FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 26

After dinner, I am surprised when Vimala informs me that there is carrot Halwa, she had made while I was in Lakshadweep. Adnan loves sweet, but he hadn't even tasted the Halwa

'Didi, Saheb was really missing you. He hardly ate, slept...he was worried for you' Vimala says. I smile sadly, I feel bad for myself. This love, I don't deserve this. But this love and care, I don't want to loose it, ever. I can't fall in his eyes. I simply take two cups of Halwa and leave walking towards the study where Adnan is.

'Bhai' I say as I enter his study room. He turns his head and smiles removing his glasses. He places it over a file that lay open on his table.

I hand him the cup, he smiles widely. I take my seat beside him

'Bhai! What is this I am hearing? You had become depressed lover in my absence' I say and giggle. He shakes his head and smiles sadly

'You are my world, Aleesa' he says softly.

'And what when my "Bhabhi" comes into the picture' I wink nudging his arm. Adnan sighs sadly and shakes his head.

I look at him, I extend my hand and place my palm over his, 'Bhai! You have to marry someday, right? I think if you marry you will have a company...someone to talk to openly with no restrictions...a perfect partner' I reasoned.

Adnan places the cup on the table and stands up, I stand too 'I can't...because I will never be able to give her that happiness...the love that a wife deserves...I can't give her that and knowing this I can't be selfish and ruin an innocent girl's life...' he says sadly

I look at him sadly, why is Adnan torturing himself so much?

'Bhai...I don't know if I should say this but...I think you should forget...her...and move on'

Adnan stiffens as I say what I said, I see his fingers clenched in a tight fist, perhaps I shouldn't have said this. I guess I opened old wounds, a wound that Adnan never let to heal.

He turns to me 'Somethings that we can't control' he replies dryly. My heart sinks seeing pain in Adnan's eyes.

If I am his world, he too is my world. I look away biting my lower lip, I start to mentally debate with myself if I should tell him about Urooj and Atif. No! it will only make Adnan miserable.

'Good night' he says and leaves.

I watched him leave, I felt my eyes getting moist. I felt really emotional. Sadly, I picked up our cups full of Halwa and walked back into the kitchen.

It's 3am in the night, I lay in my bed and stare up at the ceiling, my hands resting on my stomach. Sleep eludes me. I watch the ceiling fan rotate. My mind blank. I felt thirsty, the water jug is empty so I picked up the jug and leave the room. Adnan's room is next to mine and I have pass his room to get to the stairs.

I notice nightlamp of his room is on and door slightly ajar. I assumed he must have fallen asleep while reading again. I slowly pushed the door but pause when I see him sitting on his bed, his back to me.

I frown when I see him shake, Oh, God! is he crying? My doubts get cleared when I hear faint sob. I guess I did open old wounds.

'I love you' I hear his meek voice and I felt a sharp cold knife stab my heart. Tears begin to clog my eyes. I take a step back and turn around pressing my back against the wall, I covered my mouth with my palm muffling my cry, my other hand clenched the water- jug tightly.

Tears stream down my cheeks, perhaps karma is getting me this way. The only person that means everything to me, the only person whose happiness makes me happy is suffering and everything is my fault. And there is nothing I can do to give him his happiness back, I felt helpless...I felt like a loser.