SEAL THE DEAL

chapter 38

Before anyone could do or say anything else, the doorbell rang, signalling that the food the two of them had ordered what felt like a lifetime ago had finally arrived.

Manisha immediately stood up to answer the door, "I'll go -" But she didn't even get the chance to finish her sentence, because before she knew it, Abhishek grabbed her arm to stop her and stood up himself, "No, I'll go get it,"

And then he left the room without even a second glance. His mother sighed deeply as she stared at his receding back before she too stood up.

Mom:-"I think I should leave now," she said, dabbing at her eyes and sniffing, smoothing out her as she gathered her composure.

Manisha was at a complete loss of words as she watched the woman pick up her handbag and sling it over her shoulder, not knowing whether she should stop her or let her go.

Abhishek's mother reached into her bag and fetched out what looked like a business card. She turned to her and took a step closer, "Can you do me a favour, dear? This is my number," she thrust the card into her hands, "Could you please just let me know how abhishek's doing from time to time? And pass it along to him too. I know he wants nothing to do with me but he's still my son at the end of the day and I don't want to leave him hanging twice,"

She folded her fingers around the card before she could protest or refuse to accept it and hand it back to her or something.

Manisha looked at the card in her hands then at abhishek's mother, before she reluctantly nodded and slipped the card into her pocket, much to his mother's relief; although she had no intention of following through with her request.

Abhi's mother took this as her cue to leave and made her way towards the front door
while she quietly followed her. Both of them were somewhat thankful that abhishek was
nowhere in sight, probably having gone to the kitchen with the food after he finished dealing with the delivery guy.

Before his mother could leave, she stopped her, feeling the need to speak up and say a couple of things.

Mani:-"I honestly don't know if it's my place to say this, but I hope you can understand how difficult all of this has been for abhishek...and still is. He has a lot of wounds and a lot of scars, and he won't be able to warm up to you instantly...actually, I don't even know if he'll ever be able
to warm up to you. He's been through a lot and he's been very hurt, so please...I think it's better if you don't hold any high expectations from him...or any expectations at all really,"

She said carefully, trying to keep her words as mild and polite as possible, "I don't mean to offend you but please...please leave him be and let him heal,"

His mother smiled at her gratefully and placed a hand on the crown of her head, expressing her satisfaction for the girl her son was getting married to.

Mom:-"I'm glad he found you. You seem like a wonderful girl, and I know I don't even have the right to ask this of you but please take care of him. And thank you for persuading him to hear me out...I really appreciate it," she said, her smile growing as she moved her hand until it had
taken hold of one of hers before she squeezed it fondly, hoping she could feel her gratitude, "I hope I can see you again someday, in better circumstances hopefully."

Manisha wasn't sure if she hoped for the same, especially after she had seen the pain it had caused abhishek...pain she never, ever wanted him to feel again. But she nodded out of politeness anyway, and with one final sad smile her way, abhishek's mother took her leave.

After Abhi's mother left, the two of them ate more or less in silence.

Mani:-"You need to eat too, babu," she said tenderly, nodding once more before urging him to open his mouth.

He stared at her for a few seconds before eventually obliging and her lips stretched into a victorious smile when he reached forward and bit into the noodles. She hastily put her other hand below her fork before the noodles contents could fall and spill
everywhere, and she kept her eyes connected with abhi's as he chewed slowly and then swallowed.
She shuffled closer to him, eliminating the distance between both of them until her cross- legged knees were knocking against each other.

Abhishek POV

Abhi:-"Do you have to go? Can't you just stay over? Stay with me?" he asked in a low voice, closing his eyes and relishing the blissful feeling of holding her in his arms; a feeling he just knew that he'd never, ever be able to get sick of.

Manisha rested her head against his chest, smiling to herself when she felt his heart beating at a rate that was probably a little faster than normal under her ear.

Mani:-"And what am I supposed to say to my parents?"

Like yeah, her mother shipped her with Abhishek to death but there were still rules that needed to be adhered to and boundaries that needed to be maintained while she lived under her parents' roof.

Abhi:-"Just tell them I needed you here with me, I'm sure they'll understand," abhishek whined - yes, actually whined - and tightly trapped her in his embrace, preventing her from being able to move when she attempted to break away from him.

Manisha laughed, and abhishek found the beautiful sound just as sweet as ever,
Mani:-"You know I've got to go to the school in the morning. And you have work," she said, providing good solid reasons while sounding like she was coaxing a stubborn child.

Of course she didn't want to leave... she never really did. She especially didn't want to leave because she knew that abhishek probably didn't want to find himself alone in a silent, empty, lifeless house again; but she also knew that tomorrow was Monday morning and they both had busy days ahead of.

Abhi:-"Don't go," he muttered into her hair, the comforting scent of apples wrapping itself around him like a safety blanket.
Those two simple words made her heart ache and all of a sudden she was incredibly
tempted to tell Mr.gopal to turn around and return without her.