Taking a deep breath, Naira forwarded to leave only to get stopped as Ehan appeared in front of her, “Naira, wait.” lightly panting.
He was about to say something again but Naira got asking him before that, “What are you doing here? Don't tell me you are here to attend the wedding.”
“It’s true, Aaron is my friend. But that wasn't the reason, I am here.”
Naira narrowed her eyes as Ehan completed his say, “I am here to see you.”
Naira faked a chuckle in annoyance!
And Ehan continued, “No more lies. I won’t lie to you anymore.”
This time Naira retorted, “Like I care! Go back to where you came from.”
Ehan replied solemnly, “Nope. I am not leaving.”
Glaring at him Naira spoke up again, “What exactly are you trying to do? By starting all this fake show once again.”
"It’s nothing fake. I'm here to try mending the bond. I'm here to repent for my mistakes." Ehan whispered.
Naira mentally laughed at him. He was thinking to repent for his mistakes after these three long years?
"Are you hearing yourself? Or did you forget that I'm the same woman who was classless and worthless to you?"
Naira’s word stiffened Ehan. Guilt flickered in his eyes as he remembered that day and got uttering, "I'm sorry."
Sarcasm dripped from Naira’s voice as she uttered, "Sorry? For what?"
"I'm not asking you to forgive me now." He said in a soft, gentle voice keeping his head down.
Naira narrowed her eyes as Ehan went on, "I don't expect you to. First, I'm going to try every method to win your heart, will show you that I never wanted to do or say all that to you back then. After that, I will expect you to forgive me. It won't be easy for you. I know. But take your time. Take all the time you need. I'll wait uncomplainingly."
Naira became dumbfounded for a moment. What's the matter with him?
His drama was becoming to much tolerate for her. She never imagined not even in dreams that he would come to her again someday and apologize for his mistakes.
Composing herself, she uttered, "You like games, right? Let’s play one between ourselves." Ehan knitted his brows in confusion.
Naira uttered with a smiling face, “Let’s play 'Hide and Seek'. You hide and I won't seek ever.” but the later words got voiced out in the most bitter way possible.
Ehan’s face turned dark.
Naira started taking steps ahead only to get stopped for a moment as Ehan uttered, “Ira, please. I love you.”
Naira snapped at herself mentally, “Not again, Naira.” and left from there without bothering to turn back for once.
Ehan got standing there as she disappeared out of his sight in a swift, leaving him alone in his own mental disarray.
He thought of running after her but giving it a thought, he stood still. He knew, Naira would need time and he would give her that. But he wasn’t going to leave her side.
**
Naira reached the hotel and getting a long shower, she got out. Sitting in a recliner, she closed her eyes leaning against it.
She was trying to get herself together like she promised herself years back.
It was true. She never forgot him. Not even for a second. She couldn’t help thinking of him every single day of her life.
Everyday, she fought back the urge to text him or call him by telling herself that if he wanted to talk to her, he would have did that.
If he really loved her, he would get back to her for forgiveness. But he didn’t do that. It made her feel really worthless that got her hellbound to erase him. As it was easier than to blame him.
But she guessed she failed to do that. As that mere line got trying to wake up the feelings for him which she buried deep down within her.
“Ira, please. I love you.” Ehan’s word kept buzzing in Naira's mind. She could feel his uttered sincerity and honesty.
She remembered how Ehan’s face turned dark hearing her.
She mentally snapped at herself again to pull herself together, “When didn’t you see honesty in his words, Ira? Remember he is the same Ehan Sinha who did that just to win a dare. He couldn’t handle failure. Who knows what is in his mind this time!
No, I can’t let him play with my heart again when it isn’t even healed yet.”
Giving all these thoughts a break, Naira got on bed and tried to get some sleep. But like earlier days, she couldn’t fall asleep.
Getting a shawl over her body, she got out of the room. She got out of the hotel and started walking by the road. She used to do that when they were here three years back.
That time she wasn’t alone though. Akash was always there to give her company. Now she had finally realized why she felt Akash was doing all that.
He was doing all that out of guilt. She was so lost in her thought that she didn’t even realize that she was already at a quite distance from the hotel.
When she understood, she got somewhat scared as no one was all around and the place was all silent and somewhat dark.
She was about to take steps towards the hotel but got stopped as she caught a familiar human figure beside a maple tree.
Actually on other side of the street, there was a row of maple trees and that person was standing beside one of the trees. She took few steps further to get a close look of his face like on her own and then recognized him.
Ehan..
He didn't see her because his face was in other direction. He kicked away few pebbles from the ground and then began looking up at the night sky while shoving his hands' inside his pants' pocket.
What was he doing here roaming in this dark, hushed street?
She wondered..
Though it shouldn’t be concerning her but still she found herself standing there, looking at him for few moments.
She was about to leave getting back on earth, but stumbled to something and got her ankle hurt and a voice came out from her throat, “Ouch.”
As there was pin drop silence, this got into Ehan’s hearing, turning him to her.
When he recognised Naira, in no moment he reached her and uttered, “You okay?”
Naira turned to him but didn’t utter anything and tried to take steps ahead but got failed. Ehan reached his hand to help her but Naira moved it away, “I am fine. Don’t bother.”
Ehan stood still for a second but when he saw her having troubles, he got hold of her and took her in his arms though Naira tried to push him away, “Leave me.”
Without bothering Naira's resist, he walked towards the hotel. When a bench got into his sight just outside of the hotel, he put her down and forcefully made her sit on a bench.
Naira glared at him but Ehan just got on his one knee as he took Naira’s hurt leg in his hand getting her taken aback.
Before Naira could reacted, Ehan got uttering, “It will hurt.” as he twisted her foot right and left in no moment.
Naira unintentionally grabbed Ehan’s shoulder while holding the pain and closed her eyes.
She opened her eyes in a jerk as Ehan got uttering again, “Is it okay, now?”
Naira moved her ankle and breathed in relief. It wasn’t hurting anymore. She didn’t realise her hand was still on Ehan’s shoulder.
She didn't get to utter anything as Ehan spoke up again, “I am sorry.” as he got his head down...
☘☘