"Why my heart is wanting someone who's already belong to someone else.", he whispered to himself as his eyes trailed on her earnestly.
"His presence or absence shouldn't have bothered me.", she whispered to herself when she heard he isn't attending...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Hanish Sehgal shook off the intrusive thoughts about Amaira Sharma, firmly reminding himself that she was destined to be his brother Aarav's wife. The very idea of entertaining any thoughts about her beyond the boundaries of propriety was out of the question. Despite the turmoil within, he maintained a stoic facade.
Amaira's voice broke through his reverie, calling out to him with a mix of curiosity and concern. Without turning to face her, he responded curtly, "I'll come by tomorrow. Aarav wants to video chat with you." The confusion on her face was palpable, but Hanish steeled himself, refusing to meet her gaze, and quickly made his exit.
As he walked away, Hanish encountered Kajal, Amaira's cousin, a vivacious and lively girl whose infectious energy was hard to ignore. She bounced up to him with her characteristic enthusiasm, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Hanish, why don't you stay for the night?" she implored, her tone light and persuasive.
But Hanish, feeling the weight of exhaustion from the day, politely declined. "I appreciate the offer, Kajal, but I need to get home. I'm exhausted and I have work early tomorrow," he explained, his voice tinged with the weariness that had settled deep in his bones.
Kajal pouted but didn't push further, understanding his predicament. Hanish gave her a faint smile of gratitude before continuing on his way, his mind already shifting to the responsibilities awaiting him at his office. The night air was cool and refreshing, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions that had engulfed him. As he walked home, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for his earlier brusqueness with Amaira, but he knew it was for the best.
His thoughts wandered back to Amaira, but he quickly redirected them, focusing instead on the tasks ahead. He needed a clear head, not one muddied by feelings he had no right to harbor. And so, with each step, he pushed himself closer to the calm and composed exterior he needed to maintain, all the while knowing that tomorrow would bring its own set of challenges and temptations.
***** The Next Day
As promised, Hanish Sehgal returned the next evening, his laptop in tow. He set it up on the ornate wooden table in the living room, the room filled with the soft glow of the evening light filtering through the lace curtains. His fingers moved deftly over the keys as he initiated the video chat with his brother, Aarav.
The moment the connection was established, Aarav's smiling face appeared on the screen. "Hey, Hanish! Thanks for setting this up," Aarav greeted, his voice filled with excitement. "Amaira, are you there?"
Amaira, standing a few feet away, slowly approached, her movements graceful and poised. Hanish couldn't help but notice her, resplendent in a red salwar kameez that accentuated her beauty. He could feel her eyes on him, a mix of curiosity and something else he couldn't quite decipher. He fought the overwhelming urge to look at her, focusing instead on his brother's image on the screen.
