In her eyes..

Chapter 24 - Reality

It was dark outside and Pari couldn't get herself to go back to the office and drive home, all a lone. So she just wandered around the streets and lingered at interesting shop fronts, peering inside. She was completely torn inside. She wanted to kiss Dev and explore her feelings but she knew it was wrong - cheating was wrong. But didn't she know somewhere deep inside that Kabir cheated on her? His long work trips, after hours calls, the smell of women's fragrances on him after work...she knew what he was doing. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. It wasn't that she owed it to Kabir or there broken marriage, but she had a strong sense of right and wrong.

Dev was in his car scanning the streets. He didn't want Pari to be all a lone out on the streets in the dark - he was her ride and it was up to him to see her home safely. He probably shouldn't have gotten so close to her but he couldn't help it. All the old emotions had come rushing back. He had never stopped wanting her or needing her and he wished things were different now - but she had a husband!

Pari heard the screech of a car somewhere in the distance which shook her a little. She didn't want to admit to herself but being out so late scared her - especially in this part of town. She started walking faster, toward where she had no idea but she had to get out of the streets. She noticed an open pizza place in the distance and veered toward it. But a car pulled up next to her scaring her half to death at that precise moment.

"Pari! Why did you run off?" Dev looked visibly frustrated and scared too. "I drove around for so long trying to find you."

"Sorry Dev, I shouldn't have left like that."

"Get in" he said reaching over to open the passenger door. "I'll take you home."

She got in hesitantly, not wanting to get too close to Dev again. But she was happy that he had come to her rescue, she didn't want to end up as some unnamed body in the morning - that was a common occurrence around these parts.

"Why do you live on the East? It's so dangerous." She tried to make casual conversation to ease the tension between them as he drove.

"I know but no one bothers me here - I feel like I can be myself here. No one has bothered me yet."

"But you should move somewhere safer just for peace of mind." She didn't know what else to say - she just didn't want to sit in silence nor did she want to discuss what had happened earlier between them.

"How about I move in with you?" He said looking sideways and winking. His dimpled smile blew her away - the sweet face of her best friend....not much had changed.

"Sure! That sounds like a legitimate option - how about Kabir and I adopt you?" She said dragging him back to reality. She had to remind him that Kabir existed in this equation.