Chapter 6

I looked around the place while sitting on the velvet red couch. Rey sat in front of me and we were by the corner. The better for us if crowd is avoided. He spoke up examining me, “Kriya, you sure you are comfortable?”

“Yea, yea.” I replied instantly. “I’m fine. Just fine.”

Rey chuckled. “You’re getting nervous.”

“I’m not!” I defended. Lie. Hey, truth be told!

Rey passed me a look that said, ‘Who-are-you-trying-to-fool?’ I understood the look and sighed. I put the fork down on the plate and said, “Okay, we’re just here for lunch. Don’t take this as something else.”

“Oh, of course not.” He replied instantly. “Just a lunch. Two people who will be working together having a quiet lunch. That’s it.”

“Yeah.” I whispered agreeing. He was agreeing but there was disappointment. I found it hard to digest that he considered it only a lunch. Nothing else. Why am I disappointed? I want it to be just lunch. He agrees then why? I sighed and picked up my fork again. I continued eating.

***

It was night time and Sonia asked, “What happened in here?” as she scrubbed the burnt pot.

“Oh that!” I responded as I put the leftover dinner in the fridge, a sheepish look on my face. “Um, it burnt badly.”

Sonia rolled her eyes. Like that wasn’t obvious! With concern, she asked, “I can see that! What did you have for lunch?”

I stopped briefly. “I went out.” I closed the fridge and added “With Rey.” It was almost a whisper, but loud enough for her to hear over the running tap water.

She turned to look at me with shock. Well, more of a surprise? It’s hard to tell. “You WHAT?!”

I explained before she had the chance to scream at me, “It was nothing. We just had lunch and then we came back. We barely even talked.”

“Nothing? I don’t believe that.” I gave a look of ‘You-can-trust-me’ and she responded with, “Okay. If you say so. Just be careful.”

I went to her and hugged her from back. “Yea.” I whispered and thanked God silently for giving me a wonderful cousin who cares about me. She reminded me of Sharon and Neha. My two closest friends since college. Sharon was my sister, but no less than a friend. We did become friends first after all.

***

Rose was acting the same. Just a tad bit more excited. She was going to India for the first time since birth. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy myself. I was. Really. But my feeling could be more explained as worried, than excited. I knew I’ll have to meet Swayam, Sharon, and maybe even the rest of the group. I’m pretty sure Rey has already informed them about this.

What will I say to them?

How will I explain my actions to them?

Will they understand?

Such questions worried me. But I planted a smile on my face for Sonia’s sake. Still, the thoughts haunted me as I entered the airport with Ian and Rose after bidding bye to Karan, Sonia and Nathan. Karan had promised to come back to India. But only after days’ time as he wasn’t ready to leave Vancouver just yet.

***

[Rey’s POV]

“Here you go. Just stay in sight if you do decide to go somewhere. I’m going to get myself coffee. Anyone want any?”

“Me.” Vaibhavi said courtly.

“Me too.” Rose added.

I asked, “Ian?”

“No. I just had some.” He replied. Kriya was busy reading her novel. I looked at her and said, “Cool.” I didn’t have to ask her to know if she wanted any or not. I already knew the answer. I turned and left towards the mini café in the airport.

I gave the order to the cashier. “Two black coffees and one cappuccino.” I paused briefly and re-ordered. “Make that two cappuccino’s.” Minutes later, I picked up the order and walked back to the group.

I handed cups to Vaibhavi and Rose. Both of them took it passing a whispered ‘Thank you’. Seeing an extra cup, Roshni asked, “Who’s that for?”

I turned my head consciously and replied, “For Kriya.” I forwarded my hands toward her. She looked up from the novel she was reading when she heard her name. She looked at me with surprise as she found me handing her a cup of cappuccino. 

She took it quietly, conscious that rest were watching. She mumbled, “Thank you” and shifted in her chair. She took a sip and bowed her head to avoid other’s gaze on her. Eventually, they all resumed doing what they were doing before.

