Page 10 of Since You Came Along (Ever Since #1)

T he warm, buttery aroma of caramelised sugar filled the apartment, mingling with the faint hum of an old Hindi classic song playing in the background. Meera moved to the rhythm, whisking the butter and sugar until it turned fluffy.

Chopping a bar of dark chocolate into uneven chunks, she popped a piece into her mouth, savouring its bittersweet richness. Impulsively, she grabbed a packet of milk chocolate chips and tossed them into the batter for an extra touch of indulgence.

The oven hummed as it preheated, and Meera couldn’t help but smile.

Her first week at university had gone well.

They had moved to Mumbai just three days after their wedding.

It had been heart-wrenching to leave her parents and Alpha.

She’d spent every spare moment with Alpha in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

It was as if he’d known she was leaving; he’d followed her everywhere.

Thankfully, Raghav had been a constant support. His parents had stayed for a few days to help them settle in. Meera had taken to her mother-in-law, enjoying their time cooking together and listening to stories of Raghav’s childhood.

Raghav had protested, especially when Abhay joined in to share even more embarrassing tales from their college days. He had mockingly banned Abhay from the apartment, a ban that had barely lasted half a day.

Meera glanced around the apartment as she worked.

Her gaze landed on the vase sitting on the coffee table.

The purple orchids inside it still looked fresh.

Raghav had given them to her on her first day at university, wishing her good luck.

She was sure Siya had told him, but it still made her smile every time she looked at them.

Even though they were newlyweds, Raghav had been understanding when Meera suggested separate rooms until they got more comfortable. He had even insisted she take the master bedroom.

As Meera scooped cookie dough onto the tray, she thought about how much Abhay and Luv would love these cookies, and how they might never leave if they had a taste. She slid the tray into the oven just as the front door slammed shut.

She turned to see Raghav walking in, his tie loose and his face tense. He didn’t say a word as he went straight to his room and shut the door behind him. Raghav wasn’t the type to ignore her, but she decided to give him some space.

The oven dinged, and the smell of freshly baked cookies made her mouth water. She placed the hot tray on the rack and glanced at Raghav’s door. She decided the half-hour she had given him to sulk was more than enough. It was time to check on him.

With a plate of cookies in hand, Meera walked to his door and knocked. There was only a muffled response. ‘Leave me alone, Meera.’

Her brows knitted in concern. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

‘I’m fine. I just need some time.’

She hesitated, her feet half-turned to leave. Giving him space seemed like the sensible thing to do, but she knew better than to trust the word ‘fine’. People often said it when they weren’t fine at all.

She stood there for a moment, biting her lip. Then she knocked again and called out, ‘I made cookies.’

There was silence for a moment before he asked, ‘Which ones?’

‘Caramel and chocolate chip,’ she answered with a little smile, hoping it might cheer him up.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open just a sliver. Raghav peeked out, his eyes weary and bloodshot. ‘With vanilla milk?’ he asked, his voice tinged with a vulnerability that tugged at her heart.

She held up the plate. ‘How about I make you some, and you come out and eat these?’

After a pause, he nodded. He stepped aside and opened the door. The room behind him was a mess. Meera noticed his briefcase lying on the floor and scattered papers on the rumpled bed. Without a word, she held out her hand. He took it, and together, they walked to the kitchen.

Once he sat down at the dining table, he inhaled deeply and murmured, ‘It smells amazing in here, like a caramel factory.’

Meera felt a little thrill at the simple acknowledgement. He did not know how much she cherished small things like that. She busied herself preparing the milk just the way he liked.

She placed everything in front of him and took a seat beside him. He ate the first few cookies in quick, hungry bites, barely chewing. Though his shoulders slumped and his movements were sluggish, he still managed a small compliment.

‘These are amazing, Meera. You outdid yourself,’ he mumbled.

She smiled, picking crumbs off a cookie. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ she asked.

He shook his head, staying quiet. Meera didn’t push further, and they finished eating in silence.

He sighed. ‘One of our clients, Mr Sutaria, passed away today.’

Meera stilled, her gaze fixed on him. His voice was so low she might have missed it if the room hadn’t been so quiet.

Raghav continued, his gaze fixed on the empty plate. ‘Heart attack.’

‘Oh no,’ she breathed, reaching out. Her hand found his, and she gave it a gentle squeeze. He turned his hand over, tangling his fingers with hers.

‘He was a close friend of Dad. I got the news this evening,’ he said, his voice tinged with sadness.

‘When was the last time you spoke to him?’ she asked, her heart aching for him.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. ‘He called me last month to congratulate us on the wedding. He wished you luck. Said he knew I’d be too much to handle sometimes.’

‘Will you be?’ she teased, hoping to lighten his mood.

‘Why would I warn you if I were?’ he shot back, the corners of his mouth twitching into a sad smile.

Without a word, she stood and moved behind him. Her hands found his tense shoulders, and she began massaging them.

Raghav groaned, the tension in his muscles easing under her touch. He tilted his head forward, giving her access to the nape of his neck. When her fingers pressed there, he let out a long, relieved sigh.

‘He also told me he was looking forward to meeting you,’ Raghav murmured. ‘He had even invited us to visit him in London.’

‘I would’ve loved to meet him,’ Meera said. Her fingers moved into his hair, massaging his scalp.

Raghav closed his eyes, breathing in the soft scent of strawberries and vanilla that clung to her.

When she grazed her nails over his scalp, a shiver ran down his spine.

He couldn’t remember the last time someone had taken care of him like this.

Not since Veronica, he realised with a pang of sadness.

He sighed, and Meera wrapped her arms around him from behind. He turned to her, resting his cheek against her belly, and she placed her cheek on his head, holding him close. In that moment, Raghav felt grateful for her presence.

She brushed her palm over his cheek, and he turned his head to press a soft kiss onto her hand. It was his quiet way of saying thank you. For a while, they stayed like that.

When he looked up, there was a brightness in his eyes. ‘Do you want to go for a drive?’ he asked, his voice carrying a hint of hope.

Meera hesitated. She had lessons to plan and unpacking to do, but the look on his face made her smile. ‘Do you even have to ask?’