Kabir's POV

As I finally picked up my phone, the screen glared back at me it was almost midnight. A message from Kashish blinked on top. My chest tightened. She had sent it hours ago, reminding me to eat. I hadn't even replied. Truth was, I did take a few minutes to grab lunch in between cases, but the moment I put the phone down, Back to back surgeries, patients, another call, another round pulled me back in.

This had been one of the longest stretches I've worked in months. My body felt like lead. All I wanted now was to go home, see her face, and close my eyes beside her.

My thumb hovered over the message, tempted to reply, to tell her I wasn't ignoring her. But then I glanced at the time again. She must be asleep by now. Why disturb her? I sighed, pocketing the phone.

Still two more hours before I could leave. A couple of post-op patients needed checking, and paperwork never seemed to end. I rubbed my temple, whispering under my breath, " Kashish. I'm coming."

✨✨

Driving back home at 2 a.m., my body was numb from the day's chaos, but my mind... my mind had been with Kashish the whole time. Even during surgeries, lectures, rounds I kept drifting back to her. I've always prided myself on being a good multitasker, but God, today I realized just how much I had missed her. From the moment I stepped out of the house in the morning, I was waiting for this, coming back walking into our room, and finally seeing her.

But then a thought struck, she must be asleep by now. I'd have to wait till morning to actually talk with her.

As the mansion gates opened and I stepped inside, a strange anticipation rushed through me. I quietly walked up to our room, pushed the door open and froze. The lights were still on. On the bed, Kashish leaned on the headboard of the bed with a book in her hand, drowsy, her head bobbing with sleep.

The moment her heavy-lidded eyes found me, she whispered, "Kabir, you came..." and tried to sit up straighter.

My bag slipped from my shoulder as I put it on the couch along with my coat and moved closer to her. "Kashish, why are you up so late? It's 2 a.m. I thought you'd be asleep by now."

She shook her head faintly, voice soft and vulnerable. " Kabir, I couldn't sleep alone. So I kept the lights on."

A pang of guilt flared in my chest. Because of me, she hadn't slept. She looked so drowsy, maybe even a little scared to sleep alone. I reached out, gently took the book from her hand, adjusted her pillows, and murmured, "Sleep. I'll just freshen up and come."

She stirred again, stubborn even in her sleepiness. "Kabir, I'll bring you something to eat."

I shook my head with a tired smile. "No, Kashish. I had something at the hospital. You just try to sleep."

After changing into my night clothes, I stepped out of the wardrobe only to find her drowsy yet carefully keeping my things in place. My watch, my bag, my coat, folded neatly as if it was the most important ritual of the night.

"Kashish..." I walked closer, my heart full, "I would have done it. You look so sleepy."

She looked up, her voice calm but firm. "Kabir, you're the one who looks drained. Let me handle a few of your things, I'll be happy to do it."

I chuckled softly. "I'd love to see you handle my things, but I don't want to stress you."

Her sleepy eyes still held a spark as she replied, "It isn't stress, Kabir. You came in, saw me drowsy, and still felt guilty. You took the book from my hands, adjusted my pillows, made me comfortable before even thinking of yourself. If you can think of me that much then why can't I keep your things in place?"

For a moment, I could only stare at her sleepy, stubborn, but so full of care. Something warm unfurled in me, breaking down the last of my hesitation.

Without overthinking, I whispered, "Kashish can I hug you?" Her lips curved into a small smile. She came closer. And I pulled her into my arms, holding her as if I had been waiting forever for this moment.

After twenty days of marriage, this was the first time we hugged each other without hesitation. And God, it felt like home.

The hug, it wasn't just a hug. It was a longing wrapped in warmth. Her hands rested softly against my back, mine holding her firmly, as if afraid she might slip away. Maybe all day, I had been waiting for this one moment, to simply hold her. I believe I was fortunate she didn't resist.

"Kabir..." I heard her whisper my name, muffled against me. Slowly, we parted, our eyes meeting. No awkwardness, no hesitation, just quiet recognition.

She broke the silence with a small, sleepy smile. "Are we going to stay like this? I mean... I'm really sleepy."

I chuckled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Yes, come. Let's sleep."

I guided her to bed, placed pillows behind her, and lay down beside her. For a moment, the silence stretched between us, comfortable but heavy with unspoken words. Finally, I asked softly, "Kashish... what do you think of us?"

She turned towards me, confusion flickering in her eyes. "About us? As in ?"

