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Tejasswi's POV

Everyone had spilled out to stretch their legs, chatter, and hunt down snacks before we continued the road trip to Shimla.

I, on the other hand, had slipped back into the car the moment I got a chance. My body still felt heavy from the flight, and all I wanted was a bit of peace before being trapped for another seven hours on the road.

I stretched out slightly, adjusting my jacket and bag to make a small cushion on the side of the seat. The silence was comforting. I was just about to curl up properly when the car door clicked open again.

Startled, I straightened up instantly, almost as if I'd been caught doing something I wasn't supposed to.

Karan stepped in.

I was sure he had gone with the team-laughing with them, joking, maybe grabbing food. But there he was, sliding into the seat next to me, back within minutes.

Before I could ask, he held something out towards me.

A small paper cup, steam curling upwards, and a packet of chocolate cookies balanced on top.

"I thought you could use this," he said simply, placing them carefully into my hands.

For a moment, I just stared at the tea and then at him. My chest tightened, though I quickly masked it with a casual shrug. "You didn't have to," I muttered, pretending to fiddle with the packet.

"I know," he said, leaning back against the seat and sipping on his own tea. "We have a few more hours of travel, some kadak chai would do no harm."

I didn't say anything right away. I didn't want him to know how something as small as this... affected me. It wasn't grand or dramatic. It was just thoughtful.  And somehow, that mattered more.

The warmth of the cup seeped into my palms. I sipped slowly, letting the strong taste of chai spread through me, grounding me in a way I hadn't realized I needed. The cookies rested on my lap, but I didn't open them just yet.

"You didn't go with the others?" I finally asked, glancing at him from the corner of my eye.

"Nah." He gave a small shrug, looking out the window. "Didn't feel like it. Thought I'd just stay here."

I frowned lightly. "Why?"

He chuckled, tilting his head toward me. "Maybe I'm just tired. Also, it's peaceful in here."

The way he said it, so casual, but with a weight behind it made me pause. For some reason, my fingers gripped the cup a little tighter.

I didn't push the conversation further. Instead, I opened the packet of cookies and pulled one out, pretending I was far more interested in it than in him. But inside, something shifted quietly.

He had chosen to sit here. With me. When he could've been anywhere else.

The thought stayed with me, even as the driver started the engine and the team trickled back, filling the air with noise again.

_____

The road stretched endlessly ahead, winding through trees and little hills that blurred past the car windows. We had been on the journey for hours, but surprisingly, it didn't feel exhausting.

There was something about the quiet company that made the ride... peaceful.

Karan had fallen asleep long ago, his head leaning against the window, bumping every now and then with the movement of the car.

I tried not to look, but my eyes kept wandering back to him. His features had softened in sleep, his usually sharp expressions replaced with a calmness I hadn't seen before.

And then, out of nowhere I felt this sudden, ridiculous urge to reach out, hold his head, and pull him closer so he could rest on my shoulder instead of the glass window.

My heart gave a stupid little jump at the thought.

What are you even thinking, Tejasswi? Stop it. He's just ....Karan.

I shook my head quickly, scolding myself silently.

Instead, I quietly picked up the neck pillow he had earlier tossed at me. Slowly, carefully, I slipped it under his head so the window wouldn't bother him anymore.

He just let out a small sigh, his lips curving ever so slightly, and settled back into sleep.

I leaned back in my seat, putting in my earbuds, trying to distract myself with music, listening to Nazm Nazm on loop. The steady rhythm of it felt strangely comforting.

Time slipped by until finally, he stirred awake. His hand rubbed his eyes, then he stretched, a lazy yawn escaping his mouth.

I froze for a second, wondering if he'd notice the pillow and know it was me who had placed it there.

But no...he didn't.

He just sat up straighter, rolling his shoulders, completely unaware of my tiny gesture. I let out a breath I hadn't realised I was holding, hiding my relief by looking out of the window.

The car hummed along the road, and out of nowhere, I spoke. "Should we... continue our game?"

He turned to me, blinking like he hadn't caught on. "Game?"

