Andrew

I kept looking at Divya who was disappearing into the washroom in my mother's dress, she made me feel that my mother is here with me after a long time.

I auctioned all my mother's clothes and donated the money to the American Cancer Society, except for 2 of her most prized possessions. I gave one to Amy because she filled the void of a sister and best friend I lost when my mother died. I am really glad that Amy gave Divya that dress, she looks ethereal.

I wanted to keep her close to me and never leave her side. I walked to the bar, sat down and calmed my bubbling feelings down, and looked at everyone in the room.

"Andrew! You guys look so good together, When are going to confess your love to Divya?" Ana asked sitting beside me.

Everyone in this world knows except her.

"Not so fast Ana, She still has so many walls and insecurities that I have to break. She is completely broke on the inside" I said sipping down my water.

"I know, She has gone through so much. She deserves the best and I feel that you are the best for her.." Ana said patting my back.

"Finally, I will have someone to attend all these parties with me and I can show the world that I have a successor. Amy hates these things and Piper is in London, no one believes that I have 2 sons who are married. " She exclaimed her happiness about Divya and me.

I know why Amy hates these parties because she is clumsy as heck. She broke a 25-foot Champagne tower at their reception, that party was a sticky mess after that.

Jameson came by and told us that he is done for today and is leaving the party. He looks really tired after talking to all these people. He is the face of Global Tech and Hospitals while I work in the background away from all the attention.

I hate attention, Thank god most of them recognize my face because I used to act with my mother during my pre-teens to spend more time with her, After her death, I kept myself away from everything that reminded me of her like fame, attention, paparazzi.

But there are so many people in here who are able to recognize my face and I hate it. I had to come for Divya. This is the first time she asked me on her date and I didn't wanna miss the chance.

Where is she? What's taking her so long? It's been 5 minutes. I walked to the ladies' room and waited for her to come out.

I saw a nurse from the hospital walk out of the washroom.

"Hey! Could you do me a favor and check if Dr.Divya is in there." I asked and stopped her.

She kept staring with a star-struck look on her face and I smiled at her as I need her to look for Divya inside.

After what felt eternity she opened her mouth

"Big fan you and your mother Mr.Jones, Dr.Divya was here when I came in but 2 girls in there started bad-mouthing her for coming with you and I don't know where she left after that."

Someone bullied Divya for coming with me, Why can't people mind their own business? I felt furious at myself for hurting her. But I have to find out who did that to her, I'm not going to leave whoever hurts her.

"Thank you! If possible can you give me the names of the people who called out on her?" I asked her but she told me that she doesn't know anything about it.

I looked for her nearby, I tried calling her but then I remembered that she didn't carry her phone with her tonight. So, I left the ballroom and ran to her office hoping she would be there, but her room was empty. Did she go back home without me?

I tried to ask the people working there if anyone saw her but no one knew a thing.

Where are you Divya? What did they say that hurt you so much? 

I wish I never left you alone. I wanted to punch the wall near me feeling anxious about her, somehow looking at the wall reminded me of the time I found her crying on the stairs.

My feet ran to the stairs and climbed up to the top floor, and there she was sitting on the stairs with her head in her hands looking lost. I am going to kill whoever hurt her. I cannot be the reason for her pain. She doesn't deserve more than what she is already been through.

"Divya!" I called her out in the softest tone trying to calm my anger.

She lifted her head up and looked at me standing before her. Her eyes were red and puffy indicating that she cried, looking at her like that felt like someone squeezed my heart and punched me in the guts.

I beg you, god if you exist please take her pain away and give it to me. She doesn't deserve it.

"I am sorry that I left you alone. I am really sorry!" I pleaded with her and sat beside her.

"Don't apologize Andrew! You didn't do anything. The problem is me, every time I feel good about myself, my past comes back rushing to me saying that I'm not worth it."

I wish I could erase your past for you Divya. I would give everything to give you a normal life without pain in it.

