Stay With Me

Part Five

There was some tension as Nyra and Kiara approached the table. The younger girl patted her sister-in-law's arm before seating herself next to her.

Sumitra gave her the once over. Kiara if she really was her son's missing wife, seemed mostly physically the same besides for her bandage on her left upper arm. She wanted her son to never fall into depression again. She better be the real deal and stay if that is what made her son become normal again.

Aditya flashed everyone a formal smile and when he reached Kiara his stance softened. He knew he had to give her time. But time stood for him as he recalled how well his beloved had handled his stoic mother and often oblivious father. Rajesh Raichand knew business but how to separate business from pleasure was not a habit he had ever picked up, at least as long as Aditya could recall.

Now back to Kiara, she was nervous he could tell. His mother definitely wasn't making anything easy. She was acting on the defense protecting him from Kiara possibly hurting him again. But his gut told him, Kiara had gone away for business , she had never intended to actually disappear. She looked beautiful in the outfit, Nyra and he had picked out a few years ago. It made him nostalgic. But he diverted his mind to the present as Kiara could use his support now more than ever.

" So what were you doing in Los Angeles all this time Kiara? We were all convinced you weren't coming back from that trip. Aditya hasn't slept properly in months," Sumitra blurted.

Kiara gently put down her fork.

Everyone was glaring at them, including the wait staff.

Aditya wanted to say something, but he recalled what Kiara had told him prior to their first dinner together with his family.

"Let me have a shot to stand up for myself. Yes Raj Uncle and Maya Auntie raised me, but I have always tried to fight my own battles first," she insisted.

"Mummji, is it ok if I call you that?"

Sumitra paused.

Rajesh and Nyra's mouth's hung open for a few seconds before they both decided to be quiet. Aditya wanted to see where this was going. He loved his mother, but he knew her well.

" Listen Kiara whatever makes Aditya is my concern. Just promise you won't do anything silly like running away again and we will be square,"

Kiara's lips thinned as she tried to keep a firm composure.

" I don't know why I left but with all due respect, I don't believe I simply ran away. I will do my best not to hurt anyone's sentiments anymore," she responded.

She took a few bites of her salad. But within a few moments the tension was suffocating her. She needed to remember what happened. Not because her mother-in-law had questioned her but because she needed to know for her own sanity.

Kiara declined the next course and excused herself to use the restroom.

Ten minutes later,

Aditya had a tray of food brought in with her evening medications.

She was sitting on the loveseat in their suite. Her chin was resting on her knees. He slowly sat down beside her. He put a gentle hand on her elbow.

" Kiara memories or no memories, your habits haven't changed. I love you and I will do whatever it takes to make you feel better," he assured her.

She smiled slightly.

" I don't think she ever liked me, did she? Look I am sorry if I hurt you when I left. But all I know is they told me I had no one , then Raj Uncle came to see me and then you came a year later. Why do you love me so much? Why can't I remember our story?"

" Relax jaan. You need to finish eating and take your medications. Then after you are done, I have a surprise I am working on for you," he stated.

She raised her eyebrows at him.

He shook his head.

" I am not telling you unless you eat and take your medications," he insisted.

" Then you should finish your dinner too. After all you left them at the table to tend to me instead," she retorted.

"Ma will get over herself eventually. You just focus on what we have here," he stated.

She nodded and took her share of the food and started to eat.

Thirty minutes passed , they finished eating and he presented her with chocolate cake after she grudgingly took her pills. She never liked taking them.

As she took a forkful of the dessert they decided to share, she asked," So what is the surprise?"

Aditya smiled brightly at her.

"How about somewhere warm and with lots of sunshine? Somewhere far from this windy city, where you and I can be alone. There is so rush in us trying to be what we were before. We can pretend it's the beginning again. There will be no pressure, no family members or old aqainatiances to make things tense," he assured her.

As she slowly swallowed her bite, she pondered for a few seconds. But she knew her answer. She hadn't had a chance to explore her old city much, but she knew as long as she was here or anywhere else someone might know her, they would expect the same warmth or stance she had with them before she had left. She could not just be the old Kiara without unplugging from the tension.

"Ok I am fine with going with you, but where are we going?"

Aditya smiled.

"Greece," he replied.

Her face brightened and then fell.

" I don't have my passport.."

" Relax, I have it in the safe. When you left before I checked on that. We always talked about traveling outside the country whenever we both had the chance."

"Theek hai, toh kab jana hai?"

" You will go to the spa tomorrow, we leave on the evening flight in 48 hours," he declared.

She slowly reached for his hand and he intertwined their fingers.

" You act rather quickly. Thanks for everything. I don't know how to make it up to you.."

He tucked an errant strand behind her ear.

"You being back with me is enough. Please don't leave, don't let this moment be a dream,"

"I am real and I am really lucky for whatever I did to get you in my life," she confessed.

"Just wish you could remember, that you made me feel alive after years of living like a robot," he admitted.

They got ready for bed that night and Kiara felt safe with him nearby. He gave her space but she knew she had to let him closer to her again. She hoped Greece would help things. He would not push her, and that is exactly why she agreed to share the bedroom tonight.