A Loveless Alliance

Chapter-57 [Strong]

MYRA'S POV

Just when I was about to let a sob free- a familiar, captivating voice held me still and safe, even though the words weren't directed towards me.

"Mumma, papa ghar nahi aaye abhi tak? Kuch problem to nahi haina office me?"

I didn't need to look behind to know who it was.

"Arey vo ice-cream lene gaye hai, aate hi honge.."

_____________

Minutes later, I found myself nodding absentmindedly to the details Poonam was sharing about her day over the video call.

Ever since she left for New York, it had become our cute little ritual where the whole family would sit down for dinner and have a nice chit chat with her over the phone.

However, tonight was different from the usual.

Siddharth sat in front of me, rather than beside me like he always does. He seemed more focused on his phone than anything else.

The peace, content was missing from everyone's faces and I couldn't help but put myself in the blame.

It is difficult to gulp down food when your throat is boiling with poison like guilt, I smiled sadly.

It was confusing if I was eating the food or if something was eating me up from inside.

Mrs. Kapoor who was sitting on my left, placed a warm hand over my knee causing my leg to halt the anxious bouncing.

"Ache se khale, kal vaise bhi tera vrat hai."

My grip helplessly loosened around my spoon but I held it together.
Kal karvachauth hai...

I and Mrs. Kapoor had already talked about this. She had clearly left the option if I wanted to keep the fast or not on me and I said yes,
Why? I don't know. I can't stay hungry but- still..

This isn't how I imagined the night before the fast to end up like though.

For some reason, goosebumps splattered all over my body. Gathering the very last ounce of strength flickering in me, I nodded to her with a tight smile over my face and forcefully gulped down another spoon of the rice.

Wrong move,
I immediately choked on my first full bite I had tonight. Clenching my eyes shut, I coughed. Once, twi-

"Shh..relax."

Maybe the earth stopped its revolution in that second. The hell I was in, merely seconds ago, it shattered into pieces at one touch, one single touch and a whisper of concern.

With my brows still furrowed, I lifted my lashes up, and he was there, right there, so close, like always.

"Drink this.."

Before I could reach the glass, Siddharth forwarded the mouth of it to my lips. His left hand continuously rubbed my back soothingly.

His brows were scrunched up, the thick layer of worry barely managed to hide itself under the fragile covering of coldness that enveloped his eyes.

Water had never tasted better, it worked like cold ice on the stinging skin of my throat.

Each sip of it and each rub over my back brought back the flickering fire of life back in me, little by little.

That's when my eyes fell on his plate, a ready to eat bite laid lost on the side as the one supposed to eat it abruptly rushed here, to me..
My heart skipped a beat.