Page 8 of Since You Came Along (Ever Since #1)

A t two in the morning, Meera sat on her balcony, gazing out at the twinkling lights of the tall buildings that dotted the skyline. The faint breeze brushed her face, sending a shiver down her spine, but she barely noticed. Her mind was a storm of thoughts, too many to process.

She sat on the swing, its ropes creaking as it swayed in rhythm with the breeze. Her legs were curled under her chin, her arms wrapped around her knees. Two months had passed since she and Raghav decided to get married, and everything had changed.

She smiled at the thought of how Swayam and Raghav had become friends. Before he left, Swayam had given her a reassuring hug and said, ‘He’s a good guy. I’m happy for you.’

That simple acknowledgement, coming from someone who rarely trusted people, had settled a knot of doubt Meera didn’t know she had.

She had also grown fond of Raghav’s friends. Abhay had been a big help when she met her extended in-laws’ family for the first time. She felt nervous and unsure of herself, especially after Raghav left for an urgent call.

Abhay had guided her through the evening with quiet whispers of advice, helping her converse with them. ‘Loves cricket,’ he had whispered when they approached Raghav’s uncle. ‘Teaches at an NGO in her spare time,’ he had added when Raghav’s aunt came up to her.

Because of Abhay, the whole evening had gone smoothly. When Meera thanked him later, he shrugged it off, saying, ‘I’m always here if you need me.’

With only three weeks left until the wedding, there was still so much to do. But tonight, she just needed a moment of peace.

She shifted her gaze from the twinkling stars above to the chair beside her where her wedding dress lay. It was a beautiful dark maroon velvet lehenga, embroidered with delicate silver beads, paired with a dusty pink veil. It was stunning, but it didn’t feel right.

The thought of the extravagant wedding unsettled her. She had hoped for a simple event, but her parents insisted on a grand celebration. Meera just wanted it all to be over. She had let her mother and Siya handle most of the shopping, tagging along when necessary, but her heart wasn’t in it.

She couldn’t help but think back to two years ago when she had considered marrying Rutvik. When he had asked her out, it had felt like a dream. But the dream had soon turned into a nightmare.

Meera had missed all the signs. Had Rutvik ever truly loved her?

What else had he lied about during their four years together?

She now wondered if they would have married had he not cheated.

Would his name be next to hers on the invitation card?

The uncertainty gnawed at her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out the answer.

A soft knock on the door pulled Meera back to the present. She quickly wiped away the tears streaking her cheeks as her mother’s face appeared in the doorway.

‘Can’t sleep?’ Damini asked.

Meera turned to face her, forcing a small smile. ‘No, Mom.’

Damini stepped onto the balcony without another word. She patted the golden retriever sprawled at Meera’s feet before leaning against the railing. The cool breeze stirred the loose strands of her hair, but she kept her gaze fixed on her daughter.

Damini didn’t need to ask, she already knew. If the tears had been about moving away to Mumbai, Meera wouldn’t have tried so hard to hide them. This was about something else.

‘Were you thinking about Rutvik?’

Meera’s breath hitched. Her mother’s words hit the bullseye, as they always did. ‘How did you know?’

‘I’m your mother,’ Damini said, smiling. ‘I just know things.’

The response made Meera smile despite herself. She had never quite figured out how her mother always seemed to read her mind. As a child, she used to think Siya spilled her secrets, but she realised over time it was her mother’s deep attention and love.

There was no point pretending, and Meera didn’t want to. She let out a small sigh and confessed, ‘I was just... thinking about everything we had. Wondering if Rutvik hadn’t cheated on me, would I have married him?’

Damini didn’t reply right away. She turned her gaze towards the distant lights of the city. The stillness of the night seemed to stretch around them, wrapping them in an unspoken understanding.

Finally, Damini spoke, her voice steady and thoughtful. ‘I think the real question is that when did the problems start? Before he cheated or after?’

Meera stared at her mother, unsure how to answer.

Maybe Damini wasn’t expecting one. Her mother had a way of delivering arguments that left people speechless, a skill honed over years as a lawyer.

Even in her mid-fifties, Damini was striking.

Her hair, tied loosely at her nape, gleamed in the moonlight.

Her poised demeanour always made Meera proud to resemble her.

‘Did you want to marry him back then?’ Damini asked.

‘Yes,’ Meera admitted.

‘Because you loved him?’

Meera nodded. ‘I did.’

Her mother met her gaze, her expression gentle but direct. ‘Do you still love him?’

There was no room for dishonesty, not with her mother or herself. ‘I don’t know,’ Meera replied.

Damini gave a small nod, as if that answer was enough. She moved to sit on the chair next to Meera.

‘And Raghav?’

At the mention of his name, a soft smile broke through her troubled expression. ‘I do want to marry him,’ she said, a quiet certainty in her voice.

‘Because you like him?’

This time, Meera laughed, brushing away the remnants of her tears. ‘Yes, I do.’

Damini laughed, satisfied. ‘Then tell me, who do you think offers you a better future?’

