Page 60 of Since You Came Along

The sadness in her voice was thick in the air, clinging to her like a heavy fog. She wasn’t looking at the tissue box anymore, her fingers moving over it as if lost in thought.

As the chocolate melted in the pan, Siya asked, ‘Is everything okay?’

Meera spoke up, her voice low. ‘Raghav is acting weird.’

Siya frowned. ‘Weird how?’

‘I don’t know. Just distant, I guess.’

Siya placed the steaming mug of hot chocolate in front of Meera and sat down across from her. ‘Why do you think so?’

Meera took a slow sip from her mug before replying, ‘He... he doesn’t really talk to me anymore. He only speaks when it’s necessary. He works late and leaves home around sunrise.’

‘Maybe he’s busy with work,’ Siya offered.

Meera shook her head, and said, ‘It’s not that. The first few months after we moved here, work was hectic. They were still setting everything up, working long hours. But Raghav always called me to check in. He always made time for me, even when he was working late. But this past week… I don’t know.’

Siya saw Meera was trying to make sense of it all, but she wasn’t convinced. ‘Mihu, maybe you’re just reading too much into it. He’s probably just overwhelmed with work, you know?’

‘He doesn’t eat at home anymore,’ Meera confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

‘But why?’ Siya asked, confused.

Meera closed her eyes. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to hold back the tears. ‘Maybe because he’s angry at me.’

Siya stared at her, baffled. ‘Angry at you? Why?’

‘Because I danced with Rutvik that evening.’

Siya scoffed, though the doubt disappeared when she saw Meera was serious. Shaking her head, she said, ‘That’s ridiculous, Mihu. If Raghav was angry about it, you know he’d talk to you.’

Meera nodded, but there was an undeniable sadness in her eyes. ‘Which is why I know this time it’s bad. Raghav is not ignoring me, but he’s... distant. Ever since that night, he’s been different.’

‘Did you talk to him about it?’

Meera started biting her nails as she said, ‘I did. I asked him if something was wrong. All he said was, it’s nothing he can’t handle. It’s like he’s pushing me away. Like he’s punishing me for something. And it can only be about me dancing with Rutvik.’

Before Siya could say anything, Meera continued, ‘I didn’t do it to hurt Raghav. That was never my intention. Maybe I should try to become a better wife.’

Siya would bet her life on the fact that Meera would never intentionally hurt anyone, least of all Raghav. She might have never understood Meera’s reason for settling in a marriage without love in it, but she knew Meera always gave her all to any relationship.

Watching Meera like this made Siya furious at Raghav. The least he could do was talk to her instead of leaving her in this state.

Siya crossed the room and wrapped Meera in a tight hug. ‘Mihu, you’re amazing. If I were into women, you’d already bemine,’ she teased, trying to lighten the mood. ‘And everyone knows you’d never hurt Raghav.’

Meera nodded but then hugged her tight as she broke into quiet sobs. If Siya didn’t have a flight to catch, she would’ve marched straight to Raghav’s office to give him a piece of her mind. But time was against her, and she had to leave in minutes.

An idea struck Siya. If Meera wouldn’t confront Raghav, she’d find someone else who could.

Meera wiped her cheeks and managed a weak smile. ‘I’m sorry. What are you doing here so early?’

‘I came to see you before I leave for Bangalore. Dad’s annual charity dinner. You know how he is. Can’t risk his influential friends finding out he’s estranged from his daughters,’ Siya scoffed.

‘Don’t go. You’ll hate it,’ Meera urged her.

‘I have to. Otherwise, he’ll drag Kashvi into it, and I don’t want her anywhere near Dhruv.’

‘How long will you be gone?’

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