Ishqiya - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

• Sadhana's Pov •
Nearly a month has passed since I met Anirudh. After he gave me his number, we managed to come back together from the metro station and now it had become an unspoken daily habit. We'd wait for each other daily to walk together, but no one decided to voice it out. I know we had something going between us, even he felt it too, but I was a coward to say anything and then watch it burn into ashes.
We had those sneaky eye contacts whenever Maa occasionally invited him over for dinner, or those innocent brushing of fingers when we walked together, those daily evening walks in the park nearby we have come quite close. From sharing our thoughts to talking about our day, we've come quite a long way.
"So Anirudh beta, don't you have anyone in your life? Matlab shaadi ka kya socha hai? Don't get me wrong, but Umar toh ho gyi hai tumhari", Maa had once asked him about it and I felt myself choke on water
It was just a random Sunday when she invited him for dinner and decided to drop the bomb. The thought of him having a girlfriend didn't settle well within me. It was enough to make me lose my appetite.
"Aisa nhi hai aunty, mujhe bilkul bhi bura nhi laga! Vaise currently I'm more focused on my future and work, apne khud ke startup per dhyan Dena hai but I do have a girl in mind", he had replied and for the last part, his eyes had met mine. There was a strange emotion within them that left me with unasked questions. And during the whole meal, my cheeks had that crimson glow.
I dragged the shopping cart towards the pulses section as my eyes scanned through the list. It was the month 9f Durga Puja and my school was on a break. It was hectic since the festive season was around the corner and I needed to get the groceries stacked back again.
After scanning through every aisle and adding every essential item to the cart, I dragged it towards the billing counter when my eyes landed on the packet of coconut burfi. It was Baba's favourite. I walked towards the section and reached for the cardboard packet when a watch-clad hand hovered over mine. The same musky scent filled my nostrils and the familiar warmth surrounded me.
I abruptly turned around only to bump into his muscular chest. His arm wrapped around my shoulder to steady me.
"Careful", he whispered in my ear, both hands holding onto the burfi box standing too close to each other.
I raised my head and his dark brown orbs collided with mine, I could hear my heart beating and I wondered if it was audible to him as well. His hand on my shoulder made me feel tingles and my palm felt sweety.
I blinked my eyes and licked my suddenly dried lips. His gaze travelled from my eyes to my lips and I died there. Code red, code red it was. The handsome guy was making me feel those weird emotions again. My stomach flipped as he intensely eyed my lips.
The sales girl interrupted us and we stepped back. Heat rushed to my cheeks and I noticed his neck and ears turning red as well. I wondered if she hadn't disturbed us, hamne kiss kar li hoti? Would Anirudh kiss me? Did he always think about me the same way I did? And again I was left with those questions.
"Let's do the billing or else we'll get caught in the rush"
Anirudh held my wrist and walked towards where my cart was. He did the billing and walked outside. He demanded to hold my bags while passed me his rather small bag which consisted of some random necessities. And when I refund he glared at me to which I followed him like a lost puppy.
"You know my sister loves coconut burfi made by my Maa, she used to make them, especially during Navratri for her. She used to steal them when Maa used to scold her for overeating. And this time since I wasn't home I thought to purchase them, even though I don't have a sweet tooth"
He said, his tone was a bit down remembering his family. And I realised that it was the second time he was speaking about his family, the last time was when we first had a conversation. Generally, our talks were limited to random topics or us talking about our day at work, never did he mention his family. And now since he was opening up with me, it made me feel special. A tiny whiny per cent.
"You miss your family don't you?"
"I do!", he admitted as we started climbing the stairs to our floor. It was among our habits of ours. No matter how tired we were, we never used the lift. We preferred to take the stairs, and none mentioned it too, maybe because it gave us more time to be together.
"don't worry, I'll ask Baba to share them with you. He likes you, you know", I smiled
"What about you? Do you like me too Sadhna?", he questioned, his words creating a havoc within me. His eyes stared intensely at me and I felt words stuck in my throat. My heartbeat increased and oxygen left my lungs. He made me feel vulnerable yet secure.
It was the way that he made me feel. The way he talked or moved, shared his thoughts about how he looked at things or his perspective. Not like how he saw the world, literally like how he looked at things.
His eyes seemed to darken whenever he focused, his eyebrows furrowing over his tall nose. Not to mention his crooked jaw. Was it love? I asked myself the question, but I didn't know the answer too.
"Never mind", he whispered and disappeared behind the door to his apartment.
I started at the closed doors dazed. What was it that he was hinting about? We're our feelings mutual? Did he think of me the same way? If yes then was I ready to take the next step? Was I ready to let my walls crumble and allow him to make a home with those broken pieces?
My mind and thoughts were fogged. I walked towards my room and removed the ghungroos from my bag. They were the answer to my every question, the remedy whenever my mind was in a jiffy.
I squired them around my feet tightly and took the position. I played the song and started moving my legs. My body danced and flowed with the rhythm. I poured out all my frustrations, my sadness, my grief, and my confusion while I twirled furiously in rounds with the beats of the song.
I stopped as the song ended and my chest heaved up and down with the ferocity of the rounds. I felt someone's burning gaze on me and through the window my eyes met with his.
Anirudh stood nearing his window, leaning onto it as he stared intensely at me. His heated gaze felt as if it would burn me into ashes, consuming me into his world which I was unaware of. To date, no man besides my father has seen me dancing and knowing that after him Anirudh is the one a weird warmth filled my chest.
His eyes felt like an open book as if I could read them. They conveyed so many emotions as if the way I walked into his life was like I've always lived there like his heart was a home built just for me.
And I knew the answer to his question. I do like him, not only like, I love him. More than I could imagine, more than I could handle that even if he would burn me, shatter me or destroy me I would still welcome him with open arms, letting the fire and destruction consume me.
A week passed since the incident and a week since we last talked. Since I was on holiday I didn't cross paths with him. But I knew for a matter of fact that he was avoiding me and now I've had enough. It's show time.