Chapter 39 - A Feeling He Couldnt Name
Warm rays of the London morning filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the luxurious suite, painting golden streaks across the room.
Arjun's eyes slowly fluttered open.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling before reality settled in.
London.
Their honeymoon.
He turned his head instinctively.
Aadhira was still asleep beside him.
She lay peacefully on her side, her long hair spread across the pillow, the blanket pulled neatly up to her shoulders. Unlike her usual composed appearance, there was something incredibly soft about her while she slept.
A small smile unknowingly appeared on his lips.
Two weeks...
It's already been two weeks.
Time had passed much faster than he had expected.
Initially, he thought spending an entire month together would feel awkward. They barely knew each other before marriage, and sharing every single day seemed impossible.
Yet...
The last two weeks had slipped away in the blink of an eye.
Every day had been different.
Some days they wandered through London's famous streets, exploring hidden cafés and bustling markets.
Some days they spent hours inside museums, teasing each other over paintings they barely understood.
Some evenings they simply walked beside the Thames, watching the city lights shimmer on the water without exchanging many words.
And somewhere between all those moments...
Something had changed.
No.
Someone had changed.
Aadhira.
The calm, cold and silent woman everyone knew was still there...
But only around others.
With him...
With their friends...
She laughed.
She smiled.
She even argued occasionally.
He had watched her roll her eyes at Kabir's ridiculous jokes before bursting into laughter.
He had seen her patiently explain directions to a completely lost tourist.
He had caught her buying chocolates for a little girl who had accidentally dropped hers outside a store.
She wasn't emotionless.
She had simply built walls around herself.
And somehow...
Those walls lowered whenever she was with people she trusted.
Arjun found himself remembering dozens of little moments.
The way she absentmindedly tucked her hair behind her ear whenever the wind blew.
The way she quietly thanked waiters.
The way she always checked if everyone had eaten before touching her own food.
The way she smiled without realizing she was smiling.
None of them were extraordinary.
Yet...
He remembered every single one.
"When did I start noticing these things?" he whispered to himself.
He let out a quiet sigh.
There was another strange thing.
Whenever he was around Aadhira...
His mind felt... peaceful.
The constant pressure of work.
The responsibilities waiting back home.
The endless business meetings.
Everything seemed distant whenever she was beside him.
He didn't have to pretend.
He didn't have to think.
Simply sitting beside her somehow made the world quieter.
It was...
Comfortable.
His brows furrowed.
Why?
Why did he feel that way?
He couldn't answer.
His thoughts drifted toward another familiar face.
Kabir.
The man who had somehow become the biggest headache of this honeymoon.
Arjun frowned.
Every single day...
Kabir would magically appear beside Aadhira.
If Arjun sat next to her...
Kabir would squeeze himself into the tiny space between them.
If Arjun offered to carry her shopping bags...
Kabir would snatch them first.
If Arjun planned something...
Kabir would somehow interrupt it with his endless teasing.
And the worst part...
Aadhira never seemed annoyed.
Instead...
She laughed.
She actually laughed.
A deep sigh escaped Arjun.
"What exactly is wrong with me?"
Kabir was Aadhira's best friend.
They had known each other for years.
Of course they would be close.
So why...
Why did it bother him so much?
Why did his mood sour every time he saw Kabir making her laugh?
Why did he unconsciously find reasons to stand between them?
Yesterday alone...
He had interrupted their conversation three different times.
Twice intentionally.
Once... by accident.
"...Ridiculous."
He rubbed his forehead.
"I've never behaved like this before."
He wasn't the possessive type.
At least...
He didn't think he was.
So why was Kabir the exception?
Before he could think any further, soft movement beside him pulled him back to reality.
Aadhira stirred slightly before slowly opening her eyes.
For a brief second, she looked confused.
Then she noticed him already awake.
"Good morning," she said softly.
"Morning."
"You woke up early."
"I couldn't sleep."
She sat up, stretching lightly before glancing at the clock.
"We should probably get ready. Everyone will already be waiting for breakfast."
Arjun nodded.
"Yeah."
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward anymore.
It had become... comfortable.
Aadhira smiled faintly.
"I'll use the washroom first."
"Go ahead."
Nearly thirty minutes later, both of them stepped out of their suite.
The hotel corridor was already buzzing with guests beginning their day.
Together, they walked toward the grand cafeteria.
As soon as they entered-
"There they are!"
Rohan waved dramatically from across the hall.
