Page 37 of Always? Forever.
I pause for a second, then sigh.
“Well, for starters, he has the mostannoyinglybeautiful brown eyes. Like, criminal-level pretty. And that stupid smile of his? The one that makes that dimple on the left side of his face pop like it’s trying to ruin my day?”
I shake my head. “Also, explain why he smells like coffee and vanilla? That should be illegal. And his voice…God, Aria, if he didn’t spend half his time talking absolute nonsense, I might actually enjoy listening to him.”
I glance up and catch her expression right as she says, “So basically… you have a crush on him.”
She says it too casually, arms crossed like she’s beenwaitingfor this exact moment.
“What? That’s absurd! I donothave a crush on him,” I say, heart stuttering, tone way too defensive.
People pointing out who I like has historically been a direct route to emotional disaster.
Aria just rolls her eyes. “Says the girl who knows his eye color, dimple side, scent, and vocal patterns. You could write his dating profile.”
I plop onto the edge of the bed, clutching the saree like a lifeline.
“I need to sit down. I might actually be spiraling.”
She softens then, dropping the teasing.
“Samaira, honey… It's not a bad thing. But you need to be careful, okay? I can’t watch you get hurt again. Eventhough, between us? This sample-sized man might actually surprise you.”
I look at her, all the sass draining out of me. Her words land gently, but deeply. My throat tightens, eyes starting to sting.
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but she beats me to it, her voice quiet now. “He’s not Hriday.”
Aria’s teasing melts into something gentler, eyes softening as she sits beside me.
“You know why I think this feels different?” she says, voice low.
I glance at her warily. “Because he has a dimple and a scent portfolio?”
She gives me a look. “No. Because you’ve never looked so… unsure. You usually crush hard and fast, act like it’s a rom-com in your head, and then fall apart when reality doesn’t keep up. Hell Samaira you get panic attacks when you are falling in love. This time I don’t see you getting one because you are realising you may like him. If at all you get one this time it may be because you don’t know what to do with these feelings. I hope you don’t get one though. ”
I stay quiet. It’s not wrong.
“But with Kartik,” she continues, “it’s like you’re waiting. Thinking. Guarded, yes, but also kind of… hopeful. And terrified at the same time.”
I bite my lip. “You think that’s a good thing?”
She nods. “I think it means this one actually matters.”
I exhale slowly. “That’s terrifying.”
“I know,” she whispers. “But he’s not Hriday. He’s not going to disappear the second things get heavy. Hestays.”
I blink hard, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.
And just like that, she’s beside me, pulling me into a sideways hug. No overthinking, no overexplaining, just Aria, and her timing that’s always annoyingly perfect.
“I know he’s not Hriday. Kartik… he’s definitely not like anyone I’ve liked before, but at the same time, there’s just…”
I stopped as soon as I caught the look on her face, one eyebrow arched like she was already three steps ahead of me.
“No! Wait. That’s not what I meant. I’m not saying he’s my type, or that I like him, or that I have a thing for him or anything ridiculous like that,” I rambled, heat rushing to my cheeks.
I waved my hands in the air, trying to change the subject. “Just…ugh…can you please help me get ready before this turns into a full-blown intervention?”
