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Naina sat on her bed, knees pulled to her chest, staring out the window of her room. The faint hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound as she replayed her interactions with Ayaan over the past few weeks. His words lingered in her mind, "I'm not going anywhere. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to believe that."

She smiled softly to herself. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt lighter, as if a weight she didn't even realize she had been carrying had finally lifted. Opening up to Ayaan had been terrifying, but his unwavering reassurance had been the comfort she didn't know she needed.

But then, her smile faltered. Why was she still hesitant? She knew Ayaan wanted them to date, and it wasn't like she didn't feel the same way. She did. The way her heart raced around him, the way his words lingered long after he was gone, the way she found herself thinking about him at odd hours—it was all there.

Then why?

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. It wasn't about Ayaan. It was about her. She was scared to commit. Scared that she wasn't enough, that this was all too good to be true. She found it hard to believe that someone like Ayaan could genuinely want her, care for her, and stay.

She sighed, burying her face in her hands. "You're being stupid, Naina," she muttered to herself.

Across town, Ayaan was sprawled out on his couch, tossing a cricket ball in the air and catching it absentmindedly. His thoughts were consumed by one person—Naina. She was always in his mind, and today was no different. He wanted her to trust him, to see that this wasn't some fleeting crush or phase.

He sat up suddenly, tossing the ball aside. "How do I prove it to her?" he mumbled to himself. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a solution. Actions spoke louder than words, but what could he do to show her that he meant it?

That evening, the friend group decided to meet for dinner at their favorite spot. Naina joined them, feeling lighter than she had in days. There was a quiet confidence in her demeanor that hadn't been there before, and Ayaan noticed it immediately.

As the group laughed and chatted, Ayaan stole glances at her. She looked happy, at ease, and it made his chest swell with affection. He didn't care how long it took—he was going to make her see how much she meant to him.

When it was time to leave, everyone began heading to their respective vehicles. Naina lingered near the exit, her eyes meeting Ayaan's.

"Chai?" she asked, her voice soft but sure.

Ayaan's lips curved into a smile, his heart skipping a beat. "Always."

They drove to their usual tea stall, the one tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The air was cool, and the soft hum of distant traffic provided a soothing backdrop. They stood side by side, sipping their chai, the silence between them comfortable.

Suddenly, Naina swayed, her grip on the tea cup loosening. Ayaan noticed instantly, grabbing her arm as she staggered. "Naina?" he called out, his voice laced with panic.

"I... I feel dizzy," she murmured before her knees buckled.

Ayaan caught her before she could hit the ground, his heart pounding. "Naina! Stay with me," he said urgently, scooping her up in his arms and rushing to his car.

He drove to the nearest hospital, his mind racing. When they arrived, the doctors checked her vitals and hooked her up to an IV. After a few tense moments, a doctor approached him.

"She's dehydrated and hasn't been eating properly," the doctor explained. "We need to keep her under observation for a day to ensure her blood pressure stabilizes."

Ayaan nodded, relief washing over him that it wasn't something worse. He stayed by her side, holding her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

In the middle of the night, Naina stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was Ayaan sitting by her bed, his head resting on the edge of the mattress, still holding her hand.

A small smile crept onto her lips. She closed her eyes again, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

~•~

The next morning, Naina woke up to find her dad and Ayaan entering the room. Ayaan was with him, guiding her father to the desk to complete some paperwork while her mother sat on the sofa.

Her mother's worried eyes softened when she saw her daughter awake. "Naina," she said, rushing to her side.

"Mom," Naina said weakly, a small smile on her lips.

Her mother cupped her face. "Why don't you take care of yourself? Do you know how worried we were? If Ayaan hadn't been there..." Her voice broke, and she shook her head.

"I'm fine, Mom," Naina said, squeezing her hand.

Her father joined them, his expression stern but relieved. "Your mother's right. You need to eat properly. This shouldn't happen again."

Naina nodded, her gaze shifting to Ayaan, who stood behind her Mom and Dad. "Thank you," she said softly.

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Don't thank me, Naina," he said, his voice low. "Just take care of yourself."

The nurse entered with a bowl of soup, placing it on the bedside table. Before Naina could reach for it, Ayaan picked it up.

"I'll do it," he said, pulling up a chair and sitting beside her.

"You don't have to—"

"Shh, you're too weak to be able to eat on your own right now," he interrupted. He looked at her mom, "Aunty? Can I?"

Her mom smiled—happy with the boy in front of her, "Of course."

Smiling and nodding at the consent, Ayaan carefully blowed on a spoonful of soup before bringing it to her lips.

Naina felt her cheeks warm as she opened her mouth. The tenderness in his actions made her heart ache in the best way.

Her parents watched silently, exchanging a knowing look.

By afternoon, Naina was discharged, and Ayaan helped her parents take her home. As they walked her to her car, Ayaan assisted her to sit and get in. Then, he waved a goodbye to her parents before turning back at her.

"Get some rest," he said, his voice gentle.

She nodded, her eyes meeting his. "I will."

As he turned to leave, she called out, "Ayaan."

He looked back, waiting.

"Thank you," she said again, her voice filled with something deeper than gratitude.

He smiled, the kind that reached his eyes. "Always, Naina."

As he left, Naina leaned back against her car seat. As she drove away, Ayaan watched—a relief calming his mind that Naina was okay.

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