Page 4 of Since You Came Along (Ever Since #1)

A s Meera made her way back to the table, she noticed the change in Raghav’s mood. His relaxed demeanour was gone, replaced by something more serious. She sat down and couldn’t help but wonder if it was something she had said. Rather than guessing, she asked him.

‘Raghav, is everything alright? You seem tense.’

He looked surprised by her observation. He rubbed the back of his neck, then cleared his throat. ‘Before we go any further, I think we need to talk about what it is we’re looking for here.’

Meera was taken aback. Something must have made him bring this up. ‘Okay, please go on,’ she encouraged him.

Raghav took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say what had been weighing on his mind. He tried to shake off the hope that had been creeping up inside him.

‘I’m not looking for love,’ he said, the words coming out more harshly than he intended.

Meera didn’t react as he had expected. He had braced himself for judgment, for the look in her eyes to change, or even worse, contempt. He had seen it before, from girls he’d met in the past. One woman had even told him outright, ‘Don’t waste my time then.’

But Meera tilted her head, her gaze steady, patient. She was giving him the space to speak, and that made it easier for him to continue.

‘I’m not looking for love,’ he repeated, as if to make sure she understood. ‘If we were to get married, I’d be a good husband, a steady partner. I’d be loyal and caring. But I can’t give you love. I just want you to know that now.’

Meera looked away, turning to the window, and his heart sank. He knew what was coming, so he took a slow sip of his coffee, giving her time to process.

‘Who was she?’ Meera asked, her voice softer than before, almost a whisper.

The question caught Raghav off guard. He hadn’t expected it. He took another sip of his coffee, considering how to answer. It had been a long time since he had spoken about her . Even Abhay didn’t bring up her name anymore. Just thinking about her twisted something deep inside him.

He was about to give Meera the same excuse he had given others, about not being the type of person to fall in love.

But one look at her and he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

She hadn’t walked away. She hadn’t thrown any harsh words his way.

Instead, she was giving him the chance to explain.

He decided then that she deserved to know the genuine answer.

‘Veronica was my high school sweetheart,’ he began, his voice heavy with emotion. ‘We met in nursery, and since then, we were inseparable. She was the person everyone was drawn to—kind, friendly, optimistic. My parents adored her. She was their golden girl.’

A wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he rubbed his palm. Meera felt an urge to reach across and comfort him, but held back. He seemed lost in the past, reliving a memory only he could see.

‘There was a guy in college who liked her. I heard he was going to ask her out, and that made me realise I loved her. So, I asked her out. And to my surprise, Nica said yes right away.’

He laughed and continued, ‘Later, I found out that it was Abhay who spread the rumour about the other guy. He knew I liked her, but I was too afraid of ruining our friendship. I needed that push, and I owe him for it.’

Meera braced herself and asked, ‘Then what happened?’

Raghav didn’t look up from his coffee. His voice was quieter now, almost as if the words were painful to say.

‘Car accident,’ he muttered, his throat tight.

The answer was as devastating as it was unexpected, and Meera felt her heart sink. She hadn’t seen it coming.

His voice faltered, the words choking him. Tears welled in his eyes, though he fought to keep them at bay. Meera didn’t speak; she didn’t need to. No words could lift the weight of the loss he was carrying. Instead, she reached out and took his hands in hers, offering what comfort she could.

Raghav looked up, surprised by the warmth of her touch. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been worried about her reaction, but all he found was compassion and understanding. The way she held his hands almost made him smile.

‘I loved her with everything I had,’ he continued, his voice low and full of emotion.

‘It’s always been her. The first memory I have is of her offering me a piece of apple from her lunchbox.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve only loved her.

’ His hand tightened around Meera’s for a moment before he let go, a gesture of finality.

Raghav took a deep breath. He knew the next part would be difficult for her to hear, but he had to say it.

‘I can never love anyone like that again. I know it might sound strange, but when I lost her, I lost that part of myself. So if you’re looking for love in your marriage, and you should be, I can’t give you that.’

The weight of his words hung in the air between them, but Raghav felt a strange sense of relief. He would not promise something he couldn’t deliver. If she walked away now, he would understand.

She sat in silence, lost in thought. Raghav noticed the way her fingers twisted the ring on her finger.

Meera asked, hesitantly, ‘I know this might sound like a silly question, but why are you considering marriage then?’

Raghav sighed. ‘To anyone else, I always say I am doing this to make my parents happy because they want me to get married.’

‘But that’s not it?’

‘No,’ he replied, his voice filled with regret.

‘Nica passed away four years ago. I’ve had my time to grieve and come to terms with her death.

While I know I can never love anyone the way I loved her, I also don’t want to spend my life alone.

I want a family, a partner who’s looking for the same thing I am.

