Page 7 of Since You Came Along (Ever Since #1)

Luv noticed the charged air in the room and leaned towards Siya with a playful smirk. ‘You know, Siya, I’ve been thinking... If we ever get stuck in a zombie apocalypse, I’m sticking with you.’

Siya raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. ‘Oh really? Why’s that?’

He tapped his chin as if he were deep in thought and continued, ‘Because you’ve got the best survival instinct. You’re already avoiding Abhay.’

Siya stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. Everyone joined in, and just like that, the tension in the room evaporated. Abhay’s eyebrow twitched, but he couldn’t suppress a small laugh.

Siya replied, ‘I’ll tell you what, you can be my sidekick.’

Raghav glanced at Meera and when she caught his gaze, she smiled. The look in her eyes made him think of a Christmas tree lit up with sparkling lights, full of warmth and life. He realised just how much he enjoyed hearing her laugh.

‘You have an interesting pair of friends,’ Meera whispered.

Raghav nodded, his lips curving into a soft smile. ‘They can be a handful and annoyingly persistent, but they’re bearable—at least when they try to be.’

‘So, what do you think is going on between those two?’ he asked, nodding towards Abhay and Siya, who were still at odds.

‘I don’t know. Do you?’

‘No,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘But it’s entertaining to watch.’

Meera shrugged, deciding to leave it at that. She’ll ask Siya about it later, she decided.

‘You look beautiful, by the way,’ Raghav said, his eyes meeting hers with a quiet intensity that it felt like the world had paused. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and she fought to keep her composure.

‘I’m glad I got the chance to meet both of your friends,’ he said sincerely.

‘These spontaneous planners woke me up at five in the morning, but I’m glad they came too. They seem to get along well with your friends,’ she commented, watching them all laugh.

‘So they are,’ Raghav agreed, his gaze lingering on his friends. ‘My friends mean a lot to me, Meera,’ he added.

Before she could respond, the waiter arrived. When he presented appetisers with bits of boiled mushrooms in the sauce, Meera noticed and pulled the plate away from Siya because she was allergic.

‘Mushrooms. Check before eating,’ she said to Siya, earning a grateful smile from her.

Raghav noticed how this wasn’t just casual concern; it was an unspoken bond and a kind of fierce loyalty that revealed how deeply her friends mattered to Meera.

He realised Meera didn’t just cherish her friends; she safeguarded them like family.

That small yet significant act told him more about her heart than words ever could.

The conversation flowed easily. Drinks were poured, food arrived, and laughter filled the air.

A grin stretched across Raghav’s face as he learned Meera shared his taste for whiskey.

As the group chatted about work, their lives, and shared stories, the simple rhythm of the evening made him feel more relaxed than he had expected.

Abhay, who had been observing the interactions closely, smiled to himself, noting how comfortable Raghav and Meera seemed with each other. It had taken Raghav a long time to open up about Veronica after her passing, so the fact that he had told Meera spoke volumes.

When the girls went to the restroom, Abhay turned to Raghav and said, ‘I like her, Raag.’

Raghav felt a wave of relief wash over him. It meant a lot to him to be in agreement with someone he considered a brother.

Swayam cleared his throat, his tone more serious. ‘You know, she’s been hurt before,’ he said to Raghav.

The table went silent. Luv and Abhay leaned back, giving the two men space to talk.

‘I know,’ Raghav said. ‘She told me.’

Swayam nodded, his expression hardening. ‘She may have told you about him, but she hasn’t told you how it affected her. She’s like a sister to me, Raghav. I care little for blood ties, but she’s my family where it truly counts.’

‘I understand,’ Raghav replied.

Swayam’s voice was laced with genuine concern. ‘I can’t imagine what losing someone so close to you must have been like. I’m sorry you had to go through that.’

Raghav heard the sincerity in his tone and appreciated it. Swayam, despite his friendship with Meera, showed remarkable compassion for his grief. Sitting there, Raghav realised he could see himself getting along with Swayam.

