Part 15: Confused

RAYAAN

Meera's eyes were tingling with excitement. She neither asked me about the sudden plan nor did she seem to mind. I came to know she was glad about the plan when she looked quite free. No fidgeting with her fingers, or wiping her sweaty hands on her saree.

A tiny smile played on her lips. Like every time there was just silence between us. I resisted the urge to initiate a conversation, not wanting to disrupt her peaceful thoughts. She was lost in her own world, looking out of the window.

Soon enough we reached her house and she hopped out like a rabbit, running towards the door. She went inside but hurriedly stepped back, her face having a surprised realization.

She is cute.

I took the gift and sweets and walked to her. She gave me a nervous-sheepish smile and I controlled my urge to chuckle. It amused me how she effortlessly came up with such natural expressions.

"After you" I said, gesturing for her to guide me.

Not needing to be told twice she fled inside and I couldn't hold back the chuckle this time. Visiting her house was indeed a wise decision.

I followed her inside, where she was already shouting, "Mumma!" Her mother rushed to her side as soon as she spotted Meera in the middle of the living room. She bombarded her daughter with questions, concern etched on her face. "Are you fine? Is everything fine? Why are you crying? Who hurt you? "

Standing behind Meera, I hadn't realized she was tearing up until now.

"I'm fine. How are you?" Meera replied in a heavy tone, her voice quivering.

"I'm fine too." Her mother kissed Meera's forehead before her eyes landed on me.

She walked over, extending a warm welcome, "Rayaan, come dear. How are you?" I quickly bent down to touch her feet, but she held me by the shoulders, refusing to let me do so. Instead, she patted my head and blessed me, "God bless you! "

I couldn't see Meera's father around, so I assumed he had already left for work.

As asked, I took a seat on the couch. Meera's mother went to the kitchen to fetch something for us and Meera tagged along with her.

I couldn't understand if she was too nervous to sit with me Or too excited to see her mother.

But I knew the smile her face held was precious. It made me feel good.

I observed the pictures adorning the walls, appreciating the moments I had missed during my previous visit. The living room had a cozy ambiance with wooden textures and artistic touches. The polished, dark brown wooden strips of the artistic table caught my eye.

I failed to notice these details during my first visit, but now I could truly appreciate the beauty of the place

Please have something," Meera's mother offered me some sweets, arranging them neatly on the table.

I wasn't famished, but I couldn't refuse the sweet gesture. So, I took a small piece of brownie, smiling gratefully at her mother, who nodded in approval. Her attention shifted to Meera, and she playfully scolded her, "Meera, you too have something. Now do I have to ask you too? ?"

Meera shook her head, sitting beside her mother as she grabbed a chocolate cookie.

She continued to ask me questions about my well-being, my parents, and my work, while Meera gazed at her mother with admiration.

"Both of you should rest now. Meera, show him your room," her mother suggested after some time.

Meera nodded and stood up, leading the way. I followed behind, offering a sweet smile to her mother before entering Meera's room.

My eyes landed on the pictures I had missed the last time. My eagerness to not marry her didn't let me appreciate how adorable she actually looked in her teen years and as a child. Most pictures seemed to have been clicked around in this house. And her love for her mother was pretty clear through the pictures.

She stood before a room, "This is my room " She said gesturing me to enter inside Just as I took the first step, she herself ran inside the room screaming, "WAIT! " And closed the door on my face leaving me perplexed.

I stood there trying to comprehend what just occurred. The things she does suddenly always leaves me stupefied at her.

Shaking my head at her, I leaned on the wall crossing my hand around my chest and waiting for her as she said.

There was a room at another end and some space in the middle. The house was neatly decorated with artistic pieces. There were a lot of plants in her house. Starting from the lawn to individual shelves of plants in the living room and here as well.

"You can come in" I looked towards the door to find only her head peeping out as she gave me a nervous smile.

I walked inside hoping she doesn't bang the door on my face again.

She stood in the middle of her soft -pink colored room shifting her weight from one leg to the other, "Just my Mother did the arrangements of the room. She thought I was still a child."

She mentioned as my eyes were roaming around her room scanning every detail of the room. The soft pink walls, the window adorned with tiny plant branches, and the bed placed beneath it. A few fairy lights added a magical touch to the headboard. On the side, there was a study table and beside the table and a few distances from the door, there was a shelf where a lot of books were kept all of them looked from a different genre.

On the right side of the door kept a dressing table that had two perfume bottles, I was pretty sure that they were just a fraction of her collection. Beside that was another door, probably the washroom, and at the end at the right side of the window, her closet.

Her Room looked no less than any princess's room. She was the only child and indeed a princess of her parents. And a queen of mine as I told her parents. I promised as much as she was loved and valued here, I would make sure she is that happy in my house too. I would make sure she will be loved and valued there too.

"Your mother has great taste!" I exclaimed, watching Meera bustling around the room, making adjustments and arrangements. "It's cute," I added with a smile.

She nodded in acknowledgment, "You can rest". I sat on the bed and closed my eyes inhaling the familiar scent. The fragrance was similar to her perfume.

"Why don't you sit too? " I inquired confused why was she still standing not making any move. And She sat on the far end of the bed.

Realizing that the conversation was not flowing naturally, I decided to take the lead. "Tell me something about yourself," I asked, shifting a bit closer to her so that I don't have to scream in the same room but also kept a safe distance from her.

My high hopes were suddenly crushed when she responded with, "There is nothing to tell about me"

"Umm... Nothing? "

" You already know everything about me " She confirmed.

Do I?

I hardly knew anything about her besides her name, family, house, and a few other things.

Was she being closed off? Had I missed something? Was she not comfortable enough to share her thoughts with me? Of course, she wasn't comfortable yet. Maybe she would open up with time. I shouldn't force her into talking if she wasn't ready.

I kept shut for the rest of the time. I didn't know if it was anger because of the lack of response from her side or tiredness from driving.

In the silence, she spoke up, "When are we leaving? " Out of all this was the least expected question from her.

Was she disheartened that we will have to leave soon? "You can stay here for as many days as you want, " I said trying to ease her.

Her response surprised me when she said "No! I don't want to stay here for long. Let's go whenever you say. "

Wasn't she excited to be at her home again?

I asked her again if she wanted to stay but she was quite firm on her decision of leaving with me.

I kept quiet wondering what was going in her mind. Even her mother tried to get her to agree on staying a little more but she denied politely and we left after 2 hours.

I did notice her lips quivering and a few tears left her eyes on our way back but she kept trying to hide them facing the window.

Her behavior was confusing me. I couldn't help but wonder what went wrong. She seemed happy in the morning, but now, she had become gloomy. Was she just being moody, or was I overthinking?

To lift the somber atmosphere, I played some music, hoping it would bring some cheer. Not immediately but gradually it seemed to have an effect on her as her eyes stopped pouring. She sat still in her seat.

" You want to eat something? " I asked, noticing that she appeared calmer. She shook her head.

"But I am hungry " At the same time her stomach grumbled too making me smile.

I looked at her with a teasing smile, and she turned her head away, embarrassed causing me to let out a small chuckle.

"What do you want to eat? " I asked her again but she mumbled timidly, "Anything."

Quite expected from her. I steered the car towards a place where we usually had family dinners.

Our lunch date was finally about to begin