Threads of Destiny

Chapter 11: Starry Night

After dinner, Rudra suggested they go for a walk. Adjacent to the restaurant, there was a park with only a few people strolling around. The only illumination came from the star lights and lamp posts. As they walked, their fingers occasionally brushed against each other.

"Should I tell him? Will he take it the wrong way?" Maitree thought, contemplating whether to share something with him.

"You can tell me. Anything you want, you can tell me. I won't judge," he reassured her, offering his support. "It's just that you've been fidgeting for a while," he said, shrugging. "When I said I like you, I meant all of you. There is nothing you can tell me that would make me like you any less."

"I came here with my ex," she whispered, stopping in her tracks. "Well, at least till the parking lot," she said, pointing towards the parking area.

"You came to park your car here?" he asked, confused.

"Well, we didn't get to park the car," she said, looking embarrassed. "When we arrived, he got a work call, and we ended up leaving. I just saw the restaurant from the car," she explained, and continued walking.

"And that's not the worst part," she continued. "I waited for Italian week, I booked the table, and he didn't let me stay either."

"He sounds like a jerk," Rudra said, with a tinge of jealousy in his voice.

"He is," she confirmed.

"What happened?" he asked, curious to know more.

"It's something I don't want to talk about, actually, I don't even want to think about it," she said, forcing a nervous smile.

"Alright, you can tell me whenever you want to," Rudra said, looking at her understandingly, stopping in his tracks.

"Besides, I want to look at the future," Maitree said, loosely holding his hand and coming to a stop.

"Good, I am looking at the future too," he said, holding her tightly and gazing at her while she had her eyes closed, looking at the stars.

"Come, I will take you home," he said in a low voice.

She hummed, and they left the park. During the drive home, at a red light, Rudra said, "Not that you asked, but I've had many crushes and only one serious relationship." He started the car when the signal turned green.

"Why are you telling me this?" Maitree asked.

"Thought you should know since we were talking about that," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Many crushes? How many are you talking about?" Maitree asked narrowing her eyer

"Why? Are you jealous?" Rudra said amused eyes looking at the road

"God, no!" she said defensively looking out the window. He laughed at her immediate response.

Reaching Maitree's apartment, Rudra looked at her and said, "I had a good time today. I will see you tomorrow for our neuro cardio case." She nodded, got out of the car, and walked away while waving goodbye.

Rudra sighed with a smile, but then Maitree came back and knocked on the window. Rudra looked at her curiously and opened the window. Maitree greeted him with a small smile and said, "I can't wait for our second date."

Rudra took a moment to process her words, then he opened his door and walked over to where Maitree was standing. Catching his breath, he asked, "So, this was a date?" She nodded in affirmation.

Pulling out his phone, Rudra held it close to Maitree's lips and said, "Can you say it again? Just in case you forget tomorrow?" He completed the request with a small smile.