Oxygen To My Heart - Accidental Romance Part 3

 

Oxygen to My Heart — Bonus Chapter: Accidental Romance (Part 3)

This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events are fictional.

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Morning After

The house had fallen into a deep, contented silence after Fajr prayers. Now, past noon, the only soul stirring was Naeema, flipping parathas in the kitchen with practiced ease, the soft sizzle of oil the only sound breaking the quiet.

Maria appeared in the doorway, freshly washed and slightly sleep-rumpled, drawn by the sounds and smells.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Aunty."

Naeema's face lit up like sunrise. She crossed the kitchen in three quick steps and cupped Maria's face in her hands, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Walaikum Assalam, meri beti." (Walaikum Assalam, my daughter.)

Maria giggled at the unabashed affection.

Naeema stepped back, hands still framing Maria's face, drinking in the sight of her. "Kitna acha lagega jab meri beti mere ghar aa jayegi." Her eyes went dreamy, already painting a future that lived vividly in her heart. (How wonderful it will feel when my daughter comes to my house.)

Maria's cheeks flushed warm at the thought, at the love pouring from Naeema's words.

Naeema patted her cheek gently, grounding them both back to the present. "Jao, Aaryan aur Mahir ko utha do. Aur unse puch bhi lo—parathe ke saath omelette khayenge ya fried eggs." She sighed, glancing at the clock. "Mera irada tha halwa puri mangwane ka, lekin meri apni aankh itni der se khuli, is waqt to milegi hi nahi ab." (Go, wake up Aaryan and Mahir. And ask them too—do they want omelette with the parathas or fried eggs. I intended to order halwa puri, but I woke up so late myself, it won't be available now.)

Maria nodded, already backing toward the door. "Okay, main utha ke aati hoon." (Okay, I'll go wake them.)

She stepped into the hallway and paused outside Aaryan's room, a delicious dilemma presenting itself.

Option one: wake Mahir first, have an audience while she woke Aaryan lovingly—every moment watched, every soft exchange noted.

Option two: wake Aaryan first. Have her Indian drama romance moment. Then wake Mahir, once they were done.

She chose option two without a second thought.

The door creaked softly as she pushed it open. Mahir was a lump under his blanket on one side. Aaryan lay on the other, facing her, his features relaxed in sleep, his injured foot propped carefully on pillows.

Maria crossed to his side of the bed and leaned down, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

His eyes flickered at the touch, lashes fluttering. For a moment, he blinked up at her, disoriented—and then recognition dawned, followed by something soft and wondering, as if he still couldn't quite believe she was really here.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Kitna maza aaega," he murmured, voice rough with sleep, "jab hamesha ke liye aap mere paas aa jaingi. Har subah itni pyari hogi." He reached for her hand, tugging gently. "Isi baat pe jaldi se leit jayein." (How wonderful it will be when you come to me forever. Every morning will be so beautiful. On that thought, come lie down quickly.)

Maria chuckled, trying to free herself. "Aunty bhi yahi keh rahi thi—" (Aunty was also saying the same thing—)

But his arms had already wrapped around her, pulling her onto the bed beside him, face burying into the curve of her neck. She giggled, squirming against his hold.

"Acha?" He nuzzled her neck, lips brushing her skin. (Oh?)

Maria huffed, blushing at the intimacy. "Han, lekin wo itna chipak nahi rahi thi jitna aap chipak rahe hain." (Yes, but she wasn't clinging as much as you're clinging.)

Aaryan shook his head against her, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck. "Nahi, nahi. Sirf main chipak sakta hoon." (No, no. Only I can cling.)

Maria tried to wiggle free again, with approximately zero success. She let out a breathless laugh. "Paon kesa hai ab aapka?" (How's your foot now?)

Aaryan shrugged against her. "Mujhe to feel nahi ho raha." (I can't feel it.)

She squirmed again, genuinely trying now. "Aunty ne kaha hai aapse nashta ka poochun. Omelette khayenge ya fried egg?" (Aunty told me to ask you about breakfast. Will you have omelette or fried egg?)

Aaryan's lips found her neck again, teeth grazing gently. "Aapko khaaonga." (I'll eat you.)

Maria made a face at his shoulder, somewhere between horrified and delighted. "Ewwwww. So cringe."

From across the room, a dry voice cut through.

"Same here. Kya kya sunna padh raha hai." (Same here. What all I have to listen to.)

Maria's eyes went wide. She pressed her lips together, trying desperately not to laugh, as Mahir sat up on his side of the bed, stretched with theatrical slowness, and padded toward the door without looking at them.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Maria buried her face in Aaryan's chest, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Aaryan chuckled, his chest vibrating against her cheek.

She pulled back enough to glare at him. "Ab aap chhorenge mujhe?" (Will you let me go now?)

