Love? A Disaster

♪ 34. (a) Shattered Illusions ♪

Hurriedly, she reached his side and stood close with worry written on her face. 

“What happened?” She asked, her voice filled with concern. 

He shot a fleeting glance at her but then looked away. Try as hard as she might, Sila couldn’t stop the unease that filled her. The distance between them was infinitesimal, but at that moment, she felt the walls around him were as impenetrable as ever. 

He was not fine. His every gesture vouched for it. He tried to mask his anxiousness, but Sila had seen the slight tremble to his fingers and the way he looked everywhere but at her. 

He needed her to hold him but he refused to let her in and that worried her the most. 

“Aahil—” 

“I need to leave.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Leave? To where?” She asked, confused. That question got him moving. He opened the wardrobe and began depositing whatever he would get his hands on into the suitcase. Sila patiently watched it unfolding but had to intervene when the silence became too unbearable for her.

“Where are you going, Aahil?” She held his bicep. That halted his movements momentarily. 

He sighed. “Boston.”

Sila hadn’t expected that. “Boston…? Why, all of a sudden?”

“...Something’s come up.”

Sila waited for him to elaborate further but it seemed, this was the only explanation she’d be able to elicit out of him. She wanted to prod him further but his countenance told her the attempt would be futile. 

Boston? That too on such short notice? And what about that call which moved everything in motion? 

On finding her silent, he gingerly held her from the side. “It’s urgent but I’ll be back in a day or two.” 

He hesitated, as if contemplating to tell her more but then, thought against it. Sila could see this wasn’t easy for him. This trip was the last thing he wanted to get on if his discomfort was well-read by her.

Then why was it so important for him to go? And why, for the love of God, he couldn’t tell her what all this was about?

“Take care.” He gently pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. Was it more for her relief or his? Difficult to tell. But as usual, welcomed by Sila, even though she would’ve preferred words over gestures. 

It was a strange night.

𝄞

“Don’t be so shocked.” 

Alina looked up from the document and at the woman sitting before her. Tina Khakhwani’s smug smile would’ve made anyone else wary but Alina was well-versed in her quirks. She was excited about what she had on her mind.

“Let me process this, at least.” 

“Oh, come on!” Tina laughed at Alina’s response. Alina reciprocated it with a chuckle of her own. 

“I expect you to be ecstatic, over the moon, and a bit nervous, yes but apprehensive? No, we don’t do that here.”

“I’m not apprehensive, Tina,” Alina interjected. “It’s just…this is a huge step in my career. It’s so kind of you to consider me for what is your dream project, has been for years and—”

Tina rolled her eyes. “Babe, I’m not kind, just good at what I do for a living and even better at finding the talent I seek in my team. You’re part of this venture because you’re simply too good. I need a kickass stylist for my campaign and you’re that. Are you not?”