Chapter 38

I stood staring at the doorway for so long. My mind couldn't comprehend it.

I could guess, but I just couldn't believe it.

I didn't believe that he told everything to Nija and Harsha, but unless he told them, they had no reason to hate me.

And then there was him. After everything that happened, he dared to flirt with another girl in front of me. I knew he was doing this on purpose, but why? Why with Mia?

Everyone knew that she had a thing for him. If he was getting close to her just to infuriate me, then this was so wrong.

She might innocently have feelings for the wrong person, but that didn't excuse him playing with her feelings.

I felt someone grabbing my shoulders and shaking me. That is when I realized that Sia was next to me, talking.

"What the hell are you looking at when I am talking to you?"

I looked at her, and then the doorway, and then again at her in confusion. It took a second for me to process what was she saying.

"Nothing." I simply shrugged and went to sit on the couch. I could see the unfinished dishes on the table which made me feel angry and hurt at the same time.

Sia sat beside me. "So, what do you think?" she asked.

"About what?"

She glared at me like she knew that I didn't listen to anything that came out of her mouth.

"Do you even know why I came here?"

That's when I realized I forgot to ask her. I bit my lip and gave her an apologetic look.

"Fine. Ria left me," she said bluntly.

I started laughing, which made her glare at me more.

"Hear me out, will you?" she said, raising her voice a little.

"Sorry," I said, but I don't mean it and she knows it too. But anyway, she continued.

"She got a job, and she left to stay with her friends," she said in a sad tone.

"Wow... I mean that is a good thing, right?" I asked her without understanding what she meant.

"Yeah...but we were always together and now I feel lonely. She left without a second thought. That is why I came here."

Now I could understand her feelings and I felt a little bad about laughing at her.

"It's okay. I am sorry. You can stay here as long as you want," I said to lighten up her mood a little bit.

But when I said that, her lips turned up to form a mischievous smile.

"Oh, don't worry, Baby, that is all settled. I am gonna be your nightmare for a very long time," she said, winking at me.

I looked at her in confusion.

"Your husband gave me a job. He said that they were doing a big project, and he needed extra hands so he took me in. So I am going to stay here until it is completed."

She said the last part squealing. I was so happy and hugged her while screeching.

My mind started imagining all the things that we could do together. I was relieved and happy that I didn't have to be alone anymore.

After that, we talked for hours. Mia came in while we were talking. She looked hesitant when she approached us. We both looked at her, expecting her to talk.

"I am really sorry that I could not talk to you properly before," she said in an apologetic tone.

I analyzed her, looking her up and down, trying to figure out if she was genuine. It seemed so, but I didn't like her or want to believe her.

"Okay," I said and switched on the TV. I started watching like I wasn't bothered at all.

Sia shoved me aside, signalling to me that Mia was still standing.

I turned to look at her. She looked pitiful, standing there and fidgeting awkwardly. I kind of felt bad.

"Do you want to watch a movie with us?" I asked her, secretly hoping that she would decline.

But unfortunately, she smiled and nodded her head yes. So I moved over to give her space to sit.

It was a very boring movie and, since there was a stranger among us, Sia and I didn't talk at all. I knew Mia felt similarly awkward, sitting there like that.

So I decided to go and cook dinner. But she followed us there too, saying that she would help.

"Our names rhyme," Sia said, finally starting the conversation.

And that was the beginning of our everlasting friendship. As the days went by, it was hard to hate Mia. In fact, I loved her.

She was a great girl and the perfect friend. I didn't know if I should feel lucky to make a new friend or unlucky about the competition for my husband.

Since she was staying with us, I got to know her better.

She didn't mean any harm and she tried to stay away from him as much as possible for my sake, but she couldn't help it sometimes. She really did like him.

Sometimes I even wondered why didn't he consider her. It was the weirdest thing to think about one's husband, but I was curious.

My husband's behaviour didn't help either. He started acting close to her. I could tell that it was forced, but I had no idea what he was trying to prove.

At first, I would get angry and jealous, but at some point, I got fed up and started ignoring it. If he really liked her, then who was I to be in the way, right?

