Destined – A Marriage of Convenience Love Story: Chapter 11

This is part 12 of 12 in the book Destined: A Marriage of Convenience

Destined: A Marriage of Convenience

Destined – A Marriage of Convenience Love Story: Life Together

5,710 words, 30 minutes read time.

A Marriage of Convenience Love Story Set in Kolkata

Destined: A Marriage of Convenience Love Story – Chapter 11
Invisible Attraction

Don’t forget to read Chapter 10 of Destined: A Marriage of Convenience.

https://payaldedhia.com/destined-a-marriage-of-convenience-love-story-chapter-10

Destined – A Marriage of Convenience Love Story

Mehek

I took photos.

So many that I eventually lost count.

Kashmir was beautiful, but even that word felt too small for what stood before me. It was majestic. A place that didn’t seem real, as though it belonged to another world altogether. It felt like one of those dreams that were never meant to come true, or a piece of heaven that always remained just beyond reach.

We were in Sonmarg, standing near the Thajiwas Glacier, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the landscape. Endless pine forests stretched across the mountains, snow blanketed the peaks, and streams of crystal-clear water cut through the valley like ribbons of glass. Everywhere I looked, nature had painted another masterpiece.

Our guide filled our water bottle with the icy water flowing straight from the mountains. It felt so soothing inside that I almost forgot my fucked up life.

We had arrived here an hour back and hadn’t checked into our hotel yet. Because we had a car with us, the luggage was inside, not bothering us at all.

I turned the camera and took a selfie. That’s when I saw my so-called husband. He was smiling. Not at me, never at me, but at someone else. He was talking to a stranger, and listening intently.

For a moment, I just stared. I didn’t know why I was so attracted to him. It always made me bitter because he didn’t deserve anything from me. My lips pressed together, eyes glaring holes at him through the screen, I pulled away the camera and stepped away from him.

I didn’t even want to look at him now. I hated him. So much. Or at least, I kept telling myself I did.

Tears burned in my eyes, and they made me feel pathetic and desperate. I blinked them away and walked towards the edge, looking down.

It was truly mesmerizing. The valley stretched endlessly below.

At least, I got to see a new place.

At first, I said no. After the pool incident, I had no interest in going anywhere with him anymore. I absolutely didn’t want his company or to be alone for a week with him.

But then Abhoy got manipulative. He explained to me when next I would get a chance to come to a place like this. That was true. Going to Panchgani had got me fighting tooth and nail.

Even after everyone agreed, in the end my mother gave in to her fear, and didn’t let me go alone. Freedom was an illusion for us, so I took whatever I got, letting my eyes take in the beauty in front of me.

I wrapped my arms tighter around myself as another gust of icy wind swept across the valley. Even with my jacket zipped all the way up, the cold managed to slip through.

“Mehek, ready to go?”

The Shaytan had spoken.

I took one last photograph before turning and walking back towards the car.

I heard his sigh that I ignored. I got in the car, settling into the far end of the back seat. Then I unzipped my bag and pulled out a chocolate bar. The first bite melted on my tongue, and I almost moaned.

We hadn’t eaten lunch. It was already past four in the evening, and my stomach had been protesting for the last hour.

A moment later, Abhoy got into the car. Without saying anything, he held out a paper packet towards me, which I obviously ignored.

“Oh, cut it now.” His voice carried more exhaustion than irritation. “Food.”

“Not hungry.”

“Mehek.” He let out a slow breath before looking at me. “You’re hungry. I know you are. And I also know you can’t stay hungry. So just take the packet and don’t get on my nerves. I’m really tired.”

I glared at him. He glared back.

Without another word, he shoved the packet into my hands before leaning back against the seat and closing his eyes.

The driver announced it would take an hour to reach the hotel, before putting it in reverse.

An hour… I couldn’t stay hungry until then. Sullenly, I opened the packet and peeked into it.

It was a cheese sandwich. My favorite.

I took a reluctant bite. Then another. It was surprisingly good. Good sandwiches weren’t exactly what I had expected to find halfway across Kashmir.

Before I could fold the empty wrapper, another packet appeared in front of me.

I looked at him. But his eyes were still closed. Still the packet waited in front of me. So he was listening to me chewing my food. Great.

Grudgingly, I snatched that one too.

By the time I finished the second sandwich and the milkshake that came with it, I felt comfortably full. The tiredness from the day slowly settled into my body as I leaned back against the seat.

