Page 30 of Since You Came Along

‘Mission accomplished!’ Raghav cheered.

Meera leapt into Raghav’s arms, and he wrapped her in a tight, warm hug. Siya sensed it was an intimate moment for them and slipped out to the balcony.

‘Hey Siya,’ Swayam greeted, disconnecting the call. ‘How’s everything inside?’

Siya leaned against the railing and grinned. ‘The two crazies are having a concert in the living room. You’re missing out on all the fun.’

Swayam shouted, ‘I want to see!’ He headed back inside, leaving her alone on the balcony.

‘You always run to the balcony when you’re trying to avoid people,’ Abhay said, walking up to stand next to her.

Siya stayed silent, dedicated to ignore him.

‘I figured you’d want some company,’ Abhay offered.

‘I don’t,’ Siya replied, her voice flat. A pause lingered between them, heavy with unsaid words. She mumbled to herself, ‘No matter how much I run, I’m always stuck with him.’

But Abhay caught her words and interjected, ‘Then maybe you should stop running from me.’

She could feel him standing just beside her, so close, the warmth of his body a constant reminder of a past she couldn’t forget, no matter how hard she tried.

His tousled hair caught the rays of fading light. For a brief, aching moment, she almost reached out. Her fingers itched to thread through the soft strands, like she had once loved to do.

‘You’re staring,’ Abhay said, his words laced with a quiet challenge.

‘You wish!’ she shot back and looked away, trying to mask the flutter she could feel stirring inside her.

Abhay smiled to himself, and his voice dropped to a soft murmur. ‘I do.’

Siya bit her lip, trying to ignore the rush of emotion his words stirred in her. Silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.

‘You’re still mad at me,’ he said after a moment, a statement rather than a question.

Her laugh was sharp and bitter. ‘Mad at you? Abhay, I don’t think I care enough to be mad anymore.’

Siya intended the words to sting, and they did. She saw the flicker of pain in his eyes when he turned to look at her, but she refused to feel bad about it.

‘Then why can’t you even look at me?’ he challenged.

She turned her head to face him, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes, once a source of comfort and warmth, now only remindedher of broken promises. ‘Happy?’ she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘What do you want, Abhay?’

‘How are you?’

She did not know why, but civility seemed to be the easiest path, so she replied, ‘I’m fine, thanks. What about you?’

‘I’m fine too.’

‘Glad to hear that,’ she muttered, her heart pounding faster than she wanted it to.

Abhay turned to face her, his intense gaze no longer playful. ‘Why are you being so formal with me,Jaan?’

The word hit Siya like a physical blow and made her insides twist with bitterness. It brought back memories of that night, the night she had learned the truth, the night everything had shattered.

‘You don’t get to call me that anymore!’ she snapped, her voice trembling with raw emotion.

‘Yes, I do,’ Abhay shot back, but the flash of pain in his eyes betrayed him.

The balcony felt like a battlefield between them.

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