***

[Kriya’s POV]

After twenty minutes, the announcer made a call for flight number 31/F. The whole group stood up and grabbed their belongings after recycling the coffee cups. Ian went in first followed by Rose, Hailey, Adrian and Vaibhavi. Rey let me in before him and he followed. The seven seats were all in the same row. Two in the right, two in the left, and three in the middle.

Roshni slipped in right window seat as Ian plopped her bag up, claiming the spot next to her. Adrian and Hailey took the middle. I was about to grab the third, when Vaibhavi sat in middle. Trying my best to not show disappointment, I asked, “Can I?” He nodded and let me sit near the window. I preferred the window seat. It made me feel better as I had a bit ‘take-off’ and ‘landing’ fright.

We waited as everyone else swarmed in. Once the voice on the speaker went off, I shut my eyes tight. The plane started moving slowly and my fear state seemed to rise as well. I could feel a pair of eyes on me and I knew Rey was watching. My eyes were shut tight and lips biting.

He tapped me saying, “Hey.” I opened my eyes unwillingly and looked at him with questioning eyes.

He forwarded his hand, offering it for holding. I hesitated and looked at his palm, then to his face and back at his palm. He leaned closer and I moved a bit back but still close enough. He smirked and whispered in my ear, “No one’s going to know,” referring to the people sitting beside us, separated by the isle.

I chuckled low and nervously. Despite my fear, a soft smile formed on my lips. I slipped my hand into his and looked at him with gratitude. He blinked an understanding blink and put his other hand on top of mines to give further comfort.

Feeling a bit better, I closed her eyes again. But not air tight this time. The plane by then was running on the runway and I could feel the vibration getting faster with each breath. My heart raced. Was it because of my fear or was it because of what was happening to me? The old feeling towards Rey were sharpening again. Making their way out of the deepest part of my heart that I had promised myself to close and never open again.

My grip on his hand tightened as my stomach did a somersault when the plane flew taking its wheel off the ground. After a good ten minutes, I felt the plane go steady and thus I slowly opened my eyes. It felt a bit fuzzy at first but quickly adjusted.

Looking towards my right, I found Rey gazing at me without a blink. I felt myself being drawn to his eyes but controlled myself just in time. He looked away, knowing he was caught staring. He looked at our entwined hands and I received the jolt again. Just a look from his did this effect to me. How was I supposed to survive the next four months? They sent shivers down my spine. I released my hand from his slowly and said very generously, “Thank you.”

He nodded and asked, “You okay now?”

I muttered under my breath, “How can anyone be okay after looking at you?” I meant it in a romantic way. I was just trying to get a grip on my feeling but the comment slipped from my mouth before I could stop myself.

He raised his brow and I really hope he didn’t hear that. I quickly covered up. “Nothing. Yea, I’m fine.” I turned to look out the window. The sunrise could be seen and seeing it from the height made it look even prettier!

I couldn’t help but keep admiring that. I always liked to look out the window. I enjoyed seeing how tiny the things were from up there. The ocean. The clouds, filled with white and dreamy feeling. The ice underneath when they passed the continents. Everything was just mystical. But there was time before I could see that.

Silently, I hoped I wouldn’t fall asleep and miss the chance to see that.

[Rey’s POV]

I couldn’t stop staring at her. How could I? Everything about her just screamed to me how much I love her. She was still the same. Nothing about her had changed. If it was someone else, they would have thought, I was a psycho. But, I loved her that way only. Enjoying the smallest of all things. A girl who dreams of big things such as showing her dance to everyone in the world. The passion she holds for it. But showing that in the simplest way possible was one admirable thing! I loved how she would portray herself the way she is to others. There was no pretense about her. She didn’t fake liking someone if she didn’t. She’d show it openly and not be afraid of what people thought of her. That required courage to not to be afraid of the world and she had that.

Yea, she gets afraid of small things like to confront a few people. I being the biggest one from them all. But the huge things? Never afraid. Not a bit.

A while later, she said, “You – you remembered?” There was a surprised tone on her voice. It wasn’t much of a question at all. Just an exclamation. She didn’t have to elaborate. I knew exactly what she was talking about. She was talking about the cappuccino I got for her.

