Detached

CHAPTER 62

*RIYANSH'S POINT OF VIEW*

He really didn’t need to ask me that, I would look after Meera forever if she’d let me. “Of course, sir,” I promised, nodding and tightening my other arm around her waist as I shook his hand. As soon as her dad left, I pulled her into another dance, eager to have her in my arms again. My mouth was itching to be on hers. She looked exquisite tonight; she was so beautiful that it honestly hurt to look at her. I couldn’t seem to get close enough to her. “I don’t suppose I can kiss you in front of your parents,” I whispered, already knowing the answer was no.

She shook her head and winced. “I don’t think I’d ever hear the end of it.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I admitted, trying not to show her how disappointed I was that I couldn’t kiss her soft lips. As her eyes drifted over my shoulder, her whole posture changed. She stiffened, her hand tightened on my shoulder, her nails dug into the back of my hand that she was holding as we danced. My body tensed too in response, but I had no idea what, or who, had caused her reaction. Just as I was about to turn and look, she twisted my body and ducked her head so that she was hidden from view. Whoever she was looking at, she obviously didn’t want them to see her.

“Holy shit, Ankush’s family are here,” she whispered.

My eyes widened in surprise. No doubt, she was going to have a full scale meltdown now, just like last time she’d seen Ankush’s mother. My arm tightened on her as she pressed her body closer to mine, peeking over my shoulder. “They are? You want to leave?”

She gulped but didn’t answer. Slowly, her hand loosened on mine and her shoulders lost the tenseness to them.

“Actually, I’m alright,” she replied, seeming a little shocked about it herself. I looked down at her, stunned. Her eyes told me that she was telling the truth, she really was okay at being confronted by Ankush’s family. Is she finally getting over him? Is she finally ready to move on? I wondered.

“Yeah?” I asked, watching closely to see if her mask slipped.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “Actually, I want to go say hi,” she added, as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Pride swelled inside me. I actually wanted to jump up and down in celebration, doing my victory dance because she was clearly making some progress with her grief.

She pulled out of my arms and sidestepped me, walking confidently over to a table at the back of the room. I followed behind her with my heart still slamming in my chest. “Hi, I didn’t realise you guys were here, otherwise I would have come over sooner,” Meera said, smiling happily at them as we got to their table.

I glanced around the table quickly, taking them all in. When my eyes landed on the blond guy, I felt sick. It was Mohit, Ankush’s brother. Last time she’d lost control because he looked so much like his brother. Maybe she hadn’t seen him yet? I flicked my eyes over to Dean, seeing that he was watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. He was clearly expecting her to freak out at any second too.

A tall guy, probably in his early forties, stood and smiled at Meera affectionately. “Hi! Oh you look beautiful, Meera,” he cooed as he stepped forward and wrapped her into a tight hug.

She smiled as she stepped back after a second. “Thanks, Uncle, you’re looking pretty good yourself there,” she answered, looking him over. She turned as Ankush’s mom stood too. “It’s so nice to see you again. It’s been a while.”

The lady engulfed her in a hug too, patting her back as she closed her eyes and clearly cherished the affection from someone whom she cared about deeply. “It’s been way too long,” the lady gushed. I tried desperately to remember her name, but I couldn’t recall it. When I was introduced to her in the café, I’d been too concerned with Meera to listen to her name.