Meet me where the falling stars live. I will wait for you day and night - Alexandra Vasiliu
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"What do you mean you haven't talked to Arin?" Meher asks, taking a sip of her Espresso. I've already shared with Meher what happened between me and Arin back in Jaipur, and since then, she's been pestering me about talking to him.

"There's nothing to talk about, Meher," I replied. We kissed, and it was a mistake. I certainly don't wish to repeat it again.
"What? You deserve some clarity," she says. But talking to Arin would mean delving into the past, something I don't feel ready for.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it anymore, please," I pleaded. Just thinking about our kiss and Arin's confession is enough to make my blood go cold. Talking to him remotely related to all this will drive me crazy, and I want to keep my sanity intact for a long time. We finished rest of our lunch in silence.

"So, are you planning on ignoring him forever?" Meher shoots another question at me as we walked towards the elevator.
"Obviously, no," I replied. No matter how hard I try, I won't be able to ignore him forever, especially with him working in my team.

"Then, you should at least talk to him," she suggests again. "And what should I talk about? How stupid I feel for reciprocating the kiss? Or how much I enjoyed his lips against mine at the same time? Or should I ask him if this is some sick game of his?" I let it all out. I've never spoken to Meher in such a tone, and I instantly regretted it. But the expression on Meher's face caught my attention; she looked as if she saw a ghost.

I turned around to see what or rather who she was looking at. It was Arin. Shit. Whispering a quick bye, Meher left me. Traitor. Ignoring Arin's eyes on me, I swiveled on my heels, only to be grabbed by him.

"So you enjoyed the kiss?" His hold was soft as he stepped closer, and I was hit with his signature scent of sandalwood with a hint of vanilla. I tried to keep my face neutral, but the sneaky smirk playing on Arin's lips and the way his eyes turned dark and dangerous made it difficult.

You should have kept your mouth shut. Now he thinks that you enjoyed the kiss. But didn't you.

"Let go of my hand right this moment, Arin," my tone was confident, but my eyes betrayed me.
"That's not an answer to my question," he says, pulling me closer. My skin warms, my heart beats faster, and my legs become wobbly at the sight of that smile and how close we were standing.

"For God's sake, Arin, this is our workplace. You might not care about it, but I do," and with that, I yanked my arm from his grip and left him standing there.

I breathed a sigh of relief and blinked multiple times to clear my vision, which suddenly became foggy, all thanks to Arin and his stupid touch.

I thought I had everything under control, but how naive I am to think that anything can be in my control when Arin is around. It takes me few minutes to let the weird feeling building in my gut to pass and I got back to work. I need a distraction and my work is best thing to do so.

The memory of our kiss flooded my mind, and how I had given up the control in that moment to Arin, the rush of warmth coursing through my body setting right at my lower half, I tug on my hair frustratingly.

In the next instant, the ring of the phone abruptly halted the torturous thoughts racing through my mind. Hastily, I reached for the receiver—it was Baba.

"Saahiba, if it's possible, can you excuse yourself from work a little early?" Baba's voice sounded strained with discomfort.

"Is everything alright, Baba?" I furrowed my brow, quickly scanning my mental calendar for any doctor appointments or commitments we might have missed.

"Yes, I'm just not feeling well, and as you know, Ayush has taken leave," he explained. The realization of Ayush's absence hit me, momentarily forgotten amidst the chaos of the day. "Sure, Baba. I'll be home early," I promised, ending the call with a heavy heart.

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Arriving home, I dashed through the house, my heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and guilt. Despite my urgency to rush home, an unexpected meeting called by Raghav had tethered me at the office longer than anticipated.
"Baba!" I called out as I discarded my bag with a hasty gesture. Relief washed over me as I spotted Nikhil emerging from Baba's room.

"What happened? I hurried as fast as I could," I exclaimed, my concern palpable.
"He's been feeling weak all day, and he refused his daily exercises, so I decided to check on his vitals and administer some basic care. Don't worry, he's feeling a bit better now," Nikhil reassured me, offering a small smile.

I made my way into Baba's room, observing his pallid complexion with a mixture of concern and relief as he managed a weak smile in my direction.
"How are you feeling?" I inquired softly, settling beside him on the bed.
"Better, thanks to Nikhil," Baba replied, acknowledging Nikhil's presence with a grateful glance. Turning to Nikhil, I silently mouthed a word of thanks before refocusing my attention on Baba.

"I'm sorry for worrying you like this," Baba apologized, his discomfort evident in his tone.
"It's alright, Baba. What matters is that you're feeling better now," I reassured him, gently squeezing his hand before excusing myself to give him space to rest.

"Thank you again, Nikhil, for being here," I expressed my gratitude to Nikhil as we both moved towards the kitchen. Pouring glasses of water, I felt a surge of warmth at his steadfast presence and genuine care.

"It's my pleasure, Saahiba. You know I'm always here for you..." Nikhil trailed off, his words tinged with a hint of shyness. "And for Uncle, of course," he added with a faint smile, the bashfulness evident in his demeanor.

As we stood in a comfortable silence, memories of Meher's encouraging words echoed in my mind, urging me to seize the moment. "Would you like to go out with me?" we blurted out simultaneously, prompting a moment of shared laughter and surprise.

"This Saturday?" Nikhil's hesitant gaze met mine, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
"Pick me up at six," I replied decisively, setting the glass down happy with my newfound confidence. Meher would be proud of me for taking this step, for embracing the possibility of dating someone without the thousand questions of uncertainty and the what ifs.

Nikhil left, leaving me to do my everyday tasks—taking a shower, preparing dinner for Baba and me, and losing myself in a book. Amidst the mundane routine, I couldn't shake the flutter of excitement about my date with Nikhil.

I shot a text to Meher informing her about my date with Nikhil to which she replied with wink emoji followed by some more which I don't understand the meaning of.

Later that evening, as we sat down for dinner, Baba's familiar question broke the silence. "How was your day, Saahiba?"

"It was eventful," I replied with a small smile, serving him his favorite dish with care.
"Any encounters with Arin?" Baba's raised eyebrow prompted a chuckle from me.
"It's inevitable, but I try to keep my distance," I replied, settling beside him at the table. Our relationship had always been marked by openness and trust, a bond I cherished more than words could express.

"Good. Just remember, you're strong," Baba's words of affirmation washed over me, a steady source of comfort and encouragement.
"By the way, Baba, there's something I wanted to tell you," I hesitated, bracing myself for his reaction. Baba nodded encouragingly, prompting me to forge ahead. "I'm going out with Nikhil this Saturday."

"Wow, really?" Baba's eyes lit up with genuine excitement, mirroring the enthusiasm I often saw in Meher. Their unwavering support and encouragement meant the world to me, a reminder of the love and strength that anchored me through life's uncertainties.

"You know, Nikhil is a good guy. There's no harm in giving him a chance," Baba's wise words resonated deeply with me. I knew Nikhil was special—the way he cared for Baba, the respect he showed me—it was genuine and heartfelt.

"I'm happy that you decided to go out with him. If you hadn't, I was going to set you up with him anyway," Baba teased, his laughter filling the room with warmth and affection. In that moment, I couldn't help but marvel at the unique bond I shared with my father—a bond rooted in love, trust, and unwavering support something I wouldn't trade for anything in this world.

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I know this is a short chapter, but I still hope you guys enjoyed it.

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