Forever Yours, Vrinda

Part 10

"So, won't you be coming every day henceforth to relate your anecdotes?" she asked, her mind reeling from the happenings. Her history with Vihaan and her current relationship with Vivaan didn't matter; she couldn't bear to lose Vihaan's companionship.

"No way. I'll be there. We have our walks too, right?" he asked. While he had reassured her, he still doubted if there was anything that could reassure him about her.

"I...I... Let's go for a walk," she requested, her voice filled with a mix of eagerness and apprehension.

"Sure," he obliged, sensing the turmoil in her eyes and the way she anxiously nibbled on her lips. Her familiar habit of rolling her index finger and thumb together resurfaced, causing him to wonder if she would remember them as vividly as her subconscious remembers the gesture.

"I used to think you enjoyed teasing me, but now it seems like it's becoming a habit," Vivaan teased, pulling her into his chest.

"Hmm. Since you're my passion and my addiction, I figured I should have some habits connected to you too. I've never had more fun than when I tease you," she said, leaning in with a seductive smile that he recognized.

She delighted in reducing him to a state of vulnerability with her playful behavior, capitalizing on that moment of weakness to leave him yearning for more.

"Where have you explored things with me, darling?"

With a flood of memories, a sorrowful smile danced on his quivering lips, reflecting the complex emotions he experienced. The sight of Vrinda's sultry smile, the mischievousness in her sparkling eyes, and the inviting upturn of her lips, enticed him, igniting a deep craving for her divine essence.

"Vihaan?"She called out, her voice echoing through the silence, realizing that she had lost him to his deep thoughts." It made her heart skip a beat in concern with the way his eyebrows knotted and his downcast eyes fluttered before training them on her. The feeling was similar to a sudden splash of icy water hitting his face. The ache of his desire had to be endured, the sweetness of its fulfillment far off in the future.

"I was just lost in thoughts," he apologized, his voice filled with distraction, while he bent down to adjust the wheelchair for her to be seated.

Tenderly, he clasped her hand in his and assisted her in finding her seat. Despite his desire to lift her up and place her in the wheelchair, he knew it was important for her to learn. Otherwise, her muscles would never regain their strength, and she would continue to forget her other love - dancing.

With each push of the wheelchair through the balcony, he couldn't help but reminisce about the way she moved with grace and love on the dance floor. Dancing, a passion of hers, was met with disapproval from her family. Her father held strong beliefs against dancing among higher societies, but her mother had managed to arrange secret dance lessons with the help of Sucheta, who held classes at her home to avoid being discovered by Bhanuprakash.

"You know," he said, his voice tinged with fondness, "you were always happiest when you danced." With a smile tugging at his lips, he suddenly said, "Once you can walk properly and regain proper balance, I would love to witness your dance," as the image of a young Vrinda dancing vividly materialized in his thoughts.

"It's hard to wrap my head around how things were in the past," she said, thinking about something interesting about herself. "Do you think I can dance again?"

"Absolutely. You catch on fast. You're learning to control and balance at a good pace. Might have to retake the course. I've got videos of your dancing. I'll show you once we're done walking," he said, bending down to fix the footrests for Vrinda to stand.

"See if you can stand," he said, watching for any signs of unsteadiness.

"Is Vivaan avoiding me because of our past? I guess it makes sense, right? If we've shared so much, it would be hard for him to not see any familiarity in my eyes towards him," she thought, trying to take bigger steps than the previous day, with Vivaan right behind her.

In a hushed tone, he muttered, "You do not know," deliberately averting his gaze to shield his inner turmoil from her.

"You should really learn to answer the question instead of repeating that same dialogue," Vrinda complained, rolling her eyes at his evasive response.

"Sometimes, time has a way of answering questions better than people," he replied, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips, much to Vrinda's irritation.

"Your riddles! I have no idea what to do with you and your riddles!" she berated, her voice filled with frustration, as she turned away from him and quickened her pace.

"Arre! Don't take out your frustration on your legs because of me!You're really getting the hang of this," he remarked, catching up to her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as her progress in walking and her words evoked memories of his old Vrinda.

"I see that smile on your face! You just can't resist riling me up, can you?" Vrinda's index finger pointed accusingly at him.

He was at a loss for understanding the sudden shift within himself, yet he could pinpoint the exact cause. Her words flowed with the same wit, her antics filled the room with laughter, and her frustration mirrored the passion he had once cherished. He pulled her close, locking eyes in an embrace that unleashed a tempest of emotions.

"There are many things I love about you and that are connected to you. And oh, you have yet to discover," he teased, a playful smirk curling his lips as her cheeks blushed with a gentle heat, and a smile bloomed across her face, stretching naturally.