"I wish I was courageous and powerful. I wish I fought and lived for myself. It looks like I was waiting for things that were never going to happen to me."

"Living for others, I lost sight of who I was. I listened, stayed, and obeyed people because I thought that was my responsibility as a daughter, as a wife. I just wanted acceptance from them Andrew! "

Let it out Divya! Share all your pain with me, I am here to listen and protect to from every pain in your life.

"I didn't realize what I was turning into until he broke the last ounce of my heart. He came into my life and took away everything I had and I wished for. I wanted to die to end all the pain but I was a big coward I couldn't even do that properly." She said with tears rolling down her eyes.

I knew that she tried to kill herself, there are small scars on her wrist. I never asked her knowing that would bring out all her pains.

"Do you know what the hardest part was? I was alone with my so-called family around me, My own parents stopped believing me, they chose to trust someone else over their own daughter. I felt betrayed, lost, and hopeless."

Humans are the strongest creatures in existence, yet here we are damaged beyond repair. Life without hope is a curse, but now she has a hope called Amar. She completely changed herself after his birth.

"It took me a year to realize and find the courage to get out. I am trying my best to forget, but sometimes I get sucked back into the vortex. I don't wanna remember my past anymore Andrew."

How much pain can one take in for loved ones? 

Everyone thinks that their life is hard but when you hear others' stories it makes you realize that your pain was nothing compared to theirs.

I didn't want her to say a word anymore, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her.

"Divya! You don't have to carry around that pain anymore, share it with me. Stop fighting alone, let me in and help you slay your demons. You are not alone anymore. " I said rubbing her back as she cried in my arms.

"Stop blaming yourself. You are brave, you are talented, you are beautiful and most of all you are amazing, don't believe otherwise. Know your worth Divya, stop letting people tear you down Divya. You are the strongest person I've met."

She stayed in my arms and I hugged her and comforted her with my words until she calmed down.

"Thank you for holding me, comforting me, and always being there for me. I don't know what I'd do without you." She said and broke our hug.

Her face looks so pretty like a blossoming flower that's too tired. I held her face by cupping her cheeks which are soft like a flower petal.

"Don't ever thank me. I will always be by your side no matter what. Now, Let's get out of this stupid gala and have some real food.'" I said and placed a kiss on her forehead, feeling her smile in my hold.

Her one smile makes my day, her one tear ruins it. It's weird how your love can affect your emotions.

I stood up adjusted my suit and held my hand out for her to help her get up. We went downstairs through left the building through the back door. I went to the valet and got my car near her.

I got out of the car, to open her door. That's when an idea popped into my head.

"Do you wanna drive?" I asked her and her eyes lit up with excitement at my question.

I would love to sit by her side and watch her drive. That way I could see her more instead of concentrating on the road.

"Are you sure? I never drove a sports car, that too a Bugatti Chiron." She gaped looking at my car and I nodded looking at her exciting smile. If driving a car makes her smile like this, I would buy her a million to keep her happy.

"I can't drive in this dress, let me go in and change into my scrubs. " She said and vanished into the hospital. I leaned onto the hood while she ran back to me in just a minute in her blue scrubs. I gave her the car keys and she jumped into the driver's seat.

"I've always had this fantasy of making donuts with a sports car after watching Fast and Furious, Tokyo Drift." She said turning the car on and changing the gears.

"Let's full fill your fantasy, It's almost 11:30 now, so most of the parking lots will be empty. Drive to the nearest parking lot." I told her and her eyes went wide not believing what I told.

"Really! You will let me do that?"

"I am not letting you do anything, you are doing it because you want it and you don't need my permission," I told her not agreeing with her words and she sat still staring at me in utter disbelief.

"Divya! Drive, the light is green." I said and shook her to move, pointing to the traffic lights.

We drove to the nearest parking lot which is completely empty. I looked at her, but she stopped completely and looked around.

"Are you ready?" I asked her, then she slowly moved to first gear and started to move slowly and then turned the steering wheel to a 45 tightening the circle, as soon as the car started to turn she floored the accelerator, releasing the clutch and hand brake. She looks ferocious, my girl drives like a maniac and I love this side of her.

