Page 15 of Since You Came Along

She smiled, though there was a trace of bitterness in it. ‘I fell in love once, and it didn’t work out. Since then, I’ve stopped hoping for it. I like you, Raghav, and that’s enough for me. Will that be enough for you?’

The streetlamp cast a soft glow on her face, making her eyes sparkle. The breeze played with her hair, and a small, knowing smile curved her lips. At that moment, Raghav thought,Whether or not it would be enough, she’s the one I want to spend my life with.

‘Yes,’ he vowed.

Her smile widened. ‘Then I guess there’s only one thing left to do.’

He laughed, the tension melting away as he laced his fingers with hers. In that moment, it felt undeniably right.

‘Will you marry me, Meera?’

With joy blooming in her heart, she replied, ‘Yes, Raghav. I will.’

That night, in their own homes, surrounded by family and friends brimming with excitement, Meera and Raghav began to plan their wedding.

Chapter 7

At two in the morning, Meera sat on her balcony, gazing out at the twinkling lights of the tall buildings that dotted the skyline. The faint breeze brushed her face, sending a shiver down her spine, but she barely noticed. Her mind was a storm of thoughts, too many to process.

She sat on the swing, its ropes creaking as it swayed in rhythm with the breeze. Her legs were curled under her chin, her arms wrapped around her knees. Two months had passed since she and Raghav decided to get married, and everything had changed.

She smiled at the thought of how Swayam and Raghav had become friends. Before he left, Swayam had given her a reassuring hug and said, ‘He’s a good guy. I’m happy for you.’

That simple acknowledgement, coming from someone who rarely trusted people, had settled a knot of doubt Meera didn’t know she had.

She had also grown fond of Raghav’s friends. Abhay had been a big help when she met her extended in-laws’ family for the first time. She felt nervous and unsure of herself, especially after Raghav left for an urgent call.

Abhay had guided her through the evening with quiet whispers of advice, helping her converse with them. ‘Lovescricket,’ he had whispered when they approached Raghav’s uncle. ‘Teaches at an NGO in her spare time,’ he had added when Raghav’s aunt came up to her.

Because of Abhay, the whole evening had gone smoothly. When Meera thanked him later, he shrugged it off, saying, ‘I’m always here if you need me.’

With only three weeks left until the wedding, there was still so much to do. But tonight, she just needed a moment of peace.

She shifted her gaze from the twinkling stars above to the chair beside her where her wedding dress lay. It was a beautiful dark maroon velvet lehenga, embroidered with delicate silver beads, paired with a dusty pink veil. It was stunning, but it didn’t feel right.

The thought of the extravagant wedding unsettled her. She had hoped for a simple event, but her parents insisted on a grand celebration. Meera just wanted it all to be over. She had let her mother and Siya handle most of the shopping, tagging along when necessary, but her heart wasn’t in it.

She couldn’t help but think back to two years ago when she had considered marrying Rutvik. When he had asked her out, it had felt like a dream. But the dream had soon turned into a nightmare.

Meera had missed all the signs. Had Rutvik ever truly loved her? What else had he lied about during their four years together? She now wondered if they would have married had he not cheated. Would his name be next to hers on the invitation card? The uncertainty gnawed at her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out the answer.

A soft knock on the door pulled Meera back to the present. She quickly wiped away the tears streaking her cheeks as her mother’s face appeared in the doorway.

‘Can’t sleep?’ Damini asked.

Meera turned to face her, forcing a small smile. ‘No, Mom.’

Damini stepped onto the balcony without another word. She patted the golden retriever sprawled at Meera’s feet before leaning against the railing. The cool breeze stirred the loose strands of her hair, but she kept her gaze fixed on her daughter.

Damini didn’t need to ask, she already knew. If the tears had been about moving away to Mumbai, Meera wouldn’t have tried so hard to hide them. This was about something else.

‘Were you thinking about Rutvik?’

Meera’s breath hitched. Her mother’s words hit the bullseye, as they always did. ‘How did you know?’

‘I’m your mother,’ Damini said, smiling. ‘I just know things.’

The response made Meera smile despite herself. She had never quite figured out how her mother always seemed to read her mind. As a child, she used to think Siya spilled her secrets, but she realised over time it was her mother’s deep attention and love.

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