Page 18 of Since You Came Along

When they reached the building, Raghav hesitated for a moment. He parked the car and glanced at Meera, his nerves betraying him in the way he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. This place felt perfect to him, the home he wanted them to share. But what if she didn’t feel the same?

‘Ready?’ he asked, trying to keep a lid on his worry.

Meera nodded and followed him inside. The lift whirred as they ascended to the fifteenth floor, the hum punctuated only by their quiet breathing. When they stepped out, Raghav unlocked the door and pushed it open.

As soon as Meera stepped inside, she froze. The space felt warm and inviting, as though it were waiting for her. The walls, painted in soft shades of mica blue and white, reflected the golden evening light streaming through the large windows.

She could already imagine her belongings filling the empty rooms. A plush velvet sofa in the living room, fairy lights andphoto frames lining the walls, and a cosy dining table perfect for dinners with friends.

Her gaze drifted to the kitchen—a spacious, L-shaped setup with sleek counters and plenty of sunlight filtering through a small window. The master bedroom tugged at her heart. The attached balcony opened to a breathtaking view of the city below, where the sea met the horizon in a blur of silver and blue.

She turned back to call Raghav and found him leaning against the doorframe, watching her. There was something tender in his expression, a quiet hope that made her chest tighten.

She walked over and hugged him, pressing her face into his chest. The steady beat of his heart was a comfort she hadn’t realised she needed. Raghav, surprised at first, wrapped his arms around her and gripped her.

‘It feels like our home,’ she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

His relief was immediate, his smile so wide it almost hurt. ‘There’s just one thing missing to make it the perfect home,’ he said, pulling back.

Meera frowned. ‘What’s that?’

From his bag, Raghav pulled out a box of tissues. She stared at it for a second before bursting into laughter, her voice ringing out and echoing through the empty apartment. For the first time in ages, Raghav felt a genuine spark of joy watching her delight.

Later that evening, the group gathered at Swayam’s dinner table. The room was alive with chatter and laughter. For the past half hour, Luv had been declaring his undying love for her with every bite of thechole bhatureshe had cooked.

‘I’m serious, Meera,’ Luv declared, his eyes twinkling with mischief. ‘Just dump Raghav and marry me. I’ll convince his parents to call off the wedding.’

Raghav looked up from his plate, caught between glaring at Luv and pulling Meera closer to him. After their earlier hug, he felt an unspoken connection with her, as if something had shifted between them.

Meera, unfazed by Luv’s theatrics, grinned. ‘Oh, Luv, you’re too kind. But are you sure you’re ready for a lifetime of boring, healthy food? I’ve already decided on Raghav’s diet, so he’ll be having less oil, less spice, and more salads.’

Raghav opened his mouth to protest, but Meera silenced him with a pointed look. ‘See? Even he knows it’s true. You don’t want to put yourself through that.’

Luv clutched his chest in mock horror. ‘What? No butter chicken? No fried food? That’s no life for me!’

‘Exactly,’ Meera said with a wink. She added, ‘So, here’s the deal. I marry Raghav, and you can come over anytime for all the fried food you want. Plus, you’ll get the pleasure of watching him suffer through his salads.’

Abhay and Luv burst out laughing, high-fiving Meera, while Raghav shook his head, a grudging smile on his face.

An hour later, as everyone lounged around the table, Siya and Luv exchanged knowing glances before turning to the group.

‘We’re throwing you both a bachelor/bachelorette party tonight,’ Siya announced.

Meera blinked, confused. ‘A party? Why?’

Siya interjected, grinning, ‘Because you’re going back to Delhi tomorrow, and in two weeks, you’re getting married.’

‘All of us are going,’ Luv declared, pointing at Raghav as if daring him to argue.

‘Why are we doing this?’ Abhay grumbled, his eyes narrowing as they flicked to Siya and Luv standing far too close for his liking.

Luv shot back at him, ‘Because they didn’t even throw an engagement bash. The least they can do is let us have this!’

Raghav and Meera exchanged a glance. There was no arguing with their friends when they were this determined. Finally, they shrugged in agreement, and the group erupted in cheers.

As the chatter resumed, Raghav leaned over to whisper, ‘Only if you owe me a dance.’

A soft blush spread across her cheeks as Meera nodded.

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