The car began to spin and started to make the donuts.

"I did it, Andrew! The car is going in circles. Whoohoo...I did it.."She kept squealing and yelling in happiness.

That smile is what I want to see on her for the rest of my life, this is the happiest I've seen her. I promise to keep that smile on you forever. After the car did 4 circles, she slowed down and parked it.

"Thank you, Andrew! I've always had to drive slowly and carefully with Amar, and that was the first time I drove like a lunatic and it feels ecstatic." She said holding her breathing heavily.

"Don't thank me Divya, I didn't do anything it was all you. Let's go and eat now, I am starving." I said rubbing my stomach.

"Can you drive now? My body is shivering with excitement and all the adrenaline rush." She said showing me her shivering hands and smiling at them.

We switched spots and I drove to my favorite place, a falafel food truck south of the town. This is the best place to get Mediterranean food in this whole city and has a nice pond nearby to sit and eat. I got my regular Lamb Gyro Pita with Lebanese Iced Tea and the same thing for Divya.

She looks peaceful sitting on a bench near the pond, enjoying the cold breeze passing through her face. I walked to her and gave her the food tray and settled beside her.

"This place looks serene!" She said smiling and my heart did a somersault looking at her happy face.

"I love the food, we should bring Amar here. I think he will love it." She said stuffing her face with the pita and I agreed with her.

After we were done eating, I drove to her house and walked her to her door, and sat in my car thinking about today not wanting to leave her.

I saw a new wild side of Divya today and I'm glad to experience it. But, I feel guilty about hiding my love for her. I don't want to hear her about my love for others. I want to start a new and truthful relationship with her with no more secrets.

With all these uncontrollable thoughts in my head, I walked back to her door and knocked on it to tell her my feelings, because I value her too much to keep on hiding and she deserves to know about it from me.

I heard the door latch being moved and saw Divya in her PJs looking at me with a smile.

"Did you forget something?" She asked me.

"Divya...I...I love you! I am in fucking love with you. I just felt like if didn't tell you right now, I would never have the courage to do it again."

"After dropping you off, I didn't feel like leaving you, so sat there in the car looking at your house with a smile that you are in there. Believe me, I tried hard, to silence the roaring voice of my heart that longed for you since the moment I met you. I tried to distance myself from my feelings because I was afraid, hesitant,  and cynical, but after tonight I couldn't overlook the countless moments that screamed out that you are the one for me."

She opened her to say something but I cut her off, today I just want her to listen to me.

"Don't say anything, just hear me out for now. Do you wanna know why I love you? Because Every single time I see you smile, my heart races to a million miles per minute and there are bazillion butterflies flapping their wings at the same time.

I like how you scrunch your nose when you are tense.

I like how you bite your nails when you don't know what to do like you are doing right now.

I like how your eyes express every single emotion to me.

I like how your nose flares when you get angry and when you cry.

I like how you chew your food just on your right side.

I like how you hide all the gifts Amaya and me give to Amar, so he won't be spoiled.

I like how strong you rose up

I like the new you, the old you, and every single thing about you.

You are an inspiration for me, you amaze me, and you make me wanna be a better person for you and Amar, you bring the best out of me Divya.

I know this must be overwhelming for you and I know you don't feel the same way about me yet. But keep in mind that I'll always be there waiting for you and Amar no matter what."

After my big and really long confession, we were both in tears.

"Don't cry, It hurts me to see you in tears. Take care and sleep tight." I said and kissed her on the forehead and brushed her tears off.

I left because I knew if stuck around for more time, I wouldn't be able to control myself and scare her more and take her rejection.

Short chapter compared to the previous one, but I hope you enjoyed it.

Can anyone guess what Divya's gonna do?

Do you think it was a good decision to confess?

Let me know in the comments.

Also, don't forget to vote and stay safe.

Love,
Sneha