One Step Closer (IPKKND FF | Complete)

Chapter Eighteen

Payal nervously poked her salad with a fork, her mind not really on the food. She could feel Akash looking at her across the restaurant table.

She didn't know what he wanted to talk about, but she hoped it was a good sign that they were going out to dinner together, and to the restaurant Akash had taken her on a date once.

They hadn't really spoken much over the past week, Payal's confession still weighing heavily between them. She sighed and smoothed down the front of her sari for what felt like the hundredth time; she had made sure to wear her most beautiful one - the engagement present from her brother-in-law.

"Payal... I know I've been... I mean, I still..." Akash started, stumbling over the words.

She smiled at him, hoping that looked encouraging. They both had a problem with words when they got nervous, but Akash even more so than herself.

"I'm still upset about you not telling me," Akash finally got out. "But we're married now. And it's like what dad said at our wedding reception, remember?"

Payal nodded, blinking fast to not let the tears flow.

"I think I know what to do," Akash took a deep breath.

"So, um, this morning, bhai announced the Italian deal has finally come through! I haven't told you but... the partnership means we will be opening a branch in Milan and... well, somebody needs to go there for... six months to help the local team set it all up."

Payal's heart dropped in her stomach. Does he mean...?

"Bhai would normally do everything himself, you know how he is. But he doesn't want to leave India right now because... because of Di."

She wanted to jump up, she wanted to say something, to protest, but Payal was so paralysed with fear she could only sit there and listen. He's leaving. This is it. He's leaving.

Then he reached out and took her hand across the table - the first time he'd touched her since the day Shyam got arrested.

"So, Arnav asked me and... I... I already agreed. I think it would be good for us. You know how I didn't get time off to go on honeymoon because we were so busy at work? So... now, it would be a kind-of honeymoon as well. Payal, will you please come with me to Milan? For six months?"

***

With the curtains drawn, the bedroom was shrouded in perpetual twilight. Arnav didn't think there would be an answer, but he still lightly knocked as he stepped in.

The figure on the bed didn't move. Her back turned to the door, Di was curled up in pretty much the same pose he'd left her in earlier that afternoon. Arnav's heart ached, seeing her like this.

After the night of the arrest, Anjali had gone to bed in one of the guest rooms, forgoing her own room and all its reminders of her broken marriage. She had refused to get up ever since; there was nothing anyone could do, the doctor said - she just needed time.

It felt surreal to just go to work, to just leave her there every day, but with everything happening at AR, Arnav simply had no choice.

He sat down on the far edge of the bed, watching Di stir a little, without acknowledging him.

"I just came home from the party," he gently said. No response.

"Also, Nani's blood pressure is much better already, the nurses said. I'm sure NK will be disappointed that I don't have to pay his girlfriend to come to our house any more." His feeble attempt at a joke got no reaction, either.