Siddharth

The loud bang on the door woke me from a deep slumber. Growling in irritation, I removed the quilt from my face and rubbed my eyes before adjusting them to the bright light in the room.

"Stop it, Josh!! I'm coming." I yelled back, threw the quilt off my body, and stepped towards the door.

I stopped midway and held my temple between my palms and crouched down on the floor to ease the throbbing ache in my head. I think the hangover is kicking in.

Truth to be said, I was sulking at Josh's flat for a week now. I swear, I never had this much alcohol in my body in my whole life before.

But for now, that is my only resort to ease the pain my heart was going through.

Without the alcohol, I knew I will be running back to her. I didn't want to do that, as much as I want her to stay I knew she needed it. She needed the change she needed a new start but what makes me mad is that she doesn't want me to be a part of it, and it is ripping my heart apart I needed to stop the pain, and for that alcohol is needed.

I can't describe the rage I felt when she told me that she is not coming back.

I thought I meant something to her but it seems I never mattered to her otherwise she wouldn't be leaving me like this.

I was about to give her a lecture to make her tiny brain realize that she can't always take me for granted, and play with my feelings as she has done in the past. From the beginning that was what she was always doing. Without making any effort she had me wrapped around her finger the moment she barged into that room on that rainy night.

But her tear-stained face didn't let me say anything. That doe eyes were begging me to let her go. The vulnerability in her eyes said how much difficult it is for her as much as it is for me. She might have never said those three words to me but, at that moment I knew I am her everything. She didn't want me to let her go but, at that same time, she wants me to set her free. I wanted to hold her tight and kiss her senselessly and make her forget everything else but I couldn't because, like I said she has me in her palm, I can never say no to her so I did what I had to do. I set her free.

It took everything in me to rip away her tightened fingers from my collar and turn my back to her.

The door banged again and I sighed in irritation.

"Coming.""What hell do you want Josh?"I yelled opening the door but went silent at the sight of the person in front of me.

"Ved?!!""What are you doing here?"

He just gave me a boring stare and stepped inside the room giving me a shoulder bump.His eyes rolled around the unorganized room and stopped at the beer and whiskey bottles near my bed.

I saw his jaw clenching and I closed my eyes and a sigh left my lips. He turned towards me and narrowed his eyes at me.

My head hung low and I scratched my neck.

"You know this is not a solution right? A great example is standing right in front of you."He sighed in disappointment.

"You were the one who was advising me back then and see what you are doing now."He said pointing, towards the bottles.

"I know and, I am sorry, I can't help it."

"Sid." He gritted his teeth.

"I know. I know. Okay."

I said and raised my hands in surrender.

"The thing is, I am afraid that if I am sober, I might not be able to control myself from stopping her."

I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. My head was throbbing again and, I held it in my palms and closed my eyes.

The bed beside me dipped and, a hand squeezed my shoulder gently and rubbed my back.

"Come here."Ved said and pulled me in for a side hug.

"You do understand how much you mean to her right? She has been through so much and the things she went through are not so simple to forget."Ved said while tightening his hold on me.

"I know. I know but I am afraid of how she is going to do it alone. I was scared for her. But I know she wanted it this way but can't she realize it is good to be in a company rather than being alone?"

My voice raised in irritation.

Ved leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

"Everyone has their phase of coping up Sid, this is hers. If she thinks this change is going to bring her peace then let her be. Sooner or later she will realize what she wants and she will back to you."

I looked at Ved and his eyes held confidence. A small smirk appeared on his lips and he patted my back.

"Trust me on this Sid. The one thing she can't live without is you. I have seen it in her eyes. You are the only thing that is keeping her from going insane. And she is doing this for you thinking she is doing you a favor but she doesn't realize her solace lies where you are and when it dawns upon her she will be running back to your embrace."

My heart warmed up at his words and a smile broke its way to my lips.

"So now get ready and we are living for the airport. You need to make sure she returns right."He said and patted my head before walking out of the room.

My eyes roamed around the airport lounge and stopped at the petite woman standing next to Niharika. Though she was smiling at her it was not reaching her eyes. I could see her eyes roaming around here and there from time to time in search of someone.

Was she expecting me?!! A slay smile appeared on my face. She is missing me already and, how is she going to manage it for a lifetime?!! Soon you are going to realize what you want is to be with me, Aami. I chuckled and walked towards them with Ved by my side.

"Hey."

Hearing Ved's voice their head turned our way. My eyes met the black robes and I saw a little sparkling in them. Her face instantly relaxed and a smile made its way to her lips and like that got lost in each other's eyes.

