Closer Than Before | 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 ✅

Chapter 5: He Missed Us?

Radhika's POV:

I couldn’t help but think back to those day , where  he had made me feel like the most important person in the world. How had we gone from that to this—awkward silences, forced smiles.

As we walked back to the office, the heaviness of the conversation lingered between us.

Samar tried to make small talk, but I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to engage.

I could feel his eyes on me, like he was searching for something—maybe a sign that I was okay, that I wasn’t still reeling from the past.

When we finally made it back to our desks, I buried myself in work, trying to focus on anything other than the man sitting just a few feet away.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape the memories, the way his words still echoed in my mind, the way his presence seemed to pull me in despite my best efforts to keep him at arm’s length.

The hours ticked by slowly, each one feeling like a battle against my own emotions. By the time the workday ended, I was mentally and emotionally drained.

As we headed home, Samar seemed to sense my exhaustion. He didn’t push for conversation, just offered me a small smile as we rode back on his bike.

The warmth of his body, the closeness of the ride, was almost too much to bear, but I forced myself to keep my emotions in check.

Once we were back at the flat, I went straight to the room, desperate for a moment to myself.

I splashed some cold water on my face, trying to calm the turmoil inside. When I emerged, Samar was already in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge.

“What do you feel like eating tonight?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at me.

I paused, caught off guard by the normalcy of the question. “I’m not really sure,” I replied. “Maybe something simple? I’m too tired to think.”

He nodded, seemingly understanding. “How about a quick pasta? It’s easy and won’t take long.”

“That sounds good,” I agreed, leaning against the kitchen counter. I watched as he moved around the kitchen with ease, pulling out ingredients and setting a pot of water to boil.

It felt strange, this domestic scene, like we were playing house in some twisted version of reality.

Samar looked up at me, his expression softer now. “You can relax; I’ll handle the cooking.”

I hesitated, unsure of what to do with myself. “Are you sure? I can help…”

“Radhika, it’s okay,” he said gently. “You’ve had a long day. Just sit down and let me take care of it.”

I gave in, sinking into a chair at the small dining table. As he worked, I couldn’t help but watch him, the way his hands moved with practiced ease, the way he hummed softly under his breath.

It was moments like this that made it so hard to keep my distance, to remember that things between us weren’t the same anymore.

Eventually, the smell of pasta filled the air, and Aarav set two plates on the table. “Dinner’s ready,” he announced with a smile.

I took a bite, surprised at how good it tasted. “This is really good, Samar. You’ve gotten better at cooking.”

He chuckled. “I had to, living on my own. You learn a thing or two when you’re forced to fend for yourself.”