"We were about to send a rescue team."
"You mean you were about to finish all the food before they arrived," Shanaya corrected while taking a sip of her coffee.
Rohan looked offended.
"I feel personally attacked."
"You should."
Everyone laughed.
Everyone...
Except Siddharth.
He casually looked at Shanaya.
"You've been attacking him since morning."
"I have standards."
"And?"
"I enjoy meeting them."
Kabir clapped dramatically.
"Someone please save Siddharth. He's standing dangerously close to Shanaya's sarcasm."
"I'm perfectly capable of defending myself," Siddharth replied.
Shanaya folded her arms.
"Oh really?"
"Absolutely."
"Name three countries that start with the letter Q."
Siddharth blinked.
"...That's unfair."
Shanaya smiled victoriously.
"I rest my case."
Laughter echoed across the table.
Even Aadhira chuckled quietly.
Arjun's eyes unconsciously shifted toward her.
There it was again.
That smile.
Natural.
Warm.
Beautiful.
"..."
He quickly looked away before anyone noticed.
Meanwhile-
Across the table-
Rohan and Naina had already started their daily argument.
"I told you blue suited you better," Rohan insisted.
"It absolutely did not."
"It matched your shoes."
"My shoes were white!"
"Exactly."
Everyone stared at him.
Rohan frowned.
"...What?"
Naina pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I genuinely worry about your eyesight."
"My eyesight is excellent."
"You mistook white for blue."
"The lighting was emotional."
Kabir nearly choked on his juice.
"What does that even mean?"
"I don't know."
"At least he's honest," Dev laughed.
For a while, everyone enjoyed breakfast amidst endless conversations and laughter.
Once everyone had finished eating, Kabir leaned back in his chair.
"I have a proposal."
Rohan immediately looked suspicious.
"Whenever you say that, we end up regretting it."
Kabir ignored him.
"We've spent the last two weeks roaming almost every tourist attraction in London."
Everyone nodded.
"My legs agree," Naina muttered.
"So..." Kabir continued, "...why don't we spend today inside the hotel?"
Shanaya raised an eyebrow.
"Doing what exactly?"
"The recreation floor!"
Kabir grinned excitedly.
"They have bowling, arcade games, table tennis, air hockey, racing simulators, VR games..."
"And a dessert café," Dev added.
Kabir snapped his fingers.
"See? Dev understands me."
"It sounds fun," Naina admitted.
"I'm honestly too tired to walk another fifteen thousand steps today."
Rohan immediately nodded.
"I support Naina's extremely wise opinion."
She looked at him suspiciously.
"You just don't want to climb another staircase."
"...That too."
Shanaya laughed.
"I don't mind staying in today."
Siddharth shrugged.
"I'm fine with anything."
Everyone finally turned toward Arjun and Aadhira.
"What do you think?" Kabir asked.
Aadhira glanced at Arjun.
He simply nodded.
"I don't mind."
Aadhira smiled.
"Then it's decided."
Kabir stood up dramatically.
"Excellent!"
He pointed toward the exit like a commander leading his troops.
"Today..."
He grinned mischievously.
"...victory shall belong to the greatest gamers among us."
Rohan groaned.
"I already regret agreeing."
Arjun couldn't help smiling.
For the first time in years...
He was actually looking forward to spending an entire day doing absolutely nothing important.
None of them knew...
By the end of the day, a few games would reveal far more than anyone expected.
And for Arjun...
The strange feeling in his heart would only grow stronger.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing an entire floor dedicated to entertainment.
Bright lights reflected off polished wooden floors while cheerful music played softly in the background.
One side housed several bowling lanes, while another was filled with arcade machines flashing in vibrant colors.
Beyond that were air hockey tables, table tennis courts, VR gaming booths, racing simulators, basketball machines, and a cozy café overlooking the indoor play area.
"Now this..." Rohan whistled. "...is my kind of sightseeing."
Naina shook her head.
"You'd rather compete than admire London's beauty."
"Exactly."
"At least you're self-aware."
Everyone laughed as they stepped inside.
Kabir rubbed his hands together dramatically.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's championship!"
Siddharth folded his arms.
"Can you stop behaving like a television host?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I look good doing it."
Shanaya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"The confidence..."
"The delusion," Siddharth corrected.
Kabir placed a hand over his heart.
"I've been insulted."
"You'll survive," Dev said, patting his shoulder with an amused smile.
Kabir sighed dramatically.