Chapter 26 #2
Siya threw on the first pair of top and jeans she found.
She quickly wrote a note for Kashvi to call her back, and propped it against the framed photo of their mother on the living room console.
When she’d come home the night of the dinner and told her what happened, Kashvi hadn’t reacted much.
She hadn’t thought much about it, until Kashvi started acting a little distant. It bothered her.
The car ride was quiet, the streets drowsy in the lazy late afternoon. The lanes were unfamiliar and she followed the map to the location he’d sent.
When she arrived at the destination, she saw the unfamiliar gate, painted in soft blue. She squinted at the arched board above the iron bars that read Lumora Children’s Home. She tilted her head, surprised. She couldn’t have guessed this if she had a thousand chances.
She got out of the car and found Raghav casually leaning against the gatepost beyond, his arms crossed, wearing a blue linen shirt rolled up to his elbows.
He’d paired it with faded jeans and his usual sneakers.
His hair was ruffled, and that told her he’d run his hands through it too many times out of nerves.
‘You made it just in time. They are on their way,’ he greeted her, pushing the gate wider for her to step in.
She let her gaze wander past the trees to the low building in the distance, where the chatter and laughter of kids floated faintly through the open windows.
‘All okay?’ he asked.
‘Do you know about…’ she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
He nodded, his lips taut. ‘Abhay has been staying with us since that night. He said he can’t stand to stay home without you.’
Guilt pricked her like a thorn.
‘How are you holding up?’ he asked.
Siya nodded and instinctively said, ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’
Raghav tilted his head, watching her with the kind of patience that made it harder to lie. ‘You wanna try that again?’
She sighed. ‘I’ll be okay. That’s as accurate as I can get.’
‘Fair enough, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here,’ he backed off, his eyes watching the road with anticipation.
‘Is Abhay okay?’ she blurted out, failing to keep it cool.
A flash of concern passed through his eyes as he said, ‘He’s trying, but you know him. He bottles it all up until he drowns under its weight.’
Siya looked away, blinking hard to fight the tears.
Raghav went on. ‘He is angry at the world, at fate, and even himself to some extent. But mostly, I think he’s just scared.’
‘I didn’t mean to hurt him,’ she said so quietly she wasn’t sure if he heard.
‘I know,’ Raghav reassured her. ‘And so does he.’
A gust of wind blew her hair, brushing the strands across her cheek.
‘I know both of you are in pain, and I wish I could say something that would make it all better, but sadly, I don’t know how.’
She glanced up at him, surprised by the softness in his tone.
He smiled faintly, his gaze distant. ‘Meera once told me that love doesn’t come with perfect timing. It comes when it’s inconvenient, complicated, and chaotic, but if you hold onto the one, you can get through anything.’
A small, wistful smile tugged at her lips. ‘That sounds like her. Ever the optimist.’
‘I don’t even know how I lived before she came along. She’s become the most important part of my life. I’ve been lucky to find love again and not a day goes by that I don’t thank the universe for it.’
He turned to her and sincerity shone in his gaze as he said, ‘I care deeply for both of you, and I want you to find the same happiness in life.’
His wish was like a balm to her frayed nerves. She touched his arm to convey her gratitude.
She looked around again. ‘Any reason you chose this place for Meera’s birthday?’
His features lit up when he spoke of her.
‘On our first date in Matheran, she told me how she’d once celebrated her birthday at a children’s orphanage and how it’s amongst her most-cherished memories.
So I figured, if I was going to make this day memorable for her, I might as well recreate a memory that has brought her so much joy. ’
‘That’s beautiful, Raag,’ Siya praised him, feeling happy for her girl. After everything Meera had been through in her life, she deserved everything her man did for her and more.
He glanced at her, weighing her reaction as he told her, ‘Although… I still owe someone else for finding this place.’
‘Someone else?’ Siya asked, lifting an eyebrow.
He was about to answer when a loud horn blared as Luv drove the car into the corner parking space.
‘Oh my God!’ A shrill squeal rang through the space as Meera got out of the car and directly flung herself into Raghav’s arms. He stumbled back but held onto her, laughing. Luv stepped out of the driver’s seat and Swayam emerged from the back, holding dozens of animal balloons.
She wore a flowy lavender top tucked into high-waisted jeans, her thick mop of hair was tied up into a ponytail with a scarf. When she pulled back to see him, Siya saw how flushed her cheeks looked with excitement.