Absentmindedly, I turned towards him. His head rested against the backrest, his face turned slightly towards the window.

Then… I saw it. A single tear slipped from the corner of his left eye. He brushed it away so quickly that I almost thought I had imagined it.

What the hell?

Why was he crying?

Was it because of me?

Had I done something?

He had been quieter than usual all day. Grumpier too. But I hadn’t cared enough to ask why.

But this… this unsettled me. I wasn’t made of stone. I knew what it meant when a man cried. It meant… he had reached a place where he really felt hopeless.

What could possibly make Abhoy Chatterjee feel that hopeless?

And he hadn’t eaten the sandwich. So that was only for me. I turned towards the window, my heart beating faster and my stomach knotting in nervousness.

Did I make him cry? But then… I had cried so much that day on the floor. And no one had wiped my tears. Yet I wanted to wipe his, if he gave me the chance.

But he didn’t. And that was my cue to let this go. If he wanted to cry in silence, he could.

We reached the hotel, and I stepped out of the car, stretching my legs after the long drive. Abhoy got out from his side, and my eyes instinctively went to his. His eyes looked slightly red, but we had left early in the morning, so that was a given. Other than that, he looked okay. His shoulders were a little stiff as he rolled his neck once, as though trying to shake off the fatigue.

Maybe he was just exhausted from sleeping in the same room. Though here, we always took rooms that had two bedrooms inside. Maybe he was just exhausted of me.

We reached the reception, and I turned to him.

“I want a separate room this time.”

He groaned. “We will have.”

“No. A separate room with a separate keycard.”

“Mehek…”

“I can book it myself. I have money.”

“Of course, you do.”

He let out another weary breath before asking the receptionist for another room. He paid for it himself, something I didn’t argue about. As he signed the papers, he rubbed a hand over his face for a brief second before straightening again. He really looked tired.

Once the formalities were over, I took my keycard and headed after the bellboy. The corridor was quiet except for the soft rumble of the luggage wheels against the carpet.

Abhoy stood by the door as I entered my room.

“This is not a safe place, so I would really request you not to wander alone. Please…”

I nodded. “I think I will just rest tonight and order room service.”

“So you are not meeting me for dinner as well. Great.”

For a second, it looked as though he wanted to say something more, but instead, he simply turned away.

I closed the door behind him.

He was acting like it was me who was pulling away. No… it was him… and he had to accept the consequences of it. I wasn’t the bahu of the Hindi serials who accepted and loved her husband even after being rejected more than once.

If Abhoy didn’t want me, I didn’t want him as well.

Abhoy

“Yeah, I think this would work. We need this contract, Prathmesh, so don’t take chances. We need to give our best.”

“Yes, Sir. I will make the changes to the presentation and send it to you.”

I nodded. Prathmesh left, and I rolled back in my chair, looking outside. My office was on the top floor of our building, and I loved looking out after a long day. The city stretched endlessly below, headlights beginning to replace the fading daylight as evening settled in.

Six months. Yeah, that long I had been married to Mehek.

I turned back to my laptop and typed on the keyboard. Her website loaded.

Anouki.

She had already grown so much after I gave her the capital and my marketing manager for one hour every week.

That also had been a battle because she refused to take my help. She was stubborn as hell. But when I told her my vision for her business, she grudgingly agreed.

Yeah, like she was doing a big favor on me.

Shaumik was my best hire and gave her ideas that she implemented. I felt really proud. She had just turned twenty-two last month, and being able to build a brand from the ground up wasn’t a joke. Every time I checked the analytics, the numbers climbed a little higher. She had done that. Not me. I had only opened a door. She had walked through it on her own.

As for us… we were fine now. Because I had gotten used to her taunts. But she took good care of my family. My mother doted on her, and so did my sisters. She had somehow charmed every single one of them. Laughter came easier at home whenever she was around.

Baba told me I was lucky. But only if I felt so. Once… once I had tried to touch her. And then ran from the room.

I just couldn’t do it. It wasn’t like I had never touched her before, but this time it came from attraction, and then it repelled back on me.

I saw Yagini.

Which was absurd because I rarely thought about her these days. Mehek easily occupied my mind with her antics.

They were poles apart, yet when the tips of my fingers caressed the side of Mehek’s face, I… saw Yagini and suddenly stepped back. The warmth beneath my fingertips vanished before I could even register it. I saw the hurt flicker across Mehek’s face, and that killed me even more, so I turned and left.

