Page 20 of Since You Came Along

Without warning, Meera threw her arms around him, laughing with glee, and shouted, ‘You will be Mr Meera!’

Raghav laughed along and said, ‘And you’ll be Mrs Raghav!’

Joy and traditions filled the days leading up to the wedding. At the Mehndi ceremony, Siya coerced the guys into getting henna designs on their hands. The Sangeet night was a whirlwind of music and dancing, with laughter echoing late into the night. During the Haldi ceremony, emotions ran high, and the girls couldn’t hold back their tears.

And on the wedding day, surrounded by friends who had become family, Meera and Raghav got married.

Chapter 9

The warm, buttery aroma of caramelised sugar filled the apartment, mingling with the faint hum of an old Hindi classic song playing in the background. Meera moved to the rhythm, whisking the butter and sugar until it turned fluffy.

Chopping a bar of dark chocolate into uneven chunks, she popped a piece into her mouth, savouring its bittersweet richness. Impulsively, she grabbed a packet of milk chocolate chips and tossed them into the batter for an extra touch of indulgence.

The oven hummed as it preheated, and Meera couldn’t help but smile. Her first week at university had gone well. They had moved to Mumbai just three days after their wedding. It had been heart-wrenching to leave her parents and Alpha. She’d spent every spare moment with Alpha in the weeks leading up to the wedding. It was as if he’d known she was leaving; he’d followed her everywhere.

Thankfully, Raghav had been a constant support. His parents had stayed for a few days to help them settle in. Meera had taken to her mother-in-law, enjoying their time cooking together and listening to stories of Raghav’s childhood.

Raghav had protested, especially when Abhay joined in to share even more embarrassing tales from their college days. Hehad mockingly banned Abhay from the apartment, a ban that had barely lasted half a day.

Meera glanced around the apartment as she worked. Her gaze landed on the vase sitting on the coffee table. The purple orchids inside it still looked fresh. Raghav had given them to her on her first day at university, wishing her good luck. She was sure Siya had told him, but it still made her smile every time she looked at them.

Even though they were newlyweds, Raghav had been understanding when Meera suggested separate rooms until they got more comfortable. He had even insisted she take the master bedroom.

As Meera scooped cookie dough onto the tray, she thought about how much Abhay and Luv would love these cookies, and how they might never leave if they had a taste. She slid the tray into the oven just as the front door slammed shut.

She turned to see Raghav walking in, his tie loose and his face tense. He didn’t say a word as he went straight to his room and shut the door behind him. Raghav wasn’t the type to ignore her, but she decided to give him some space.

The oven dinged, and the smell of freshly baked cookies made her mouth water. She placed the hot tray on the rack and glanced at Raghav’s door. She decided the half-hour she had given him to sulk was more than enough. It was time to check on him.

With a plate of cookies in hand, Meera walked to his door and knocked. There was only a muffled response. ‘Leave me alone, Meera.’

Her brows knitted in concern. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

‘I’m fine. I just need some time.’

She hesitated, her feet half-turned to leave. Giving him space seemed like the sensible thing to do, but she knew better than to trust the word ‘fine’. People often said it when they weren’t fine at all.

She stood there for a moment, biting her lip. Then she knocked again and called out, ‘I made cookies.’

There was silence for a moment before he asked, ‘Which ones?’

‘Caramel and chocolate chip,’ she answered with a little smile, hoping it might cheer him up.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open just a sliver. Raghav peeked out, his eyes weary and bloodshot. ‘With vanilla milk?’ he asked, his voice tinged with a vulnerability that tugged at her heart.

She held up the plate. ‘How about I make you some, and you come out and eat these?’

After a pause, he nodded. He stepped aside and opened the door. The room behind him was a mess. Meera noticed his briefcase lying on the floor and scattered papers on the rumpled bed. Without a word, she held out her hand. He took it, and together, they walked to the kitchen.

Once he sat down at the dining table, he inhaled deeply and murmured, ‘It smells amazing in here, like a caramel factory.’

Meera felt a little thrill at the simple acknowledgement. He did not know how much she cherished small things like that. She busied herself preparing the milk just the way he liked.

She placed everything in front of him and took a seat beside him. He ate the first few cookies in quick, hungry bites, barely chewing. Though his shoulders slumped and his movements were sluggish, he still managed a small compliment.

‘These are amazing, Meera. You outdid yourself,’ he mumbled.

She smiled, picking crumbs off a cookie. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ she asked.

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