Chapter 3: Beneath the Starlit Sky
The terrace was quiet, the hum of the city below serving as a distant
backdrop. The cool breeze carried with it the faint scent of jasmine,
mingling with the unspoken tension hanging heavy between them.
Aisha stood at the edge, her arms crossed as she stared at the
twinkling lights of Mumbai. Behind her, Arjun waited, his hands
tucked into his pockets, the weight of everything he wanted to say
pressing against his chest.
The terrace lights flickered briefly, casting shadows that danced like
ghosts of their past. Aisha ran her fingers along the cool metal railing,
her mind as restless as the city below.
“I came here,” she began softly, her voice almost swallowed by the
wind, “because I couldn’t sleep. Not because I believe you deserve
an explanation.”
Arjun stepped closer, careful not to startle her. “Fair enough. But
you’re here, and that’s all that matters to me right now.”
She turned to face him, her eyes a mix of anger and vulnerability.
“You said Nisha was just a colleague, but the way she looked at me,
the way she acted… Arjun, it felt like she was staking her claim. And
then you call me your ‘old friend’? That’s what I am to you?”
Before he could reply, her phone buzzed. Aisha glanced at it and saw
Danny’s name flash on the screen. She silenced it and focused back
on Arjun, her emotions too raw to juggle another distraction.
His expression softened, regret shadowing his features. “Aisha,
you’re so much more than that. You’ve always been more. I just…
I didn’t know how to explain everything in that moment. Nisha and
I—there’s nothing between us. She’s been pushing for something,
but I’ve kept it professional. That night at the café, she showed up
uninvited. I wasn’t expecting her.”
Aisha searched his face, trying to discern the truth. She’d spent years
learning to read people through their body language and
expressions, a skill honed through her songwriting. Now, it told her
that Arjun wasn’t lying—at least, not about Nisha.
“And what about me, Arjun? Why did you come looking for me after
all these years?”
He took another step closer, his voice steady but full of emotion.
“Because the day I lost you was the day I realized what love really
meant. It’s not just about being together—it’s about the way you see
the world differently when someone’s in it. For years, I’ve been
chasing success, moving city to city, trying to fill a void that nothing
could. Then I saw your song, and I knew why. I was looking for you.”
She swallowed hard, his words hitting her like a tidal wave. “You
think you can just show up, say a few heartfelt things, and everything
will be fine?”
“No,” he admitted. “I don’t expect forgiveness or anything, really. I
just needed you to know the truth—that I never stopped caring. And
if there’s even the smallest chance for us to start over, I’ll fight for
it.”
Aisha’s heart warred with her mind. Part of her wanted to run, to
protect herself from the risk of getting hurt again. But another part—
the part that still remembered his smile, his laughter, and the way he
once made her feel invincible—wanted to stay.
“You hurt me, Arjun,” she said, her voice trembling. “When you left,
when you didn’t fight for us… I had to pick up the pieces alone.”
His eyes filled with guilt. “I know. And I hate myself for it. But I’m
here now, Aisha, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll prove to you that
I’m worth another chance—if you’ll let me.”
Silence stretched between them as she turned back to the cityscape,
the weight of his words pressing on her chest. In the background, the
street musician started a haunting rendition of an old love song—the
same song Arjun had once hummed to her on a sleepless night years
ago.
Arjun (humming):
“Underneath the starlit sky,
Promises whispered, never goodbye.
Fate may falter, paths may bend,
But hearts that love will find the end.”
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” she admitted. “Not yet.”
“That’s okay,” he said, stepping beside her. “I’ll wait. However long it
takes.”
She looked at him, his sincerity reflected in the way he met her gaze,
unwavering. The tension between them shifted, no longer sharp and
cold but something warmer, softer.
For a moment, Arjun reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of her
hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her skin, sending an
unexpected jolt of warmth through her. Aisha stiffened, the intimacy
of the gesture catching her off guard.
“Arjun, you can’t keep doing this,” she whispered, her voice
trembling.
“Doing what?” he asked, his tone soft, but his eyes locked on hers.
“Making me feel like this.”
Before she could pull back, he closed the gap between them, his lips
brushing against hers in a kiss that was both tender and desperate.
Aisha froze, her breath hitching as the world seemed to stop around
them. Then, just as quickly, she stepped away, her hand touching her
lips in disbelief.
“I-I can’t,” she stammered, turning toward the terrace edge. Her
heart raced, not just from the kiss but from the emotions she’d been
trying so hard to suppress.
Arjun exhaled, regret flashing in his eyes, but he didn’t move to close
the distance again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”
She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak, and turned back to
the city lights, her thoughts a whirlwind.
Aisha returned to her hotel room, her emotions in turmoil. She didn’t
know what to make of Arjun’s words—or the kiss—but something
about his presence tonight had stirred memories she thought she’d
buried.
A knock at the door broke her from her thoughts. She hesitated for a
moment, then opened it to find Arjun standing there.