I know that sounds selfish, but this is how it is.

That’s why I needed to be clear with you.

I don’t want to give anyone false hope.’

Meera had not expected this kind of honesty, but she understood. She wouldn’t demand love from anyone, especially someone who had already given it to another. A question lingered in her mind.

‘What did you tell the other girls?’

‘I told them enough, but not the full story,’ Raghav answered, shaking his head. ‘They were looking for a love story, but I... I couldn’t give them that.’

Meera nodded, sensing the heaviness of the burden he carried. She could see the quiet grief simmering in his eyes. She had experienced her own share of heartbreak, but nothing as devastating as his. Her heart ached for him, and she wished she could ease that pain.

It was her turn now, she realised. It was time to tell her own story.

‘I was in a relationship with a guy for four years. I met Rutvik in my first year of college. He was the first person I truly loved. A smile from him could brighten my entire day.’ Her voice wavered as the memories of happier times turned bitter. ‘But now, every recollection only brings me misery.’

Raghav listened, his eyes fixed on her. He knew he was being let into her world.

‘Two years after we graduated, we were serious enough to consider getting married.’ She gave a humourless laugh and added, ‘At least I was.’

Raghav had a terrible feeling about where this was heading, and he didn’t like it one bit.

‘One day, Siya told me she’d seen Rutvik at a coffee shop with another girl.

At first, I brushed it off, thinking maybe he was just meeting a friend and forgot to mention it.

But then she added they looked... cosy. That didn’t sit right with me.

Rutvik wasn’t the type for public displays of affection.

Even with me, he always acted reserved and distant in public. ’

She fidgeted with the ring on her hand, trying to calm the anxiety building within her. Raghav hated seeing the flicker of pain and anger shadow her expression.

‘I decided to confront him,’ Meera continued. ‘I went to his place, hoping it was just a misunderstanding. But when I walked into his room… there he was, in bed with her. The same bed where he’d held me and told me he loved me for the first time.’

Her lips pressed into a tight line as she fought to steady her emotions. ‘He didn’t even have the decency to look guilty. He just sat there, like I’d caught him doing something as trivial as forgetting to call me back.’

Raghav felt his chest tighten. ‘I’m sorry you had to go through that, Meera,’ he offered.

‘So am I,’ Meera replied, her tone sharp yet filled with sadness. ‘I’d gone there to sort things out. I had been thinking of inviting him to meet my parents. Thank God I didn’t.’

She paused, gathering herself before looking up at him.

‘I loved him with all my heart, and he didn’t even think twice before shattering it into a million pieces.

For him, it was just a casual fling. So when you say you can’t love someone the way you loved her, I understand.

Because I know I am incapable of loving anyone at all. ’

Raghav nodded solemnly. He couldn’t fathom the pain of betrayal, but he knew what it was like to lose a future you’d imagined with someone you loved.

‘So, what you’re looking for in a marriage might seem selfish to others, but to me it doesn’t. Because that’s exactly what I want too. I’m not looking for a love story, Raghav. I gave up on love a long time ago. All I want is companionship, loyalty, and respect. That’s it.’

Raghav stared at her, unsure of how to respond. For the first time, he felt a sense of relief that he’d opened up to someone who understood. Before he could speak, Meera raised a hand to stop him.

‘There’s one thing I need to make clear,’ she said. ‘I’m not looking for a replacement for Rutvik. The man I marry will have his own place in my life.’

Raghav reached out and took her hand, mirroring the gesture she had offered earlier. Oddly enough, it comforted him as much as it seemed to comfort her.

‘I’m not looking for a replacement for Nica either,’ he said.

‘Whoever I marry will be my partner in her own right, with her own strength. I’m loyal, Meera.

That word might not mean much to you anymore, but it means everything to me.

I wouldn’t have considered marriage if I didn’t believe I could honour my relationship with my wife.

She’ll be my equal in every way, never a substitute. ’

Their eyes met, and finally, they both shared a sincere smile that reflected their shared understanding and respect.

Raghav said, leaning back. ‘Well, that was a bit heavy for so early in the day.’

‘Agreed. I think I need coffee now,’ Meera replied with a chuckle.

‘Would you like to grab a pizza instead? There’s a nice place nearby,’ he offered, a teasing glint in his eye. ‘Besides, you’ve talked so much, it’s lunchtime already.’

‘Me? Talk too much? You’re confused,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘You’re the one with a flair for drama.’

As they left the café, their playful banter eased the tension. Mahesh watched them from behind the counter, a knowing smile spreading across his face. Sunita leaned closer to him and whispered, ‘This might just work out.’

Standing behind the counter, they watched Raghav and Meera leave the café, their laughter filling the air as they teased each other. A quiet wish formed in their heart, and they hoped that this was the start of something real for them.