Mihir's POV
Her words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I felt a lump in my throat, unsure of how to respond. She was offering me her heart, and I didn't know if I was ready to accept it. Not when I was still grappling with my own feelings.
"I... I appreciate that, Tami," I said finally, my voice thick with emotion. " I like you. It's just... it's complicated."
She smiled a small, sad smile that tugged at my heart. "I know. It's ok... maybe we can figure it out together? Or we can be just friends, " she said.
I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the hope in her eyes. She was offering me a chance, a chance to move forward, to find something real between us. And despite my confusion, despite the remnants of my feelings for Gauravi, I found myself wanting to take that chance.
"Yeah," I said, taking a step closer to her. "Maybe we can," I said Tami smiled, a small, shy smile that made my heart skip a beat.
She smiled again, brighter this time, and it felt like the sun had broken through the clouds. At that moment, I realized that maybe, just maybe, this marriage of convenience could become something more. Something real.
We stood there, close but not touching, and I felt the tension ease, replaced by a tentative hope. It was a beginning, a fragile one, but a beginning nonetheless. And as I looked into Tami's eyes, I felt a spark of something new and undeniable. Maybe we could figure it out together, one step at a time.
***********
Over the past few days, Tami and I had begun to find a rhythm. We were still figuring things out, but the awkwardness was slowly giving way to a tentative friendship. I had to admit, she had a calming presence, and her care for Dad had won my respect.
Tami went to work and I stayed with Dad as Dad was supposed to get discharged from the hospital in the evening. I wanted to get all his tests done before taking him home. So we were in the hospital itself.
I was going to see Gautam uncle regarding one of the reports of my dad when I saw Gaurvi and Shlok. She was literally glowing and both looked very happy and in love. She was giggling and walking faster, and Shlok scolded her for doing so, saying that she might fall, she must take care of herself, especially while she was pregnant.
" So now you recall that I should walk slow and take precautions while walking, what about the time when you go wild in bed? " She asked. Shlok smiled and pulled her in his arms.
" That's entirely your fault, I can't help it as you drive me wild with love and desire. But don't say as if you are not enjoying it, you make me go wild with the moans and..."
" Oh, shut up!! " She said and both burst out laughing. He held her in his arms and kissed her.
" Let's go for the scan, I am excited to see our little peanut. " He said after breaking the kiss. She looked absolutely radiant. She seemed to be burning under his touch. Her cheeks were flushed with a mere kiss. She never looked like this whenever we kissed on a few occasions. They looked happy.
I don't know why but I got angry looking at them. They both were going to the radiology department. So I dropped the idea of going there for the time being and went to have a strong coffee.
Things were getting better until now, but now Gaurvi and Shlok are back from their honeymoon. Their presence at the hospital stirred up old memories and emotions that I had tried to bury. Seeing my former fiancée, now happily married to another man, brought back the pain of her betrayal.
After having two cups of strong black coffee I was heading back to Dad's room when I overheard a conversation between some nurses. They were discussing Gaurvi and Shlok's return, talking about how perfect they looked together and how they seemed so in love. They were saying how they could not take their hands off each other. They even said that they were the best couple and it was good that she went away with him before our wedding, as Gaurvi and I never looked so good together or in so much love though everyone knew that we would get married one day.
It stung more than I cared to admit. I knew it was irrational, but the bitterness and anger resurfaced.
Later that day, Tami and I were scheduled to have lunch together in the hospital cafeteria. When I arrived, I saw Tami sitting at a table, talking and laughing with Gaurvi and Shlok. The sight made my blood boil. It felt like a cruel reminder of everything I had lost.
They saw me and Gaurvi got up the moment she saw me and came towards me and said, "Hello, Mihir! How are you? " But I ignored her.
I approached the table, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Tami, can we talk for a moment?" I asked, my voice was sharper than I intended.
She looked up, surprised by my tone.
" Mihir, would you not even talk to me, now?? Don't be so angry, I know, I should have talked..." Gaurvi came to me and said.
" Excuse me, I need to talk to my wife. " I said.
" Sure, Mihir. But we need to talk as well. "
" I don't think so... Anyway, Tami, we need to talk. "
" Is everything okay?" Tami asked with concern.
"Not here. In private," I said, walking away from the table without waiting for her response.
Tami followed me to a quiet corner of the hospital. "What’s wrong, Mihir?"
"I don't appreciate you sitting there, chatting with Gaurvi and Shlok like everything is perfectly fine," I snapped.
Her eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean? They’re family. I met my sister after so long, we had so much to catch on, and I suggest you be a bit polite with her... Them."
" It looked more like you were having the time of your life with them. And you want me to be polite? Polite? With them? Did you forget how they betrayed me?" The words came out harsher than I intended, but I couldn't stop myself.
Tami's face fell. "I haven't forgotten, Mihir. But holding onto that anger isn't going to help anyone. We need to move forward."
"Move forward? With them around, flaunting their happiness? It's like a slap in my face! "
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