Broken But Beautiful

Aarav's pov-
Present day-

I thought I had seen her at her most beautiful a hundred times before.
When she laughed with her whole heart, eyes shining.
When she fell asleep on my shoulder mid-conversation.
Even when she was furious and biting out sarcastic comebacks.

But nothing - nothing - prepared me for the moment she stepped out in that dark red lehnga.

It felt like the world paused.

The chatter in the boutique blurred. The lights dimmed.
And all I could see was her.

The rich crimson fabric clung to her like sin itself - regal, divine, dangerous.
Her skin glowed against it, the shimmer of her jhumkas catching in the light, her kajal-lined eyes lowering as she walked... almost shyly.
Like she had no idea she just wrecked me.

She looked like a goddess carved out of my every obsession.

My breath stalled in my throat. My jaw clenched as something dark and raw surged inside me.
Not just desire - no, this was deeper.
Possession.
Need.
A furious longing to burn every inch of the earth that kept her away from me.

God, she didn't even look at me yet.
But my hands itched to pull her closer, to ruin that perfect drape, to whisper every filthy, worshipping thing running through my mind into her ear.

Then her eyes finally lifted and met mine - and just like that, I forgot how to breathe again.

She gave me the smallest smile.
Sweet. Nervous.
And all I could think was...

This is it.

She wasn't just the woman I loved.

She was the one.
The storm and the calm.
The sin and the salvation.

And I swear, if we weren't in public -
I would've dropped to my knees right there.

But i can't stop myself from kissing from so, I pulled her towards me and
I had her pinned against the mirror, her breath warm against my lips, my thumb teasing the edge of her jaw.
God, I didn't care where we were. The way she looked in that lehnga... the way her eyes softened when she looked up at me...

I could've kissed her right there.

Hell, I was going to.

My lips hovered just a breath away-
"Say it," I whispered, smirking, "Say you want me to ruin that perfect little lehnga."

Her breath hitched, and I swear I saw her pupils dilate.

Then-

"OYE LOVE BIRDS!"

I swear to God, I've never wanted to throw something at Lavi more.

I turned my head, already knowing that damn grin would be plastered on her face, leaning against the door like she hadn't just cockblocked the century.

Naina tried to escape instantly, cheeks going pink, but I tightened my hold around her waist, pulling her back against me.
If Lavi wanted to play, I was about to make her regret it.

"Bhaiii," Lavi laughed, walking in without a care. "Trial room ke naam par kya chal raha hai? Batao batao."

I smirked. "Romance. Obviously."

Naina groaned, burying her face in my chest like she could disappear.
I leaned down and murmured against her hair, "Told you we should've closed the curtain better."

Lavi gasped dramatically, "Shameless! Have some shame, bhai!"

"Why?" I shrugged, looking at Lavi dead in the eye while Naina squirmed under my arm. "You walked in. I didn't invite you also i can't control only with your best friend. What can I do? She's irresistible - and clearly trying to kill me with this lehnga."