Dilruba stood there for a moment, her eyes bright and lively, reflecting amusement and curiosity. Something about Varun's calm, commanding presence—the way he had handled the goons so effortlessly—left her slightly breathless.
Her cheeks warmed faintly, an unfamiliar flutter of nervous energy spreading through her. She blinked rapidly, trying to steady herself, but it didn't help. Without thinking, she stepped closer and, in a shy, almost impulsive gesture, wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug.
Varun stiffened immediately, just enough to show his wariness. He wasn't used to this sudden closeness, especially from someone he didn't fully know. His arms hovered awkwardly for a second before settling lightly on her shoulders, protective but cautious.
Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the chaos of the street, the lingering threat of the goons—all faded. The air seemed charged, a quiet tension settling between them.
Dilruba's gaze held Varun's, her expression soft yet teasing. Varun's deep brown eyes studied her carefully, a small, cautious smile tugging at his lips. He wasn't letting his guard down entirely; there was an edge of wariness beneath the warmth.
Neither spoke. Neither moved. Just the closeness, the subtle brush of energy, the quiet heat of shared space. The moment stretched, fragile and heavy, before Dilruba pulled back slightly, still near enough that their foreheads almost touched. Her voice was soft, shy but playful, "I… didn't expect… that."
Varun exhaled slowly, his heartbeat steadying from the surprise of the hug. "Neither did I," he admitted, his tone calm, carrying just a hint of intrigue.
She let out a small giggle, delicate and light, but the intensity in their eyes remained. The road, the sunlight, even the goons in the distance—they all existed only at the edges of awareness.
Varun took a small, careful step back, keeping his gaze on her, his expression slightly wary now. "Wait… why did you hug me just now?" he asked, voice steady but with a hint of caution.
Dilruba glanced down for a moment, fiddling nervously with the edge of her sleeve. "Because… I like you now. For saving me," she said quietly, almost a whisper.
Varun raised an eyebrow, still cautious. "Huh… are you sure? I didn't do anything but help you when you were being harassed."
Her lips curved into a small, playful smile. "And that… made me like you," she replied, voice light, teasing yet sincere.
Varun's expression softened slightly, though the wary edge didn't leave entirely. He held up a hand gently, stopping her instinctive step closer. "I know who you are," he said, careful to assert control over the situation, his eyes scanning her subtly.
Dilruba's smile turned mischievous. "And I know who you are," she said, a soft lilt in her tone. "You're my prince… harming."
Varun frowned briefly, a hint of confusion crossing his features. "Harming?" he repeated, wariness flickering in his gaze.
She laughed softly, correcting herself with a playful tilt of her head. "Charming… same same," she said lightly, wiggling her fingers teasingly.
Varun exhaled, a small, reluctant smile forming as he shook his head, his eyes still alert. "Right… charming," he muttered, the tension in his posture never fully disappearing.
For a moment, the world seemed to shrink around them—the street, the sunlight, the distant chaos—all fading into nothing. Only the careful closeness, the tentative tension, and the fragile connection remained.
Dilruba's cheeks flushed faintly, a quiet excitement in her posture, while Varun remained slightly guarded, aware of the unpredictability in front of him. The moment passed like a fragile thread, both aware that this encounter was far from ordinary, yet neither ready to break the unspoken tension.
Varun's gaze sharpened, a hint of seriousness replacing the warmth from before. "Alright… let's stop kidding around. We both know who we are," he said, voice steady. "I know you're a witch."
Dilruba's lips curled into a teasing little smile. "A cute one, right?"
Varun blinked, slightly taken aback. "Excuse me?"
She giggled, the sound light and mischievous.
"And you know I'm a Reeva hunter," Varun continued, his tone firm but careful, "so… why did you hug me?"
Dilruba's smile softened, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. "Because… I like you," she said simply, almost shyly.
Varun's eyes narrowed slightly, wary but intrigued. "Don't mistake me saving you for… something else," he said, his voice low, cautious.
"I know," Dilruba replied, tilting her head playfully. "But you saved me even knowing I'm a witch… why?"
Varun's expression softened again, though the alertness never left his stance. "Because… you didn't attack those men, even though you're a witch," he said, curiosity lacing his voice. "Why?"
Dilruba's small, amused shrug was almost childlike. "Because… Dilruba only gets bad when she's angry," she explained, voice light. "And I wasn't angry. Plus… I don't really like charming people."
Varun's brow furrowed slightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Harming," he corrected gently.
She tilted her head, wiggling her fingers in playful mock exasperation. "Same same," she said with a giggle.
Varun shook his head, exhaling softly, his eyes still on her with a mix of amusement and caution. "Right… same same," he murmured, the tension between them lingering but softened, the air thick with the quiet thrill of connection and unspoken curiosity.