His smirk was insufferable. "Abhi to pakda hai aapko. Aap abhi se chhorne ki baatein kar rahi hain?" (I've just caught you. You're already talking about letting go?)

She rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "Nashta kya karenge? Bolein jaldi." (What'll we have for breakfast? Tell me quickly.)

Aaryan rested his arm behind his head, looking up at her with that impossibly soft expression. "Aap jo khila dein. Aapne hathon se." (Whatever you feed me. With your own hands.)

Maria shook her head, but she was glowing. She pushed off the bed, straightened her clothes, and headed for the door.

At the threshold, she glanced back.

He was still watching her, that same soft smile on his face.

She smiled back, then slipped out, leaving him there with the lingering warmth of her presence and the promise of many more mornings just like this one.

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Accusations

The afternoon sun streamed through the living room windows as Maria and Aaryan sat curled together on the couch, sharing a pair of headphones. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, her head resting against his, eyes closed as they listened to whatever song had captured her heart in that moment.

Across the room, Mahir sat in the armchair, thumbs flying across his phone screen with suspicious intensity.

Naeema bustled in, phone pressed to her ear. "Haan, Hira, beta—" She paused, listening, then looked up. "Aaryan ka phone band aa raha hai?" (Yes, Hira, dear— Aaryan's phone is switched off?)

She crossed to the couch and gently shook Aaryan's shoulder. He pulled out one earbud, blinking up at her.

"Ji?" (Yes?)

Naeema frowned. "Tumhara phone band hai? Hira call kar rahi thi." (Your phone is off? Hira was calling.)

Aaryan shrugged, already reaching for his missing device. "Wo to raat se band pada hai kahin." He popped the earbud back in, resuming his position against Maria, eyes sliding closed again. (It's been switched off somewhere since last night.)

Maria's favourite hobby had quickly become his favourite too.

Naeema turned the phone toward the couch, addressing her daughter-in-law. "Kal Mahir aur Maria ruk gaye the Aaryan ke liye." She panned the camera, catching Mahir, who looked up from his phone long enough to wave and mutter a quick salam before returning to his furious typing. (Yesterday Mahir and Maria stayed over for Aaryan.)

The camera landed on the couple. "To bas, raat ko der se soye, sab der se uthe. Abhi nashta kar ke farigh hue." Naeema turned the phone back to herself. "Tum batao, kya haal hai?" (So yeah, we slept late last night, everyone woke up late. Just finished breakfast. You tell me, how are you?)

On the screen, Hira yawned dramatically. "Aapke bete surgery kar rahe hain. Raat ko ek emergency case aa gaya tha." She rubbed her eyes. "Do din ke baad ghar wapas ja rahe the hum, phir call aa gayi, wapas hospital ki taraf." Another yawn. "Ab Allah khair kare, to shayad aaj hum so jayen." (Your son is doing surgery. An emergency case came last night. We were going home after two days, then got a call, back to the hospital. Now God willing, maybe we'll sleep today.)

Naeema's maternal instincts flared. "To tum kyun jaag rahi ho uske saath, beta? Tum ghar chali jao na. Aise to tabiyat kharab ho jayegi." (Then why are you staying awake with him, dear? You should go home. Like this you'll fall ill.)

Hira waved away the concern. "Ji, bas abhi yahi irada hai. Is surgery se farigh hoke jaayenge." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Love birds se to baat karain meri?" (Yes, that's the plan now. We'll go after this surgery. At least let me talk to the love birds?)

Naeema smiled and handed the phone to Aaryan. He pulled out both earbuds now, Maria stirring beside him at the movement.

Hira's grin widened at the sight of them. "Ammi, mujhe samajh aa gaya ye accident kyun aur kese hua." (Ammi, I understand why and how this accident happened.)

Aaryan chuckled, shaking his head. "Kya ho gaya hai aap logon ko? Ammi ko bhi lag raha maine jaan-bujh ke kiya, aapko bhi." He leaned back, pulling Maria closer. "Aisa kuch nahi hai, bhai. Azlan bhai ki tarah dramebaaz nahi hoon main." (What's happened to you people? Ammi also thinks I did it on purpose, you too. It's nothing like that. I'm not a drama queen like Azlan bhai.)

Hira's smile turned knowing. "Bas, rehne do, Aaryan. Hume sab samajh aata hai." (Just leave it, Aaryan. We understand everything.)

Aaryan, without missing a beat, pressed a kiss to the top of Maria's head.

Maria's eyes flew open at the contact, a sleepy smile forming—until she registered the phone pointed directly at them and Hira's delighted expression on the screen.

She gasped, hands flying to cover her blazing face.

Hira's laugh echoed through the speaker.