I mirrored her movement, facing her fully. "As in this marriage. I'd like us to have moments like this, slow, unhurried, steady. No rushing. Just us."

Her gaze lingered on mine, and she didn't say anything. Instead, she closed the little space between us, inching closer as if silently asking me to open my arms.

I did. I lifted one arm, and she nestled her head on it, her face pressed lightly against my chest. Instinctively, my other hand slipped around her waist, pulling her closer.

She whispered softly, almost like a promise, "Kabir at least we can start with these tiny moments."

Her words struck something deep within me. I bent down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. The scent of her hair, the faint fragrance of her skin, it was undoing me in ways I never thought possible. "It feels good," I murmured, meaning every word.

She hummed against my chest, and soon our Cuddles and  laughter filled the silence, gentle, unguarded. Wrapped in each other, warmth spreading through the cold night, we drifted into sleep.

✨✨

Kashish's POV

My eyes were heavy, my body begging for rest, but still my hands moved on their own. His watch, his bag, his coat, I kept everything in its place. Maybe it was silly, maybe unnecessary, but it gave me a strange peace, as if I was sharing even a little of his exhaustion.

When Kabir stepped out of the washroom, hair still damp, his night clothes making him look a little less like the intimidating doctor and more like mine, he paused. His eyes softened as they fell on me.

"Kashish, I would have done it. You look sleepy," he said, his voice gentle but laced with concern.

I smiled faintly, shaking my head. "You look drained and exhausted, Kabir. Let me handle a few things of yours. I'll be happy to do so."

He stepped closer, his brows knitting in protest. "I'd love to see you handling my things, but I don't want to stress you."

A laugh slipped past my tired lips. Stress? Did he not see how natural it felt? I met his gaze, steady despite the sleep weighing on me. "It isn't stress, Kabir. You came in, saw me drowsy, and instead of thinking of yourself, you took the book from my hands, adjusted my pillows, made me comfortable to sleep. If you can think of me so much, then why can't I keep your things in place?"

The words left me before I could overthink. They were simple, but true. For a moment, silence stretched between us. He just stared, as though searching for something in my face.

Then, almost hesitantly, he asked, "Can I... hug you?"

My heart gave a startled flutter. Hug? For a second, my instinct was to retreat, to hide behind the formality we both had clung to since our marriage. But then... his eyes. Honest, tired, vulnerable in a way I'd never seen.

I smiled small, nervous, but real. I took a step closer.

And when his arms wrapped around me, warm and firm, it felt like the answer to a question I didn't know I'd been carrying. The scent of him, the strength in his hold, the way my own hands found their place against his back, it all felt right.

For the first time since our wedding, I didn't feel like we were pretending. For the first time, I let myself believe we were slowly becoming us

" Kabir..." I whispered his name without realizing, and when he pulled back slightly, our eyes met. His gaze was firm but tender, and for the first time, I didn't feel the weight of silence between us.

I smiled, shy but teasing to ease the heaviness. "Are we going to stay like this forever? Because honestly, I'm sleepy."

He chuckled softly oh God, that rare smile of his and said, "Yes, come. Let's sleep."

He guided me to the bed, adjusted my pillows as though it was the most natural thing in the world, and lay down beside me. Then he asked, almost cautiously, "Kashish what do you think of us?"

For a second, my breath hitched. Us. The word lingered like an echo. I wanted to answer, but my throat tightened. So instead of words, I let my actions speak. I inched closer, slowly, unsure, but hopeful.

And he understood. His arm lifted, waiting for me. I rested my head on it, feeling the solid beat of his heart under my ear. Then his other arm came around my waist, firm yet careful, pulling me into him. The closeness made my cheeks heat, but oddly, my body relaxed as if this was where it belonged.

" Kabir... at least we can start with these tiny moments," I murmured, my lips brushing his shirt.

When his lips pressed against my forehead, I felt my chest flutter. That simple kiss carried more affection than a thousand promises. And in that second, the gap between "strangers in an arranged marriage" and "partners" began to blur.

I closed my eyes, listening to his steady breathing, the warmth of his chest beneath my cheek, his scent wrapping around me. For the first time, the emptiness of the bed vanished. For the first time, it felt like ours.

I smiled to myself, drifting into sleep, thinking maybe love doesn't have to be rushed, leaving tomorrow to write its own story.

*******************************************************************************

Hello Pristians.  

what do you think? Did this first hug and cuddle between Kabir and Kashish melt your hearts the way it did mine? 

I'd love to know how you felt reading this chapter.

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