Loving You

Chapter 7

Sahil.

I looked at him. He was still lost in himself and his mobile. Talk about obsession!

My promise to Sweety was still ringing in my ears. I could feel my heart hammering at the thought of talking to him. A knot formed in the pit of my stomach. My hands felt cold and clammy even to me.

I looked at Sweety sulking by the stairs giving me puppy looks. I could not put this off any longer.

I walked towards him with tentative steps.

"Hi" My voice felt soft and unsure even to my own ears.

He didn't look up or acknowledge.

"Hi," I said again.

He looked up this time. "Hi"

He was looking at me. His eyes boring into mine.

I wanted to look away. I wasn't sure what I was letting out through my eyes. I had been surprised, in the past, by how much everyone else knew.

"How...How are you?" I asked, just to distract him.

He shrugged his shoulders.

It felt odd. Talking to him like this. If this could even be called that.

We had changed so much. Things had changed so much.

"I heard about the orchard."

He nodded but didn't say much.

Sahil wasn't much of a talker, but that was only for others. Not for me. Now I was part of those others.

"I...I..." I felt a bit out of sorts. I twisted my fingers trying to say something. Anything.

"Don't do something your heart doesn't agree with," he said quietly after seeing me struggle.

My eyes snapped up meeting his.

There was a strange quietness about him.

I didn't have much chance to understand it though because he walked off leaving me alone.

I saw him walk away.

A part of me wanted to stop him. Another held me back reminding me that I should let the past be.

I stood there for a few minutes.

Theory and practice are very different in real life. In theory I wanted to be away from him. In reality, it hurt seeing him walk away as though I was nothing. Nobody.

I walked away chatting with other guests around. Right now, this 'small' party felt like a blessing. It gave me a distraction.

I was chatting with Sharma aunty–she was a wonderful lady who had to bear Khadoos Sharma everyday–when I saw Tia with Tarun.

'With' being a mild way of saying that she was falling all over Tarun.

I couldn't believe it! During my wedding preparations of all things!

I really was right in thinking that Kaira and Tia were not part of the family. Who does that to your own sister!

But then what could I expect from Tia after what Kaira had done!

I was sure Chachi would be pushing and encouraging Tia about this. 'Hunk!' Now I could see what Chachi was up to!

I strode towards them. I was angry. I was pissed.

I never got to my destination though.

I bumped into someone on the way. I looked up and realized it was Sanju.