Page 3 of Since You Came Along

Gayatri laughed at something Meera said, and he realised his mother liked her too. He deeply regretted his careless remark about her sketch. He knew he needed to apologise, but he wasn’t great with words.

As he was thinking of what to say, Meera’s dog, Alpha, ran into the room. The golden retriever hopped onto his lap, licked his cheek, and dashed off towards her room. She excused herself and rushed after him.

Damini noticed his gaze following Meera and suggested, ‘Raghav, why don’t you go and talk to her? We’ll set up for lunch.’

It was the perfect chance, but suddenly he felt nervous. He wanted to know Meera, to share things with her. It hit him how long it had been since he’d had a conversation with a woman that wasn’t limited to casual work talk. Now, he just had to make sure he didn’t mess it up.

Raghav reached her room and saw Meera kneeling on the floor, playfully scolding Alpha. ‘No, you can’t have those biscuits! Down, boy, they’re not for you!’ she said, her voice tinged with laughter as she tried to keep the basket out of his reach.

With her head tilted back and eyes closed, she laughed as Alpha tried to lick her face. The scene felt so warm and familiar that an unexpected image of coming home to them, laughing and wrestling like this, stirred something inside him.

Alpha sensed him and trotted over, wagging his tail, waiting for Raghav to acknowledge him. He crouched down and stroked his head, murmuring, ‘Hey, buddy.’

That was all Alpha needed. He leapt on Raghav, knocking him onto his back and licking his face. Meera rushed over, but he waved her off, still scratching behind Alpha’s ears. She laughed as the dog headbutted him and woofed.

‘Mind if I join in on the fun?’ Abhay interrupted as he walked into the room. Before either could respond, Alpha bounded over to Abhay.

‘I’ll take him for a walk. Your mom said it’s time,’ Abhay told Meera, and before she could thank him, Alpha eagerly pushed him out of the room.

Raghav realised he was still on the floor when Meera offered him her hand. He took it and rose to his feet, noticing she was almost as tall as he was. Her smile lit up her face, and the way her eyes crinkled made it impossible to look away.

They stood close, their bodies almost brushing, and he still held her hand in his. The warmth of his touch spread up her arm, making her heart race.

Meera, suddenly aware of the intimacy of the moment, pulled her hand away. The absence of his touch left a strange emptiness in its wake, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he felt it too.

She handed him a towel. As Raghav wiped his face, Meera couldn’t help but notice how the black shirt snuggly clung to his broad shoulders. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary.

When he smiled at her, Meera had to shake off the sudden flutter in her chest. Then it hit her he’d come into her room after her, so she asked, ‘Were you looking for something?’

‘No, your mom sent me in here to talk to you.’ He rubbed the back of his neck.

‘Okay, talk.’ Meera couldn’t help but tease him.

‘Um, how are you doing?’

‘I’m fine, thanks. How about you?’

‘Alright,’ he mumbled, looking around. Meera almost laughed at his discomfort.

After a moment, Raghav blurted, ‘So, Alpha, huh?’

‘What about him?’

‘He’s a good dog.’

‘Yes, he is.’

‘Friendly.’

‘Very.’

With each passing moment, his discomfort grew, and Meera felt she deserved a reward for not laughing.Raghav looked around, searching for something to say. His eyes landed on her paints, and he jumped on the opportunity.

‘So, you sketch?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘And you paint too?’

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