Chapter 55
Beep: Are you alright? Settled? Just call me if you need anything.
Beep: Yes, thanks Rohan...thanks so much for everything.
Beep: No worries. Just relax and try to get some rest. And don't worry about finding an excuse for Simi. I've told her Naina is not feeling well and needed some support.
Beep: Okay. I will. Thanks again.
Beep: Good night. Rest well.
Beep: Good night Rohan.
She kept reading and re-reading their exchange for God knows how long. His care and concern showed in every word of his. He had never been a man of less words...but at times like these, his every word dripped deep emotion. She remembered the fresher's party night and how he had stayed up all night holding her hand trying to comfort her.
She fell into a light sleep that night for various reasons...she kept waking every hour or so and then couldn't fall asleep for the next half hour. She slept deeply only after the wee hours of the morning, after talking to her parents on the phone. She often did that when she couldn't sleep well, so it wasn't a surprise for them to get a call from her at that hour. She made sure to sound calm and placid, not giving away the anxiety that had been stirring her up, preventing her from falling asleep. Talking to them helped because she was more relaxed then...which helped her fall asleep soon after.
When she woke up the next morning, it was due to his scent. He was leaning close to her and moving the strands of hair that had fallen on her face. While moving them behind her ear, his fingers lingered a little longer caressing the skin on her cheeks. She had been awake by then but only pretended to sleep. She didn't want to disturb the closeness he allowed between them when he thought she was not fully conscious. But something about that touch brought back the memories of New Years Eve where he had felt her skin the same way...and then she remembered what had followed. When she thought she couldn't take it any longer from the fear of giving away that she wasn't sleeping after all, she opened her eyes slowly and as she had expected, he immediately pulled back from her and stood up.
"Good morning. How are you doing?" he asked her softly not wanting to startle her from being in front of her early morning. She was getting a little emotional with what all he was doing for her. His care and concern was overwhelming her...she began to think she didn't do as much as he did for her...that she was somehow getting burdened under his obligations.
She got up from the couch where she was sleeping and without saying a word, threw her arms around him. Just then Naina walked in and saw them like this. As she closed her eyes and stood there trying to bring herself to walk away from there, Rohan noticed her and saw her walk away quickly without giving them another look. He had not yet come out of the surprise from Keerti's hug and now he had to deal with the guilt of unknowingly causing pain to Naina again. That was the first time Rohan realized and acknowledged the hurt Naina had been going through despite being cheerful around him. He instantly knew that all this while, she was only putting up the facade of being "normal".
On one hand Keerti needed some emotional support from what she had gone through the previous day and on the other, he wanted to be with Naina to comfort her aching heart...Torn between need and want, he closed his eyes as he felt the tug of war between two rights that were pulling him on either side ...Edited by dolphinUSA - 12 years ago
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