The next morning, Kiara woke to a storm of notifications. Her name was trending again—this time alongside Aarav's. Headlines screamed:
"Kiara Kapoor's Mystery Man Revealed!"
"Bollywood Queen Linked to Aerospace Genius!"
She groaned, tossing her phone aside. Fame was a double-edged sword, and today, it cut deep.
Meanwhile, Aarav sat in his modest office, staring at the same headlines. His phone buzzed relentlessly—calls from investors, colleagues, even his mentor. Some congratulated him, others questioned his professionalism.
When Kiara called, his voice was clipped. "You've seen the news?"
"Yes," she said softly. "I'm sorry, Aarav. I didn't mean for this to happen."
"It's not your fault," he replied, though his tone carried the weight of frustration. "But this… this could jeopardize everything."
Kiara's chest tightened. "Because of me?"
"Because of the circus that follows you," he said, then sighed. "Kiara, I can't afford distractions right now."
Her silence stretched like a wound. Finally, she whispered, "Am I a distraction to you?"
Aarav hesitated. "You're… everything I've tried to avoid."
The words stung, but beneath them, Kiara heard something else—a battle he was losing against himself.
That evening, Kiara showed up at his research center unannounced. Aarav was alone, hunched over blueprints, his jaw tense. When he looked up, surprise flickered in his eyes, followed by something softer.
"You shouldn't be here," he murmured.
"I had to see you," she said, stepping closer. "Not the headlines. Not the chaos. Just you."
Aarav's breath hitched as she closed the distance. Her perfume—subtle, warm—wrapped around him like gravity. For a moment, neither spoke. The hum of machines filled the silence, and then Kiara reached out, her fingers brushing his sleeve.
"Aarav," she whispered, "I'm not here to ruin your world. I just want to be part of it."
His resolve cracked. Slowly, he turned, his hand finding hers. Their eyes locked—hers shimmering with vulnerability, his dark and conflicted. He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles, lingering as if memorizing the feel of her skin.
"Kiara…" His voice was hoarse. "You make it impossible to stay away."
Her heart soared. For the first time, the wall between them trembled—not broken yet, but fragile enough for hope to slip through.
And in that quiet lab, under the glow of monitors and starlit dreams, two worlds collided—not with chaos, but with a kiss that hadn't happened yet, but was inevitable.