I nod. “Go ahead, answer it. I’ll order us something edible.”
He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead, then walks out onto the balcony, phone pressed to his ear.
For a moment, I just sit there, still smiling like an idiot.“God, I’m a horrible cook,”I mutter, getting up and heading into the kitchen to grab my phone from the counter by the window. I dial the pizza place and place an order for a large extra cheese chicken pizza with stuffed garlic bread, and then hang up.
Just as I’m about to turn away, a strange chill creeps up my spine. I pause, instinctively glancing towards the window. And that’s when I see a shadow. Standing just behind the tree line across the road.
But when I blink and look again, it’s gone. It’s like it vanished into thin air.
I stare for a second longer, my heart hammering in my chest.“It’s nothing,”I smack my head and murmur to myself, trying to dismiss the uneasy feeling rising in my gut.“Probably just my imagination.”
I take a deep breath and give myself a little nod.“You’re safe. Sidharth’s here. You’re fine.”
Turning away, I walk out of the kitchen, refusing to glance back at the window. My steps quicken as I make my way to the balcony to tell Sidharth about it.
But the moment I reach the doorway, I freeze. Sidharth is sitting on the edge of the chair, elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed low. My gut twists. Something’s definitely off.
“You okay?” I ask softly, taking a cautious step closer, already knowing I won’t mention what I just saw.
He looks up, and when our eyes meet, a slow smile spreads across his face. He reaches for my wrist and gently pulls me onto his lap. “I’m now, since you’re here.”
Instinctively, I reach up to adjust the collar of his shirt, my fingertips brushing the fabric. “Was the call with your mom okay?”
He exhales with a small huff, then catches my hand and holds it between his. His thumb traces the back of it in slow, reassuring circles. “Just the usual mom thing… the kind that gets under your skin.”
I glance at him, my brows furrowed. “What?”
He shrugs. “The marriage stuff.”
“Marriage?” My heart stutters, the word hitting me like a splash of cold water. The thought of Sidharth’s mom planning his wedding with someone else makes my stomach twist.
“Is she…” I swallow hard, forcing the words out. “Is she trying to set you up with someone?”
Before my thoughts can spiral further, he cups the side of my face and presses a kiss to my forehead. His lips linger there a moment longer than usual before he finally pulls back and meets my worried eyes.
“You have nothing to worry about. She hasn’t reached the stage of throwing names at me yet. Just the usual nudges.” He pauses before adding. “I wanted to tell her about us. But I didn’t want to do that without discussing it with you first.”
Emotion wells in my throat, but I tone it down, trying to steady myself.
“Sidharth…” I soften my tone, trying to shift gears without hurting him. “I’m not ready. It’s not that I don’t want this… I do, I really do. But it’s just…”
He doesn’t let me finish. His thumb brushes across my lips, silencing me with a touch. “Take your time, sweetheart. I’m not here to rush you or push you into anything you’re not ready for.”
My chest feels tight. His patience, his understanding… it’s everything I could ever ask for.
“Thank you,” I whisper in a shaky voice.
He leans closer and rests his forehead against mine. “But make no mistake, Nisha,” he murmurs gently, but with a firmness that leaves no room for doubt. “Behind closed doors or out in the open, our relationship doesn’t change. You’re mine. And I’m yours.”
Tears prick the corners of my eyes, and I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck.
“Every minute I spend with you… it gets harder to imagine my life without you.”
“Good. Because I don’t ever want you to,” he whispers.
I pull back slightly to look at him, my fingers brushing along his jaw. “You’re it for me, Sidharth. And I know I’m still figuring things out, but I wantthis. I wantus. Even if I’m not ready to say it out loud to the world just yet.”
He nods, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “That’s more than enough for me.”
