Bound by Fate, Freed by Love

Chapter 25 Unspoken Emotions

The next morning, as promised, Mira joined Samar in the car to head to the office. Silence engulfed the car as they both remained lost in their own thoughts, neither making any effort to break the tension. Samar stole glances at Mira from time to time, noticing the faint sadness in her expression. He felt a pang in his chest but wasn't sure why. There was a distance between them that he couldn't quite understand, and yet, it weighed on him.

They arrived at the office, and Mira quickly stepped out, heading to her workspace without a word. Samar lingered, watching her fade into the building, unsure why he felt so unsettled. He tried to shake the feeling as he dove into the day's business matters.

Meanwhile, Mira focused on her work in the accounting department. As the day went on, she impressed Roshan and her colleagues with her skills, earning appreciation from the team. Roshan, in particular, was quick to notice her efficiency and hard work.

In the evening, as the workday came to a close, Samar waited by the car, scanning the office entrance for Mira. Finally, she appeared, but not alone. She was walking with Roshan and the rest of the accounting team. Roshan smiled at Samar and said, "We're all heading out to dinner tonight, a little celebration to welcome Mira to the team."

Mira didn't look at Samar, and she didn't say anything. She simply followed the group, leaving Samar standing there by the car. As they walked away, he felt his heart sink. Why did it hurt to see her leave with them? Why did it feel like she was slipping further away from him?

Samar drove home alone, the empty seat beside him a painful reminder of the growing distance between them. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions. "Why does this bother me so much? Why do I feel this way?" he asked himself. He had made it clear when they got married that their relationship was for the sake of their families, nothing more. He'd even promised to let her go when the time was right. But now... now, the thought of her with someone else—felt unbearable.

When Samar reached home, he sat in the hall, restless and consumed by his thoughts. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. His heart leapt, thinking that Mira had returned. He rushed to the door, eager to see her, but when he opened it, his excitement was quickly replaced by confusion.

Mira stepped out of the car, but she wasn't alone. Roshan had driven her home. She barely glanced at Samar as she made her way inside, heading straight to her room without a word. Samar clenched his jaw, feeling a strange mix of jealousy and frustration as he watched her go.

Roshan stood at the doorway, sensing the tension. "We need to talk," Samar said, his voice low but firm.

Roshan nodded and stepped inside. "What is it?" he asked.

Samar hesitated for a moment, then asked the question that had been gnawing at him all evening. "Do you... have feelings for Amara?"

Roshan looked thoughtful, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "But there's definitely something. I'm attracted to her, that's for sure. Whether it's just an attraction or something more... I don't know yet. I'll figure it out with time."

Samar's expression darkened, though he tried to keep his composure. "Let's see," Roshan added before turning to leave, his words leaving Samar in a whirlwind of emotions.

After Roshan left, Samar stood in the quiet of the hallway, his mind racing. He remembered the conversation he had with Mira when he had first proposed the marriage, telling her that it was only to keep their families happy and that he would divorce her once everything settled. He had made that promise confidently, convinced there would be no complications. But now...

Now, he wasn't so sure.

The thought of Mira being with someone else—tied his stomach in knots. What was this strange feeling? Why did he feel so possessive of her? Why did it hurt to see her with someone else? He had no answers, only more questions. But one thing was certain: this was no longer just about the families.

Something had changed. And he didn't know 

The next morning, Samar decided to cook breakfast for them. When Mira woke up and entered the kitchen, she was surprised and happy to see Samar cooking. Samar noticed her and said, "Good morning. Come sit for breakfast, I made it today." Mira smiled and said, "Thank you," as she sat down. He served Masala Dosa, one of her favourites. Mira expressed her gratitude, enjoying the thoughtful gesture.

During breakfast, Samar suggested, "How about we go out for a trip today? We could explore some places." Mira thought for a moment, then replied, "Okay, that sounds nice."

Later, when Mira came downstairs, dressed for their outing, she looked absolutely stunning. Her beauty took Samar's breath away. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, and as their gazes met, there was an undeniable spark between them. Mira, too, felt her heart race as she looked at Samar, who looked more handsome than ever. There was something different in the air today—something electric.

As they drove to Glendalough, the silence between them wasn't awkward. Instead, it was filled with unspoken words, the car ride heavy with growing anticipation.

At Glendalough, the beauty of the place took their breath away. The peaceful lakes, the ancient monastic ruins, and the lush greenery felt like a world away from their usual lives. They walked side by side, their hands occasionally brushing against each other as they strolled along the lake.

At one point, while they were walking on a narrow trail, Mira stumbled slightly on the uneven path. Samar instinctively reached out, grabbing her hand to steady her. Their hands remained clasped a little longer than necessary, and neither of them made a move to let go. Mira looked up at him, and in that brief moment, time seemed to slow down. She felt a flutter in her chest as their eyes locked. There was a warmth in Samar's gaze that she hadn't seen before.

Samar broke the silence with a gentle voice, "Are you okay?"

Mira nodded, still holding his hand. "Yes, I'm fine." But she wasn't sure if she was fine. Her heart was racing, and her thoughts were a swirl of emotions she hadn't expected. Samar's touch lingered in her mind long after they resumed walking.

Later, they found a secluded spot by the lake to sit down and take in the scenery. As they watched the sun begin to set over the valley, Samar's arm casually rested behind Mira on the bench. The quiet beauty of the place, combined with the closeness they shared, made the moment feel intimate.

Mira leaned slightly against him, testing the boundaries, and to her surprise, Samar didn't move away. Instead, he leaned into her a little more, his body warm against hers. The tension between them grew, but it was no longer the awkward tension of their past. This was something different—something exciting.

As the cool evening air began to settle, Samar gently brushed a strand of hair away from Mira's face. His fingers lingered near her cheek, and Mira closed her eyes for a brief second, savoring the moment. "You look beautiful today," he said, his voice softer than she had ever heard.

Mira opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "Thank you," she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

The rest of the evening passed in comfortable silence, their connection growing with every quiet moment shared. As they returned to the car, Samar reached for her hand again, and this time, it felt natural. Neither of them said anything about it, but the warmth of their intertwined fingers spoke volumes.

By the time they returned home, there was a noticeable shift between them. The day had softened the walls they had built around each other, and though neither of them said it, they both knew something had changed. Something deeper. Something that neither of them could ignore any longer.

As they stood in front of their separate rooms at the end of the night, Samar hesitated before speaking. "Thank you... for today. I enjoyed it."

Mira smiled, feeling a little braver after the day they had shared. "Me too." For the first time in a while, she felt hope—not just for her future, but for whatever was growing between her and Samar.

They both lingered for a moment longer, caught in the quiet magic of the day, before parting ways. But as they closed their doors, it was clear to both of them that today had brought them a step closer to understanding something much more profound.