ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 39

Nishtha

We walked along the mountains quietly, but it was still peaceful. I realized, after crying for an hour yesterday, that my biggest problem was that I was expecting things from him. I was expecting that he'd be a husband, I was hoping and expecting that he'd be civil and nice - even though recently he has, but for how long will he? I don't know what I'd say and he'd snap.
So, my best course is to stay away.

When you know you are temporary in someone's life, don't give them a permanent place in yours.

So, I stayed cordial, because deep down, I still love him. It was paining me enough to stay cordial, being rude with him was not something I could do. Currently, we were walking. After his conversation on making efforts, I didn't know what to say, when he shut the conversation himself, I thought it's best to keep it quiet. I was confused as to why he's being weird when I'm finally speaking his language. He used to get annoyed that I'm not speaking his language and now when I am, he's still annoyed.

I noticed him. He had definitely grew taller and become more lean and physically attractive. His jaw had become better and he was definitely in his best form right now: physically and in terms of his career. I just hope he was emotionally and mentally alright as well, I'd never know.

"Why are you staring Nishtha?" He suddenly asked, keeping his eyes on his phone.
I got startled, "What... no... I just... I wa—"
"I know I'm good looking. You can stare."
"In dreams, sure." I said and looked away.
I felt my hand being pulled, "Oh really?" He said and smirked, "In dreams?"
"What are you doing?"
"Just wanted to know whose dreams do I look good in exactly." He said, smirking.
"I... I don't know." I said, trying to let go.
"No point struggling." He causally added.
"Leave me then."
"I will, when I get my answer from you."
"I don't have an answer." I said, looking away.
"We... we need to walk. The group is going."
"I know the way, we don't need the group."
"No... but... I do."
"Why do you need that when I'm here?"
"Because.... I... I just do."
He chuckled and let go, "Let's go." He said and causally walked on as if nothing happened.

He was giving me shivers.

We reached the temple and I went ahead to pray. We arrived by the praying area and a pandit told us what to do and we followed him.
"Newly weds?" He asked us.
Yuvaan nodded, "Ji. Almost a month."
"Very beautiful!" He said, "Here beta." He said, handing him a little sindoor.
I panicked. No no no.
He wouldn't want to put sindoor on me.
"Pandit ji... it's okay... iski koi zaroorat nahi hai..." I tried to reason with him to let go.
"Beti, this mandir is very special. Couples who marry here will always be tied together. You two are lucky to come here so early into the marriage." Looking at Yuvaan, he added, "Beta, you put this on her."
"Pandit ji... vo..." I tried to speak.
Yuvaan cut me off, "Sure Pandit Ji. Excuse her, she gets shy with all this. he said, smiling.
I looked at him and looked down.
He slowly brought his hand forward and I looked up into his eyes, little tears forming. This was the second time he's doing this and it's fake every single time.
I didn't want to have a fake sindoor on me.
I saw him look into my eyes as his fingers, with the sindoor, touched the middle partition of my hair. It fell on my nose as well.
"See! You'll always be together!" The pandit smiled.
I smiled back just for the sake of it.
If only you knew, Pandit Ji.

