Page 2 of Since You Came Along (Ever Since #1)

W hen Meera returned to the living room, Damini was entertaining everyone with a childhood story of hers.

‘So, Meera was two months old, sitting on that table,’ her mother said, pointing to their vintage dining table. Meera had heard this story too many times, but she smiled at Gayatri and sat next to her. Meera often thought her mother should have been a writer, but she’d chosen law instead.

‘We were trying to get her to smile for a picture,’ Damini continued, pausing for dramatic effect. ‘That’s when we noticed something yellow in her mouth.’

Meera stole a quick glance at Raghav. Since she’d already decided they weren’t compatible, she didn’t bother about leaving an impression, but she was still curious about his reaction.

He was listening intently to her mother, so Meera looked away.

But Abhay, his best friend, caught her staring at Raghav.

He wiggled his eyebrows at her. She rolled her eyes and smiled back.

Damini smiled. ‘So, it turns out she had stuffed her mouth with a lemon from a grocery bag lying on the table. Things were never boring with her.’

‘Oh, I get it. You should hear some stories of Raghav!’ Gayatri exclaimed, and Abhay laughed at his expense.

Raghav faked a cough and glanced at his father for help, but Trinay Sareen merely shrugged with a smile. Realising he was on his own, he turned to Damini and said, ‘Please don’t listen to them, Aunty.’

‘Of course not, dear,’ Damini assured him, sharing a cryptic smile with Gayatri. Meera noticed how quickly her mother and Gayatri had become good friends, even though the families had met through their fathers.

Gayatri turned to Meera and asked, ‘So, Meera, everything worked out alright with the meeting at your college?’

‘Yes, Aunty. The HOD gave the student a final warning over the bullying allegations. His parents weren’t pleased, but they accepted responsibility and assured they’d keep him under control.’

‘What’s the story?’ Abhay asked, curious.

‘Jatin and his friends had been bullying some students, but no one complained until now. Recently, he picked on Ajay, a sweet kid from my batch who stutters. They thought he’d be an easy target, but Ajay was skilled in martial arts, and it wasn’t an easy fight.’

‘That’s the spirit,’ Raghav said, flashing a grin.

‘Ajay wanted to file a complaint himself, but he came to me first. I helped him file it with the Dean, and his parents asked for my presence at the meeting today. Jatin got an earful.’

‘You handled that well, Meera,’ Raghav remarked, earning a hesitant smile from her. It seemed he had some manners after all , Meera mused.

As Meera started talking to Gayatri, Raghav had time to observe her. He had dated attractive girls in college, but there was something about Meera’s quiet confidence that drew him in.

Gayatri laughed at something Meera said, and he realised his mother liked her too. He deeply regretted his careless remark about her sketch. He knew he needed to apologise, but he wasn’t great with words.

As he was thinking of what to say, Meera’s dog, Alpha, ran into the room. The golden retriever hopped onto his lap, licked his cheek, and dashed off towards her room. She excused herself and rushed after him.

Damini noticed his gaze following Meera and suggested, ‘Raghav, why don’t you go and talk to her? We’ll set up for lunch.’

It was the perfect chance, but suddenly he felt nervous. He wanted to know Meera, to share things with her. It hit him how long it had been since he’d had a conversation with a woman that wasn’t limited to casual work talk. Now, he just had to make sure he didn’t mess it up.

Raghav reached her room and saw Meera kneeling on the floor, playfully scolding Alpha. ‘No, you can’t have those biscuits! Down, boy, they’re not for you!’ she said, her voice tinged with laughter as she tried to keep the basket out of his reach.

With her head tilted back and eyes closed, she laughed as Alpha tried to lick her face. The scene felt so warm and familiar that an unexpected image of coming home to them, laughing and wrestling like this, stirred something inside him.

Alpha sensed him and trotted over, wagging his tail, waiting for Raghav to acknowledge him. He crouched down and stroked his head, murmuring, ‘Hey, buddy.’

That was all Alpha needed. He leapt on Raghav, knocking him onto his back and licking his face. Meera rushed over, but he waved her off, still scratching behind Alpha’s ears. She laughed as the dog headbutted him and woofed.

‘Mind if I join in on the fun?’ Abhay interrupted as he walked into the room. Before either could respond, Alpha bounded over to Abhay.

‘I’ll take him for a walk. Your mom said it’s time,’ Abhay told Meera, and before she could thank him, Alpha eagerly pushed him out of the room.

Raghav realised he was still on the floor when Meera offered him her hand. He took it and rose to his feet, noticing she was almost as tall as he was. Her smile lit up her face, and the way her eyes crinkled made it impossible to look away.

They stood close, their bodies almost brushing, and he still held her hand in his. The warmth of his touch spread up her arm, making her heart race.

Meera, suddenly aware of the intimacy of the moment, pulled her hand away. The absence of his touch left a strange emptiness in its wake, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he felt it too.

She handed him a towel. As Raghav wiped his face, Meera couldn’t help but notice how the black shirt snuggly clung to his broad shoulders. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary.

When he smiled at her, Meera had to shake off the sudden flutter in her chest. Then it hit her he’d come into her room after her, so she asked, ‘Were you looking for something?’

