Page 83 of Since You Came Along

Siya, breathless from the dancing, retreated to the stairs at the edge of the garden. She’d been worried about planning it all, but as she watched Meera and Raghav twirling and laughing, she knew it had been worth it.

The songs changed to slow classics, and everyone went back to the table.

A sudden tap on her shoulder startled her. She looked up to see Abhay standing there. He offered his hand and asked, ‘Dance with me?’

Siya hesitated, her heart pounding against her chest. She knew she should say no, but her hand seemed to have a will of its own. Before she realised it, her fingers were in his, and he pulled her to her feet.

Everyone got busy eating and barely glanced at them as he led her to the makeshift dance floor.

Abhay wound his arm around her waist as he pulled her close, and her pulse sped up. Their proximity awakened feelings she had tried to bury for years. The world blurred around them as they swayed to the rhythm.

‘You look beautiful tonight, Siya,’ Abhay murmured.

She managed a polite smile, trying to suppress the rush of warmth in her cheeks. ‘You look great too.’

Their eyes met, and Siya cursed her traitorous heart. She could feel his gaze pulling her in, his familiar smirk making her stomach flip.

‘It’s been so long,’ Abhay said, smiling. ‘Years since I’ve seen you try so hard to fight a blush when I’m around.’

She rolled her eyes, attempting to step back, but he tightened his hold around her. The heat of his palm against her waist sent a shiver through her.

‘It’s also been years since I’ve been this close to you,’ he added, his voice dropping to a whisper.

‘Must you bring that up, Abhay?’ she snapped, trying to mask the longing she felt to lean closer. She tried hard to leave those memories behind, but one look at him and everything came rushing back to her.

‘Yes. Especially since it was New Year’s Eve three years ago that we met.’

She scoffed, trying to sound dismissive. ‘I’m surprised you even remember.’

‘I remember everything, Siya,’ he said, his eyes searching hers. ‘Every single moment we shared. I think about you every day.’

‘Why?’Why does hearing that still make me happy?she asked herself.

‘Because you meant the world to me,’ he replied, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering against her cheek. ‘You still do. I never forgot you. But I worry you have.’

Siya felt her walls crack, the truth spilling past her lips before she could stop it. ‘Neither have I,’ she admitted.

A hopeful smile lit up his face and Siya realised she’d confessed too much. She straightened, forcing her voice to harden. ‘But I’m trying. And with time, I will forget everything about that night, and even you.’

He tilted his head and smirked. ‘Oh,Jaan,’ he said, spinning her before dipping her low, ‘I’ll make sure you never forget me.’

Her heart betrayed her again, skipping a beat as he turned her around and pulled her back against his chest. ‘You can’t undo the past, Abhay. You can’t fix it. And because of that, I’ll never let you back into my life.’

Abhay sighed and caressed her cheek with his lips. ‘You’re right. I can’t change what happened. But neither can you, Siya. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it is futile to hold on to the past. I want to make today better for both of us.’

‘Let me go,’ she hissed. She struggled against his hold, worried she might give in if she stayed in his arms any longer. ‘You can’t fix anything, Abhay. I don’t want you. You’ll never have me again.’

Abhay twirled her around to face him and smiled as he vowed, ‘Oh, I am not letting you go this time,Jaan. I promise you.’

Meera smiled to herself as she watched Abhay and Siya dancing together. Kusha approached and sank onto the stairs beside her.

‘Why are you sitting here by yourself?’ Kusha asked.

‘Raghav is inside, talking on the phone. Do you see that?’ Meera asked, pointing at the swaying couple.

‘Oh, yeah. If they think they’ve been subtle in their love-hate interactions, they’re totally wrong.’

Meera leaned toward her and said, ‘You know what? Someone should playHogaya Hai Tujhko Toh Pyaar Sajnasong on a loop every time these two are together.’

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