Page 7 of Since You Came Along

He looked surprised by her observation. He rubbed the back of his neck, then cleared his throat. ‘Before we go any further, I think we need to talk about what it is we’re looking for here.’

Meera was taken aback. Something must have made him bring this up. ‘Okay, please go on,’ she encouraged him.

Raghav took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say what had been weighing on his mind. He tried to shake off the hope that had been creeping up inside him.

‘I’m not looking for love,’ he said, the words coming out more harshly than he intended.

Meera didn’t react as he had expected. He had braced himself for judgment, for the look in her eyes to change, or even worse, contempt. He had seen it before, from girls he’d met in the past. One woman had even told him outright, ‘Don’t waste my time then.’

But Meera tilted her head, her gaze steady, patient. She was giving him the space to speak, and that made it easier for him to continue.

‘I’m not looking for love,’ he repeated, as if to make sure she understood. ‘If we were to get married, I’d be a good husband, a steady partner. I’d be loyal and caring. But I can’t give you love. I just want you to know that now.’

Meera looked away, turning to the window, and his heart sank. He knew what was coming, so he took a slow sip of his coffee, giving her time to process.

‘Who was she?’ Meera asked, her voice softer than before, almost a whisper.

The question caught Raghav off guard. He hadn’t expected it. He took another sip of his coffee, considering how to answer. It had been a long time since he had spoken abouther. Even Abhay didn’t bring up her name anymore. Just thinking about her twisted something deep inside him.

He was about to give Meera the same excuse he had given others, about not being the type of person to fall in love. But one look at her and he couldn’t bring himself to say it. She hadn’t walked away. She hadn’t thrown any harsh words his way. Instead, she was giving him the chance to explain. He decided then that she deserved to know the genuine answer.

‘Veronica was my high school sweetheart,’ he began, his voice heavy with emotion. ‘We met in nursery, and since then, we were inseparable. She was the person everyone was drawn to—kind, friendly, optimistic. My parents adored her. She was their golden girl.’

A wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he rubbed his palm. Meera felt an urge to reach across and comfort him,but held back. He seemed lost in the past, reliving a memory only he could see.

‘There was a guy in college who liked her. I heard he was going to ask her out, and that made me realise I loved her. So, I asked her out. And to my surprise, Nica said yes right away.’

He laughed and continued, ‘Later, I found out that it was Abhay who spread the rumour about the other guy. He knew I liked her, but I was too afraid of ruining our friendship. I needed that push, and I owe him for it.’

Meera braced herself and asked, ‘Then what happened?’

Raghav didn’t look up from his coffee. His voice was quieter now, almost as if the words were painful to say.

‘Car accident,’ he muttered, his throat tight.

The answer was as devastating as it was unexpected, and Meera felt her heart sink. She hadn’t seen it coming.

His voice faltered, the words choking him. Tears welled in his eyes, though he fought to keep them at bay. Meera didn’t speak; she didn’t need to. No words could lift the weight of the loss he was carrying. Instead, she reached out and took his hands in hers, offering what comfort she could.

Raghav looked up, surprised by the warmth of her touch. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been worried about her reaction, but all he found was compassion and understanding. The way she held his hands almost made him smile.

‘I loved her with everything I had,’ he continued, his voice low and full of emotion. ‘It’s always been her. The first memory I have is of her offering me a piece of apple from her lunchbox. For as long as I can remember, I’ve only loved her.’ His handtightened around Meera’s for a moment before he let go, a gesture of finality.

Raghav took a deep breath. He knew the next part would be difficult for her to hear, but he had to say it.

‘I can never love anyone like that again. I know it might sound strange, but when I lost her, I lost that part of myself. So if you’re looking for love in your marriage, and you should be, I can’t give you that.’

The weight of his words hung in the air between them, but Raghav felt a strange sense of relief. He would not promise something he couldn’t deliver. If she walked away now, he would understand.

She sat in silence, lost in thought. Raghav noticed the way her fingers twisted the ring on her finger.

Meera asked, hesitantly, ‘I know this might sound like a silly question, but why are you considering marriage then?’

Raghav sighed. ‘To anyone else, I always say I am doing this to make my parents happy because they want me to get married.’

‘But that’s not it?’

‘No,’ he replied, his voice filled with regret. ‘Nica passed away four years ago. I’ve had my time to grieve and come to terms with her death. While I know I can never love anyone the way I loved her, I also don’t want to spend my life alone. I want a family, a partner who’s looking for the same thing I am. I know that sounds selfish, but this is how it is. That’s why I needed to be clear with you. I don’t want to give anyone false hope.’

---