Introducing the ex! Are all exes jerks or are some nice? 

Chapter 21: Are you sure he's just a bodyguard?

I enter the coffee house, followed by 5 inquisitive souls. We had to book a whole table considering the number of people gathered around to witness the drama awaiting to unfold between me and my delirious ex, Ved. Ryan comes back with a tray of coffees, one for each. I pick up my hazelnut frappe and take a sip, letting the cold sweet bitter taste wash down my throat.

Nimit is sitting next to me, straight and stiff, glancing around the coffee shop like there's a murderer hiding under a table or behind the coffee maker. I tug the ends of my red floral dress, glancing at Nimit. "Don't you want coffee?"

Nimit barely looks in my direction. "No, thanks."

"I am surprised he's sitting with us," Ryan grumbles, glaring at Nimit's presence. "He never mingles, always fades in the background. Shouldn't he be standing somewhere in a dark corner, staring at us from a distance?"

Nimit's eyes narrow with light animosity. "Aisha suggested I sit here so as not to freak out the people in this café."

My jaw drops at the blunt lie and I squirm uncomfortably when 4 pairs of eyes snap at me, all filled with interest. What the hell is he doing? Why is he pushing me under the bus? He's the one who forced me to sit next to him. And now he's putting all the blame on me. Ugh, Nimit!

I force a smile and shrug a shoulder. "Yeah, that would've been awkward, right? A man in a black suit just standing motionlessly in a corner, staring at our table. It's very creepy."

"That wasn't an issue before," Sania notes with a mischievous smirk. I glare at her to keep quiet and her smirk widens in response.

Ryan scans my red dress, matching earrings and light makeup with a prominent glower. "Why are you dressed like you are on a date?"

Nimit snorts under his breath. "That's what I asked her."

I grit my teeth, annoyed that the only thing these two men can agree on is how I miserably I can live my life. "Where is Ved? Is he coming?" I change the topic, looking around the mildly populated café.

Sania glances at the time. "Yeah, he should be here any second."

On cue, the café door opens and in walks a guy. My eyes widen, disbelief blanketing my face as I take in the man who broke my heart 2 years back. Sania and Kelly were right, he has become handsome... heart-achingly so.

He has also become taller over the years I haven't seen him, standing at almost 5'9'' now. Judging from his tight black tee and faded blue jeans that highlight his broad shoulders and athletic build, I can guess he spends quite some time in the gym. His jawline has become more pronounced and his usually sleeked back hair, now falls gracefully across his forehead, refusing to be tamed. His brown eyes look around the café until they land on me.

I hate to admit it but his charming smile and the excited gleam in his eyes make my heart skip a beat. I almost forget I am surrounded by my friends and my bodyguard as I shamelessly ogle over him. Ved notices the people around me and his smile falters a little but doesn't disappear. He approaches the table with a confident yet anxious smile. "Hello guys, didn't expect you all here."

His voice has gotten deep but it's still the same, the one that made me fall in love before it made me cry. I force myself to look away and take a deep calming breath. While all eyes are on Ved, Nimit's eyes are on me. His eyebrows furrow as he watches my reaction with open curiosity. I can only imagine what he's thinking. He's never seen me like this, so affected by a man other than himself. And I am sure he doesn't like that one bit.

Sania smiles warmly at Ved and motions to the only empty chair, next to hers and two seats away from me. Ved glances at me, flanked on one side by Nimit and the other by Ryan, his lips thin but he sits next to Sania without a word. "Nice to see you all."

Ryan's voice drips with sarcasm. "Yes, nice indeed. It's been a while."

Ved's eyes pause at Nimit, as if trying to remember who he is and why he's here. "He's my bodyguard," I say quietly, my voice cracking at the end. I clear my throat awkwardly.

"Bodyguard? You need a bodyguard at a café now? Why? Did something happen with your father?" Ved questions with worry and I wonder if it's real concern or just small talk.

"She needs a bodyguard everywhere. Some men can be stupid and not get the hint to stay the fuck away." Nimit grunts, his voice holds the authority and hostility I am familiar with. Ved flinches at it. "Oh, okay."