I clicked open a folder that had our photos. Of our honeymoon.

When she had asked for a separate room in Sonmarg, that broke my heart, as if… as if I loved her. But I didn’t.

My love was fierce and possessive, and I would know when I felt that way for her.

But it was something that I didn’t have a tag for.

Before that, when we were at the glacier point, and I saw her smiling, laughing to herself as she took selfies. It felt like she didn’t need anyone to be happy.

I stared at her, mesmerized, when I suddenly saw Yagini and me in that frame. Both of us taking selfies. Both of us happier than we had ever been. Maybe even married.

The image didn’t go away. In the car as well. I kept seeing her in Mehek. I was going crazy, so I kept my eyes closed. I felt far too vulnerable. My throat had burned the entire drive. Even a tear escaped, but I was glad Mehek knew nothing about it.

Of course, she didn’t. She never ever looked at me.

Maa had been asking me if things were okay between us, and they were. As much as they could be.

A knock broke my thoughts, and I sat straight.

“Sir, your five PM meeting is here.”

I nodded. “Set up in the conference room. I will be there in five minutes.”

Prathmesh left, and I stood. I walked towards the window and looked at the sky. There were no stars, but that was only to the human eye, right? They had to be there… always.

“Baby, I have to move on. I really have to. But I don’t know how to. Help me, Yagini. Help me move on.” I choked on my words. “You will always be my first love. But Mehek deserves better. I just wish I knew how to give her what she deserves.”

The silence offered no answers.

Then I turned, grabbed my laptop, and left.

My work was my only respite.

I reached home at around eleven PM. It was late, but I had started working late these days. There was nothing waiting for me at home, just like tonight.

I put my bag down and went to the kitchen.

First, I washed my hands, then picked up the plate already waiting for me. Saroj, our cook, always kept it ready for me. I had instructed her never to wait for me. She woke up at six every morning.

Putting the plate in the microwave, I set the timer for ninety seconds and leaned against the counter. The steady hum filled the otherwise silent kitchen. If I got the contract I was working on, my company would make double the profit it had made last year.

The ding came, and I grabbed my plate before sitting in the dining room. I opened the article I had been reading on my phone and resumed where I had left off. I was halfway through my meal when I heard footsteps.

I turned and smiled.

“Why haven’t you slept, Maa?”

“Priyo, why did you get so late?”

“I’m working on a contract. For another month, I’m going to be pretty late.”

She sighed but sat beside me. I locked my phone and twisted a little so I was facing her, the plate still balanced in my hand.

“You should sleep.”

“I don’t like that you are eating alone. Why isn’t Mehek here waiting for you?”

“This is not some TV serial, Maa, where a wife has to wait for her husband.”

“Don’t deflect, Abhoy. Tell me… is everything okay between you two?”

“It is. As much as it could be.”

“What does that mean?”

“Maa, don’t. You know how we got married. It wasn’t love. It wasn’t even attraction.”

“Do you both sleep in the same bed?”

I stood. “You are going way out of line.”

“There is no line for a mother.”

“But there is. Especially after the son gets married, an invisible line appears. And it’s not just about me now. It’s about my wife as well. And I won’t let anyone insult her.”

Her lips parted as though she wanted to argue, but no words came.

With the plate in my hands, I left her alone. Putting it on the kitchen counter, I turned and walked away. I had given her everything I could. Now I had nothing left.

I slid open the glass doors leading to the pool and settled on the lounger. The cool night breeze brushed against my face, carrying the faint scent of chlorine and wet stone.

My eyes were closed when I heard footsteps.

“Go to your room, Abhoy,” my mother said softly.

I sighed and opened my eyes, looking at her. There were tears in her eyes, and the sight hit me straight in the chest.

“Maa…” I tried, but what could I say?

“I just want you to be happy.”

With that, she left.

I stood and scrubbed a hand over my face. It was all getting too much to handle.

I walked back inside, climbed the stairs, and opened the bedroom door as silently as I could.

I headed to the bathroom and took a cold shower. The icy water did little to quiet the noise in my head.

Then, wearing only my trunks, I settled on the bed. Mehek was fast asleep, her breathing slow and even. I wanted a good night’s sleep tonight, so I didn’t care that I was sleeping beside her instead of on the couch.

I had replaced the old couch with one that had more room.

