Ishq Nasamajh | 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 ✅

Chapter 64: Insecurities

Alisha's POV:

The sun streamed through the café windows, casting warm rays across the cozy interior as Siddhart and I settled into our usual corner booth.

The faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the soft murmur of conversation and the clinking of dishes.

Siddhart was in the middle of recounting a funny anecdote when the door swung open, and a familiar voice called out his name.

"Siddhart!"

I turned to see a girl with short, wavy hair and a bright smile rushing towards us.

No no—not again Maya why she's here now urghh.

Siddhart's face lit up with surprise and delight as he stood to greet her, and my heart sank at the sight of their easy camaraderie.

"Maya! Hey" Siddhart exclaimed, enveloping her in a warm hug.

Maya returned the embrace eagerly, her laughter ringing through the air. They exchanged pleasantries, reminiscing about old times,

and I couldn't help but feel like an outsider as they caught up on years of shared memories.

Maya greeted me warmly, though I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach.

Maya seemed nice enough, but there was an undeniable closeness between her and Siddhart that made me feel like an intruder in their conversation.

As Maya joined us at our table, the conversation flowed effortlessly between them, filled with laughter and shared experiences.

They reminisced about high school antics and inside jokes, and I struggled to keep up, feeling increasingly out of place.

"Remember that time we skipped class to go to that concert?" Maya said, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Siddhart chuckled, nodding in agreement. "How could I forget? We almost got caught by Mr. Rathi."

Their laughter echoed in my ears, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the ease with which they fell back into their old friendship.

I tried to join in when I could, sharing stories of our own adventures, but it felt forced, like I was trying too hard to fit into a world where I didn't belong.

The conversation continued, with Maya and Siddhart lost in their own world of shared memories.

I watched them interact, their laughter and banter a stark contrast to the growing unease gnawing at my insides.

I knew I shouldn't feel threatened by Maya, but the way Siddhart looked at her, the way they laughed together—it stirred up a storm of insecurities that I couldn't ignore.

Eventually, Maya glanced at her watch and sighed.

"I hate to cut this short, I have to meet up with some other friends. It was great catching up with you, Siddhart. And it was nice meeting you, Alisha."

As Maya left, I couldn't shake the feeling of relief mingled with a tinge of sadness.

Siddhart turned his attention back to me, his eyes soft with affection.

"That was a nice surprise, wasn't it?"

he said, reaching across the table to take my hand.

"No it wasn't" I thought

"Yeah," I replied, forcing a smile.
"It was."

Siddhart squeezed my hand gently, his thumb tracing circles on my skin.