Maria fumbled for her own earbud, pulling it out. "Assalamu Alaikum, Bhabhi! Kaisi hain aap?" (Assalamu Alaikum, Bhabhi! How are you?)

Hira's voice dripped with affectionate teasing. "Main to theek hoon. Aaryan bohat khush lag raha hai." A pause, loaded with meaning. "Check karlo, iski bhi injury jhoothi to nahi hai?" (I'm fine. Aaryan looks very happy. Check, his injury isn't fake too, is it?)

Maria's brow furrowed. She turned to Aaryan, curiosity replacing embarrassment. "Iski bhi matlab?" (What do you mean by 'too'?)

Naeema popped into frame from behind the couch, delighted to provide context. "Ye, Hira kahin ja rahi thi, to Azlan ne jhootha accident ka drama kiya tha. Phir Hira ruk gayi." She raised an eyebrow at her younger son. "Isliye hame doubt ho raha hai—Aaryan bhi yahi kar raha hai?" (You see, Hira was going somewhere, and Azlan faked an accident. Then Hira stayed. That's why we're suspicious—is Aaryan doing the same thing?)

Maria's eyes went wide. She turned to Aaryan with exaggerated suspicion. "Haaaaaaw. Sach sach bataaiye." (Ooooh. Tell the truth.)

Aaryan slapped his forehead, laughing. "Azlan bhai ne sab ke liye masla kar diya hai. Ab is family mein kisi ko chot lagegi, to koi serious hi nahi lega." He gestured at his bandaged foot. "Par mujhe waqai lagi hai chot." (Azlan bhai has created a problem for everyone. Now if anyone gets injured in this family, no one will take it seriously. But I really am injured.)

Naeema's fond sigh carried the weight of experience. "Ye to bas ab Allah hi jaanta hai." (Now only God knows.)

The conversation drifted—Hira updating them on Azlan's surgery, Naeema clucking with concern, Mahir occasionally looking up from his phone to contribute.

But Maria and Aaryan had drifted into their own world, huddled together over Maria's phone now, scrolling through reels with one shared earbud between them.

Aaryan's laugh rumbled against her as a funny video played. She smiled, scrolling to the next—

And skipped past it so fast it blurred.

Aaryan's hand shot out, snatching the phone. "Ye kya tha? Hum bhi to dekhein." (What was that? Let us see too.)

"Aaryannnn!" Maria whined, reaching for it, but he held it just out of reach, already scrolling back.

The reel loaded.

Aesthetic, blurred, rain-slicked windows. A couple in a car, the girl draped across a guy's lap, shadows and soft focus and a romantic song playing over it all.

Aaryan's eyebrows rose. He turned to her slowly, a smirk building. "Kafi interesting feed hai apki." (Your feed is quite interesting.)

Maria snatched the phone back, face burning, scrolling furiously away. "Han, to… it was a cute reel."

Aaryan's nod was slow, deliberate, deeply sarcastic. "Han, very cute." He leaned closer, voice dropping. "Aise cute kaam to hame bhi karne chahiye." (We should also do such cute things.)

From across the room, Mahir's head snapped up. "Kaunse kaam? Kya plan ban raha hai?" (What things? What plan is being made?)

Aaryan didn't even look at him, eyes locked on Maria's crimson face. "It's a two-person activity, Mahir." His thumb traced her cheek. "Haina, Maria? Sirf main aur aap kar sakte hain aise." (Right, Maria? Only you and I can do such things.)

Maria avoided every pair of eyes in the room, including his. "Aap na, aapne paon pe focus karein. Aye bade 'activity' karne waale." (You just focus on your foot. Oh you, so eager to do 'activities.')

But Aaryan had already made up his mind.

The kiss he'd been waiting for since last night would have to wait a little longer.

But when it happened—

He was going to make it worth every second.

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Reel Love

"Kahan ja rahe hain hum?" (Where are we going?)

Maria tugged at the strings of her hoodie, watching the city lights blur past the car window. Nearly two weeks had passed since Aaryan's accident, and he was finally fully recovered—something she was endlessly grateful for, even if his response to being cleared by the doctor had been an infuriatingly mysterious "achha, kal tumhe leke kahin chalte hain." (Okay, tomorrow I'll take you somewhere.)

Aaryan smiled, eyes on the road, that infuriatingly calm expression on his face. "Pata chal jayega, baby. Why so impatient?" (You'll find out, baby. Why so impatient?)

She huffed, pulling the hoodie strings tighter. "Acha, ye to batain—hoodie ka kya lena dena plan se? Ye to koi surprise nahi hoga na?" (Okay, at least tell me this—what does the hoodie have to do with the plan? This isn't going to be some surprise, is it?)

