Like a Shadow to You

Chapter 26. Like A Shadow to You

The night was giving chills to Banu while she lay awake in her bed waiting for the return of Akash. Somehow she felt the rise of an invisible wall between them ever since he proposed to her for marriage. Words of Aravind echoed in her mind capturing her peace of mind. Banu feared the thought of losing the only person she loves in the world.

For a moment, she thought to proceed with the marriage regardless of his reasons for marrying her. Within a few seconds, she blamed herself for neglecting his feelings and taking advantage of his kind heart. She decided to read her father's journal to escape the conflicting thoughts. When she unzipped her bag, she received a mail from an unknown email id on her phone. 

Her first instinct is to close the mail thinking it as a spam. But then her mind was curious to see what it is before deleting the email. There were a couple of photos with no option to preview. So, she downloaded the files after scanning them for virus. Her heart shattered the moment she opened the photos. The pictured revealed Akash and another young lady side hugging each other. Another picture was both of them looking at each kther adoringly. They looked perfect as a couple.

The image caused her throat to constrict for a few minutes. She knew she had no control over whom he likes. But still, seeing him with another woman broke her heart in millions of ways. He need not stay with her on any grounds. Yet, she couldn't accept him moving on from her that easily. Tears poured from her eyes involuntarily.

The fact that he was still not home made her feel bad about holding him back from his wish. She wondered whether it was an image from her past. But then she came to the conclusion either her father or Akash would have shared about it if it was something in his past. She believed that he wanted to move on from her eagerly ever since she rejected his marriage proposal which he made out of sympathy.

Wiping her eyes, she went for a bath to hide the gloominess in her face. She checked the daily sales of her shop through her laptop and made appropriate suggestions for her assistant. When she sat on the dining table to finish her dinner quickly before he arrives, Akash entered the house with an exhausted look.

Akash was not in a mood to explain things to her at the moment because of the pain the memories brought him. Banu's silence should not bother him in this state. Yet, he could not help stare at her form eating rotis quite forcefully. Banu lifted her head and extended a small smile acknowledging his presence before shifting her focus to the food. There wasn't any usual charm on her face. The cook served them food and raised her brows at Akash to know what was happening between them. Akash simply nodded at her to convey that he'll handle the matter.

After having dinner, she walked towards her room. Akash followed her without knowing what to do with this. Sensing his footsteps behind her, she turned towards him and spoke for the first time since he came.

"Do you need anything?"

Her words were void of any emotions. It was a simple question. He mumbled under his breath.

"Do I need anything? Nah, do I deserve anything?"

Banu could hear that even though he spoke in a low voice.

"Akash, is anything wrong? Why do you look so sullen dejected?"

There was a concern in her voice which he didn't know he badly needed at the moment. Without wasting any moment, he hugged her tightly. He inhaled Banu's odour from her neck. His breath tingled her and ignited numerous reactions in her body. For some unknown reasons, she could neither push him away nor enjoy the moment.

"I..s everything... okay?" She managed to ask the question after a while.

Without answering her, he shook his head. Given the close proximity, she understood what he was implying but felt confused about his actions. Why should someone already in love bring her to this cottage and hug her all of a sudden?

"Akash.." Akash silenced her by keeping his finger on her lips.

"I'm..so tired, Banu. Let's speak about everything later. Come, we can go to sleep," he enclosed her right hand in his left and pulled her towards the room.  After they got inside the room, he locked the door  and took his spare nightwear in the cupboard. Then, he went inside the washroom leaving her in a perplexed state.

Banu began to lose her mind from his behaviour. Her annoyance increased causing her to swear at him loudly.

'What does he think about me? He just comes, hugs me, takes me to the room , and leaves me as it is. No sharing or nothing. This idiot makes my blood boil. Let him come. I'll not let his slide away that easily. Mind it Mr. Akash..'

Akash heard everything while showering. He laughed at her anger and her swears. Slowly, the past started to fade away. His lips smiled thinking of Banu.

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