23 First Day #3
Between Diya accidentally knocking over a glass of water, Ansh trying to explain the office gossip about his supposed 'eye candy' status-which made Diya pretend to gag in dramatic sibling disgust while Niyati bit back a shy smile-and the three of them squabbling over the last piece of chicken,
the heavy exhaustion of the day completely melted away.
As the meal wound down and the table was cleared of empty plates, Niyati pushed her chair back slightly. "I'll be right back, I'm going to quickly wash my hands."
"Take your time, I'm currently in a food coma anyway," Diya groaned, slumping back into the booth and closing her eyes.
Once Niyati walked away toward the back corridor, Ansh patted his jacket pocket, reaching for his wallet. "I'll go settle the bill," he murmured, sliding out from the booth.
"Wait, Bhai, let us split-" Diya started, but he cut her off with a firm, affectionate tap on her forehead.
"Not tonight, Diya. First day of college and my first day of work celebration is on me," he replied smoothly before she could argue further.
Ansh made his way to the front counter, quickly handing over his card to the cashier. After signing the receipt and pocketing his wallet, he turned around to head back toward their table.
Remembering he should probably wash his hands as well, he angled his steps down the dimly lit, narrow corridor that led toward the restroom and hand wash area.
He was just turning the tight corner near the stone washbasins when a sudden, soft blur crossed his path.
Niyati had just turned off the faucet and was stepping backward while drying her hands with a paper towel, completely unaware of his presence. In an instant, she bumped right into his chest.
"Oh!" she gasped, losing her footing on the slick tile floor as her heels slipped out from under her.
Before her brain could even register the fall, Ansh's reflexes kicked in. His hand shot out, his arm catching her firmly around her waist while his other hand instinctively reached behind her back to support her.
The world seemed to drop into a sudden, breathless standstill.
Niyati didn't hit the floor. Instead, she found herself suspended safely in his arms, her breath catching sharply in her throat. She instinctively clutched at the fabric of his dark blazer for balance, her knuckles white against the crisp cloth.
For a long, unbroken beat, neither of them moved.
The ambient noise of the bustling restaurant-the clinking of silverware, the background music, Diya's faint voice in the distance-faded into a muffled hum.
The only thing Niyati could focus on was the steady, heavy beat of Ansh's heart beneath her fingers and the warm, familiar scent of his cologne enveloping her.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze.
Ansh was staring down at her, his dark eyes wide and intense, catching the soft ambient light of the hallway sconces. His grip on her waist was firm yet tender, holding her so closely that she could feel the heat radiating from him.
The protective elder-brother persona he wore around Diya had vanished entirely, replaced by a deep, quiet intensity meant only for Niyati-one that made her pulse race far faster than the sudden slip had.
His eyes flickered down to her lips for a fraction of a second before rising back to meet her gaze.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low, velvet murmur that vibrated right through her.
Niyati tried to speak, but her throat felt suddenly dry. She swallowed softly, her fingers slowly relaxing their grip on his blazer, though she didn't pull away.
"I... yeah," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the corridor. "You caught me."
A subtle, slow smile pulled at the corner of Ansh's lips, his thumb tracing a tiny, unconscious arc against the side of her waist through her kurti. "I'll always catch you," he said softly, the words carrying a weight that extended far beyond the slippery restaurant floor.
A soft blush rushed up Niyati's neck, warming her cheeks. For a brief, suspended moment, neither of them made any effort to close the microscopic distance between them.
The air between them felt charged, thick with unspoken feelings and years of quiet, growing affection that neither had ever dared to name out loud-especially with Diya sitting just around the corner.
A sudden burst of laughter from a group walking toward the corridor snapped the spell.
Ansh gently helped her stand upright, easing his arm from around her waist, though his hand lingered on her arm for just a second longer than necessary before falling back to his side.
Niyati tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, smoothing down her outfit as she tried to compose her wildly fluttering heart.
"All good?" he asked, his signature gentle smile returning, though his eyes remained soft and lingering.
"All good," Niyati replied, offering him a breathless grin. "Thanks to you."
"Come on," Ansh said gently, gesturing toward the main dining area, his fingers brushing briefly against hers as they turned to walk back together.
"Before my sister realizes we've been gone too long and comes looking for us." - Niyati chuckles for it. She nods and they both went back to Diya.