A throat clearing brought us back to the present.

"We are going to have a cup of coffee. Do you want something?"He asked putting his hands around Niharika's shoulder.

"No, thank you."

Aami said with a small smile and I nodded my head in a no.

"Okay then, we will be back soon."

Ved said and intertwined his fingers with Niharika's and nodded at us before pulling her towards the cafe.

I looked at Aami, her eyes held guilt and sadness. I could see them becoming glassy and she looked away with no energy to meet my gaze.

"Hmm. Have you checked in?"I asked clearing my throat.

She nodded her head looking at her feet. Her fingers were fidgeting around the strap of her cross bag.

"So this is it then, right."I said staring straight at her and, her eyes flipped back to mine.

"I came to say goodbye."I saw her eyes brimming with tears.

I took two steps forwards closing the distance between us and wrapped my hands around her and brought her closer.

She sobbed into my chest wetting my shirt and she held my shirt tight in her fists. I blinked back the tears and rubbed her back slowly.

"And I want to thank you for coming into my life and making it more beautiful. Thank you for making me realize how beautiful is the feeling called love."

She looked up and, her teary eyes met mine.

Cupping her face, I wiped her face and kissed her forehead.

"The days ahead are going to be beautiful and always keep smiling. Smile because you were strong enough to make it through your past and smile because you still have a wonderful life ahead of you. There are far better things ahead than any you leave behind."

Frowning, she took a step back and shook her head sideways in protest.

"There is nothing better than you in my life, no one is going to be."She said through her sobs.

"Yet you are leaving me."

She looked up with her vulnerable eyes. A humorless chuckle left my mouth.

"I guess, I am not good enough for you to stay then."

She stared at me with so many emotions swirling in her eyes.

"I..."

I opened my mouth to say something more but, I was pulled down by my collar and silenced by a pair of soft lips crashing into mine. My eyes goes wide for a moment and then I slowly gave in to the kiss. Closing my eyes I let myself feel the touch of her lips against mine. Her lips were soft, almost silken, and pillowy against my own. I could feel the small tickle of her breath under my nose. Her fingers were fisted tightly around my collar, the peachy scent of her perfume was dizzying and butterflies were dancing in my stomach. I could taste the saltiness of her tears in my mouth and all her emotions were pouring into the kiss, letting me know what I am to her. And out of every emotion, I could sense the belongingness and the deep affection that she has for me.

A smile crept to my lips. I needed no more assurance than this to know that she loves me. She wasn't ready yet to tell me that and I am going to give her all the time she needs because she is going to come back to me. And with that in my mind, I kissed her back with all warmness and affection I could muster.

Snaking my arms around her waist, I brought her closer to me. Her hands came around my neck and caressed my hair. We kissed passionately without bothering the stares we were receiving, lost in a bubble of time and space.

I rested my forehead on hers still our eyes closed breathing in each other.

A moment later, slowly opening my eyes, I saw her looking at me.

"Sid."

She started but, I cut her off.

"You didn't let me complete before." I said with a smile playing on my lips.

"I wanted to let you that you can take all the time you want to heal yourself and start a new life but, after everything, still you feel like all is lost just remember that I will be here waiting for you."

She gasped and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.Smiling I held her cheeks and wiped her tears and held her palms in mine. Rubbing her knuckles I looked at her moistened eyes.

"I won't stop you, Aami. You can go where ever you want and do whatever you want but, I know that you will be coming back to me no matter what."

Her eyes held mine with a whirlpool of emotions.

"You know why? Because I am your home. And you belong to your home."

She closed her eyes and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"I hope it happens."

She whispered.

"It will,"

I reassured.

She nodded wiping her tears.

"Now go and spread your wings. It's time to fly."

I said and cupped her cheek in my palm.

She took a deep breath and nodded her head.

"Bye."

I left the last lingering kiss on her forehead before letting go of her face from my hold.

"Bye."

She walked past the security clearance and turned around, to give me a last glance before disappearing into the crowd.

I stood there for a little longer staring at nothing. Four hands snaked around me giving me a tight hug. Smiling, I looked away from where Aami disappeared and met the gaze of my brother and sister-in-law.

They were giving me a happy reassuring smile.

"She will be back."

Ved said and Niharika nodded in agreement.

"I know."

I said and pulled them in for another group hug.

We walked out of the airport towards our car. And my heart was calm and beaming with a new ray of hope for our beautiful future.

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