Once we were done, we left and continued walking alongside that village and that road. I walked with him, and he walked alongside me. I felt our arms brushing at one point but I tried to avoid the goosebumps in my mind and body.
"We should get lunch." He said, stopping.
"Yeah." I said.
He turned to me, "I was thinking...."
Why'd he stop talking?
What's he staring at?
"What?" I asked, seeing him look at me.
"Nothing." He said, "I was thinking we eat at this village. This dhaba here."
"Okay." I said.
We walked on and found the dhaba and took a seat. I noticed the decor and loved it and took a few pictures. I haven't been active on my Instagram for so long. It's time to get active again. I took a bunch of pics then kept it down.
"Still a mobile addict." He said, while scanning the menu.
"What? I'm just taking a few pics." I said.
"That's what you used to say, then you would proceed to spending half your day on it."
"I... I don't check my phone that much now."
"Why? Did you delete Instagram or something?"
"How.... how do you know?"
He looked at me, "Because I deleted it too."
I gulped and looked away, "I... I see."
The waiter came, "Sir Ma'am, what would you like to eat?"
"One Pav Bhaji." We said in unison.
I looked at him.
"I... I meant like—" I spoke.
"We'll have one Pav Bhaji and one Daal Makhani and Jeera Rice." Yuvaan finished.
"Sure Sir..." the waiter said and went.
I looked at him, "Why did you change?"
"Change what?" He said.
"Your order?"
"What?"
"You... you ordered a Pav Bhaji... why did you change it to Daal Makhani?" I asked him.
He chuckled, "I ordered Pav Bhaji for you. Daal Makhani is for me."
"Oh."
"You assumed I'd forget your favorite food?" He said, looking right at me.
"I... Yeah." I said, looking down.
"There are things I can't forget." He said, "You are one of them."
I looked up at him, his eyes piercing into mine.
What's going on with him?
I looked away and sat silently.

Soon, our food arrived and while my Pav Bhaji looked amazing, and tasted amazing, that Daal Makhani was tempting me as well. A lot.
It looked and smelled so good. 
Should I ask him?
I watched him eat his food, while scrolling on his phone.
I finished my food and I sat there.
I was still hungry.
Maybe I'll order something else.
Should I?
Or... I'll just eat something at home.
That Daal Makhani was tempting me so much!
"Nishtha..." he said looking at me.
"Yes?" I said.
"I know I haven't seen you for 4 years, and you must have changed, but the habit of staring at food you want hasn't."
I looked down, embarrassed.
Oh God.
"No... I... I wasn't... I'm sorry." My cheeks were turning red with embarrassment.
"Here." He said, passing me his plate.
"What?!"
"Have." He said, causally.
"N...No it's fine... I'm full." I lied.
"And I'm SRK." He teased.
Has he morphed into someone else?!
"Y...Yuvaan it's... it's okay." I argued.
He sighed and moved my chair closer to him, making me gasp in shock. Then, he took the spoon and quickly put a bite in my mouth. My eyes widened. I chewed it in silence while I watched him continue eating casually.

He didn't use a different spoon.
I felt my heart flutter.

"Tastes good?" He asked once I was done.
I nodded.
"Have more then." he said and moved the plate towards me.
"No... no Yuvaan... I'm fine." I said.
"Nishtha. I know you're fine. I'm asking because I can't eat more and I don't want to waste."
"Oh. Okay." I said and took the spoon. We ate again in silence and then paid the bill and left from there. 

~•~

We were going to head back tomorrow and tonight we were going to have drinks with the family we met at on the first day. We got ready. I wore a simple crop top and jeans, and Yuvaan stayed in the same white shirt. I reached outside and he looked at me.
"Nishtha, you will freeze." He said.
"I don't have a jacket with me." I argued.
"Okay. Use this." He said and gave me his.
"What? No." I said.
"Why not?" He asked.
"I... I can't use that. I... I'm fine. Relax."
"Nishtha, you and I both know you're going to feel cold and then complain. Just wear it."
"I'm not going to complain. Let's go." I said and got my phone and headed outside. He rolled his eyes and locked the door and we started walking.

He was right. It was freezing.
But, I'm not going to tell him that.

We walked silently and I kept on thinking about random things to avoid the freezing cold. Then, suddenly, Yuvaan caught my hand and pulled me close to my back collided on his chest.
"Yu... Yuvaan... what?" I asked.
"Shush." He said. I couldn't see but I could hear my heart rate increasing drastically. Suddenly, I felt a warm clothing on me.
He just put his jacket on me.
"Yuvaan... I don't nee—"
"You were practically dying right now. I told you, just don't do natak now."
"What are you going to wear then?" I said, turning around and moving a bit back.
"I came prepared." He said, showing me another jacket of his, "Lets go."

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