He shrugged, utterly unbothered by her fishing. "Aapne kaha tha aapko pasand hai na? To main kuch aapki pasand ka karne ki koshish kar raha hoon." A glance at her, quick and warm. "Bas isse zyada nahi bataunga. Warna surprise kharab ho jayega." (You said you like it, right? So I'm trying to do something you like. I won't tell you more than that. Otherwise the surprise will be ruined.)

Maria slumped back in her seat, defeated but buzzing with curiosity.

They drove on—past the city limits, up winding roads that climbed higher and higher, until the world fell away below them. And then he parked, right near the edge of a mountain overlook, the entire city spread out before them like a carpet of scattered diamonds, lights twinkling in the darkness.

He turned the music down low, just a soft hum in the background.

Maria looked around, then at him. "Ab?" (Now?)

Aaryan smiled, and there was something in his eyes—focused, intense, entirely for her. "Ab jo aap chahein." (Now whatever you want.)

Her heart stuttered. She knew exactly what he was referring to—that reel, the one she'd tried so desperately to hide, the one he'd seen anyway.

She played dumb anyway. "Kya?" (What?)

His tongue poked into his cheek, amusement dancing in his eyes. He was enjoying this game far too much. "Ab kuch nahi. Bas view dikhana tha. Ab chalte hain wapas." (Nothing now. Just wanted to show you the view. Now let's go back.)

A pout formed instantly on her lips. "Acha?" She looked out at the city, then back at him, hope creeping into her voice. "Waise… hum thodi der ruk bhi sakte hain. Itna acha view hai, itni jaldi jaake kya karenge?" (Oh? Actually… we could stay a little while. Such a beautiful view, what's the hurry to go back?)

Aaryan nodded slowly, still teasing, still drawing it out. "Han, lekin hum rukke kya karenge? View to dekh liya. Yahan to hum aate hi rehte hain." He tilted his head. "Aaj kya special hai?" (Yes, but what will we do by staying? We've seen the view. We come here often anyway. What's special today?)

Maria bit her lip, anticipation and embarrassment warring on her face. She fidgeted with her hoodie strings. "Hum… special bana sakte hain." (We… can make it special.)

He rested his head against the seat, turning fully toward her. "Ye acha idea hai." A pause. "Baatein karte hain." (That's a good idea. Let's talk.)

She whined, dropping all pretense. "Aaryannnn!"

He tugged gently on her hoodie strings, pulling her closer, and smirked. "Jee, Aaryan ki jaan?" (Yes, Aaryan's life?)

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Aap kuch samajhte nahi hain." (You don't understand anything.)

His voice dropped, warm and certain. "Samajh raha hoon main. But I want to hear you say it." (I do understand. But I want to hear you say it.)

She lifted her chin, stubborn to the last. "What if I won't?"

He shrugged, maddeningly casual. "To hum aise hi wapis chale jayenge." (Then we'll just go back like this.)

Maria huffed, looking around the car, at the city lights, at his infuriatingly patient face. Fine. If he wanted a show—

She reached over, swinging one leg across his lap, then the other, settling onto him with her knees bracketing his hips. "Okay."

Aaryan didn't move. Didn't touch her. Just looked up with that same calm expression, one eyebrow slightly raised. "Okay."

She was going to scream.

"I made my move," she said, gesturing between them. "Your turn now."

He shook his head slowly. "It doesn't matter, baby. You have to tell me what you want."

She pouted, cupping his face in her hands, trying to use every ounce of cuteness she possessed to break through his stubbornness. "Wo reel recreate karte hain." (Let's recreate that reel.)

His lips twitched. "Plan to mera yahi tha. Par barish to ho nahi rahi. Aur aap kuch keh bhi nahi rahi." (That was my plan. But it's not raining. And you weren't saying anything.)

Maria groaned, throwing her head back. "Barish se kuch farak nahi padta! Main ready hoon!" (The rain doesn't matter! I'm ready!)

He waited. "For what?"

She huffed. And huffed again. The words lodged in her throat, but he just sat there, patient and warm and infuriating, waiting.

She had no choice.

She leaned forward, resting against his chest, looking up at him through her lashes, and murmured, "Please kiss me."

His hands found her waist instantly. One slid up to cup her face, thumb brushing her cheek.

"As you wish, baby."

And then he crashed his lips onto hers.

The music played on, soft and forgotten. The city lights sparkled below, unwitnessed. The world narrowed to just this—his hands in her hair, her fingers curling into his shirt, the warmth of finally, finally crossing that line they'd been dancing around for so long.

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BONUS CHAPTER NAVIGATION
← Previous: Accidental Romance Part 2                                     Next: Coming Soon!

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Some moments are worth waiting for—and this one, under the stars with the city at their feet, was everything they'd been saving up.

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Was the mountain proposal moment everything you hoped for? Did you swoon at Aaryan making her say it? Let us know your favorite scene!

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