‘No, your mom sent me in here to talk to you.’ He rubbed the back of his neck.

‘Okay, talk.’ Meera couldn’t help but tease him.

‘Um, how are you doing?’

‘I’m fine, thanks. How about you?’

‘Alright,’ he mumbled, looking around. Meera almost laughed at his discomfort.

After a moment, Raghav blurted, ‘So, Alpha, huh?’

‘What about him?’

‘He’s a good dog.’

‘Yes, he is.’

‘Friendly.’

‘Very.’

With each passing moment, his discomfort grew, and Meera felt she deserved a reward for not laughing. Raghav looked around, searching for something to say. His eyes landed on her paints, and he jumped on the opportunity.

‘So, you sketch?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘And you paint too?’

‘Yes.’

Raghav couldn’t take the one-word response anymore. ‘C’mon, Meera, please.’

Meera burst out laughing. Her mom had mentioned that Raghav co-founded a financial consultancy firm straight out of business school and had expanded its portfolio threefold in just a couple of years.

He managed the finances of multiple companies, but here he was, struggling with a simple conversation. It made Meera feel better because she wasn’t the only one with quirks.

‘Yes, I sketch and paint,’ she said, offering a more genuine answer.

After a moment, Raghav asked, ‘Can I see some?’

Meera tensed. The last thing she wanted was another offhand remark. She grabbed a few simple drawings, ones that wouldn’t invite criticism. She sat on her bed and patted the spot beside her.

Raghav gave her a small, amused smile before sitting down. She handed him the pages with a neutral expression, trying to hide her nervousness.

When he praised her snowflake signature, he earned a joyful smile. He looked at each drawing carefully and asked how long she’d been doing it.

‘Since I was a kid,’ she replied.

‘So, you were one of those kids who counted down the minutes to drawing class?’ He laughed when she nodded. ‘I was one of those back-benchers, rushing through homework after playing football all evening,’ Raghav added.

‘So, who did your drawings?’ Meera asked.

‘Abhay,’ he chuckled. ‘It was a two-way street. I used to finish both our homework. We’d play as long as we liked before drawing class, and then scramble to finish it all after.’

‘Did you ever get caught?’ she asked, intrigued. His eyes lit up as he recalled his childhood.

‘Once, Abhay missed school after falling sick. I ended up with a terrible drawing. I called Abhay after that. First, I yelled at him, then asked about his health. He promised to make up for it the next day.’

Just when she thought Abhay was sweet, Raghav said, ‘He didn’t show up the next day either. Then the teacher figured out it was Abhay who did my drawings. We had to sit separately after that.’ His sorrowful expression made her giggle.

She patted his shoulder in sympathy. ‘But you survived.’

He shook his head with a smile. ‘Barely. But it made exams easier for me. Don’t tell him I said that.’

‘Don’t worry, it’s our secret,’ she teased.

Raghav kept his focus on the sketch in his hand as he murmured, ‘Meera, I want to apologise for my comment on your sketch.’

He wanted to make sure she forgave him. For some reason, he didn’t want to let her down. ‘It was stupid. I was surprised when you entered and... I’m not good with words.’

Her gaze softened. ‘It’s okay.’

He looked down at the sketch of a guitar surrounded by vines. After a pause, he said, ‘It represents hope, doesn’t it?’

Meera studied the drawing and, when she realised his meaning, her eyes sharpened. ‘Why do you say that?’

‘The guitar looks forgotten with vines encircling it, yet you have painted the guitar with bright colours and the chip resting right on top of it. It’s like holding on to the hope someone will pick it up and play again.’

A smile spread across her face, lighting up her features. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered, moved by his words.

Just then, they were called to lunch, and they joined their families. The conversation flowed, filled with laughter and easy banter.

After the meal, Raghav followed Meera to the kitchen, offering to help with the dishes. When everything was put away, he cleared his throat and said, ‘I had fun today.’

‘Me too,’ Meera replied.

Raghav hesitated. His palms were sweaty as he asked, ‘Would you like to go out for coffee with… you know?’

Meera asked, ‘With whom?’

‘Me,’ he clarified, the words slipping out more easily now.

A smile played at her lips as she said, ‘I’d love to.’

They exchanged numbers and agreed to meet the next day. Meera suggested a nearby café and promised to send directions. As they were about to leave, Damini told Raghav and Abhay they were always welcome.

Meera exclaimed, ‘Wait! One moment. I’ll be back.’

She came back with a basket of goodies and a wrapped leaf on top. She handed it to Gayatri & Trinay and said, ‘Dad really wished to be here but the meeting came up last minute. He mentioned you like these cookies. And the gajra is for you, Aunty. I hope you like it.’

Trinay patted her shoulder. Gayatri pulled her into a warm hug. ‘I love it. Thank you so much.’

Watching their interaction, Abhay leaned closer to Raghav and murmured, ‘She’s a keeper, Raag. You should give her a real chance.’

Raghav said nothing then, but the words echoed in his mind all the way home. He wished to do so, give her a chance, but he knew the only way he could do that was to come clean about his past.