Page 44 of Always? Forever.
Kartik, stayed silent, but his energy beside me was sharp, protective, dangerous in that ‘I dare you to keep talking’ way.
“Well,” Hriday said, rocking back on his heels. “Glad to see you doing well. You look… happy.”
“I am,” I said, instantly. Truthfully. And Kartik shifted closer, just enough for our arms to brush, which Instinctively had Kartik wrap his arm around my waist.
“So, Pooja, how do you know Hriday?” Kartik asked.
Pooja beamed, “Well, we matched on a dating site and went on a few dates and I needed a date for this wedding.”
“We should catch up sometime,” Hriday added.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Kartik said smoothly.
Hriday turned to him. “Didn’t know you were the jealous type.”
“I’m not,” Kartik replied. “But I am the type who doesn’t enjoy watching people I love relive their worst mistakes.”
That shut him up. Pooja stood there awkwardly, and yet confused. Poor woman.
After a beat, she tugged Hriday’s arm, awkwardly whispering something. He nodded, threw me one last unreadable look, and walked away.
Hold up, did Kartik just say people he loves, as inloves,I mean surely he said it just to keep up with appearances.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Kartik turned to me.
“You good?”
No,” I admitted. “But I will be.”
And this time, I didn’t wait for him to offer his hand.
I reached for his. And he held on like he’d been waiting.
Chapter 31
Samaira
We finally saw the bride and the groom. Tanya was extremely beautiful. Samarth on the other hand looked a lot like Kartik in a sense. I could see that they were related. Kartik introduced me to them. BUt I didn’t feel jealous or insecure because of how he looked at me while introducing me to everyone present there. He looked at me like I hung the moon and the stars for him like I was the only person in the room. Tanya and Samarth were surely just after the money, and it did not make me sad to say that they would divorce in a year or two considering they had hurt Kartik in the process. I had no idea what was next. But most of all I was summoned with the guilt of lying to everyone involved that this started off as a fake engagement.
We entered the dining room, and Kartik graciously pulled out a chair for me next to his grandmother, taking a seat on my right. The dining table was set with his parents, Aarush, his Nani, and us. As we settled in, Kartik'sgrandmother gave us a knowing look and subtly concealed a smile. Kartik, Aarush, and his dad stood up to greet some relatives, while his mom went to fetch more food.
My mind wandered back to seeing Hriday. The way things transpired between us, left a lasting impact on me. I wanted to go home but I didn’t want to trouble Kartik.
All of a sudden, Kartik caught my eye for afar and gestured to me to follow him. I excused myself from the table and walked to him.
We walked away from the crowd in silence, past the fairy lights and clinking glasses, and into a quieter corridor outside the main hall.
“So you have been quiet.” He made an observation.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Kartik said, voice soft, like he already knew. That made it worse.
I blinked hard, but the tears were already threatening to spill. My throat burned. My stomach twisted.
And I hated that this still hurt.
“I’m fine,” I whispered. It was the worst kind of lie — the kind I wanted to believe myself.
