Learning Each Others Scars
Author POV: ??????
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They broke the kiss at the same time.
Both of them stood frozen, breaths tangled, eyes locked too close. The room felt smaller somehow, like the walls were listening.
Aarav’s hands slid around her back and pulled her into his chest, tight. Possessive. Protective. Almost desperate.
“Don’t ever say that again.Don’t ever say you’ll stay with another guy.”he said hoarsely.
His forehead rested against hers. “You love me, Meera. And you’ll stay with me. Only me.”
His closeness, his voice, the way he held her it made everything spin.But something inside her screamed it's maybe not really.
“Aarav…You’re suffocating me.”she whispered, palms pressing against his chest.
“I don’t want to let you go,” he said stubbornly.
She pushed him ,gently at first, then harder. “Let me go!”
He refused, tightening his hold.
Annoyed and flustered, Meera leaned forward and bit his ear lightly.
“Aah—!” Aarav yelped, instantly releasing her. “Are you crazy!?”
He didn’t.
She slipped free, rushed to the other side of the bed, cheeks with triumph.
She laughed. Soft at first.
Aarav stared at her, stunned. “You....”
“That’s what you get . And listen carefully.I will never listen to you blindly. I’ll do whatever I want. I’m not someone you can control.”she teased.
Aarav stared at her, half shocked, half irritated… and oddly amused.
“You talk too much,” he said. “And you forget .I have rights.”
She tilted her head, mock-innocent. “Rights? On whom?”
“On you,” he shot back.
Meera laughed louder. “Who are you to me, Mr. Oberoi? You don’t even listen to me!”
She wiped her mouth, still smiling. “That’s what you get for not listening.and i also warn you. So, it's not my fault”
“You think this is funny?” he snapped.
She folded her arms, chin lifted. “Very much , Mr Oberoi ”
“I said don’t say things like that.”
“And I said I won’t listen to you.I’ll do what I want. I have my own life. You don’t get to control it.”she shot back.
His jaw tightened. “I have every right.”
“Oh really?Who are you to me, Aarav? My owner?”she tilted her head innocently.
He stepped forward sharply. “Meera, you..”
She jumped off the bed and ran, laughter ringing through the room. “Catch me first, Aarav !”
“You’re impossible,” he growled, chasing her.
She darted around the sofa, nearly slipping, giggling as she ran. “See? You can only talk. You can’t catch me!”
He lunged. Missed.
She laughed harder. “Mr. Oberoi losing already?”
“Stop running,” he warned, breath heavy now.
“Make me!”
She dashed again but this time, he was faster.
Aarav caught her from behind, arms locking around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.
The laughter died instantly.Her breath hitched. His did too.Everything went silent.
He felt her heart racing beneath his palms. She felt his grip tighten not rough, but unyielding.
“You think I can’t catch you?” he murmured near her ear, a smirk curling his lips.
“I can have you whenever I want.”Her fingers curled into his shirt without permission.
“Aarav…” her voice trembled, betraying her.
“Your heart .It betrays you every time.You feel it too.” he whispered near her ear. She swallowed hard.
“I can make sure, that no one ever has you like this. No one even comes close.”he continued softly, dangerously.
The words made her chest tighten not with desire alone, but fear.Suddenly his lips brushed her neck just a touch.
Her entire body reacted.
She clutchedhis shoulder, breath shaking. “Aarav… don’t…”
He kissed her shoulder lightly, lingering.She felt herself melting and that terrified her.
“Hate me all you want.But you feel this too.” he murmured.
He leaned down, bruising his lips against her neck and kiss her .
Meera gasped softly, grabbing his shoulder tighter. “Aarav…”
He smiled, enjoying her reaction, and kissed her shoulder gently ,teasing, slow. Her breath hitched, her body responding despite herself.
“You’re unfair,” she whispered.
“I know,” he said proudly.
Aarav rested his forehead against hers again, softer now.
“Stop running from me,” he whispered.
“Then stop chasing me like I belong to you,” she replied quietly.Meera looked at him conflicted, flustered, smiling despite everything.He chuckled, brushing his thumb across her cheek.
“Too late,” he said. “You already do… and you know it.”
His lips again traced lightly along her shoulder again, lingering.never rushing, only teasing.
His fingers slipped under the edge of her kuti, nudging the fabric aside inch by inch, like he wasn’t even thinking anymore like the world had narrowed to just her skin under his hands.He then start pulling off her kuti her shoulder.
Reality crashed into her like cold water.She pushed at him. Harder. Again.
“Aarav, stop!”
Her heartbeat spiked, panic flooding her veins. She grabbed his wrist, fingers trembling.
“Aarav… stop,” she whispered urgently. “Please… this isn’t right.”
He didn’t hear her. Or maybe he didn’t want to.
His face was buried near her neck, his voice rough. “Why are you shaking?”
She pushed him again , harder this time.
“Stop! Aarav, please!” Her voice cracked. “We shouldn’t do this.”
She tried to sit up, but his arm blocked her.
“Don’t you want me?”he demanded.
“You say you love me, don’t you? Then why are you stopping me?”Her breath came out in shaky sobs.
“Because I’m scared.”That word hit the room like glass shattering.
“Scared?Of what? Of me?”he repeated harshly.
“Yes!” she cried, then immediately shook her head.
“No...I don’t know. Of this. Of everything. I don’t understand it. It’s too much.”
“Then what do you want from me, Meera?”He stepped back suddenly, frustration burning in his eyes.