Still, it felt uncomfortable.

The next thing I woke up to was the alarm blaring close to my ears. I fumbled for the phone and stopped it, my eyes still closed. It smelled good. Like jasmine flowers. I inhaled deeply, losing myself in a beautiful dream of a garden full of blooming jasmine.

“What the hell? Get up, Abhoy.”

I woke with a start and blinked. I was still half asleep. Frowning, I yawned.

“Abhoy, take your hands off me. Now.”

Blinking rapidly, I ducked my head and froze.

Mehek was wrapped in my arms, her back to me, and I had caged her against my chest. Strands of her hair brushed against my face, the faint scent of jasmine still clinging to her. For a brief second, my sleepy mind couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing.

“Abhoy…”

I loosened my grip immediately, and she sat up. She turned and slapped me hard across the cheek. The crack echoed through the room.

I sat up, glaring at her. She glared right back.

“How dare you touch me!” she snarled.

She had no idea how on edge I already was. Something inside me snapped. Before I could think, I grabbed her by the nape of her neck and pushed her back onto the bed. Crawling over her, I stared into her wide eyes. There was fear in them, but my mind refused to register it. Instead, I lowered my head and crashed my lips onto hers.

She was soft.

That was the first thought that entered my mind.

Warm, tender, and impossibly soft.

I moved my lips over hers slowly, savoring something I had no right to take. She wasn’t kissing me back. Her fists landed against my arm again and again as she struggled beneath me. I caught one of her wrists and pinned it above her head, deepening the kiss without even realizing what I was doing.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she shouted the moment I pulled back for air.

She kicked me, trying to throw me off, but I barely moved. Then I saw it.

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and rolled down her cheek.

Everything inside me came crashing down.

It was as though a fog had lifted from my mind. I stumbled off her immediately, breathing hard, every breath scraping my throat. I stood beside the bed, staring at her in horror, unable to believe what I had just done.

“Mehek…”

“Don’t you dare take my name. How could you?”

“I’m… so… sorry…” I whispered, the apology sounding hollow even to my own ears.

She rubbed her lips over and over, as though trying to erase every trace of my touch. Without looking at me again, she climbed off the bed and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

I stood there, unable to move.

What was happening to me?

I put on trackpants and a tee. Then I turned and left, heading straight to the gym. I used the washroom there before throwing myself into my workout. I loaded more weight than I normally did, welcoming the strain in my muscles. Every repetition burned, but it wasn’t enough. Sweat rolled down my temples, my breathing grew ragged, yet my mind refused to quiet.

As I lowered the dumbbells after another set of bicep curls, my gaze fell on the angry red scratches across my upper right arm.

Her scratches.

I stared at them for a long moment.

What had I become now?

How could I do this?

I wasn’t the kind of man who would ever force himself on a woman. I had always believed that. Yet I had done exactly that.

The worst part was that, for those few seconds, it had felt good. Her closeness, the scent of jasmine surrounding her, the warmth of her body against mine, it all felt like a dream I never wanted to wake from.

But it was her. She must have drifted closer to me in her sleep, and instead of moving away… I had wrapped my arms around her. And then I couldn’t control myself.

It was wrong. I had forced myself on her, and it was a crime. Not a mistake, but a crime.

I had to ask her to punish me.

Whatever she wanted… I would give her.

Two hours later, I walked back towards the bedroom and knocked. But there was no answer. I stood outside for a minute before turning the knob and opening the door.

Mehek wasn’t inside. I checked the bathroom, but it was empty too.

She must be downstairs.

I quickly showered and got ready for the day, feeling like shit about myself. Every time I caught my reflection in the mirror, I looked away. I couldn’t bear to meet my own eyes.

When I went downstairs, I heard her voice before I reached the dining room.

“Sure, beta. You can go. Did you talk to Abhoy?”

I entered the room, and her head shot up as though she sensed my presence before seeing me.

“About what?” I asked.

“Mehek wants to go home for a few days,” Mom explained.

I looked at Mehek, but she refused to meet my eyes. Her gaze remained fixed on the table, her jaw tight.

I sat down just as Saroj walked in.

“Dada, why didn’t you have dinner last night?”

I sighed. “I got late, and I wasn’t hungry then.”

The lie came out effortlessly.

She smiled and served puri and sabzi onto my plate. As I glanced at Mom, guilt was written all over her face.

