Chapter 118 - Arjun's Surprise

|Innaya|

"Are you okay?" Eshan asked me once he held me, preventing me from falling.

I nodded my head. Arjun looked at me with his concerned eyes.

"Did I scare you?' he asked as his blue eyes guiltily peered at me.

My heart broke watching him face turning sad. It was not his fault, to begin with. My fears for surprise took birth two months ago, and it was because of Eshan. Arjun had no relation to the matter. 

I shook my head, "No... It's... it's... nothing," I replied, not knowing how to tell him about my fears. They were baseless. Just because I stumbled once does not mean that I should quit walking. It was the same thing. Even if a couple of surprises had turned disastrous, it did not mean that every surprise would turn bad.

"She's afraid of surprises because of me," Eshan answered Arjun on my behalf. He figured out the reason on his own, and his voice had lowered as if he felt guilty.

Perhaps, he got reminded of those two months of our separation because of his surprise. We both were at fault, and we both were not. It was hard to decide whose fault was more. There was no point in thinking about it now. We were trying to move on, and unless we stopped recalling past, how were we meant to move on? 

I moved my hand behind my back, and blindly found Eshan's hand without much difficulty. I opened his fingers that were curled into a fist, and as I opened them, I intertwined my fingers with his and held onto him.

"No, it's not that. Can't you tell what is it?" I asked Arjun as I continued to lean against Eshan, taking strength from him. The feeling of safety in his arms slowly calmed me down.

Arjun squinted his eyes before he glanced at me, searching my face for any discomfort. "Are you sure? I would rather not show you than scaring you."

"No, it's fine. Let's go," I tugged at our joined hands, asking him silently to follow me.

Arjun pursed his lips before he regained his smile. He took a lead, and we followed him behind.

"Wait here," Arjun said once we reached before his car.

Puzzled, I watched him going around the car as he completed half a circle, and opened the back door.

"Do you know, what is it?" I murmured as I asked Eshan.

"No," Eshan whispered back. When he spoke, his breath tickled the skin of my neck. I shivered involuntarily.

I averted my gaze from Arjun to the right side; a little rose garden greeted my sight. I had planted those rose plants when I moved here. There was a unique kind of happiness I got when a rose bloomed on the plant. I used to do gardening back at my maternal home. That was part of my therapy though. Later, I got addicted to taking care of the garden I eventually created over the years.

I had thought that I would miss this in my new home. However, who knew, right after two days, Eshan would take me to the nursery, and let me chose from the variety of plants. I still remembered the events of that morning before we went to the nursery.

*

Flashback -

*

"Innaya? Are you ready?" Eshan's voice came from the downstairs. He was not rushing me, it was his excitement making him do things.

"Yup, just give me a minute," I yelled from the bedroom.

I chuckled at the happiness in his voice. I tied my hair in a ponytail as I checked my appearance in the mirror. On second thought, I removed the hair tie, and instead secured my hair from both the sides with hairclips. Just a day before yesterday on the plane, I realized Eshan's adoration towards my open hair. 

I did not understand why I wanted to do something to please Eshan. It was not a big deal, yet I could not bring myself to not do it.

Somehow, the thought of pleasing Eshan filled me with unknown happiness. I smiled at my foolishness. Picking up my purse from the dressing table, I checked it if I had necessary stuff in there, like sanitizer, tissue, wipes, money, mobile, and moisturizers. Satisfied with everything in place, I left the bedroom locking the door on my way out.

Everything was still so new here. In Bangalore, I had familiarized myself with my new home easily. And, it was easier because of my family being in the same city as well as the stress of exams. So there was very little room for feeling awkward or anything. 

However, after coming to Mumbai, things suddenly changed, and I did not know how to cope up with the things.

Just a day before, I had a panic attack, and I was still dealing with its after-effects. Thankfully, Eshan accepted the explanation I gave to him.

*

"Let's go. Where are we going by the way?" I asked Eshan once I reached near him while I fastened the watch on my wrist.

When I did not receive any response from Eshan, I raised my head, halting my movement. Taken aback on taking in Eshan's stunned face before my eyes, I momentarily forgot what I was saying.

His brown eyes were fixed on my face as if he was seeing me for the first time. Breaking out of the trance, I consciously touched my face. Was there something on my face?

I opened my purse to take out the mobile. Picking out the mobile, I went to the camera. Observing my face in it, I found nothing was out of place. Then, why was Eshan so thrown away? Did he not like my outfit? I looked down at my black jeans and a purple top. I did not find it that bad. I raised my head, not understanding the reason behind Eshan's behavior.

"Eshan? Is there something wrong with my outfit?" I asked him lightly touching his arm.

Eshan visibly flinched as if electrocuted. He shook his head as he looked here and there. His hand went to his hair, messing the neatly combed hair. Few bangs fell on his forehead, and he did not even realize.

"Are you done? Let's go," he said as he turned and left hastily mumbling something on his way. I failed to catch up on what he was muttering though.

I stared at his back. Just what the hell happened just now? He did not even listen to my words, did not even answer my question, and left just like that. I frowned as I followed behind him wondering what might be the reason behind his unusual behavior.

I was looking down while walking, and thus my lack of attention ended up making me collide against Eshan who had returned.

"Sorry."

"What's wrong with you?"

We both said at the same time. I rubbed my forehead which received the hit from his sturdy chest.

"It's your fault. You are looking so beautiful that I can hardly concentrate on anything," Eshan mumbled.

My face started heating up as I caught on his words that were not meant to be for my ears.

*

Flashback ends -

*

"What are you thinking about?" Eshan's voice pulled me out of my memory lane.

Thinking about that morning, I suddenly got goosebumps. At that time I did not know about Eshan's true feelings. I had no idea that he was in love with me. Now, looking back, many weird behaviors of his were starting to make sense to me.

"Nothing," I replied as I blinked my eyes. I folded my lips to stop them from curving in a foolish grin.

I had forgotten about the roses in the last two months. I wondered how they were even alive. Maybe, someone took care of them, and I did not notice it.

"Woof, woof."

Suddenly the barking sound of dog came and startled I hurried back. However, behind me, Eshan was standing so I had nowhere to go.

"Is it what I think it is?" I mumbled when the barking sound became prominent. 

* * *

If you are not reading this at W e b n o v e l .com, then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author at [https://m.w e b n o v e l.com/book/13985109706862805 ]'

* * *