"Ohhh," he said, finally catching up, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright then. 5th question it is. My turn?"

I nodded.

He thought for a second, tapping his chin dramatically. "Okay, tell me your favourite childhood memory."

I smiled faintly, instantly taken back. "Hmm... when I was little, there was this year when during my birthday I was a little upset. I got to know from my mother that there wouldn't be anything special this year due to some problem you know. Although we didn't do anything huge for birthdays back then, yet I felt dejected."

I paused to see him listening in full concentration and continued, "So, we were just having dinner that night, and suddenly my mom bought a pizza box from the kitchen. Even this one box of pizza was a bigg thing at that time. I was so so happy that I felt like I owned the world that day!"

He listened, really listened, and gave me a huge smile like my little memory actually mattered. It made me feel unexpectedly warm inside.

"Your turn," I said, turning the question to him. "What's your favourite food?"

He leaned back, pretending to think hard. Then his eyes darted to the window, something sparking in them. Without another word, he leaned forward and asked the driver to stop the car.

I frowned. "What's going on?"

"You'll see," he said, a mischievous smile forming.

The car pulled over in front of a roadside dhaba, the kind with string lights and wooden benches. I blinked, then looked at him, amused. "Wait, don't tell me... this is your answer?"

He grinned. "I believe in actions over words."

I couldn't help laughing. "Oh my God, Karan. You stopped the car just to answer a game question?"

"Of course," he said simply, already stepping out. "Come on, you'll thank me."

Still shaking my head in disbelief, I followed him inside. The smell of spices and fresh tandoori roti filled the air, instantly making my stomach growl. He noticed, of course, and smirked like he'd caught me.

"See? Perfect timing," he teased.

We found a table, and he didn't even need to look at the menu.

He confidently ordered his favourite dish; chole kulche with cold lassi. I watched him, secretly a little impressed at how comfortable he looked here, like this was his place.

When the food arrived, I took my first bite and had to admit, it was delicious. "Okay... I'll give it to you. This is actually really good."

As we ate, the conversation drifted into lighter things. He started teasing me about the airport scene, and my cheeks heated instantly.

"Seriously, Teja," he said between bites, laughing, "the way you panicked earlier? I thought you were about to faint."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Don't remind me."

"Oh no, I will remind you," he chuckled, clearly enjoying this. "That little Wait, what?! face you made, I'm not going to forget that expression."

I peeked at him from behind my fingers, trying not to laugh, but it was useless. His laughter was so genuine, so unfiltered, that I ended up laughing too.

Just him and me. Sitting together, sharing food and laughter like we'd done it a hundred times before.

_____

Karan's POV

We'd been on the road for a few hours, winding through highways and uneven stretches that were gradually giving way to hill roads.

Tejasswi was sitting next to me, earphones plugged in, scrolling through her phone.

I leaned slightly to peek; it was all work stuff. Posts about the show, fan edits, clips from interviews. She'd hit "like," maybe share one or two, and move on. That was it.

I realized then just how little she used social media. For someone as loved and followed as she was, she treated it almost like a chore. Get in, do the professional bit, get out. It was... refreshing, in a way.

Everyone else was always fighting to stay relevant, to stay seen. She didn't bother. It wasn't arrogance. It was just... her.

I smiled faintly, shaking my head, before leaning back.

But after some time, something about her shifted. The way she pressed her lips together, the faint crease on her forehead. She wasn't fidgeting with her phone anymore, just holding it, staring out the window. I turned slightly toward her.

"You okay?" I asked quietly.

She didn't look at me. "Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine."

But she wasn't. I could tell. A heaviness clung to her movements, the way her hand pressed briefly against her stomach before she quickly dropped it. I wanted to ask again, but I didn't push.

A few minutes later, she suddenly asked the driver to stop. The car jerked slightly as we pulled to the side of the road.

She opened the door in a hurry and stepped out, and before I could even process, she was crouched near the edge, throwing up.

"Tejasswi-" I was out of the car instantly, a hand hovering over her back, hesitant to touch without permission. She shook her head, not wanting me to come closer. I still stayed nearby, watching helplessly.

