You Complete Me! [COMPLETED]

10. Will you give me a call soon?

As Vihaan drove away from the parking lot, he couldn't help but notice the way Yashaswini's hands were clasped tightly together in her lap, her knuckles white from the pressure. She kept picking at her cuticles with her nails, chipping away at her nail polish. He could sense that something was troubling her, but he didn't want to pry. They hadn't spoken in so many years and he didn't want to inadvertently put her in an uncomfortable position.

"The past four days here alone almost killed me," he said, trying to make light conversation.

"But you're here for Aisha's baby shower! Isn't she around?" Yashaswini asked, her eyes shifting to his hair.

Vihaan ran a hand self-consciously through his hair. "She's always around. Always. And Mom. They've both made it impossible for a man to survive in the same house as them."

"Baby shower disagreements?" Yashaswini asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Disagreements? They're more like wars! I can't wait for all of this to be over," Vihaan said, rolling his eyes.

"That bad, huh?" Yashaswini said, sticking out her bottom lip in a half-sympathetic, half-teasing gesture.

"How is everyone? It's been so long since I saw them," Vihaan asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the baby shower.

"Don't worry; you're going to see them a lot from now. I'm officially appointing you my buffer, starting now. Your job is to make my life at home bearable," Vihaan declared, trying to make a joke.

"Because I don't have anything else to do in my life?" Yashaswini asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Do you?" Vihaan asked, looking at her challengingly for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. "Please, enlighten me about your grand plans."

But Yashaswini didn't respond, instead she remained quiet. The car was filled with an awkward silence, only broken when Yashaswini whispered, "Maybe this time I don't," just as Vihaan pulled into her driveway.

Vihaan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he nodded, not fully understanding Yashaswini's response. She had always been a master at hiding her thoughts and emotions, and it was something that he had always found frustrating. She had a way of bottling up her feelings and holding them in, only to release them in cryptic whispers or subtle gestures. He knew that she had something on her mind, and as much as he wanted to ask her what it was, he knew that it was best to give her time and space to open up to him.

As they got out of the car, Vihaan said, "I don't see my parents' car around. They must have left. I'll walk home from here."

Yashaswini's face flushed as she exclaimed, "What? No! You can't do that!"

Vihaan looked at her, confused. "Why? What's up?"

She stammered, "I just... I mean, why don't you come in for a while? You can't go away so soon. We just met!"

He smiled, "I was going to take your number and call you later. I need to get back home. I have a meeting with the florist; it's urgent."

Yashaswini's face reddened as she said, "Oh... right. There is a baby shower in your family. There must be so much work to do... What was I thinking...?"

Vihaan laughed, "I was kidding! I would use any available excuse to avoid going back into that battlefield."

She smiled, "Then come in for breakfast."

Vihaan walked up the three steps on the small porch that led to the front door. He had spent countless hours sitting on those steps with Yashaswini as a teenager, walking her home from school every day and always delaying their goodbyes as long as possible. The memories flooded back, reminding him of the times he had spent supporting her and preparing her for the battles that lay ahead inside her home.