LIES

26. THE PERFECT GOODBYE-II

WARNING ⚠️:  if you are suffering from any sort of mental illness,  this chapter could trigger that, so please avoid reading this nothing is more important than your mental health

As they both entered the restaurant,  far from the busy city, that aarohi choice, and the whole way Neil can hear her heartbeat as she was sitting behind him clutching him for her dear life, choosing this restaurant because of not run into friends and family
"This is pretty," said aarohi while soaking into the vibes of the restaurant
"Yeah it is," said Neil while looking just at her
"We should have something,  I am starving," said aarohi with a blush now, as she catch his eyes
"In that case, we should, " said Neil while forwarding her the menu
As they ordered their food, and while waiting in silence, aarohi spoke first,  for some reason she is the one who is breaking the silence today, Neil noticed that but didn't comment on that
" you know, while you were gone, vansh bhaiya called," said aarohi with a glint in her eyes
" not just called, it's a video call, I had to pick it up as he won't stop calling," said aarohi
"Shit, then," asked Neil with a little worried look
" don't worry,  I changed the background of the video chat, you know how to do that,  next time you can try that on a video call," said aarohi with a smile
"Why he called by the way," asked Neil while
putting his on hers on the table
"He is showing me a waterfall, said what you wish there came true, he wanted me to ask a wish from there, crazy isn't " she responded while playing with his finger
"What did you ask for ?" Neil asked looking into her eyes
"You," said aarohi without blinking
"I mean you just assumed I asked for something,  I don't believe in those anymore, had my fair share of that already," she said while rolling her eyes
"For a second I thought," said Neil
"What," asked aarohi
" I thought,  you didn't learn your lesson with wish and all," he said while chuckling
"Oh you wish, I learned it the very hard way," she said with a little laugh following
Neil also laughed at that, both are laughing,  holding hands, and what dining together, it's perfect in their way
After their food arrived,  aarohi ate hers, at the same time taking something from Neil's plate too, she isn't finishing it off, but Neil already feel full, just seeing her taking interest in eating, he hasn't realized yet, but his world is now revolving around her,  as for aarohi she is trying to eat, as much as she can before she  had to get up to throw up, she doesn't want to do that, that would upset him, she can't ruin his day
When it's time for dessert aarohi said
"We don't want to have dessert,  can you get the bill, thank you "
"You didn't even ask me about dessert, not fair," Neil said with a pout
"Awww, such a baby, we are not having dessert here, I am gonna take you somewhere else," she said with a wink
"Is that so, if you forget,  you were in hospital 6 days ago, I don't think we should be doing that, you just start feeling good today" said Neil with concern
"You dirty-minded chamgadar,  I was talking about taking out you for icecream," said aarohi with a fake frown
"Ohh that, my fault, seeing you in this dress, doesn't help much," said Neil little embarrassed
"Ohh right, that's why you didn't compliment me the whole time," she said with a smile on her face
"I didn't know, you wanted me to give you a compliment," said Neil sincerely
" I wanted you to give flowers,  but right now I can compromise with compliment only," Said aarohi cheekily
"I can get you flowers if you want that too," said Neil
" I don't want flowers, take me on a long drive, will you," asked aarohi sincerely

"Let's get out of here," Neil said while grabbing her hand
They paid the bill, aarohi paid, saying it was her treat, and they left the restaurant hand in hand, when they were far away from the restaurant,  in the middle of nowhere,  just them, in their silence
"You looking beautiful today," Neil said
"You weren't looking bad, either " replied aarohi with a smirk
Then the long silence followed until they stopped near a park,  where an ice cream shop was setup
"You stay here, let me get the ice cream," said aarohi
"Do you know, what flavor I like?" asked Neil with a raised eyebrow
" doesn't matter,  you are not going to eat yours" replied aarohi
"Why is that," asked curious Neil
"Because you would be busy, devouring me with your eyes," said aarohi, before running to the shop
She isn't wrong, he can't stop staring at her the whole time,  not that she was looking hot, that was plus, but the way she is looking happy,  he never saw her this happy before, he never imagined himself out with her like this, like perfect with each other, it almost like a dream to him
"Where are you gone, Neil Birla " aarohi broke his chain of thoughts
"Nothing,  just thinking about, what changed," said Neil taking icecream from her
They both sat on a bench together,  with hardly any distance between them, enjoying their ice cream,  but aarohi couldn't finish hers as she offered hers to Neil,  he took it without any words, she leaned toward him and put her head on his shoulder,  it was a long day for hers too, too overwhelming,  and tiring since she still feels weak
"Can I ask you one thing?" asked Neil after done eating icecream
"Depends,  don't ask something,  you know I can't answer," said aarohi in a low voice
While leaning onto her, putting his head over hers
"I know what I am dealing with " he replied putting his over her shoulder
"Why me, I mean why did you choose me for this, you could have anyone for that,  you know sex thing," he asked wanting to know
" Well, at the start you were there at that moment,  and I trusted you " aarohi replied genuinely
" later It was you because I feel safe with you," she said genuinely
"So you are saying, that day when you were about to go for a swim, could anyone else have taken my place," he asked raising his eyebrows at that
"No dummy, I kissed you because it was you, I can trust you for taking me out of that "she replied
"Out of what?" Asked Neil curiously
"Out of that situation,  I wasn't there for swimming? " She replied
"Then?"
"I don't know how to swim " she replied in a low voice
Neil understood,  what she meant, without actually saying it, Neil pull her close, embracing her, letting her know with a touch only, that they can still keep her safe, will always keep her safe, if the chance is given, like that day, or any other day
"Can drive by my home " aarohi broke the silence
"You want to go home, like this, I meant at this hour,  with me, on my bike?" Asked Neil
"I am not going to meet them, just wanted to see them, missing them all a little,  it's been a while," she said while still in her embrace
"Fine, if you wanted me to drop you there, I can do that too" replied Neil
"That's fine, I just wanted to see them from afar, if that's even possible," she said while getting up from his embrace
The ride to Goenka's house is peaceful,  she wanted to see her house for the last time, where she was born, played with her father and mother, shared some secrets with her siblings,  troubled her bade papa, saved by AG, papered by mimi, they deserve goodbye, so was she, she asked Neil to stop bike a while before home, doesn't want to alert anyone