She rinsed her mouth with the bottle of water the driver handed, splashing some on her face, and then straightened up slowly.

There was a stubborn calmness in her expression as she walked back, like this wasn't a big deal at all.

When we got inside, she dug into her bag, pulled out a small strip of tablets, and swallowed one without a second thought.

"You should've told me you weren't well," I said, trying not to sound as panicked as I felt.

She gave a tired half-smile. "Relax. This is normal for me. Every month. Comes and goes."

I had three sisters. I'd seen this before...snapped moods, cramps, exhaustion that could knock you out for days.

But even knowing that, watching her physically go through it was... different. There was this strange ache in my chest. Like I wanted to fight something, fix something, but I couldn't.

"You should lie down for a bit," I said softly.

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"You're not fine." My tone came out firmer this time, leaving no room for her stubbornness. "Just... rest for a while. Please."

She stared at me for a moment, like she wanted to argue, but then sighed and shifted into the seat.

Tejasswi had finally given in to my insistence and closed her eyes, curling herself up against the door. Knees folded, chin tucked in, hands lightly clutching the seat as if that alone could keep her warm.

At first, I thought she was just resting. But then I noticed the faint tremor in her shoulders, the way her arms pressed closer against herself. A shiver.

I glanced outside the window. We had entered Shimla. Of course. The weather had turned colder than when we'd left Delhi, and she hadn't bothered to layer up.

I leaned forward, quietly rummaging through her handbag on the seat beside her.

She wouldn't like it if she were awake but right now, I wasn't about to let her freeze. My hand brushed against soft fabric, and I pulled out a folded shawl. A pale lavender one. Delicate, like her.

Gently, I draped it over her shoulders, careful not to startle her. Her breathing stayed even, but a small frown smoothed out on her forehead, as if the warmth reached her even in sleep.

That should've been enough. But I couldn't stop there.

I slipped off my own jacket and placed it over her as well, tucking it around her arms. My fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary, tracing the edge of her sleeve.

What was I doing? She was my co-star. My... fake partner for this ridiculous PR drama. And yet, sitting here, watching her vulnerable like this didn't feel fake at all.

My eyes dropped to her legs, folded uncomfortably against herself. I knew from my sisters; this posture only made the cramps worse.

I hesitated.

What if I was crossing a line?

But something in me refused to let her stay like that. Carefully, almost painfully slow, I slid my hand under her shawl, just enough to brush against her calf.

Her skin was warm, tense with the effort of staying folded. I moved gently, easing her legs out, straightening them bit by bit until her feet stretched comfortably.

And then, without thinking, I placed them onto my lap.

The weight was light. Barely there. But to me, it was everything. A silent trust she hadn't even consciously given, a closeness we'd never acknowledged.

I adjusted the shawl to cover her fully, then sat back, my hands hovering in the air before finally resting loosely near her ankles. Not touching, but close enough.

She shifted slightly, a soft sound escaping her lips, and my heart stumbled in my chest. But instead of waking, she relaxed further, sinking into the seat as though my lap was the most natural place for her to rest.

And that's when it hit me.

Something was shifting. In her, in me, in the space between us.

I'd always been protective, it came with being the only brother to three sisters. I knew how to step in, how to shield, how to care without asking.

But this... this wasn't the same. This wasn't about duty, or habit, or the way I was raised. This was different.

Watching her breathe, fragile and strong all at once, I felt something I couldn't name. Something that scared me more than I wanted to admit.

I brushed a thumb across the hem of the shawl, smoothing it over her knee, and forced myself to look away.

Outside, the hills rolled past, pine trees catching faint sunlight, the mist curling low across the road. A picturesque scene. But all I could see was her reflection in the glass; her cheeks that had turned rosy due to the cold, lashes soft against her skin, lips parted in sleep.

I exhaled slowly.

Maybe it was the altitude and the silence. Or maybe it was the simple fact that, in this small moving car, with her feet stretched across my lap and her body wrapped in layers I'd chosen for her... I felt a certainty I hadn't felt in years.

This trip was going to shake things up.