Chapter 18
1221 Words
Slowly the humor subsided from his face and he started concentrating on his food, more than that was required.
I looked up at him at my each bite, he was chewing down the lasagna and taking a sip of his wine. The drink gulped down slowly through his throat, which caused his muscle to twitch.
In the next moment, his eyes caught mine- admiring him.
I didn't mind being caught.
He gave me a soft smile, while his eyes glittered beautifully and then he turned his head to look out.
I kept looking at him, while my mind drifted back to everything that happened today. He came for me in that insane rain, I remember how we took each other in our arms. I felt so relieved on seeing him. How we sweat danced in the party and how he came back offended and was packing his bag. Was he serious about going?
As I was lost in those memories I heard him clearing his throat.
I peeked up at him, "Can I ask you one thing?" he said
My heart sped up but I nodded anyway
His lips curved up slightly may be on seeing my unease, but his eyes didn't twinkle the way they used to on his each smile.
"You looked so.." he inhaled and looked at my face, my breath was caught but he continued anyway "you looked so sad that day in the restaurant in Gurgaon. Why's that?"
I exhaled.
Our first day.
It's just been three days if I remember correctly. The day I broke up with Sameer. The day I needed a break from my life.
"I was sad, yes. I think I just needed a break from my past." I looked back up at him, and added "I ended things that day"
My heart paused at that. I couldn't say his name, I couldn't tell him that I had a break up. That I was betrayed by the person I loved.
I inhaled deep and looked at the guy who was gazing down at me, he looked concentrated but then nodded after a while.
"I understand" and went back to his wine.
I kept looking at him for a while more.
"Why? Why did you ask this?"
He shook his head gently.
"Just came to my mind. You don't look like a person who could get scared easily, yet you looked so scared when those guys came in"
My mind drifted back to that day again. Those drunk guys! I could still picture that day vividly.
"I felt so vulnerable" the answer was involuntary "I had never been out alone at that hour my whole life."
A small v formed between his brows.
"And with your boyfriend?"
I froze while his eyes kept assessing my whole face.
"Never alone" I answered, and secretly hoped him to end the conversation.
His expression said that he got my look and went back to pour some more wine after giving me a slight nod.
But suddenly something came to my mind,
"Why were you looking at your phone like a weirdo that day?"
His lips twitched and his eyes drifted on me- twinkling, this time.
"Like what?"
"Weirdo" I shrugged and pursed my lips
He laughed.
"I don't think so"
Really?
But soon, "let's leave" he said.
"Yeah. I am done" I gulped down my wine and he paid the bill.
We both stood up and stepped out of the restaurant with him following me.
The air was chill but pleasant. It was a beautiful night- with scintillating buildings, clean and wide roads and a clear sky.
"You want to take a walk?" He asked and I felt his eyes on me
He must have seen me admiring the view. But what could I do? I was just awed.
I grinned and nodded looking at him. He smiled and took my hand in his.
"What about the car?" I asked
"We'll come back"
"Alright"
We both kept walking on the big-wide roads of Prague, and preferred to stay silent. The nature was enough to chirp in that moment. Our surroundings were silent, since there were not many people around but the sounds that envisaged us were our footsteps on the road, rate of our breath, hustle of the leaves due to the wind and the chirping of the crickets. I looked up and the sky looked so clear and the moon- so beautiful.
My eyes automatically darted towards Ahaan, who was caught admiring the view as well. His face looked warm and he looked happy.
So was I.
Suddenly we heard, and then saw fireworks happening in the sky at some distance from us.
My heart ran a bit faster for some reason.
"Ahaan" I whispered
"It is dazzling" he stated
I kept looking at all those colors sprinkling in the sky, making it look beautiful than before.
And I don't know what came over me that I started running in that direction. I laughed and looked back at him
"What?" He laughed back
"Catch me" I giggled and ran faster
"Sana" his voice was a mixture of excitement and warning
I laughed and ran away, as fast as I could.
I looked back and saw him running and laughing. His face looked flushed and his eyes looked so happy.
He caught me in no time.
"I want to see those fireworks from close"
"Then run fast" he said and in a moment ran past me
"What the hell Ahaan?" I laughed and ran like a free bird.
The air whooshed through my face, making me feel alive, hair swept away from my face due to the cold wind. I saw him running and looking back and ran faster to catch him. I felt him slowing down a bit, and chased him soon. We took a deep left and saw that the fireworks were happening just above us in the sky.
Our steps faltered and our pace slowed down.
The view looked spectacular. There were all sorts of colors scattered in the sky making the sky look beautifully illuminated.
I looked at Ahaan and he looked down at me at the same time.
His face looked yellow because of the street light and his eyes looked a mixture of so many colors.
My eyes drifted to my surroundings and I saw some people around who were as mesmerized as we both were.
I slid my arm around Ahaan's waist and felt him pulling me closer by snaking his arm around my shoulder. I rested my head on his chest and felt him kiss on my hair. My heart was beating up high, there was a turmoil of feelings rolling up inside of me. It could be the adrenaline because of all that running, it could be those beautiful colors in the sky or it could be just Ahaan.
My mind drifted back to my past, how I had never experienced all of this before with Sameer. How I couldn't even rest my head on his chest or wrap him in my arms, without his permission or a signal.
But with Ahaan, everything's different. Everything seems easy. I don't have to hold back. I can let myself free.
I felt a tear escape my eye, making me clutch Ahaan tighter as a reflux and felt him reciprocating.
- Writer