“I don’t love you like that . Not yet. I don’t want this now. Please… it terrifies me.”she said weakly, tears spilling now
He didn’t understand at first.But then he looked at her with annoying eyes.
“If you love me,then what’s the problem?”he snapped, frustration flaring.
“I....I don’t know this… I don’t know how. It’s too much.”she cried, voice breaking. Her eyes filled instantly.
He froze.Before she could react
He stepped back, breathing hard and anger . He kicked the small table beside him. It crashed against the wall.
“love doesn’t mean this! “I just need time. I don’t want to do this now, Aarav”Tears streamed down her face.
“Maybe… maybe only with my husband someday.”His expression hardened instantly.
“Don’t use that excuse . Husband? You think that makes you pure or special?”he scoffed cruelly.
He shoved her back onto the bed not hurting, but forceful enough to make her cry out.
“If you really loved me,” he said coldly, gripping her jaw, “you wouldn’t refuse me.”
“Aarav, please...Don’t talk like that.”
she cried, clutching the bedsheet.
“If you really loved me,” he snapped, gripping her jaw again, “you wouldn’t refuse me.”
She shook her head helplessly. “I do love you. But I can’t give myself like that. Not now.”
“Fine. Then I’ll make sure you don’t give yourself to anyone before your damn marriage .”he said bitterly.
The words cut deeper than any touch.
She reached for him desperately, grabbing his arm. “I’m sorry,I really am. I just… I need time. Please don’t be angry. I’m scared.”she cried.
He yanked his arm free.
Without another word, he grabbed his clothes and stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.
The lock clicked. Meera collapsed onto the bed, sobbing silently, hugging her knees.
The bathroom door opened with a sharp click.Then Aarav stepped out, hair damp, jaw tight, eyes dark with anger at himself, at the situation, at everythingHe didn’t look at Meera. He grabbed a towel, then his phone, already moving toward the door of the other room.
He was leaving.Meera saw it. Panic rose in her chest.
“Aarav…” Her voice was small. Fragile.He didn’t stop.
Panic surged, sharp and sudden. Before she could think, she slid off the bed, bare feet hitting the cold floor, and rushed toward him.
She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
Tight.
Desperate.
Her face pressed into his back as sobs broke free.
“Please… don’t go,” she cried. “Please don’t leave like this.”
His body stiffened.
“I’m angry, Meera,Move.”he said hoarsely.
“I know,” she sobbed harder.
“I know you are. And I know it’s my fault. But please… don’t walk away.”clutching him as if he might disappear. He closed his eyes.
Angry with himself.Angry with her.
Angry because he wanted her so badly it scared him.
He turned around.
Meera’s face was wet with tears, eyes red, lips trembling as she looked up at him like he was her last safe place.
He cupped her face gently, thumbs brushing away her tears. “Meera… stop crying,” he said softly. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”
She shook her head again and again. “No… I hurt you. I made you angry. I ...”
“Enough,” he interrupted, firm but gentle.
“I shouldn’t have said those things.I shouldn’t have..”he muttered.
“I love you so much, Aarav. I swear I do. I can do anything for you… anything except this. Please believe me. I don’t want anyone else. I only want you. Only you.”Her tears soaked into his shirt.
Aarav sighed, helpless, then smiled softly despite himself—there was so much love in his eyes now, no anger left.
He leaned down and kissed her.
Not demanding.Not heated.
Just a slow, grounding kiss meant to calm her.
She cried against his lips, tears slipping between them, hands fisting his shirt like she needed him to stay real.
He pulled back slightly, forehead touching hers.
“Now stop crying .Or I’ll… eat you.” he murmured, trying to sound light.She blinked at him, confused through tears.
“Eat… me?” she asked innocently. “How can you eat me?”
He broke into a soft laugh, pulling her into his chest, hugging her tightly.
“You’re unbelievable,” he said fondly.
She clung to him, calming slowly, then hesitated.
“Aarav… I want to tell you something,” she whispered.
He looked down at her immediately. “What is it?”
she began, voice shaking. “When I was little… my father..His name was Vikrant. He used to drink. A lot.”
Aarav’s body went still.
“He would force my mother,” she continued, tears returning. “I didn’t understand then. I just heard her screaming. Crying. It hurt me even when I didn’t know why.”
Her breath trembled.
“He didn’t beat her… but then he also started beat me. And he locked my mother in a room. I could hear her screams through the walls. It still echoes in my head.”Her voice broke completely.He pulled her closer, arms wrapping around her like a shield.
“That fear never left me .So when you touch me l that. I remember those thoughts… I know you’d never hurt me like him. I know. But my body remembers. And it scares me.” she whispered.
Aarav closed his eyes, guilt crushing his chest.“I’m so sorry .I swear to you… I will never be like him. Never.”
he said softly.
She hugged him tighter. “I know. That’s why I love you and trust you most .”He kissed the top of her head, holding her for a long time.
“Go to bed,” he said gently. “It’s been a long day for both of us.”
She nodded, exhausted, and lay down.
Aarav picked up his phone, typed a message to his mother.
I’ll come home in the morning. Staying at a friend’s tonight.
He put the phone away and turned back only to see Meera sitting up again, hugging the blanket.
“Do… do we sleep on the same bed?” she asked softly, fear edging her voice.
He raised an eyebrow. “Why? Is there a problem?”
She opened her mouth to say yes… then stopped when she saw his expression.
“No,” she whispered quickly.
She lay down, turning to one side.A moment later, Aarav joined her, lying beside her.The lights were off.
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