Sania sensing the deteriorating mood, steps in. "So where have you been?"

"Australia." Ved answers quietly. "I went there for a new job."

I snort at that and roll my eyes. "Is that what they are calling running away with a random club girl these days?"

Ved's lips twitch upwards as if he had been accepting my contempt. "I didn't run away with her."

I glare at him, clenching my fists under the table. "Don't lie to me, Ved." I hiss at him, feeling my submerged anger of 2 years threatening to burst out into a tsunami and kill everyone in its path. It's a miracle I could contain it for so long.

Ved looks around the snooping people and rubs his neck nervously. "Can we – can we talk about this in private? Please?"

I don't reply and he continues. "I just want to apologise, Aisha. And confess. I think we should have some privacy for that."

I hate to agree but he's right. I have never been the one who shared every single life detail with my friends and this is far too personal. I know I can't just walk away without knowing why he left, not with my heightened level of inquisitiveness and certainly not when he's in front of me, willing to give me the answers I have been seeking.

I lick my dry lips and nod my head, standing up. Imran groans in protest from the side, annoyed at missing the drama. Kelly and Sania pout too. Ryan stands up and shakes his head in disagreement. "You aren't going alone with him."

Ved smirks mockingly. "You should've applied for her bodyguard. You always act like one."

Ryan snarls at Ved, raising his arm to lay a punch but I quickly grab his shoulder and pull him back. "Ryan, it's fine. He's just riling you up."

I roll my eyes at Ved's deriding expression. "We are just going to talk in the corner, that's all."

I move to go and Nimit stands up, following me. I swallow anxiously and turn to him. "Um, you don't have to come."

If glares could strike then I'd have cuts all over my face. Nimit's doesn't budge, eyes narrowing and face impassive, daring me to repeat what I said. I lick my dry lips and force a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "We'll just be at the side, in your line of sight. You don't have to stick to me like bubble gum, you know?"

Clearly, it is the wrong thing to say because Nimit isn't amused, his jaw clenches and I can't even hear him breathe. Oh, shit! He is beyond pissed and I have a feeling I am going to regret this later.

I inhale sharply. "I need to talk about this, privately. Please." I mutter in urgency, tapping on Ved's shoulder and dashing to the corner table of the café.

I don't dare see what response I have invoked in Nimit but I am sure it can't be a good one. Ved joins me at the table after a few seconds, a victory smirk on his face. His eyes gleaming with mirth. "That man looks ready to kill. Are you sure he's just a bodyguard?"

I clear my throat, a faint blush rising up my cheeks as I remember all the passionate kisses shared with my so-called bodyguard. "Yes, he's just a bodyguard. It's his job to be protective."

Ved raises a challenging eyebrow. "That's not protective, it's possessive. I should know the difference."

When I don't reply, Ved continues. "He would've broken my arm if I had even raised it to touch you, that's a crazy level of protectiveness."

Not wanting to talk anymore about this topic, especially with my ex, I fold my arms across my chest. "That's none of your concern. Why are you here, Ved? And why did you want to meet me?"

Ved tenses for a second and then sighs heavily. He looks at the table, refusing to meet my eyes. "I am sorry."

I scoff. "For what exactly? There are a lot of things you have to be sorry for."

"I know," Ved exhales. "Sorry for everything but more importantly for leaving the way I did."

It's a memory I have kept hidden in the farthest depths of my mind, refusing to let it surface. But now I have to face it. "Huh, sorry for disappearing without a word, without a call or a message?" I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear angrily. "Do you know how embarrassing and hard it was for me to find out through social media that you had gone to Australia for a job, and that too with a girl?"

Ved closes his eyes as if pained by the memory but that only makes me glare at him. What is hurting about? He's the one who left.

"I should've told you. but I didn't go with her, Aisha." Ved assures me. "I met her there, it was a coincidence."

I shake my head, refusing to believe anything he says. "Answer me this, Ved. Why did you cheat on me?"

~~~

Shorter chaps cause of this compulsory monthly update thingy :')

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