Luv tucked his sunglasses into the neckline of his black tee and shoved a hand in the pocket of his joggers. ‘I bet a hundred bucks that before the hour is up, Mihu will cry.’
Swayam strolled up to them with his casual and familiar swagger, wearing a brown crew neck tee, short sleeves hugging his bulging biceps paired with khaki trousers. He held a bag full of sweet treats and flashed her a crooked grin. ‘I’m in for a thousand if she cries in half an hour.’
‘Shut up, I’m not crying,’ Meera swatted at him, her eyes misty with happiness. She turned to Raghav and said, ‘I can’t believe you remembered! I told you about this way back when on our first date, and I can’t believe you actually remembered it.’
‘I remember everything about you, Mihu,’ he simply said, pulling her in for a bear hug. Their height difference wasn’t much, but every time he tucked her head in the crook of his shoulder and held onto her tight, she felt safe.
She turned to Siya and pulled her into a warm embrace. Siya let out a sigh and hugged her back. Just being around this ball of sunshine always made her feel better. ‘Happy birthday, my girl.’
‘I would’ve understood if you decided not to come, but I'm so glad you’re here,’ Meera said. ‘Are you okay?’
Siya nodded and squeezed her arm to reassure her. This was her day, and that’s what she should focus on. ‘I’m just surprised by this unexpected turn of events. I don’t know how he can even come up with such an idea.’
‘Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask since I got your call last night. What’s the story here?’ Luv asked.
‘When I was eight years old, Mom took me to an orphanage she volunteered for to celebrate my birthday. I told him about it and he didn’t forget.’
‘Well, I still love you more,’ Luv said, tossing his arm around her shoulders.
‘I hate how awesome this gift is,’ Swayam added dryly. ‘Makes the rest of us look bad.’
‘Now you can never say I don’t listen to you,’ Raghav teased her.
‘I won’t,’ she shook his head, smiling up at him, and walked back into his arms.
Siya curled her fingers around the strap of her handbag, a soft ache blooming in her gut as she watched them.
Raghav murmured something in her ear that made her laugh and he tucked a loose strand behind her ear.
The ease between them, the shared glances, the comfort of knowing you’re exactly where you belong, was evident.
Siya was incredibly happy for them, and before they got married, she’d never known that love could look so easy and kind.
In a moment, a sheer force of longing hit her as she realised how badly she wanted a bond like that with Abhay. She’d begun to think it was finally happening until the heart-shattering news.
An imperceptible awareness crawled up her spine before her eyes caught the figure standing at the edge of the courtyard.
Abhay.
His hands were snuggled in his pocket, and his white shirt was creased at the shoulders. It looked like he had pulled it from a pile in a hurry. His beard, usually trimmed down to a stubble, has grown thick across his jaw. His eyes looked hollow and haunted as he stood there, watching her.
She hadn’t seen him like this before. He looked haunted.
Her first instinct was to run to him, but her legs stayed rooted in the spot. There were a hundred things she wanted to say, he deserved better than her silence, but all she had were broken syllables she didn’t know how to string together.
She swallowed against the lump in her throat as he walked up to them, his eyes never leaving hers.
‘Happy birthday, Mihu,’ Abhay murmured and pulled her into a hug.
‘It will be once you smile for me,’ Meera tried to tease him.
He gave a half-hearted attempt but couldn’t conjure a smile. Meera nodded, gently touching his cheek in understanding.
Siya looked away, drowning in self-loathing at what she’d put him through.
His gaze softened a little when they met hers, but he didn’t say anything.
The sound of children rushing out of the doors brought her halfway back to the present.
They had begun filing out in lines, the caretakers guiding them with practiced ease.
The kids were chattering among themselves, looking curiously at their group, with such a vibrant and infectious energy that it made her faintly smile.
‘Let’s go, shall we?’ Raghav gestured toward the garden where everyone was assembling.
Luv immediately called dibs on the first bite of the cake, prompting Raghav to remind him that it’s the birthday girl’s right. Meera blew a kiss to her husband.
Siya let the others walk ahead of her as she hung back, unable to bear the distance between her and Abhay. Their hands touched lightly as they made their way over the threshold and the brief contact made her heart flutter.
The wooden framed glass doors opened and a man stepped out. With an easy smile, he approached them just as they climbed up the short stack of chairs. He extended a hand to Raghav, nodding to the others. ‘Hello. I’m Vihaan. I hope you found the place easily.’