The boys kept laughing, but Abhimaan’s smile faltered. He watched her leave, her back straight, and for the first time, guilt flickered in his eyes. He realised what he’d done, but before he could move, before he could call out, she was already gone.

 Meera had left the state just two days later, not giving Abhimaan a chance to talk to her. She’d told her mother who had understood and talked to her father to send Meera to her mamu’s house in Jaipur where she completed the rest of her schooling.

And then, she moved to Singapore for her higher education and the distance between her and Abhimaan widened.

Meera sat up straight and sighed. 

“Stop it Meera! 10 saal ho gye hai. So what if he’s coming here and you’re going to see him after 10 long years. He was once your best friend. Tu normally baat kr skti hai usse.”

(It’s been 10 years….You can talk to him normally.)

She explained herself and nodded in affirmation. After freshening up and changing into a simple cotton kurti and jeans, she went to the common hall where everyone was gathered.

She had just entered the common hall when she heard the voice that had her freezing. 

“Akshat! Saale chupe rustam! Tu toh kabhi shaadi nhi krne wala tha na.”

(You’re a dark horse! You were never going to get married.)

Abhimaan gave Akshat a brotherly hug and pat on his back. Akshat laughed and looked at Sakshi with love filled eyes.

“Isko na nhi kr paaya yaar!”

(I couldn’t say no to her!)

Abhimaan laughed and congratulated the two while Meera stood frozen. The emotions she was experiencing on seeing him after so many years couldn’t be described in one word.

Longing, ache, heartbreak, love, relief and anger. All of them at once. She thought she had stopped loving him. But she was so wrong. 

As if sensing her eyes on him, Abhimaan looked at her and stopped. His smile diminished and his eyes softened. Meera could see the hint of tears in his eyes. Abhimaan gave her a soft smile and Meera tried returning it. She gave a small smile before turning back and running to her room.

She kept a hand on her heart and took deep breaths to calm her emotions. Abhimaan’’s condition wasn’t any different. His heart too was beating wildly.

Meera stayed in her room the whole day to avoid bumping into Abhimaan. She didn’t know how to face him yet. Abhimaan, on the other hand, searched the entire venue to look for her.

It was dinner time when Meera finally stepped out. She took a deep breath and braced herself to come face to face with him. 

She had set her plate on the table and looked around but there was so sign of him. She asked Sakshi with a nudge.

“Ye jiju aur baaki sab kaha hai?”

(Where is jiju and everyone else?)

“Daaru lene gye hai.”

(Went to get alcohol.)

Sakshi answered, making Meera pause.

“Kya?”

(What?)

“Haan. Kal se shaadi ke saare functions start hai. So they wanted to enjoy this night. Daaru party krenge saare dost. Hum bhi invited hai. Tu aayegi na?”

(Yes. The wedding functions start from tomorrow….They will have a party. We are also invited. You’ll come right?)

Sakshi asked, sceptical because Abhimaan was going to be there. Meera knew she had to face him eventually. She smiled and nodded, making Sakshi smile too.

Meera was in her room. She had changed into her pajamas and a loose tshirt which fell off one of her shoulders. It gave her a sexy yet homely look. She let her hair loose and didn’t know why she dabbed a little bit of lip gloss.

She first went to Sakshi’s room and the two went to the room where everyone had decided to gather. Meera entered and her heart started beating loudly. She wasn’t unaware of the undivided attention and the continuous gaze directed her way.

She tried not to let it bother her but was failing miserably because of the way her hands were getting clammy and her lips dry.

She slowly looked up and their eyes met. The emotions and the depth in his eyes made it difficult for her to hold eye contact without breaking down. She looked away as quickly as she had looked and started talking to Sakshi and her siblings and cousins.

The drinks were opened and passed around. Meera had taken one lazy sip of her beer when one of Akshat’s friends suggested.

“Yaar kuch khelte hai na. Aise chup chup baithne thodi na aaye hai.”

(Let’s play something. We did not come here to sit quietly.)

And then the suggestions followed. They stopped on the classic game to be played with drinks. Never Have I Ever.

Many rounds followed. Laughter and teasing echoed and everyone enjoyed themselves.

“Ab meri baari! Meri baari!”

(My turn! My turn!)

One of their friends chirped in excitement and everyone turned to her. She went into thinking.

“umm…Never Have I Ever…ummm…”

“Uchhli toh tu aise thi jaise kitna amazing question soch rakha ho. Bol ab!”

(You were jumping as if you had such an amazing question. Speak now!)

“Arre yaar! Meri baari nhi aa rhi thi! Lekin ab kya puchhu samajh nhi aa raha.”

(My turn was not coming! But now I cannot understand what to ask.)

She pouted and everyone glared at her. She succumbed under the pressure and said the most stupid question.

“Never Have I Ever fallen in love.”

A lot of eyes turned to her and glared.

“Bro! Hum shaadi attend kr rhe hai. The majority of us are couples here.”

(We are attending a marriage.)

“Singles bhi toh hai na. Mere jaise.”

(There are singles too. Like me.)

She grinned sheepishly and everyone chuckled while taking sips of their drinks. Meera did too but her heart skipped a beat when Abhimaan took a sip too while looking straight into her eyes.

Her heartbeat skyrocketed and she couldn’t avert her eyes from him. The eye contact was intense. Meera couldn’t take it anymore and got up, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Kya hua?”

(What happened?)

“Kuch nhi. I think maine thodi jyada pee li. Thodi der walk krke aati hu. You guys continue.”

(Nothing. I think I had a little too much. I’ll take a walk.)

Sakshi understood and blinked her eyes in assurance. Meera skipped out. Abhimaan waited for a beat before getting up and following her without a word.

He saw Meera standing in the yard, hugging herself as the soft breeze blew around her. He put his hands in his pocket and sauntered towards her, trying hard to ignore his wildly beating heart.

“Hi.”

Meera turned and looked at him in shock at his soft whisper. Abhimaan smiled softly and said.

“Go on! Run away again.”

Meera looked away and stuttered.

“I…I wasn’t…running.”

“Sure! That’s why you’ve been avoiding me all day.”