Chapter 66 - I do not hate you... (1/2)

|Innaya|

Something was off, I deduced from the unexplainably weirdly silent home and spotting Eshan at home. I tilted my wrist to watch the time. It was three in the afternoon. He was supposed to be at work. How come, was he back so early?

I was dragged to the mall by Siya, and we spent hours while Siya was trying and confirming several outfits. I didn't inform Eshan for I thought he must be busy at work. Besides, I knew I would be home before him, but I was surprised to find him home.

I walked in, closing the door behind me. I smiled at Eshan who was in the kitchen, pouring water in a glass, but he looked too lost to acknowledge my presence. Before I could keep my bags on the couch in the main hall and proceed towards him, he had already made his way upstairs.

What? He didn't even spare me a glance? That wasn't Eshan. That couldn't be Eshan. I was baffled at the scenario. Never before, I had to deal with his ignorance, but then, I was quick enough to realize that perhaps, he hadn't seen me in the first place to ignore.

His lost expression flashed before my eyes again and again. He was tensed but for what? The day was just another normal day. He was fine in the morning. Could it be some matter of the office? I wondered before I quickly freshened up in the guest room right beside the kitchen, prepared tea for him, poured it in his mug, and headed towards our room.

When I reached near the door of our room, I was met with another unusual sight. Eshan was standing near the balcony with his phone in his hand. He was listening to a poignant song.

Eshan wasn't fond of sad songs. He would move to somewhere else if he heard it playing where he was, and that was when I knew – something was severely wrong.

*

”Do you want me to go?” Eshan and I had been sitting in our room for almost half an hour – in silence. He had never been that quiet with me earlier.

I had never seen him as disturbed as I did, that day. Though one could argue that it had been just a couple of months since we were known of each other's existence but then, we shared a different understanding, and it was a little too deep for people who were still exploring each other.

He stayed quiet and I decided to take it as a hint to leave him alone though a part of me refused to but who better than I knew that at times, one must be given the needed space.

I rose on my feet from the bed and was about to show myself the exit when I felt his grip on my wrist, and I sat back wordlessly.

”I am sorry.”

Hearing his apology made me feel guilty. Perhaps, he thought that his silence was affecting me, and I wouldn't lie – it indeed was affecting me but not in a way he thought. He had got me worried. I grew even more concerned, watching a teardrop fall on my hand that was still in his hold.

”Eshan, please,” I shifted a little closer to him. My hand reached to his cheek almost as a reflex, wiping his cheek. ”You've always been there for me. This time, let me do that for you. Please, tell me what's bothering you.”

He had always comforted me in need.

He had always stayed without even asking for.