Right Here [Regular Updates]

Chapter 20

At Shekhar's house, Shreya rang the bell.

She fidgeted a little. After all, she came without notice.

She did not know if her father was home. If she only wanted to relax with her mother, she should have come on a weekday. But, just a look won't hurt, she thought.

Lalitha opened the door and after a moment's realisation, she pulled Shreya inside and hugged her.

Shreya smiled in her mother's embrace.

When she looked up, she found her father staring down at them.

She stiffened.

Noticing this, Lalitha released Shreya as she invited the couple inside.

Lakshya greeted the couple. This was still new to him. He had only visited them a couple of times soon after the marriage.

They spent half a day there.

It was all small talk. Lakshya could feel himself trying to take away their awkwardness.

Then the four people had lunch together, after which Lalitha packed dinner for the young couple, and that was the end. That was all.

On their way out, still in the building complex, Lakshya asked, "You don't want to stay for a bit longer?"

Shreya's eyes stopped on him. Then she replied, "No."

"Did I make it awkward for you?" he asked, worried. He felt her parents spoke very little compared to Shreya or Shreekant. And she did not speak much with them either.

"No." Shreya walked in front as she pulled him along.

Lakshya gazed at her back and after a few steps, he took a stride and went beside her. He hugged her shoulders as they walked away.

∼•∽

That night Shreya spent quite some time in the guest bedroom looking at the note over and over again. The contents were the same. She had not added nor stoke off anything over these days.

She still contemplated everything, while at the same time, the peace she felt was addicting. That peace was settling deep within her.

To have nothing to worry... to be at complete peace felt nice. It felt beautiful and comfortable. And most of all deserving, and just, right.

She wondered about all the people in her life. Would they miss her? Would they hate her?

Her brother would probably hate her. Her mother would be sad for the longest time. Lakshya... would miss her too, perhaps. She should not have forced him to break up with Moksha. But eventually he'd move on. Slowly everyone would forget her.

There was a knock on the door.

"Open the door! What are you doing so secretively?"

It was Lakshya. Lately he seemed to be on edge. Or was it that she felt nervous and reflected it onto him? Whichever was true, she felt it was strange.

Shreya folded the paper and put it in her purse.

"Nothing," she said as she opened the door.

"Then why did you lock it?" She had never locked her door before. She did not have that habit. So this time it felt very intentional.

"Nothing... I was just looking at some of my stuff."

"You had to lock them away from me! What kind of stuff, hm?" Lakshya poked his head inside.

Shreya giggled and shook her head. His playfulness was nice. She could get addicted, but her mind was drunk on another addiction.

"What is it?" When she failed to answer, Lakshya walked in and looked around the room as he put his arm around her neck and pulled her face close. "A past lover's letter?"