls, mirroring the unrest in my heart.

Leaning back in my chair, I exhaled softly, staring at the words once more. They weren’t just lyrics—I had written them as though they were meant for him. For Eshaan.

I closed my diary and placed it back in the drawer, securing my secrets within its pages. Resting my elbows on the table, I turned my gaze outside the window. The night was still and quiet, the moonlight barely breaking through the heavy clouds. A cool breeze slipped through the small gap in the window, brushing against my skin, but instead of soothing me, it left me shivering.

A sudden thought crossed my mind—was Eshaan still awake? Was he thinking about me the way I was thinking about him?

I shook my head at my own foolishness. "Stop overthinking, Aaradhya," I muttered under my breath.

Still, my heart refused to listen.

Giving in, I picked up my phone from the table and stared at the screen. There was no new message from him, but I hesitated, my thumb hovering over our chat. Should I text him first? Or would that make it too obvious?

Before I could make a decision, my phone vibrated in my hand.

Eshaan: What are you doing?

My heart skipped a beat. Almost as if he had heard my thoughts. I quickly typed back, but then erased it twice before settling on something casual.

Aaradhya: Nothing. Just sitting by the window. You?

His reply came almost immediately.

Eshaan: Staring at my phone, waiting for your reply.

A small, involuntary smile crept onto my lips. I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress the warmth blooming in my chest.

Aaradhya: Liar.

Eshaan: I never lie to you.

I paused, rereading his words. A strange feeling settled in my stomach—something too warm, too dangerous. Something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

I leaned my head against the chair, staring at the orange glow of my lamp, my fingers lightly tapping against the phone screen.

This feeling... whatever it was... it scared me.

Because for the first time, I wasn’t just blushing at his words.

I was falling.

I sighed, shaking my head at his teasing words. He always had a way of making my heart race, even when I tried to act unaffected.

Aaradhya: You wish. Now, sleep.

His reply came almost instantly.

Eshaan: Alright, alright. I’ll sleep. But you too, Aaradhya. Don’t stay up too late.

Aaradhya: I won’t. Goodnight, Eshaan.

Eshaan: Goodnight, little one.

I frowned at the nickname, but before I could argue, he went offline. I let out a breath, placing my phone on the table. The warmth of our conversation still lingered, making it hard to push him out of my thoughts.

Sighing, I turned off the orange lamp and crawled into bed, pulling the blanket over myself. Outside, the night stretched on, silent and still.

But across the city, in a dimly lit room, Eshaan leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked onto the screen of his laptop.

There she was—his Aaradhya. Her small figure was curled up under the blankets, her face peaceful, lost in sleep. The soft glow of the streetlight outside her window illuminated her features just enough for him to see.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

The secret camera he had placed in her room was working perfectly.

Eshaan tilted his head slightly, watching her chest rise and fall in steady breaths. His fingers traced over the laptop screen as if he could reach out and touch her.

"So obedient when you're asleep," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

He exhaled, his smirk fading into something softer—something dangerously close to obsession. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

Shutting his laptop, he ran a hand through his hair, already anticipating the next time he would see her. The wait was always unbearable.

But patience was a game he had mastered.

And soon, she would belong to him completely.

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