‘Alright, I must leave now,’ he said as he got up from his seat.
‘Okay, see you in the evening,’ she said.
She was smiling. Her fingers still were toying with her new pendant. A corner of Abhi’s mouth moved a little to attempt a smile. But he had quickly to purse up his lips and mute his own breath into silence. In his pocket waited the second gift that he had brought for her. But before he gave it, there was something else that Abhi wanted to do.
‘Do you…love me, Aashi?’ he finally asked the question.
He saw Aashi’s head jerk. That certainly wasn’t what she was expecting.
‘Do you love me, Aashi, even if a little bit?’ he asked again.
Aashi’s face turned towards him. Her lips parted without making a sound. They were waiting perhaps for her to recover. But then, it was okay after all.
