Bound by Fate, Freed by Love

Chapter 24 Unfamiliar Jealousy

The next morning, Samar waited patiently for Mira, hoping they could head to the office together. He leaned against the car, checking his watch occasionally, but when Mira finally emerged from the house, she didn't even look in his direction.

"I'll go alone," Mira said curtly, her voice void of emotion. Without waiting for a response, she walked past Samar, who stood frozen in surprise. He still didn't understand what was bothering her. 

At the office, a department meeting was scheduled. Mira took her seat among the employees, alongside Saam and Roger, as they casually discussed work. Soon after, Samar entered the room, followed by all the department heads, including Roshan. There was a brief exchange of greetings and business matters, but when Samar's eyes met Mira's, he could tell that her mood hadn't shifted from the morning. She was distant, and it troubled him.

As the meeting continued, Roshan couldn't take his eyes off Mira. After the meeting concluded, he approached her and invited her to walk with him. As he talked, he couldn't hide his admiration. He also had a quick word with Samar before leaving the room with Mira.

Roshan leaned in close to Samar and whispered, "Your cousin is a goddess, Samar."

Samar's face tightened, giving Roshan a sharp look. But Roshan was oblivious to the tension in Samar's gaze, continuing without a second thought, as he still believed Mira was Samar's cousin.

Samar stood watching as Roshan and Mira walked out together. Something in him stirred as he observed them leave, an unfamiliar feeling he didn't want to name just yet.

Noticing Samar's expression, Saam and Roger, who had stayed behind, couldn't resist teasing him. Saam nudged Roger and said, "Don't you think Roshan and Mira would make a perfect match?"

Samar's eyes darkened. "What are you saying?" he asked sharply.

Saam grinned and continued, "I'm just saying, Roshan seemed pretty taken with her. After her interview, he couldn't stop talking about her. He's definitely attracted to her beauty."

Roger laughed, joining in on the playful banter, but Samar didn't find it amusing. A flash of something unfamiliar—jealousy—ran through him. He clenched his jaw, gave one last look toward the door where Mira and Roshan had disappeared, and stormed out of the room, leaving Saam and Roger exchanging surprised glances.

As Samar left, he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that was growing inside him. He wasn't used to feeling this way—this possessiveness, this jealousy. But the sight of Mira walking away with Roshan, and the idea of her being with someone else, gnawed at him.

The rest of the day passed in a haze for Samar, but he couldn't get Saam's words out of his head. The idea of Roshan being interested in Mira, and the way Saam teased him about it, gnawed at him. It made no sense why he was feeling this way—he couldn't understand it. There was no logical reason for the irritation bubbling inside him.

By the time evening came around, Samar was still preoccupied with his thoughts. He waited at the office, hoping to drive back home with Mira, but Franklin informed him, "She left early, sir."

A wave of disappointment washed over Samar as he headed home alone. When he arrived, Mira was already seated at the dining table, quietly eating dinner.

Samar paused for a moment, watching her from a distance. There was something different in the air between them, something he couldn't quite place. He approached her, his voice softer than usual. "Is there anything left for me to eat?"

Hearing this, Mira felt a pang of guilt. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't considered Samar's dinner. She quickly stood up, apologetic. "I'm so sorry. Please wait, I'll cook for you."

Just as she rose from her chair, Samar moved closer to tell her that it was okay, that she didn't need to trouble herself. But their movements were in sync, and as they both stood up at the same time, their bodies brushed against each other.

The air around them shifted. Their eyes met, lingering longer than usual. Samar felt something stir inside him—a tension he wasn't used to feeling. His breath hitched as he stood close to her, his heartbeat suddenly louder in his chest.

Mira, too, felt the moment's intensity. She quickly averted her gaze, breaking the silence. "It's okay. I'll cook something quickly," she said, her voice softer than before.

Samar stepped back, letting her go. "No need to hurry," he said quietly as he moved to sit at the dining table, his eyes following her as she started preparing the meal.

As she moved around the kitchen, busying herself with cooking, Samar couldn't help but notice things he hadn't before. The way her hair fell over her shoulders, the graceful way she moved, the focus she had while chopping vegetables. His thoughts returned to Roshan's words: Your cousin is a goddess.

Samar frowned, feeling a strange mix of emotions. He hadn't thought of Mira this way before, but now, something was changing. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something was shifting in him.

His mind wandered back to Saam and Roger's teasing. Why was this bothering him so much? Why did the idea of someone else—of Roshan—being interested in Mira make him feel this way?

Samar shook his head, trying to push the thoughts aside. But as he continued watching Mira in the kitchen, he knew one thing for sure: he had never really looked at her like this before. And now, he couldn't stop.

After a few minutes, Mira placed the freshly cooked meal on the table, and they both sat across from each other, facing one another. The silence between them felt palpable, though it wasn't uncomfortable, just... unspoken.

Samar took a bite, savouring the flavour, and after a pause, he looked at Mira and said, "The food is great. You've got a knack for cooking."

Mira smiled softly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you."

There was a brief moment of silence before Samar continued, his voice casual but his gaze steady. "How's everything going at the office? How's the work?"

Mira kept her focus on her plate as she responded, "Not bad. It's been a bit overwhelming, but Roshan has been really helpful. He's been guiding me through a lot of things."

Hearing Roshan's name, Samar's jaw clenched slightly, though he kept his tone neutral. "I see. It's good to have someone showing you the ropes."

After a moment, Samar spoke again. "Tomorrow... let's go to the office together. I'll wait for you in the morning."

Mira hesitated for a second. She had been avoiding going with him for days now, preferring her own space. But this time, she didn't have the energy to argue or resist. "Okay," she said quietly, her tone resigned.

The rest of their dinner was spent in quiet, both of them seemingly lost in their thoughts. After finishing, they both stood up from the table and wordlessly went their separate ways—Samar to his room, and Mira to hers. The distance between them was tangible, almost like two strangers living under the same roof.

As Mira closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but wonder about the strange tension between them. She had hoped that maybe, just maybe, things would change after dinner. That Samar would say something more, or perhaps explain what was on his mind. But nothing had happened. It was as if they were walking on eggshells around each other, both avoiding the unspoken things they were afraid to address.

And so, they spent another night apart, each in their room, separated by a wall—and by much more than that.