Destined by Chance

Chapter 29

Simi sat at the same spot she had when she had arrived. And waited for the snow to stop falling. She remembered how she had waited for Neil to show up that first day. And now she waited to get away from him. How ironic? She won't cry. She had done enough of that last night. Some things were just not meant to be. She couldn't force the man to love her. There was no hard and fast rule that if she loved someone then he will have to love her back regardless of how he felt. And she did appreciate his honesty. It was sad though that he wanted to stay alone and all because he was such a wonderful person. He deserved to be happy. But he was a stubborn man. She hoped he got to his senses before it was too late. He deserved to be loved. Only he won't relent so easily. It would be a miracle if he did. If only she had more time. If only she didn't live so far away. If only...there was no end to it. She needed to stop thinking. Stop feeling.

He didn't want her. And she had to find a way to get over him as well. She felt no bitterness for him. She loved him. How could she feel bitter? Preet had been right. Heartbreak made one wiser. And Simi smiled wryly and shook her head. How could she find humor in her situation? She knew two things for sure. She wasn't looking for another man to marry because no one will match up to Neil. And she wasn't going to forget the man anytime soon. If her family wanted to keep relations with her good, if not, well, she will miss them. She needed to take charge of her life one way or another.

"A penny for your thoughts," a voice said.

And Simi looked up startled. Neil? What was he doing here? As she stared he sat on the same chair he had the last time too.

"What are you doing here?" Simi asked still surprised.

"Since you left the room in such a hurry I wondered if all was okay with you and you weren't planning on any rash action," he said keeping his tone casual. He wouldn't tell her how worried he was and how relieved to have found her here.

"I wasn't planning on any rash actions, I just...I just wanted to get away from...," she almost said 'you' then paused and changed the word, "the resort for a while. I wanted to find a good restaurant and the receptionist told me I could, in downtown," she told him.

"You are not very good at lying," Neil said quietly.

"No, honest you can ask at the desk," she said and then noticed a glint in his eye. He was joking.

"I meant when you changed the word from 'you' to 'resort'," he said quietly and placed the envelope on the table, "I don't blame you for feeling that way, not after the what I said and did," he said and pushed the envelope towards her.

"Neil..." Simi started but he interrupted her.

"Open it," he said softly.

Simi looked at him then at the envelope. She picked it up slowly and opened it. They were photographs. Of them. Together. The ones from last evening. And she felt her eyes fill with tears again. As she looked at them. But why had he brought them here? And she looked questioningly at him.

"I am sorry for being such a fool Simi," Neil said slowly, "everything you said about me last night was true. I was scared of committing because I thought I would make the same mistakes my parents did. I was wrong to think that way. And you were right, deep down I know I do need someone I could share my life with, my happiness with, my burdens and pains with," he went on even as he saw her fingers tremble, "I don't deserve a second chance after what I made you go through last night Simi but...but if you can forgive me I would like to start over. Take my chance, with you by my side," he said quietly, "see where this road takes me...us actually," he said and smiled, "I don't know what has changed, frankly I couldn't care less, what I do know is that I care for you. Deeply. I cannot contemplate you being with someone else. I just can't see my future without you in it somehow, I don't know if this is love but I can promise you this," he said and leaned forward to hold her hand in his, "I will do everything possible to make this work, I can't say it would be a rosy road ahead considering I come with a lot of faults but you said you love me and you cannot go back on that statement not now," he said and raised his hand to wipe the lone tear falling down her cheek, "not ever," he told her in no uncertain terms.

Simi didn't know what had prompted him to come find her but she was grateful to whatever it was. It didn't matter. The fact that he was ready to let go of his hang ups and at least try to have a relationship with her she was happy. She was so blessedly happy it was unbelievable. Any hurt she had gone through last night paled against how she felt in this moment. He had told her he would never let her go back on her declaration of love and that he would make it work. That was all that mattered. She had no plans of going back on her words ever either. And she smiled. Brightly. Despite another tear that rolled down her cheeks.

"Hey," Neil said concerned, "shouldn't you be happy? Why are you crying?" he asked as he wiped another tear.

"I am happy," Simi said as she caught his hand in hers and rubbed her cheek against it, "I will hold you to your promise Mr. Mackay and you better stick to it," she told him happily.

"You forgave me that easily," Neil asked confused.

"I was never mad at you Neil," Simi said with a smile, "I understood your motivations and I respected your reservations," she said, "all I wanted for you was to be happy, even if you found that happiness with someone else," she said softly.

"You are something else," Neil said as he shook his head, "and I am glad I can discover you all by myself," he told her and kissed her hand, "are you sure you are willing to tolerate me," he asked as he raised his eyebrow at her.

And Simi laughed lightly.

"I will have it no other way," she said and stood up.

Neil stood up and hugged her tight. He didn't know how he had managed to be so lucky but he wasn't questioning it. He had found the best Christmas present ever and he wasn't sharing.

Simi's wish for a miracle this Christmas came true as she had the one person she had wanted right in the circle of her arms and close to her heart. Just where he belonged. Life ahead wasn't easy and she knew it. There will be challenges but with Neil beside her she was sure she could conquer them all. At least she would try.

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