Chapter 8: Love whispers

Later that night, both Roshni and Rudra lay in their respective rooms, the weight of the evening pressing heavily on their hearts.

Roshni sat on her bed, the soft light from the lamp filling the room.

Her mind replayed every moment with him—his touch, his look, his hug.

Her heart raced with these overwhelming emotions, and the thought of him stayed in her mind.

She felt on the edge of something she couldn't understand but couldn’t let go of either.

She kept her phone very near to her…. all her attention is on that gadget only….

Across town, Rudra lay on his bed, the room silent except for the rhythmic sound of his breathing. His mind wasn’t any clearer than hers.

He knew he lied to her about having a choice to leave…

lied to the only person he wants to be most honest with.

He was sacred …

Her hug — it had been soft, yet strong, as if she needed him just as much as he needed her.

He could still feel the warmth of her hand in his, the way it fit perfectly, like it was meant to be there.

He thought about how she sat in the front seat of his car, her nervous glances, unsure of what to say or do, but still trying to be close to him.

The way her eyes flickered between him and the road, a subtle mix of curiosity and fear.

It was as if she was trying to figure him out, just like he was trying to figure her out.

He couldn’t help but smile to himself.

He picked up his phone, staring at name he saved for her.

A small smile played on his lips as he typed a message.

"Thinking about me...?"

..and hit send.

On the other side, Roshni, lost in her swirling thoughts, jumped slightly when her phone buzzed.
Her heart skipped a beat.

She grabbed it quickly — a message from an unknown number.

Hands trembling a little, she opened it.

"Thinking about me...?"

For a moment, she just stared at the screen, her lips parting in surprise, her cheeks warming.

Of course, she knew who it was.

And without even thinking, she smiled.

she read the message again.

Her heart was beating so fast, she was sure he could hear it from across the city.

For a moment, she hesitated — fingers hovering over the touch panel — unsure what to say.
But then, before her mind could overthink, her heart replied.

She typed softly:

" Reached home safe? ", and hit send.

Seconds felt like minutes.

Rudra's lips curved into a soft, slow smile when he saw her reply.

He stared at the screen for a few seconds, then typed back:
“Hmmm…..I asked you something Miss Gupta”

Roshni saw his message and She typed softly:

"Maybe..."

Sent.

The moment the message was delivered, Roshni hugged her pillow, feeling shy and nervous all over again.

On the other side, Rudra’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile when he saw her reply.
"Maybe..." — she was already his, and she didn’t even realize it.

He stared at the screen for a moment longer, then typed back:

"Someday, you’ll say it without hiding."

" Sleep well, Roshni."

When Rudra’s phone buzzed again, he picked it up lazily, expecting a short, polite reply.
But when he read her message —

"Goodnight, Rudra... Sweet dreams."

He leaned back against the headboard, his thumb brushing over her name on the screen, a small, helpless smile tugging at his lips.

"Sweet dreams, Roshni…"
he murmured into the empty room, almost like a vow only the night would hear.

Because tonight, for the first time in a long time, he knew his dreams would have a name.
And that name... was hers.

That night, somewhere between dreams and waking, a small smile playing on their lips, both drifted to sleep.

The first light of dawn slipped quietly into the sky, touching everything in soft gold.

Roshni woke up slowly, her body still heavy with sleep, but her heart awake — restless.
Almost without thinking, she reached for her phone.
A new message blinked on the screen.

Unknown Number.
Him.

She opened it with trembling fingers.

"Good morning, Roshni."

"Tell me... did you really hug me last evening?"

"Or did you also kiss me, am I just dreaming about it?"

She gasped softly, her cheeks heating up instantly.

The memory of the hug — how tightly he had held her,

how safe and yet electrified she had felt — came rushing back.

And now this... his audacity.

Biting her lip, her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Finally, she typed:

Roshni:
"Just a hug, Mr. Unknown Number"
"The rest must be your imagination."

Barely a second passed before his reply came — quick, intense, as if he was waiting with that same restless energy.

Unknown Number:
"Shame. Because even your imagination would have tasted like heaven."
"Next time, Roshni... don’t leave anything incomplete."

She clutched the phone to her chest, her heart pounding so wildly she felt like it would burst out.

Did he mean - a hug full of emotions but still "incomplete" in a physical, romantic way (no kiss, no confession, no complete surrender).

Did he want me to kiss and make myself surren….

No,

No, No!

Don’t go there Roshni!!!

She was brushing her teeth when again her phone buzzed :

Unknown Number:
"What..No reply again..hmm?"

“So…aaj kya plans he madam ke,,,?”

(“What’s yours plans for today….?”)

Roshni:
"No plans…no college for 2 days…”

Unknown Number:
“Yeah,,,2 days”

(He paused, the silence hanging in the air.)

She kept waiting, her fingers hovering over her phone, but no reply came.

The silence stretched on, heavier than expected.

A part of her wanted to message again, but something about him made her hold back.

Minutes passed.

Then an hour.

She couldn’t help but feel a little confused.

Then, her phone buzzed, breaking the silence.

Unknown Number:
“You’re still thinking about me!!!”

Roshni blinked, surprised by the sudden message.

She smiled, even though she wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Roshni:
“You really don’t talk much, do you?”

Unknown Number:
“Not much, no.”
(He kept his answers short, like usual.)

Roshni:
“Then why the sudden messages now?”

There was a long pause this time.

She almost wondered if he had forgotten the conversation entirely.

Then, his reply came in a simple, blunt way:

Unknown Number:
“Because you need to know, I’m still here.”

Roshni:
“You really have a way with words.”

Unknown Number:
“No need for words, Roshni…”
(He ended with a pause, letting the silence speak for him.)

She read the message again, her heart beating a little faster.

______________________________________________

A few hours later, as evening settled in, Roshni's phone buzzed again.

She glanced at the screen and saw a message from the unknown number.

Unknown Number:
"Isn’t it difficult for you?"

Roshni:
"What do you mean?"

Unknown Number:
"Not seeing me. Not having me around."

Roshni:
"Well,,, what do you want to hear Mr. Rudra _____

What’s your surname?”

Unknown Number:
"that you miss me,,,

you wanted to meet ,,,

you want to hug me…  (do you want me to continue…?)”

“Rudra Jain”

Roshni:

Ahem ahem…Mr. Rudra jain ,,,

Unknown Number:
boliye  Ms.Roshni Gupta

Roshni:

I miss you

Unknown Number:
I know,,,

He paused for a moment before typing again.

Your Wish is my Command Roshni!!!

“What,,,

what he meant now.,, aren’t he supposed to say I miss you too..,

Ahhhhh god!!!

can you make my life a little simpler.”

Roshni though and again the phone became silent for few more hours…