Something clicked in Meera’s mind at that moment. The answer was obvious, and her mother didn’t need her to say it aloud. She nodded.

Damini reached out and placed her hand over Meera’s. ‘It’s normal to feel unsure before marriage, sweetheart. But trust me, you’ve made the right decision,’ she assured her.

Meera exhaled, her heart lighter than it had felt in weeks. For the first time in a long while, she felt certain she was on the right path.

Damini gave her a moment to collect herself, then stood, smoothing her nightgown. ‘So, Siya still isn’t speaking to you?’ she asked with a laugh.

Meera rolled her eyes, amused. ‘No. I tried calling her, but she didn’t answer. She’s furious I went lehenga shopping without her.’

Damini chuckled. ‘She’ll come around. Just tell her I know she will love this lehenga.’

‘How do you know that will work?’

Her mother smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘I just know things.’

Meera laughed, the sound breaking the heavy silence that had lingered earlier. Mothers, she thought. They always know.

The following weekend, Meera travelled to Mumbai to attend her faculty welcoming party. As her flight landed, the humid warmth of the city wrapped around her, starkly different from Delhi’s winter chill.

The bustling energy of the airport, with its constant announcements and the aroma of coffee wafting from nearby kiosks, reminded her she was stepping into a new chapter of her life.

She spotted Siya waiting for her near the arrivals gate, a bright smile lighting up her face. Thankfully, Siya had forgiven her for the lehenga shopping fiasco.

While Meera was thrilled to see her friends again, the thought of meeting Raghav made her heart skip a beat. He had moved to Mumbai a month ago, temporarily living in a rented flat while house-hunting for the two of them. In the evening, they’d meet, and he planned to show her a place he’d found.

Siya drove her straight to the university. After meeting the Dean and her future colleagues, Meera felt a wave of relief. The unease that had lingered since her decision to move melted away.

Over lunch, she recounted her farewell party in Delhi to Siya and Swayam. The memory of her students giving her handmade cards brought a lump to her throat even now.

‘If I make you a handmade card for your wedding, does that mean I can skip buying a gift?’ Swayam teased with a grin.

Before Meera could reply, Siya smacked him on the head. ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ she scolded.

Laughing, Swayam protested, ‘Of course I’m getting her a gift! No need to get violent.’

Meera joined in and said, ‘I’m sure Siya’s already picked one out for you.’

Swayam frowned. ‘You told her?’ he asked Siya, looking betrayed.

‘She didn’t have to. You just did,’ Meera quipped. ‘I’ve known you for years, so I know how horrible you are at picking gifts.’

The girls burst into laughter as Swayam pouted. ‘Hey! I give awesome gifts!’ he argued.

‘Sure, you do,’ Siya retorted, smirking. ‘Remember what you bought for her birthday in college?’

Swayam grinned. ‘A box of tissues is practical! Meera cries over everything. It was thoughtful!’

Meera glared at him while Siya shook her head in disbelief.

Meera’s phone rang, cutting through the banter. Seeing Raghav’s name, her lips curved into a smile. ‘Hey,’ she answered.

‘Hey, you,’ he replied warmly. She could picture his boyish grin. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t pick you up at the airport. The meeting ran late. Did you have a safe flight?’

‘I did,’ she said. ‘How was your day?’

Before their conversation could go on, Swayam snatched the phone from her hand. ‘Raghav! Back me up here,’ he shouted. ‘Meera cries at everything. One time, a kid kissed her cheek on a bus, and she cried. And don’t even get me started on MasterChef episodes!’

Her cheeks burned. ‘Give that back!’ Meera hissed, lunging at him, but Swayam held the phone out of reach, laughing.

‘So, wasn’t the tissue box a wonderful gift?’ Swayam pressed.

When Meera wrestled the phone back, Raghav was chuckling on the other end. ‘Don’t listen to him. Ignore everything he said,’ she huffed.

‘Too late,’ Raghav teased. ‘Now I can’t stop imagining you crying over baking episodes. It’s adorable.’

‘Ugh! You’re as bad as him,’ she groaned, smothering the urge to hit Swayam again. It was a wonder the guy didn’t walk around with a permanent headache, considering how often he provoked the girls into smacking him for his nonsense.

‘You’re cute when you’re annoyed,’ Raghav remarked. ‘So, how’s your day going?’

She relaxed into the conversation. ‘It’s been good. The faculty meeting went well. The head of department is one of my old professors, so it was lovely to catch up with her.’

‘That’s great to hear. Meera, I can’t wait to see you. I’m excited to show you the apartment.’

‘I can’t wait either.’

‘Oh, that reminds me,’ Meera said. ‘I’m cooking dinner at Swayam's place tonight. I’d love it if you, Abhay, and Luv join us. Are they free?’

‘They’ll be over the moon. They’ve been surviving on takeaway and are desperate for home-cooked food. I’ll let them know.’

‘Perfect. But drop me back by seven, okay? I need to get everything ready.’

As they hung up, Meera felt a sense of calm. The thought of Raghav, his excitement, and the future they were building together filled her with quiet hope.