Page 137 of Glass Jawed
Before I can fully catch my breath, Vikram’s crew takes the floor. Advik gives me a smirk before heading to his team. They begin with“Maahi Ve”, and the vibe shifts. Their movements are smooth, elegant—like a love letter in motion. They’re not trying to outshine anyone—they’re just feeling it.
Then comes“Kala Chashma”.Vikram and Ishika take center for that one, acting out scenes that remind us all of their almost decade-long, slightly dysfunctional, absolutelyunbreakablerelationship.
Even I’m grinning like a fool. Even if my heart feels envious.
It’s well past 2 am when the music finally dies down. The last few sparklers fizzle out in the courtyard and the DJ packs up his gear.
My lehenga weighs a thousand kilos, my earrings have fused into my earlobes, and my feet are currently hosting a small protest inside my heels.
I’ve been limping for the past hour and I’m pretty sure I have blisters the size of my fist. I should’ve stopped after the hundredth song, dammit.
Advik and I sneak away to the quieter side of the groom’s mansion, both of us nursing a lowball of whiskey. We sit on a stone ledge. I lean back and stretch my legs, sighing as the cool night air brushes my skin.
“Feet hurting?” he asks, sipping slowly.
“Oh, only like they’ve been stabbed repeatedly by tiny daggers,” I mutter.
He snorts. “You danced like a maniac though. So it’syourfault. Still—you killed it.”
“Ialwayskill it,” I say with a smirk.
We lapse into silence, watching a few drunk uncles stumble across the courtyard, arms around each other like war buddies.
Then, Advik asks, gently, “Hey... you okay with him being here?”
I pause.
Lucian.
“I mean... do you feel uncomfortable?” he clarifies.
I take a slow sip, letting the burn settle in my throat. “Surprisingly... no,” I answer after a beat. “I thought I would. But I don’t. I mostly feel bad for him.”
Advik raises an eyebrow. “That’s unexpected. I thought you’d have either forgiven him or told him to pack up and leave.”
I huff a laugh. “You’re not wrong. But I actually told him to stay because... I don’t know. He’s different now.”
“So... does that mean you’ve forgiven him?”
“No.”
That part comes out fast. Too fast. My fingers tighten around my glass.
Advik nods slowly. “Are you going to? Because I’m not going to lie. He looks fucking miserable.”
A dull pang hits my chest.
I keep my gaze on the moonlit edge of the mansion. “What he did... it wasn’t a small mistake, Advik. And no, I’m not going to give you details. But it was calculated.Wrong.” I glance at him. “And I don’t know if I want to be with someone whoeverthought of me like that. With... disdain.”
He doesn’t say anything, just lets the weight of it land between us.
“I’m sorry,” I add quietly.
“Don’t be,” he shrugs. “You’re allowed to draw your lines. I’m just glad you’re not... crumbling when he’s around.”
I snort. “I’m dramatic, notweak.”
“You’re both.”
