Now his actions confused me so much. Should I give him another chance? Should I ignore his barely there efforts?
I honestly don’t know.
“Aisha,” he waves a hand in front of my face as we stand in front of Aarav’s house. The drive to his place was silent, filled with the occasional sighs and hums of Reyansh. It felt as if he wanted to say something but was holding himself back and I amglad he was because I don’t think I can handle his words at the moment.
I can’t decipher the meaning behind his words or his intentions.
I was touched by his actions but I won’t let them sway me from my decision.
“Yes?” I reply back, finally looking at him
He looks beautiful with his hair a little unruly today and his beard is growing slightly and he might have to trim it a bit because the shaggy look doesn’t suit his warm features.
There’s a softness in his gaze that has been missing since long and I kind of missed it.
“Are you okay?” he questions, resting his hand at the small of my back and my skin burns under his touch
God, I missed his touch. I can’t deny that.
After all, he has always beenreally, reallygood with his hands.
“Yes,” I replied passing him a tight smile. “He must be waiting for us.”
I didn’t let him reply, walking inside the apartment and away from his touch.
My jaw visibly dropped and my eyes widened as I looked around. The living room was decorated with balloons and my photos hung around the lights. The photos from our college days with our old friend group—half of them we had lost touch with and the other half had moved away across the globe.
My eyes welled up a little bit when I saw some pictures of mine and Reyansh. We looked so happy in those.
We were so happy. What happened to us?
“Surprise,” Aarav yells in my ear and I stumble back. “Happy Birthday,Bhabhi.”
I giggled as he pulled me in for a bear hug. I wasn’t expecting to celebrate my birthday this year. There wasn’t much for me to be happy about.
But things took a turn and I can’t even pretend that it didn’t bring some joy in my mundane life.
But Aarav has a way of lighting things up—both literary and figuratively.
“Thank you, Aarav,” I smile as he finally lets me go. “This is…so amazing. I am speechless.”
“It was your husband’s idea.”
My cheeks reddened slightly as I felt him looking at me. But I didn’t have it in my heart to look back at him.
It was too much for one day.
Especially knowing what was coming for him.
* * *
This is the most awkward yet happening birthday of my life. I have never socialized as much in the last month as I have already done tonight.
I sigh as I stand in the corner of the room with Sasha who was also invited tonight by Aarav. How they know each other is something I will never know.
“He’s looking at you,” she says to me, a smile plastered on her face as she looks ahead.
“Who?” I ask mindlessly sipping my drink
