Page 60 of Right Where I Belong

“No more talking,” she whispered against his mouth. “If tonight is the last time we’re going to be together, then make it count, Adi.”

“But we need to talk about after…”

“I said no talking…” She kissed his mouth.

He carried her in his arms as he rose. “Whatever you say, beautiful.”

She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of him. Tonight was going to be the end. She wanted it to be that.

Then why was she wishing for this night to never end?

19

Mumbai

One week later

It felt strange to be back home. Everything felt different. The weather was dull and dreary, much like her mood. Ten in the morning felt like late evening, with no sun, dark clouds, and a threat of rain on the horizon. Strange that it was going to rain in December. Sabrina sat in her office, looking blankly at the screen in front of her. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t focus on the presentation she was working on. Her thoughts were focused on him. Aditya. Their last night together, she’d left the room as soon as he’d fallen asleep. She didn’t want to say goodbye; she didn’t want to hear him tell her that he needed to talk about them.

She lifted her phone and scrolled through his texts—there were so many from him. She’d replied to none, answered none of his calls. She’d decided to stop all communication with him the moment she’d left his hotel room that night. And while initially he’d texted and called her relentlessly, he’d gotten the hint that they were over and eventually stopped. It was better that way,she told herself. A clean break. She had to be sensible and practical. But that didn’t stop her from rereading his messages.

Aditya

You left without saying goodbye. I don’t like it.

I’m leaving now. I’ll call you when I land. Stay safe, and miss me ;)

You’re not answering my calls or texts. Is everything alright, beautiful?

Sabrina, where are you?

Can you please call me?

I found the ring, by the way.

I know what you’re trying to do.

I had to text Shauna to check on you. I don’t like this. If I weren’t bound by my word to Rajiv, I would have taken the next flight out.

There were so many more. She scrolled down to his last message.

Aditya

I miss you—your voice, your skin, your touch. I miss everything about you.

Her chest hurt. She’d thought that cutting off all contact with him would make leaving him easy. But it hadn’t. It was too damn hard. She yearned for him. Every inch of her wanted him fiercely. It reminded her of how much happier she’d been with him in her life. God, she missed him so much. Aditya had become such a constant fixture in her life that now, without him, everything felt gloomy and colorless. Like she was back to living that old life of hers, which had been devoid of happiness.

She sucked in a deep breath. She’d thought she was happy in life. Content even. Ahaan made her so, so happy. Seeing him grow, talking to him, and being with him was what gave her happiness. She’d lived for her son for so long that she’d forgotten what it felt like to be happy for herself.

She’d coordinated her return to Mumbai with Aisha’s, so she’d arrived a day earlier. Ahaan had come back full of stories about his time away—especially London and his school there. She was happy he’d got that opportunity. Even her mother-in-law seemed a little better now that Ahaan and Sabrina were back home. At least she was communicating with Sabrina again, which was a relief. Six weeks of silence from her had been heart wrecking.

A few texts beeped on her screen. Her heart stumbled and then saddened. It wasn’t Aditya. It was Shauna. God, she had to stop expecting any more communication from him. They were over. Done with.

Sighing, she opened Shauna’s texts.

Shauna

Hi, Sabrina. I miss you. Singapore doesn’t seem the same without you.