Ojasvi
"Arhaan bhai?" I said in surprise, wiping the tears that had started to form in my eyes.
He looked at me, his expression softening with concern. "Why are you crying?" he asked, puzzled by my reaction.
I quickly shook my head, denying the emotion. I didn't want to make a scene or worry him.
I forced a smile, hoping it would cover up the lump in my throat. His gaze shifted to the shopping bags I was carrying.
"Shopping?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, yes," I said, still smiling, trying to act casual. I didn't want him to know that moments before, I had been overwhelmed by my feelings.
He regarded me for a moment, his eyes gentle yet knowing. "You know, you can tell me anything if something is bothering you," he said.
"Treat me like your own brother. Or if you're not comfortable, talk to someone else, but don't bottle up your feelings." His voice was warm, full of understanding, and his smile reassuring.
I nodded at him, grateful for his words, but unsure how to express the storm of emotions inside me.
Before I could respond, the sound of a car approaching drew our attention. It was Vedant.
He stepped out, walking toward me with his usual composed demeanor.
"You know, conversation is the key to relationships," Arhaan bhai said in a low voice, offering a knowing smile as Vedant came closer.
"Don't let any misunderstanding happen between the two of you." He patted Vedant on the shoulder and then walked off toward his car, leaving me with those parting words lingering in my mind.
Vedant looked at me and the shopping bags I was carrying. "What happened? And why are you carrying these?" he asked, his tone even, though his eyes showed a hint of concern.
I could still hear Arhaan bhai's words echoing in my mind. If I didn't talk to Vedant, misunderstandings could grow, and that was the last thing I wanted.
My heart pounded in my chest as Vedant gently took the bags from my hands and placed them in the back seat of the car.
He opened the passenger door for me, motioning for me to sit inside. I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me as I got into the car, my mind racing. I needed to talk to him.
Vedant remained silent as he started driving. The tension I felt was unbearable, and I knew I had to speak up.
"Vedant," I said softly.
He hummed in response, acknowledging me but not taking his eyes off the road.
"You weren't busy, right?" I asked, trying to ease into the conversation.
He shook his head. "No," he replied, glancing at me briefly.
"Can you... can you park the car at the corner?" I asked hesitantly.
He gave me a confused look but complied, pulling over to the side of the street.
The silence between us was thick, and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. This was it-I had to explain everything.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to him. "I'm sorry for the way I behaved this morning," I said, my voice wavering.
He looked at me, his expression neutral. "It's okay," he said simply.
"No, it's not okay," I insisted. "I don't feel okay about the way I talked to you, so you don't have to pretend it's fine. It was wrong of me."
He remained silent, letting me speak.
"It's just that... I wanted to buy you a gift," I said, my voice faltering. "I wanted to surprise you, and I didn't want you to find out, but you kept insisting on dropping me off, and I didn't know how else to get you to not come with me. That's why I spoke to you like that. I didn't mean to, but I didn't know what else to do." I sniffled, feeling the tears well up again as I poured out my thoughts.
Vedant continued to listen quietly, his gaze fixed on me, but his face softening as I explained.
"I also heard that you didn't eat breakfast. Was that because of me? Did I ruin your mood?" I asked, sniffling again, guilt weighing heavily on me. "I didn't mean to-"
Before I could finish, Vedant flicked my forehead lightly, catching me off guard.
"Stop crying, Ojasvi," he said gently, his voice calm but firm.
I quickly reached for the handkerchief in my bag and wiped away the tears, trying to compose myself.
"Now listen to me carefully, okay?" he continued, his tone steady but reassuring. "You're overthinking this. I was a little sad this morning, yes, but I wasn't angry with you. I understand that all of this is new for you, and you probably need your space sometimes. So, stop overthinking, alright?"
I looked at him, slightly taken aback but feeling a sense of relief wash over me as he spoke.
"And about breakfast," he added, "I didn't skip it because of you. I just wanted to buy the mangalsutra with you and then have breakfast together, but when you said not to come, I didn't. And then by the time it was all sorted out, it was almost lunchtime anyway. It's 11 a.m. now," he pointed out with a slight smile. "So, really, stop overthinking. I'm not upset."
I stared at him for a moment, letting his words sink in. "So... you're not angry with me?" I asked cautiously, still needing to hear it again for reassurance.
"Nope," he replied with a soft chuckle. "In fact, you were buying gifts for me, so why would I be angry? I'm actually happy." His smile widened, and I could see the warmth in his eyes.
A wave of relief crashed over me. I hadn't ruined everything after all.
"Now, smile," he said playfully, pinching my nose lightly. I couldn't help but smile, feeling the tension dissolve between us.
He looked at me again, his gaze softening. "Did you have breakfast?" he asked.
I shook my head sheepishly.
"Okay," he said, turning the car back on. "Let's go to Dr. Mishra first, and then we'll have breakfast together. Deal?"
I nodded, feeling lighter than I had in hours. We were okay-better than okay.