I gave her a faint smile and silently began eating.

“So, can I go or not?” Mehek asked, her voice edged with impatience.

Mom frowned, but I answered before she could.

“I’ll drop you in the evening.”

“I want to go now.”

“Mehek, I have a meeting right now. But I’ll come home early and drop you myself. Topic closed.”

She finally looked at me. There was so much anger in her eyes that my chest tightened.

She stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, and for one terrifying second, I thought she was going to tell everyone what I had done.

“Priyo, sit. What happened?” Mom asked.

“Nothing. I… I just remembered something. I’ll eat later.”

Without another glance in my direction, she walked out before Mom could stop her.

“Did something happen, Abhoy?” Baba asked.

The question settled heavily between us. I didn’t know what to say.

I slowly stood. “I…”

“Sit. You didn’t have dinner last night. Abhoy, you’re not leaving without eating. And I’ll make that clear to Mehek as well. This is not done, and she has to understand that.”

“Baba…” I shook my head and sat back down. “Don’t tell her anything. She’s angry at me, and I deserve it.”

Mom’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “It was because of me, right? What I told you?”

“No, Maa.” I looked down at my plate. “I just did something unthinkable.”

“What do you mean?”

“I did something bad, Maa. Very bad.”

She stared at me, her mouth slightly open, unable to form the next question.

“Did you… Abhoy…” Her voice trembled. “Did you hit her?”

Something worse. I slowly shook my head.

“Don’t ask me, please. But let me earn her forgiveness.”

“Abhoy, if you raised your hand on her… I will never forgive you,” Baba said, his voice firm.

“I know.”

“Take her out somewhere. And make sure she forgives you.”

“Baba…”

“I’m not asking. Go to the farmhouse. It’s just an hour away.”

“I have a project to work on. I don’t have time right now.”

“Fine. Then take her out for dinner tonight.”

I sighed but nodded. The rest of the meal passed in silence. The clinking of cutlery against the plates was the only sound in the room.

When I finished, I picked up Mehek’s untouched plate. It was still warm. Holding it in my hands, I quietly carried it upstairs.

I opened the door just as she screamed, “Don’t you dare touch me!”

I stopped immediately.

“No, Mehek. I won’t. I’m sorry.”

Keeping my movements slow, I walked inside and placed her plate on the side table. She watched me the entire time, her eyes tracking every movement as though expecting me to do something reckless again.

“I got your food here. Please eat.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“I don’t trust you anymore.”

The words landed exactly where they were meant to.

“I know.” I lowered my gaze for a moment. “And I’m sorry I did what I did. Just… try to forgive me. Baba wants us to go somewhere, and I couldn’t get out of it.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Just for dinner tonight. Please.”

“You don’t deserve my empathy, Abhoy.” Her voice was steady, but her eyes shimmered with hurt. “Let me remind you that it is you who doesn’t want anything between us. I tried. And you rejected me.”

I took a slow breath, forcing myself to stay calm.

“Come with me for dinner tonight. Then I’ll drop you at your mother’s place.”

She glowered at me, her lips pressed into a thin line.

I was so close to breaking. So fucking close. Without thinking, I walked towards her, stopping when there was barely any space left between us.

Then I folded my hands together.

“What I did is not forgivable.” My voice came out hoarse. “So I want you to punish me. Give me a punishment, Mehek.”

She rolled her eyes and instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between us. I noticed her hands trembling ever so slightly.

She was scared of me. The realization hollowed me out.

What had I done?

A moment later, she surprised me by walking towards me instead. She stopped so close that her breasts brushed against my chest.

My body stiffened. I immediately took a step back. Then another, and another. Only when there was enough space between us did I stop.

She let out a small laugh, but there wasn’t an ounce of amusement on her face.

“You want me to punish you?” she asked, her voice eerily calm.

I nodded.

“Step closer to me.”

“What?”

“Yes. Step closer, husband.”

I obeyed. Standing close enough to catch that familiar scent again.

Jasmine. Again.

The fragrance wrapped around me before I could stop myself from breathing it in.

“What’s this fucking smell of jasmine?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Her lips parted slightly.

“Um… it’s my lotion.”

“God… do you put it on at night as well?”

She nodded.

I scrubbed a hand over my face.

“This smell made me kiss you.”

A bitter smile crossed her lips.

“Not me. Just the smell.” She gave a humorless laugh. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“Mehek…”

“Just answer my questions, and I’ll forgive you.”

