She Had Moved On. Hadnt She? #3
They began eating.
Aarav talked between bites, telling her another story from the home.
Aditi listened.
She smiled when appropriate.
She laughed when he made a joke.
But every few moments...
Her gaze moved toward Omkar.She couldn't stop herself.
She noticed the way he spoke to the woman. The way he was touching her hair.
Something inside her kept aching.
She hated it.Not because she wanted Omkar back.
She didn't.
At least, that was what she believed.
She had Aarav. She may loved Aarav.
So why did seeing Omkar with another woman still affect her?
Aarav noticed her silence again.
"You've barely touched your pasta." He said gently, his concern returning.
"I'm not very hungry." Aditi answered quietly, lowering her eyes toward her plate.
"You were hungry ten minutes ago." Aarav pointed out with a faint smile, trying to understand her sudden change.
Aditi forced a laugh.
"Maybe the food changed my mind." She replied lightly, attempting to hide what she was actually feeling.
Aarav looked at her for a moment.
"You've been acting strange since we arrived." He said softly, his expression becoming more serious.
Aditi's heart skipped.
Then she glanced toward the other table. Why iam effective on this but Omkar not? Did he really move on?
Omkar happened to look up.
Their eyes met.
Aditi immediately looked away.
Her heart pounded.She couldn't do this.
She didn't want Aarav to notice.
She didn't want Omkar to notice.
Most importantly...
She didn't want to admit to herself that it still hurt.Aditi placed her fork down.
"I'll be right back." She said quietly, pushing her chair back.
Aarav looked at her.
"Where are you going?" He asked gently, concerned returning to his voice.
"The washroom.I'll be back in a few minutes." Aditi replied quickly, forcing a small smile.
Aarav nodded.
"Okay." He said softly, watching her walk away with quiet concern.
Aditi hurried toward the restroom.
The moment she stepped inside, she walked straight toward the sink.
She turned on the water.
Cold water ran over her hands.
She stared at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes were beginning to shine with unshed tears.
"No..." she whispered, shaking her head as she tried to steady herself.
She took a slow breath.
"It's okay.I'm okay." She murmured, wiping beneath her eyes.
She looked at her reflection.
"I've moved on.I have Aarav." She whispered firmly, trying to convince herself.
She closed her eyes.
"So why does it still hurt?"A tear threatened to fall.
She quickly wiped it away.She splashed some water onto her face.
When she looked up again, she forced herself to smile.
"You're fine, Aditi.You are completely fine. You already moved on." She whispered, encouraging herself.
She dried her hands and took one final breath.
Then she turned toward the door.
She reached for the handle.
But before she could open it..Someone caught her wrist.
Aditi startled.
She barely had time to react before she was guided quickly into a quiet corner just outside the main passage, away from the nearby tables.
Her heart raced.
"Who hmmm..!!.."Before she could finish, a hand briefly covered her mouth to stop her from calling out.
Aditi struggled for a moment, startled and frightened by the suddenness of it.
Then she saw him. Those familiar eyes.Her entire body went still.
Omkar.
He slowly lowered his hand.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
The noise of the restaurant seemed to fade into the background.
Omkar looked at her.
A faint, knowing smile appeared on his face.
His eyes moved over her expression as though he were trying to recognize the girl he had known years ago.
"Long time, Adu."Then he spoke softly.
The old nickname hit her harder than she expected.
Aditi's eyes widened.
No one had called her that in years.
Not since high school.
She stared at him, unable to find the right words.
"Omkar..." She finally whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of surprise, confusion, and emotions she had spent years trying to bury.
Omkar's expression softened slightly.
"Still remember me?" He asked quietly, his eyes searching hers.
Aditi swallowed.
"How could I forget?" She replied softly, her voice carrying a complicated mixture of hurt and memories she thought she had already left behind.
For a long moment...
They simply stood there.Looking at each other.
Two people who had once known each other better than almost anyone else.Two people who had spent years apart.
And suddenly, standing only a few feet away from each other...