C27 The Stranger Who Stayed

The apartment felt strangely quiet after the police officers left.

For a few seconds no one spoke.

Benji stood near the door, arms crossed, still watching Arjun like a suspicious detective trying to solve a case.

Aisha sat on the couch, exhausted.

Emotionally.

Physically.

Everything from the last two days had finally started catching up with her.

Benji suddenly turned to her.

“You almost got murdered.”

“Kidnapped,” Aisha corrected weakly.

“That’s not better.”

Arjun leaned casually against the window, watching the street below.

His posture looked relaxed, but his eyes kept scanning outside.

Observing every movement.

Every car.

Every passerby.

Benji noticed immediately.

“You do that a lot.”

Arjun didn’t turn.

“Do what?”

“Look like you're expecting someone to shoot through the window.”

Aisha groaned.

“Benji.”

But Benji ignored her.

Their curiosity had already taken over.

“You’re not just some random soldier, are you?”

Arjun glanced over his shoulder.

“No.”

Benji leaned forward slightly.

“Special forces?”

Aisha blinked.

“Benji!”

“What? I’m asking important questions.”

Arjun studied them for a second.

Then said calmly—

“I work in dangerous places.”

Benji slowly nodded.

“Yeah… that explains the whole rescuing-her-from-kidnappers thing.”

Aisha buried her face in her hands.

“This is not a movie.”

Benji turned back toward her.

“You were literally kidnapped by criminals asking about him.”

“Exactly.”

Benji pointed dramatically at Arjun.

“So clearly he’s the problem.”

Arjun didn’t react.

“Hey,” Aisha protested.

“He saved me.”

Benji sighed.

“I know.”

Then they looked at Arjun again.

“And for that… thank you.”

The sincerity in their voice was unexpected.

Arjun nodded once.

“You’re welcome.”

But Benji wasn’t done.

Their eyes narrowed again.

“But I still don’t trust you.”

Aisha groaned loudly.

“BENJI.”

“What?” they defended.

“She disappears for a month talking about some mysterious mountain guy, then gets kidnapped because of him, and suddenly he’s standing in our living room like he belongs here.”

Arjun finally spoke again.

“I don’t belong here.”

The room went quiet for a moment.

Aisha looked up at him.

His tone had been calm.

But something in the words felt… final.

Benji noticed the shift too.

They studied him carefully now.

The calm face.

The quiet posture.

The way his eyes still watched the outside world like danger could appear at any moment.

“You’re planning to leave again,” Benji said.

Arjun didn’t deny it.

Aisha’s chest tightened slightly.

She had expected that answer.

Still…

Hearing it out loud hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Benji noticed her reaction instantly.

Then turned back toward Arjun again.

“You know she’s been messaging you for a month, right?”

“Benji…”

But it was too late.

Benji was already on a mission.

“She literally sent you thirty-two messages.”

Arjun nodded slightly.

“I know.”

Benji blinked.

“You know?”

“I read them.”

Benji looked at Aisha.

Then back at him.

Then back at Aisha.

“You read them… and still didn’t reply?”

Arjun remained calm.

“I was on a mission.”

Benji threw their hands in the air dramatically.

“OF COURSE YOU WERE.”

Aisha finally laughed.

The tension in the room breaking slightly.

Benji walked closer to Arjun now.

Studying him like an inspector.

“You know what your problem is?”

Arjun raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You’re too calm.”

“I’ve been told that before.”

Benji pointed toward Aisha.

“She is chaos.”

Aisha gasped.

“I am not chaos.”

Benji ignored her.

“You are calm.”

Then they pointed between them.

“That combination usually ends badly.”

Arjun glanced briefly toward Aisha.

Then back at Benji.

“Sometimes,” he said quietly,

“it ends exactly the way it’s supposed to.”

The room fell silent again.

Benji blinked slowly.

Then leaned toward Aisha and whispered loudly—

“Okay I hate him slightly less now.”

Aisha shook her head, trying not to smile.

Across the room, Arjun returned his attention to the window.

Watching the street again.

Watching the world outside.

Because even inside this small apartment…

He still couldn’t shake the feeling that the danger surrounding them wasn’t over yet.