I nodded slowly. My pulse quickened.

What if she asked me the real reason I married her? If she asked me directly… I would tell her the truth. I wouldn’t lie to her.

“Did your parents force you to marry me?” she asked, her voice quieter now, almost tentative.

I frowned before nodding.

Her eyes widened.

“Do you love someone else?”

It took me a few seconds, but I nodded again.

The color drained from her face. Her lips parted, and a tear slipped silently down her cheek.

“Mehek…” I started, but she raised her hand, stopping me before I could say another word.

“Do you meet her?”

I couldn’t. I could never meet her. I slowly shook my head.

“Have you met her even once after we got married?”

I shook my head again.

“Did you meet her after you met me? Even once? After our engagement or even before that?”

Once again, I shook my head.

She frowned, confusion replacing some of the hurt in her eyes.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m answering all your questions.” I held her gaze. “Maybe you don’t know what you really have to ask me.”

She glared at me again, but I was used to it by now, so I simply waited.

“Will you ever go to her?”

“Never.”

“Never?”

“I promise. But I do sometimes remember her. I can’t help it. It is out of my control.”

“But you will never try to bring her into our life?”

She didn’t have to worry about that. The universe had already made sure of it.

“Never. I promise.” I swallowed hard before adding, “Please forgive me for this morning.”

“Kiss me.”

For a moment, I thought I had heard her wrong.

“What?”

“Kiss me, and I will forgive you.”

“I can’t.”

“Then I won’t return.”

Her answer was immediate, making me frown.

“What?”

“I won’t. Tonight, when I go to my parents’ place, I won’t return.”

“That’s not an option, Mehek.”

“I’ll run away. Far away, where no one can find me.” Her eyes held mine without wavering. “What will you do then?”

I pressed my lips together and stepped closer. Beneath the stubbornness and defiance, I could see the slight tremor in her shoulders. Even now, she kept her hands tightly clenched at her sides, as though she was forcing herself not to retreat from me. She had become this because of me. Strong. Guarded. Closed off.

Sometimes I wondered what she had been like before she met me. I was sure she had been softer then. More hopeful. The kind of girl who laughed easily and wore her heart openly. Somewhere along the way, I had taken that from her. I had wronged her in more ways than I could count.

Slowly, I lifted a hand and cupped her face. She stiffened at my touch, but she didn’t pull away. I searched her eyes one last time, giving her every opportunity to stop me. When she didn’t, I lowered my lips to hers.

The kiss was gentle, nothing like the one from the morning. I moved slowly, deliberately, making sure she knew she could push me away if she wanted. Instead, after a moment’s hesitation, her lips moved against mine. Tentative at first, as though she was testing whether this was real, but then with growing certainty.

Her fingers slid into my hair and tightened.

A low groan escaped me, but I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t allow myself to think. The moment I started thinking, I would remember everything that stood between us, and I didn’t want that right now. I only wanted this moment.

She let out a soft gasp, her lips parting. And I didn’t hesitate. My tongue slipped into her mouth, and suddenly everything overwhelmed me.

Her warmth, the taste of her, the familiar scent of jasmine surrounding us… she was incredible, living up to her name.

Mehek.

She smelled as intoxicating as the fragrance she was named after.

Just then, another gasp broke through the haze.

Mehek immediately pulled away and turned around, ducking her head. Confused, I looked towards the door and froze.

Mom stood there.

Her eyes were wide with surprise, but only for a second. Then her expression softened. Tears gathered in her eyes as a smile spread across her face. She looked from me to Mehek and back again before giving me a small nod. Without saying a word, she quietly stepped back and closed the door behind her.

I rubbed the back of my neck.

“I’m sorry. She must have knocked, but I didn’t hear.”

“How will I meet her eyes now?”

Mehek still had her back to me.

I gently turned her around and lifted her chin.

“Don’t worry.” A faint smile tugged at my lips. “We’re married. We can kiss.”

She sighed.

“I’m still going to my parents.”

“I won’t stop you.”

“Oh… why would you?” she asked quietly. “You anyway love someone else. Someone you can never get.”

“So true.” The words tasted bitter. I stopped for a second before continuing. “We go out for dinner tonight. Then I will drop you to your parents.”

She nodded. For a few seconds, she simply stared at me, as though expecting me to say something more. Maybe… about the kiss.