Miss Shetty and Mr Gupta

~Chapter 24~

~Bittersweet Farewells and New Beginnings~

Isha's POV

Exhaustion hung heavy in the air as Rishi and I stumbled back into the house, the night echoing with the distant sounds of the closing wedding. Our parents were still at the function hall, seeing off the last of the relatives. The Appagintalu, the emotional farewell of the bride, had taken place earlier that evening, adding a bittersweet touch to the joyous occasion.

I dragged my weary legs across the familiar living room floor, collapsing onto the plush sofa like a ragdoll. The ornate lehenga felt heavy and suffocating, the last thing I wanted to deal with. Sleep, the elusive friend I'd barely befriended the previous night, beckoned once more, and I drifted off without bothering to remove my makeup or even untie my heels.

A gentle touch on my leg startled me awake. Blinking through blurry sleep, I focused on the figure leaning against the sofa – Rishi. His soft eyes held a concern that warmed me despite my fatigue.

"Sorry, Ish," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "I didn't mean to wake you. Those heels looked like they were digging into your leg while you were sleeping."

Before I could protest, he gently tugged my legs back towards him, his touch surprisingly tender as he removed the other heel. Then, to my surprise, he began massaging ankles and the sole of feet , his strong fingers expertly kneading away the knots of tension.

"Just figured your legs were screaming after all the running around you did today," he mumbled, his gaze flickering up to meet mine. "Thank you for everything, Ish."

I found myself speechless, caught off guard by his unexpected gesture and the sincerity in his voice. Heat crept up my cheeks as I realized I'd been staring at him for a beat too long. Flustered, I mumbled a quick "thanks" and escaped to the sanctuary of my room.

After a quick change into more comfortable clothes, I found Rishi back in the living room, clad in casual wear. A comfortable silence settled between us as we settled on the couch, Netflix a silent companion.

A notification buzzed on my phone, pulling me out of my reverie. It was a message from Mom. "Hey Ishu," it read, "both families are running late. We might not be back until around eleven. Why don't you and Rishi order some food first? Padma Aunty and the extra help are taking care of things here." 

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We munched on our takeout dinner, the silence broken only by the clinking of cutlery and the chirping of crickets. Restless energy buzzed beneath the surface, so we decided to take a walk in the cool night air. The garden, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, offered a welcome respite.

We settled on the familiar swing, the gentle creaking a comforting rhythm against the backdrop of the night. But the comfortable silence of earlier had morphed into something more awkward, a tension that crackled between us.

Unable to bear it any longer, I reached out, my voice soft. "Rishi, how are you holding up? You can talk to me, you know. I saw your eyes during the Appagintalu. Don't bottle it all up."

He met my gaze for a fleeting moment, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Before he could pull away, I enveloped him in a hug, a silent offering of comfort and support. The gesture seemed to break the dam within him. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his voice thick with emotion.

"Why did she have to leave so suddenly?" he choked out. "I thought we'd have more time. A few more years, at least, before her wedding. I thought we could make some more memories together. Now she's married, going to be whisked away back to the US..."

My heart ached for him. The pain of missing a sibling, especially one so close, was a raw and agonizing wound. I tightened my hug, whispering soothing words into his ear. "It's okay, Rishi," I murmured. "Letting it out is okay. Crying doesn't make you weak, it makes you human."

He clung to me for a long moment, his body wracked with silent sobs. As the intensity of his grief subsided, he pulled away, wiping at his damp cheeks with the back of his hand. A watery smile flickered on his lips, a silent thank you for being his anchor in this storm.

We sat in comfortable silence once more, the weight of his emotions hanging heavy in the air. But this time, the silence felt different, tinged with a newfound understanding, a shared vulnerability that had brought us closer. The night, still young and brimming with possibilities, stretched before us, a canvas waiting to be painted with the colours of friendship, empathy, and perhaps, something more. 

We headed back inside and once again watched Netflix. God knows when we both fell asleep. I was curled up on one end of the sofa, and Rishi was on the other. The soft light of the TV illuminated the room, casting a gentle glow over us.

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Author's note:

Hey guys! It's been so long since I posted anything, as I've been super busy. A lot has been happening at school and in my personal life, which has kept me occupied and away from writing. I'm really sorry for making you wait so long for a new chapter. I know how frustrating it can be to wait. I really hope everything gets sorted out soon so that I can update regularly. Please shower your love by commenting and voting. Thank you 💕.

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-ROSE