***

It had been a week since Mia and Sia came to stay. We all became closer. The fact that Mia liked my husband didn't even bother me anymore. I wasn't sure if I trusted her or my husband more.

They were busy working on that big project. Even Nija and Harsha stay over sometimes, working all night.

Today the boys went somewhere to buy some stuff and we girls decided to have a girl's night.

We cooked all the things we liked and bought some ice cream for our night. We were eating and talking about everything going on in our lives.

While we were having fun, Bharathi came home. I invited her to join us, but she declined, claiming tiredness before going to bed.

Oddly enough, I kind of trusted the people in front of me, and I wanted to share my secrets with them.

Lately, the things my husband was doing bothered me, and I needed a girl to discuss it with. I didn't know what was going on in his head.

I started with my past... I told Mia and Sia everything. In between the conversations, I cried a little. They were very attentive. Sia knew about my past but not the whole thing.

When I finished, they were looking at me with concern.

Suddenly I felt like someone was standing outside my room. I stood up to go and check, but there was no one. I shrugged it off and came back.

"You both love each other. It's just...you both had a bad start, I guess," Mia reassured me as I sat down.

"It's your turn, Aadhi," Sia said in a determined voice. We both looked at her with uncertainty.

"I have seen the love for you in his eyes, and he even confessed it to you. You were the one running away from it and it's time for you to go toward him.

Show him you love him. Make him stay and let him realize how much you love him."

Mia nodded her head in approval.

"What do you want me to do?" I had no idea.

"We will help you...don't worry." Sia winked at me.

Right... I could only imagine what was going on in her head, and I had a bad feeling about it.

They told me that they would help me but then nothing happened. Everyone was busy with their work project, and no one had time to think about me.

I tried once or twice to go and talk to him, but he ignored me entirely. I missed those beautiful old days when I could easily start a conversation with him.

We used to laugh together at even simple things. We were good friends before anything else, and I miss that.

Now I couldn't even look him in the eyes. The guilt was killing me inside, and I just needed one chance to tell him how I felt.

***

One fine morning, everyone in the house was getting ready to work, including Nija and Harsha.

The house was crowded these days, but I didn't mind. I was just setting their breakfast on the table.

I could see them through the doorway in the living room, discussing something with all the papers spread around them.

My eyes lingered on one person who was explaining something seriously. He was wearing a black formal shirt with the first two buttons undone.

His red tie was loosened around his neck. His hair was messy, and he combed it with his hands while talking, which just made him look sexier.

I think someone said a joke or something. He just smiled and continued reading from the paper in his hand. It was just a smile, but it was captivating.

Suddenly his eyes searched for something and landed on me.

That look gave me chills. It was like someone pouring a bucket of ice on me. I liked the pleasurable tingling sensation his look gave me.

His gaze held my own for a moment. I didn't want to look away, but I did. For a second, I lowered my eyes and looked back, and he was still looking.

Everyone came to the dining table to have breakfast; he still didn't break eye contact. I started serving everyone, but I could still feel his eyes on me.

It was overwhelming, and I couldn't stand it anymore. I felt like my legs might give way. I was oddly enjoying this, and my whole body was moving only for him to see.

After serving everyone, I went to my room. I was sitting on the bed, looking at the mirror.

I could hear my own heartbeat. I placed my right hand on my chest, and my lips formed a smile. He entered the room abruptly.

He started searching for something, ignoring me. I sat perfectly still, observing his every movement in the mirror as if it were the most interesting thing in the universe.

Once again, his eyes caught me. I was facing away from him, but he saw my face in the mirror.

He stopped for a moment without averting his eyes. Then he slowly came up behind me like a tiger stalking its prey.

If I had a camera then I would have captured this moment. Even in my mind's eye, we looked good together.

He raised his hands slowly to reach my cheeks, but he stopped it in mid-air and then immediately rushed out, leaving me alone in the room.

It hurt but now I knew his love for me still existed. I saw a tiny bit after a long wait. It was a drop of water in the desert, giving me hope to carry on.

If I was right about this, then this would be my chance.