Chapter 199 - How Things Fell Apart (3)

(Flashback continues)

***

|Innaya|

"I'll pack your bag."

Turning around, I blinked my eyes filled with hot tears. Crying would only make things harder for him. I could not do that to him. I could not do that to myself. For him, I had to be strong.

All the decorations, romantic atmosphere, that beautiful cake, everything suddenly started emitting the wave of grief in my heart.

Ruined.

Everything was ruined because of his abrupt business trip. Right now, I had no other option than to help him leave peacefully. Making things difficult for him would do no good to any of us. What was the point of making a sad face? Now looking at all the efforts taken by him, I could not help but sigh sadly. 

A hand shot out from behind, gripping my wrist. The steps advancing toward the wardrobe froze. That small skin contact broke through all the reasoning my mind gave to my heart and tossing every sane thought out of the window I spun and embraced the man I loved.

Restraining my control, I just held him tightly without shedding tears or breaking into loud sobs. He was not going to leave me permanently. It was just a business trip which would end soon. I pacified my distress heart.

The man in my grasp stiffened. Maybe, not expecting that I would throw myself at him. However, his surprise lasted only for a fleeting moment before he reciprocated my gesture.

Ignoring the packed up schedule, ignoring the ruined six months anniversary, ignoring the throbbing ache in my heart, I just stood there feeling his solid warmth emitting figure. In the coming days, lack of his physical presence was going to haunt me.

Things were just settling down, yet this separation appeared out of nowhere. Comparing my life to one of those television dramas would not be wrong. One crisis or another kept happening.

"You don' have to. My staff will take care of it. Would you be fine being on your own? Arjun, Ayush, both are not in the city. We don't know when mom and grandma will return either. I am not comfortable with leaving you at my cousin's place. We know what had happened at her house. The best option at the moment I see is calling Parth's mother over. She would be staying alone as Parth is also coming with me. You both can accompany each other. What do you think?"

Gulping down the lump in my throat, I nodded against his chest. "Do what you see fit. I don't have any objections."

His mobile went off for the third time. He needed to leave, and he needed to leave soon. Despite the countless protests of my heart, I pulled myself away from his comforting warmth.

"Don't miss me too much." Eshan leaned down and rubbed his nose against mine.

I smiled through tears. His small action made me want to throw myself again in his arms.

Looking in the eyes of the man who would be leaving soon, I could not help but cast away my inhibitions and raise my body on my toes. It just happened that Eshan shared my intentions as well, for he leaned down at the same moment. Our lips met in the middle and my emotions controlled my actions.

Bringing my arms upwards, I wrapped them around his neck. It would be the last kiss of ours after which I had no idea when I would have a chance to feel his lips again. Last time, fortunately, he had returned very soon, but this time there was that impending feeling of something not being right was eating me up from within.

I welcomed his eager lips, and literally, the world faded to nothing around us. The two-person remained in the yellow glow from lED's were molding in one figure in the beautifully decorated room. Eshan cupped my face in his large hands as he sucked, nibbled, smooched. My body as if knew what it wanted for it reciprocated his fervor I never knew I had in me.

After what felt like an eternity, but in actuality were mere minutes we pulled away. Eshan put his forehead on my shoulder as his hands pulled me tightly in his grasp. I gasped for the air. For the first time, I was getting angry over my lack of stamina.

"I need to leave."

Eshan though said this, his body did not show any sign of leaving me anytime soon. Hardening my heart, I quickly stabilized my breathing as the cake on the table reminded me of our uncelebrated anniversary.

"Let's cut the cake before you leave." I caressed his hair as I pulled him toward the table.

"Let's be quick." Eshan lit up one candle and picked up the knife.

I nodded. Holding onto his right hand, I closed my eyes to make a wish.

Eshan kissed my cheek that had me open my eyes. "Don't make any wish now, Tesoro. We'll celebrate this again- in leisure." Turning my head, I glanced at my husband. He never ceased to amaze with his thoughts.

"I wish for us to remain always together, happily." The words I said took me by surprise. Why would I wish for something like that when he clearly told me not to make a wish? The moisture pooling in my eyes also made me worried.

The lips pressing on my forehead provided a sense of relief. "We'll always be together no matter what," Eshan replied as his lips peppered small kisses all over my face.

I giggled suddenly feeling ticklish with his affection.

His mobile went off again. Giving a glare to the buzzing machine we rushed to quickly finish our little celebration which could have turned into a memorable moment which now had to be a rushed affair. How unfortunate!

***

"Argh! I miss him." I punched the cushion in my lap. It had not been a complete day to his departure yet, and I'd started missing Eshan like crazy. After he left last night, I could not fall asleep no matter how much I tried.

I stayed awake, glancing at the gift he had left behind. He had specifically asked me not to open it. The curious side of me wanted to take a quick glance. However, with much effort, I stopped myself. He must have his reasons for it.

Fortune silently laid on the mattress as I punched the cushions in frustration. It was nearing noon, and I had not done anything yet. I just sat listlessly in the living room. I had called him twice, but his mobile came switched off.

For some odd reasons, I felt uneasy. As if something was going to happen. I had the same feeling yesterday. It was not that prominent, but now I could feel it strongly. Above that, my left eye kept twitching.

As if on the cue, the doorbell rang out.

Who could be at this time?

We barely had any visitors. I decided to check through the CCTV monitor first before I opened the door. Eshan had left a bunch of instructions last night. Who knew which one would come handy at a time like this.

Stunned, my eyes widened in a shock at the sight of a woman standing outside.

Hurriedly, I opened up the door. I could not let her wait up outside anymore. I had no idea why did she suddenly come to our place, but I could not let my shock mess up things.

"Mother-in-law. Please come inside," I greeted the woman standing outside. She was not a stranger, but the mother of my husband. After our marriage, this was the first time I had seen her. At that time as things happened in a rush, we had not gotten any time to get closer. Maybe, this time we could bond well.

Though deep down my heart was in mess at her sudden arrival. I did not know how to handle people that to when I did not know them well.

"Eshan is not at home. He's on a business trip," I added when I saw her searching gaze. She had not said a single word since the moment I opened the door for her. Even her eyes did not glance at me. That was weird.

Suddenly, the bad feeling in my heart was rising again...