‘I just want you to be sure about what you want,’ Swayam continued.

‘I care for Meera, and I want her to have the best in life. If there’s one thing Meera hasn’t had in her past relationships, it’s commitment.

I’m sure your intentions are good because Meera wouldn’t have brought you here if she didn’t believe that.

But please, proceed only if you can truly commit to her.

She shouldn’t settle for less. She deserves the best in the world. ’

Raghav didn’t respond. His gaze shifted to the doorway, where Meera was entering with Siya.

Her smile lit up the room as she laughed at something Siya said.

Mid-step, she held the door open for a waiter juggling several plates, nodding when he thanked her.

The simple gesture was so… Meera. He thought about Swayam’s words. He was right; she deserved the best.

When Meera joined the table, the men had moved on to discussing sports. Her eyes kept darting to Raghav, and she couldn’t help but think back to her conversation with Siya, who had asked her one simple question. ‘How do you feel around him?’

Meera had answered without hesitation. ‘I feel comfortable with him. There’s no pressure, no pretence. I like that he is respectful, family-oriented, dedicated to his work and the people he cares about.’

But Siya had pressed further. ‘Will like be enough for a lifetime?’

‘Yes,’ Meera had replied, and she’d meant it.

When the dinner was over, Raghav asked Meera, ‘Would you like to take a walk with me?’

‘Of course.’

The chill of the night nipped at their skin as they stepped outside. Raghav glanced at her as they walked side by side. She was trying to act unfazed, but he noticed the slight shiver she tried to suppress. Without saying a word, he slipped off his jacket.

‘You’ll be cold,’ Meera protested as he draped it over her shoulders.

‘I’ll survive,’ he replied, adjusting it so it sat snugly around her. The warmth of his jacket enveloped her, and she caught a faint trace of his woodsy cologne that felt as comforting as the gesture itself.

‘You didn’t have to,’ she murmured.

‘I wanted to,’ he said with a warm smile. She slipped her arms into the sleeves, which were too long for her, the cuffs hanging past her hands. Raghav chuckled softly at the sight.

‘What’s so funny?’ she asked, tilting her head.

‘Nothing,’ he said, holding her gaze. ‘It just suits you.’

They strolled until they found a bench under the soft glow of a streetlamp. His mind raced, searching for the right words, until Meera broke the quiet.

‘Is there something you want to say?’

He took a deep breath. ‘I loved Nica with everything I had, and she’ll always be a part of my life. There are times when I miss her, and I still visit her grave sometimes. Would that bother you?’

‘Not at all,’ Meera said without hesitation.

Her understanding gave him the courage to continue.

‘If we marry, I want to be clear about my commitment to you. I promise I’ll give it my all.

But I’ll need you to be patient with me.

I’m not perfect, and I can’t read your mind.

If something’s wrong, talk to me. Meet me halfway, and I promise we’ll make it work. ’

Her gaze didn’t waver. ‘I understand, Raghav. No one’s born ready for marriage. It’s something you build together. I’ll always want to work things out, not let issues fester.’

Still, he hesitated. The question weighing like a boulder on his mind refused to remain unsaid. ‘What about love?’

She smiled, though there was a trace of bitterness in it. ‘I fell in love once, and it didn’t work out. Since then, I’ve stopped hoping for it. I like you, Raghav, and that’s enough for me. Will that be enough for you?’

The streetlamp cast a soft glow on her face, making her eyes sparkle. The breeze played with her hair, and a small, knowing smile curved her lips. At that moment, Raghav thought, Whether or not it would be enough, she’s the one I want to spend my life with.

‘Yes,’ he vowed.

Her smile widened. ‘Then I guess there’s only one thing left to do.’

He laughed, the tension melting away as he laced his fingers with hers. In that moment, it felt undeniably right.

‘Will you marry me, Meera?’

With joy blooming in her heart, she replied, ‘Yes, Raghav. I will.’

That night, in their own homes, surrounded by family and friends brimming with excitement, Meera and Raghav began to plan their wedding.