Chapter 43 - Lost...(1)

|Innaya|

The traffic seemed endless as I glanced out of the glass wall from where I sat in the cafe. There were people on the sidewalk, coming and going away, unaware of their surrounding, lost in their own world.

Just like Eshan of these days, my mind reminded. Something was not right with him, with us. From the time, we returned from the hospital, he was not his usual self. It was as if he was - guilty and trying to hide something. I had tried recalling each and everything from last one month, to decipher the reason for his sudden closed-off behaviour but could not. For the first few days, I blamed it upon his sickness but from last two weeks that excuse was not good enough.

The strained relationship between Eshan and his friends also had me worried. They too had remained busy and Arjun and Eshan had the weird tension whenever we all were together. Something was bothering him and that was bothering me, a lot.

It was not as if he changed his behaviour towards me. In fact it was the same as earlier. The only difference was, he would stare unconsciously into space when he thought no one was watching.

Lately, he had a frown marring his handsome face when he would come from the office or would have calls regarding his business.

However, the most important was his late working hours. He would work till nine when on contrary it was always till six earlier. Even though he held me in his arms when we would sleep, I had sensed his restlessness.

*(Flashback)*

We were lying on the bed. Eshan had his arms wrapped around me, my head laid comfortably on his chest. This was our new sleeping position. His slow and steady heartbeat would act as a lullaby for me. His touch would calm and assure me.

His pale figure on that hospital bed had haunted me for a long time. Moreover, as weird as it may sound, he understood it and unworldly soothed my heart with his solid presence.

"Eshan, is everything alright at work?" I inquired.

"Hmm... yes. Don't worry." He answered but his voice was unsure.

I turned my head towards his and frowned when I saw the lost look on his face. He had his eyes closed but the worried lines on his forehead were significant. I raised my hand towards his face and caressed his cheek.

He grabbed my palm from behind by his own, yet he never opened his eyes as if he was scared of something. He squeezed my hand before he brought it to his lips and placed the gentle kiss on it.

"What's wrong Eshan?"

Instead of answering me, he turned us slowly, so that I was lying on my back. He buried his face in my neck and mumbled inaudible nothing.

I knew it was far from nothing but if he did not want to share then it was his decision to make.

His actions did not puzzle me, nor does his silence confuse me, but my fear fed on little insecurities and I just prayed that our current situation wouldn't be the reason for raise of any of those insecurities and the fear they brings along.

*

(Flashback ends)

"Ma'am your coffee."

The polite voice of the server brought me back to present from my thoughts, which were my companion from last few days. I thanked her and went back to gazing at the door of the cafe and outside.

I was waiting for my best friend to show up. She had arrived in the Mumbai last week and because of her schedule, we had decided to meet on weekend. Today being the Saturday brought the perfect opportunity but here from past one hour, there was no sign of her.

My eyes caught the sight of tired Siya making her way inside the cafe. Finally! I sighed in relief. Minutes later, she plopped her body on the chair beside me.

"Oh God! This awful traffic, I tell you, it's a headache."

"What's wrong?" Siya frowned.

I remained silent as my eyes remained fixed on the sight of the back of the person standing on the opposite side of the road. The unsettling feeling in my stomach only increased as the familiarity of his identity dawned on me. He turned and I felt my insight churning uneasily.

What was he doing here?