Page 52 of Since You Came Along

‘Why?’

She sighed, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on her lap. ‘I don’t know. I just couldn’t let it go.’

He didn’t know how to feel about that, but he knew he wanted to erase every trace of pain that the man had left behind.

Raghav wanted to see her smile again, so he said, ‘Matheran was a beautiful place. Thanks for taking me there.’

Meera, resting her head on his jacket, her eyes half-closed, murmured, ‘You’re the one who took me there. It was your idea, Raghav.’

‘It was our first date, so it had to be special.’

Her lips curved into a sleepy smile. ‘It was perfect,’ Meera whispered.

‘Really?’ He tried to sound casual, but the nervous edge in his voice betrayed him.

Her eyes fluttered open and she reassured him, ‘Really. You made me so happy today, Raghav.’

His throat tightened, emotion choking his words. ‘You made me happy too.’

She drifted into sleep, her head still resting on his jacket. Raghav glanced at her, a fierce sense of protectiveness wellingup inside him. He vowed to keep her safe, to let no one dim the light in her eyes again.

Chapter 19

Meera tiptoed into the dark kitchen, her bare feet padding on the cool tiled floor. The quiet hum of the refrigerator filled the silence as she opened its door, bathing the room in a faint yellow light.

She didn’t turn on the overhead lights, worried the brightness might wake Raghav. She hadn’t wanted to leave the warm bed, but she couldn’t sleep.

Meera wrapped her arms around herself as she placed a pan of milk on the stove and opened the coffee box. The house, now silent and dimly lit, had been alive with laughter and company when their families had come over for Diwali.

As the milk simmered, she reached for a mug from the cabinet, only to jolt at the sound of a voice behind her.

‘What are you doing?’

Startled, she yelped and bumped her head against the cabinet door. She turned to see Raghav walking into the kitchen. She would have kept staring at his bare, sculpted chest if her head wasn’t throbbing in pain.

‘You scared me!’ she scolded, rubbing the back of her head.

Raghav flicked on the light and teased, ‘You’re the one sneaking around in the dark in your own home. What are you hiding from?’

She huffed, turning back to pour the steaming coffee into the mug. ‘I wasn’t hiding. I just didn’t want to wake you.’

Raghav moved closer and placed a warm hand on her waist. ‘Are you okay?’

Meera nodded and took her coffee to the living room. As she stirred the drink, Raghav took a seat beside her.

‘What’s bothering you?’ he asked.

‘Nothing,’ she replied tersely, sipping her coffee. She hated how easy it was for him to read her now.

‘You only drink coffee when you’re stressed or grading papers. Since you’re off work and I know you’re not one to procrastinate, it has to be stress. So, what is it?’

Meera rolled her eyes and muttered, ‘Freaking Sherlock Holmes.’

‘I didn’t have to deduce it, smartass. You told me.’

‘When?’

‘The first time we met for coffee.’

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