Aarohi didn't sleep that night.
Not because she couldn't—
But because her mind refused to rest.
Naina's words.
Veer's truth.
Two different versions of the same man.
And somewhere in between—
Her decision.
---
The next evening, she sent a message.
Short.
Clear.
Meet me. Tonight.
---
The place she chose wasn't random.
A private lounge inside the club.
Neutral ground.
Where no one could pretend.
Where everything would be seen.
---
Naina arrived first.
Of course she did.
Confident as ever.
Perfectly dressed.
Every detail intentional.
"You called," she said with a small smile. "I was wondering how long it would take."
Aarohi didn't return the smile. "I didn't call you to talk."
"Then why am I here?"
"To see."
Naina raised a brow. "See what?"
Aarohi didn't answer.
Because at that moment—
Veer walked in.
---
The air shifted instantly.
Not loudly.
But undeniably.
His gaze found Aarohi first.
Not Naina.
Not the room.
Her.
And he didn't hide it.
That was the first thing Aarohi noticed.
---
Naina noticed too.
Her expression didn't fall—but something behind it changed.
Subtle.
Sharp.
"Well," she said lightly, turning toward him. "This is… unexpected."
Veer didn't respond to her.
Not immediately.
Instead, he walked straight to Aarohi.
Stopped in front of her.
"You asked me to come," he said.
"I did."
A pause.
Then—
"Stay," she added.
Simple.
But it meant something.
Veer nodded once.
And stayed exactly where she was.
---
Naina let out a soft laugh. "So that's how this is going to be?"
Aarohi finally looked at her. "You said I don't know him."
"And you think one meeting proves that?"
"No," Aarohi replied calmly. "But actions do."
Silence settled.
The kind that forces truth out.
---
Naina stepped closer to Veer now, her movements smooth, practiced.
"You really didn't change," she said softly. "Still quiet when it matters."
Veer's gaze didn't shift.
"You left," he said simply.
The words landed harder than anything else.
Not emotional.
Not angry.
Just final.
Naina's smile faltered for the first time.
"That's all you have to say?"
"That's all there is."
---
Aarohi watched everything.
Every glance.
Every pause.
Every reaction.
And she saw it.
Not in what Veer said—
But in what he didn't.
There was no pull toward Naina.
No hesitation.
No unfinished attachment.
Just distance.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
---
Naina tried once more.
Stepping closer.
Reaching slightly—
But Veer moved first.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Enough to break the moment.
And without looking at her—
He reached for Aarohi's hand.
Held it.
Naturally.
Like it belonged there.
---
That was it.
That was the answer.
Not words.
Not explanations.
Just truth in action.
---
Aarohi exhaled slowly, something inside her finally settling.
Not completely.
But enough.
She looked at Naina.
"This is what I needed to see."
Naina's expression hardened slightly. "You're making a mistake."
"Maybe," Aarohi said.
Then she glanced at Veer.
"But it'll be mine."
---
She didn't wait for another response.
Didn't look back.
She turned—
and walked out.
Still holding his hand.
---
Outside, the night felt quieter.
Clearer.
Aarohi stopped after a few steps, letting go slowly.
"This doesn't mean I trust you completely," she said.
"I know."
"It doesn't fix everything."
"I know that too."
She looked at him, searching.
"And it doesn't mean I'm staying because of you."
A faint pause.
"Good," Veer said.
That surprised her.
"I don't want you to stay for me," he added.
"Then why do you want me to stay?"
Veer held her gaze.
"Because you want to."
---
Silence.
But this time—
It wasn't heavy.
---
Later that night, back in the apartment, Aarohi stood by the window again.
But something was different.
She wasn't running from her thoughts anymore.
She had made a decision.
Not perfect.
Not final.
But hers.
---
When she turned, Veer was there—keeping distance, just like before.
Not assuming.
Not crossing lines.
Waiting.
---
Aarohi took a slow step forward.
Then another.
Closing the distance herself this time.
"Don't make me regret this," she said quietly.
"I won't."
Not a promise.
A commitment.
---
She reached for his hand again.
Not hesitant.
Not forced.
Chosen.
And this time—
Neither of them pulled away.