Arranged ⁕‖ A Shreyas Iyer Fan Fic‖⁕

⁘Chapter 29⁘

 Tara's POV

How could he be dead? We'd just talked to him, it didn't make sense at all. Shreyas hadn't said a word all drive, he'd simply handed me the keys and asked me to drive since he didn't think he was in good driving condition. Worry clogged my throat because I needed to express grief, not hide from it. Quietly, my free hand slipped into his and held it. Giving it a singular squeeze, I pulled into the parking lot. 

"We're here." I turned to Shreyas who once again blanketed himself with silence. He looked up at me, "Are you okay?"

I laughed, I didn't know what else to do. "Shrey, I should be asking you that."

He shrugged and got out of the car, the door clicking shut and I let out a sigh before following in suit. He surprised me by waiting and taking my hand in his. My puzzled expression must have caught his gaze, he cleared his throat. "Shouldn't a wife be supporting her husband? Who knows, maybe there are cameras around here."

It was an empty parking lot in the dead of night, but I let him. Right now, he needed a person by his side. The hospital was brightly lit from the inside, and Shreyas wavered near the entrance. He turned to me, swallowing thickly. Untangling my fingers from his, I gripped his forearm instead and lead him inside. "It's okay."

"He's dead, that's not exactly okay." He responded in a mumble, there was the guy I knew. The one who couldn't shut up. The footsteps echoed through the hallway, Sheikh's parents were on their way. We were the first here. The doctor came out of the room, eyes filled with sympathy. "Would you like to see him?"

Shreyas glanced hopelessly at the door and at me. He was looking to me for an answer and I didn't have one. "Could you give us a second?"

The physician smiled politely and walked past us, the squeaking of his shoes got farther and farther away. "Can we go home?" Shreyas requested quietly still staring at the door.

"Shreyas, are you sure?" I pivoted to face him, still not a word and still staring into that room. I turned his face to look at me, "Eyes on me."

And then they were, his coal colored eyes staring right into mine and I'd be damned if I didn't stop breathing for a second. "I'm here, and if you do want to leave. We will. But are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to your best friend? His parents are going to put him to rest, and Shreyas, they aren't big fans of you. Here's your chance to thank Sheikh for what he did for you through the years."

His head dropped to my shoulders and he just rested there for a few seconds and I pulled him into a hug. "We're going to be just fine." I cooed and he lifted up before pressing a quick kiss on my forehead. I held his face in my palms and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Go."

And he did, he stayed in there for roughly twenty minutes. In that time, Ajay had shown up. "Hey."

I smiled at him in response choosing not to respond, and not taking a hint, he once again spoke up. "Is Shreyas in there?"

"Yes." 

"Right."

He sat down across from me on the cold hospital metal chairs, "How have you been?"

"Better," I relaxed a little, he wasn't going to invade my space. This was Ajay, he never would. He chuckled, "Better is an understatement, with Varun as a proxy you've been killing it."

I responded with a tight-lipped smile once more, and a sigh escaped past him. "I guess, that's what we're doing then? Acting like we don't know each other?"

"I'm not acting like anything, Jay. We fell out of contact." I responded smoothly, my legs absentmindedly tapping the floor. A tell tale that I was nervous. Ajay blurted out, "I miss you."

And that did, my chest lurched and I paused staring at him. "I didn't get the abortion yet."

This seemed to shock him, "I thought you said it was in a week."

"It was." I mumbled looking away, he took this as a chance. Fool's hope. "Ra, I'll wait. I don't know how long this marriage thing of yours is lasting, but I'll wait. I tried with Rita, I really did. I just couldn't, and you can't tell me there isn't a part of you loves me still."

"Ajay-" I started, not knowing what exactly I would say but was interrupted by Shreyas opening the door. "Let's go." 

I nodded, grabbing my purse and Shreyas's hand. The walk down the hallway I could practically feel Ajay's eyes burning into me. Hell, I could feel it when we'd gotten in the car. The car roared to life and pulled away from the building with Shreyas choosing to drive.

Shreyas had been eerily quiet during the drive and during one random red light. He seemed to mule over saying something. "Spit it out." I scoffed, staring out at the pitter patter of rain outside. 

"Tara, I thought I had forever with Sheikh. A forever to share cups of coffee and jokes, but I didn't." His body was rigid and his gaze was glued directly to the traffic. "I realize that there sometimes is no forever, so I'll say it now. I love you."

"What?" I managed to sputter out.

"You don't have to say it back, but I wouldn't mind that forever with you." He continued, before driving like nothing had happened at all.

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