Chapter 29
*****
Isha’s eyes flew open and her breathing was coming fast. She could not remember the details of what she saw in her sleep but it made cold sweats break out on her forehead. She touched her hand to her face and rolled to the side in the dimly lit room.
It was past one am and she could not remember what woke her up. She sat up, moving slowly. Her heart was still racing and took a moment to calm down.
She noticed she was not scared like the other times she had woken up in the past, in the middle of the night. She reached for the water bottle, only to realize it was empty. After debating for a bit, she decided to get some water.
One step at a time she went down the stairs. She waded toward the kitchen unsure of her steps in the dark. She filled her bottle and took a sip, processing her emotions. She took a few breaths and waited until her heart rate slowed.
A few more sips and she was ready to go back to bed. She took one step and froze when she saw a tall figure standing in the dark. She was startled for a second and a moment later, she knew who it was.
She stood frozen to her spot as he walked toward her. He stopped a foot from her. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” It was the honest answer.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
A moment of silence later. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
She paused for a moment, a strange idea crossing her mind. And before she could process why, she was already speaking, “Can you hold me?”
He didn’t respond nor did he move.
“I...I can’t explain why but…I…” her voice was lost when he pulled her to him, his hand gently patting her upper back like he had done a few days back.
“Thank you.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“With your boyfriend?” he added.
She pulled back to look at him in the dark. “Why would you ask that?”
“Your cousin called about him.” She totally forgot Chandini had roped Ashok into the drama she created.
She chuckled. “That’s Chandini being herself.”
“Ok.”
An awkward silence fell between them and as if she was entitled to it. “You interrupted me when I was being hugged.” She wrapped her arm around him, careful not to crush her other arm that was still in a sling. “I just need a full minute.”
He stood still as she rested her head on his chest. She didn’t want to know why his proximity helped. Too much to process. It was more than a minute but she took the time and was glad he didn’t rush her.
Shortly after, he followed her up the stairs back to her room. No words were exchanged but she was glad he followed her to her room. She stopped by her bed and saw he was waiting by the door.
“Good night.”
She smiled. “Thank you!”
He nodded and the next moment he was gone, shutting the door behind him and she fell back asleep not a thing of bother.
What would she do when she returned to San Francisco if she kept having nightmares?