Page 58 of Right Where I Belong
Shauna made a face at Akash. “See what you’ve done? Idiot.”
“Sorry, guys…” Akash winced. “But I still don’t understand. If you’re together here, then why can’t you be together back home too? I mean, jokes aside, Rithwik, Aisha, and everyone else won’t mind if you’re together. I think?—”
“—I think you need to shut up,” Shauna said. “It’s their life. They can do whatever they want. I may not agree with it. But like I said, it’s their life.”
Sabrina grimaced. “Shauna, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am, that’s why I said what I said.”
“Okay, everyone,” Aditya cut in. “While I’m enjoying this conversation and am very happy to have both Shauna and Akash on my side, can I just enjoy the rest of my time here with Sabrina first, before we talk about the status of our relationship in the future?”
“Thank God,” Sabrina said.
He gave her a smile. “That doesn’t mean we won’t talk about it again, beautiful; just not tonight.”
Her forehead creased, so he quickly added, “But right now we do as you say. So, come on, let’s order. Shauna, you swear by the food here, so go ahead and order for all of us, please.”
Shauna walked them through the menu, then signaled to a waiter and quickly placed their orders. The conversation around him flowed, although Akash and Shauna continued to be at odds over anything and everything. In fact, their bickering had only gotten worse since their night together. Sabrina kept interjecting, gently playing peacemaker between them, but they kept at it. He smiled to himself. The more Akash and Shauna argued, the more it became obvious that all their hostility hid a deep-rooted attraction that they both were avoiding. One day soon, this would all explode between them and take them under.
Sighing, he sipped his wine, shifting his attention back to Sabrina. He watched her—the graceful tilt of her head, the slightsmile on her lips as she listened to the other two, the shake of her head when she disagreed with something. God, she was utterly radiant, and she made him so happy.
Being with her filled him with a quiet contentment he hadn’t known he was missing. The restless edge that had shadowed him for years was simply gone. Sabrina had steadied him, easing a part of him he hadn’t even realized needed calming.
It was too soon to think of the future, to even convince her of it. But already, the idea of letting her go was unfathomable. He knew it in his bones that they were perfect together.
He exhaled, reminding himself that these thoughts had to be parked for later. Right now, he’d enjoy her remaining time in Singapore, exactly as she wanted.
18
The days were flying. Sabrina checked the time. It was almost eleven at night. She was sprawled on the sofa in the living room of Aditya’s suite, her head resting in his lap, scrolling on her phone, while he watched the news on the TV. His eyes still on the screen, he took her hand in his and kissed it. Her heart lurched. He didn’t need to tell her in words that he liked her and cared for her. He showed it in so many different ways. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her oh so casually all the time, the way he kissed her every opportunity he got, even small pecks like just now, and the way he made love to her... It was all so heady and so goddamn addictive. Aditya was so charming, so adorable and so irresistible that she had to keep warning her heart not to fall for him.
She sighed. So quickly they had gotten so comfortable with one another. Three weeks had passed since the night Aditya had again claimed her as his in every possible way, and she had to admit these weeks had been the best in her life.
Shauna and Akash had become a constant in their lives. After their dinner together, both of them had vehemently refused to socialize with one another, but each of them had insisted onbeing with Aditya and her. Which is why, on some weeknights, Aditya and she would return to her apartment, where she’d cook dinner for Shauna and him. They would gather at the dining table, laughter ringing through the small space as Aditya and Shauna traded stories about Raashi, Keya, and Rithwik, their mischievous college escapades, and travel adventures. On other nights, Akash would join them, and they’d head out to explore restaurants across the city, trying new places and sampling everything from street food to high-end fusion menus.
No matter how the evenings began, they always ended the same. Each night, she found herself back in Aditya’s hotel room, surrendering to him all over again.
The weekends, however, were entirely reserved solely for them. She treasured those days most of all. They would slip away from everyone else—no Shauna, no Akash, no interruptions. Sometimes they wandered through bustling markets, laughing as he teased her into buying things she didn’t need. Other times, they walked along the Marina, ice creams in hand, the sea breeze tangling her hair while his arm curled protectively around her. And then there were days they didn’t leave his suite at all, choosing instead to stay wrapped in each other, tangled between sheets and whispered conversations that lasted until dawn. Those were the best.
She smiled. She hadn’t felt this alive, this happy, in years. Aditya Wahi had completely taken over her life, and she was loving every second of it. This between them was supposed to be temporary. She’d insisted on it. Yet why did it feel like the lines were blurring between them? She was beginning to feel things she’d promised herself she wouldn’t. Aditya Wahi was starting to mean something to her. And that realization shook her to the core.
Stop it, she scolded herself. She couldn’t afford to do more with him. She couldn’t afford to feel more for him. That path wasdangerous for her and for him. However, her heart sank when she recalled that only three days were left of her time here in Singapore. Only three more days of Aditya and all this joy. No matter how much she craved being with him, she knew their affair couldn’t survive once she returned home. She had a lot of baggage, and he deserved to be with someone free of it.
His hand squeezed hers, distracting her from her morose thoughts. She looked up again and found him reading something on his phone, his brow creased.
“Well, damn!” He sighed.
She sat up. “What happened?”
“I have to go to Zurich. My flight leaves in six hours.”
“Oh…” Her voice sounded calm, but a sadness took over the calm she’d just been feeling.
He faced her. “I’ve been looking for a ring for my mother. It was a family heirloom she’d inherited, but my father had auctioned it off years ago to cover some of his bad deals. I promised my mother I’d find it for her. I’ve been tracing it for a while now, and recently, while I was in Dubai, I met with Steffi Wharton, the CEO of Tiffany’s. She used to work with Sotheby’s around the time my dad had used their services to auction the ring. She’s tracked down the people who’d bought it. They’re willing to meet, but it has to be in Zurich, and it has to be tomorrow morning. And if they agree to sell, then I will have to wait a day more, maybe two.”
The ache in her chest tightened. He’d be gone for her remaining days here.
He must have read her expression because he said, “I could postpone. I know you’re leaving soon.”