Again, she was avoiding looking right at me and looking out the window. I replied looking at her, “How can I remember what I never forgot?”

Those words were deep and I knew it. She couldn’t ignore that fact either. Her head jerked towards me afterI said that. She looked into my eyes. The way with which I said them left her speechless. They were simple words. But not to her. They held meaning. Deep ones. And I was glad to know it still meant something to her.

She had no knowledge on how to respond to that. She looked back out of the window after searching my eyes for a long while. I smiled and turned to the screen in front of him and turned on the music player. The 16 hour flight was going to be one long one and I was going to enjoy all of it. Even if we didn’t talk, just her presence next to me was more than enough for me, for the time being.

After what I had done, I was still lucky enough to have just this. Somewhere, I knew I didn’t even deserve this.

After having dinner, which I didn’t quite enjoy – never was a fan of flight meals, but had gotten used to - I went back to music as I wasn’t in mood to strain my eyes and watch a movie. I found listening to music with closed eyes more soothing in the not so comfortable chair. Vaibhavi and I were supposed to have first-class seats, but after the fact that Kriya was there, I had insisted we travel with the group, giving Vaibhavi the reason that we should bond with them. She hadn’t much questioned it, so that worked out just fine.

I opened my eyes feeling something touch my shoulder. Kriya had rested her head on my shoulder, fast asleep. Headphones still plugged in her ears and the movie running. I tapped the screen to pause it and removed the ear plugs from her ear, careful not to touch her, and laid back down.

She stirred in sleep due to cold. She didn’t even have her jacket on or her blanket. I looked to her other side and found the blanket dropped by her right side. I tried to reach for it while trying not to move much so as to disturb her sleep.

In the attempt, my hand brushed her waist. A gush of feelings flooded my heart as I gazed at her face, hoping that hadn’t woken her up. Sigh. She hadn’t. If she had, she would have flipped. She had already made it crystal clear that I wasn’t to touch her… and well, could I blame her?

A perfect peaceful sleeping beauty she was. The constant breathing of her on his shoulder made the sensation rise even further to uncontrollable volumes. Even in sleep, she had the ability to turn on the wildest emotions.

Fighting hard through my temptation, I grabbed the blanket and put it on her, taking a handful and tucking it behind her to stop it from slipping down. I crossed my hands across my chest and made myself comfortable in the chair. I closed my eyes; this time to go to sleep.

***

[Kriya’s POV]

I opened my eyes from sleep and found my head resting on his shoulder. Immediately, I pulled back. In the process, a block of my hair got tangled in his jacket button. I untied it after struggling for a few seconds and then looked at the time. We were 6 hours’ in the flight and I was surprised to know that I slept for more than 4 hours of it! But overall, I was waiting eagerly for the next 10 hours to pass by so I can stretch my legs. Sitting for hours straight can be very tiring.

I was no longer a kid that I can pull my legs up on the chair and go to sleep not caring about people around the seat. At times like this, I wished I was a kid all over again just so I can rest peacefully.

An hour later, I slightly opened the window to look outside. We were very high above ground in the sky and I could see ice below divided upon tectonic plates. I gazed, amazed at the plain, natural beauty in front of my eyes. At the moment, that seemed to be the most magical creation of the world.

I didn’t realize when Rey woke up and was behind me, peeping over my shoulder, leaning in to look out. I became aware as his breath fanned my nape. I looked away and now he was aware of my conscious state. I looked at him, his eyes filled with innocence. And I knew. He hadn’t realized what he was doing until he had. The air from the vents above seemed to have kicked in and I shivered at the sudden contact. That’s what I’d like to believe, though deep down, I knew it was because of him.

***

The time passed by. The two of us avoiding each other, yet stealing glances at each other once in a while. The captain called for landing and just like during take-off, Rey handed me his hand. I took it again without thinking this time, and looked into his eyes. I somewhere questioned. 

Do I still not know you enough?

Before I knew it, the plane had landed.

***

We stood next to the baggage claim area and I looked here and there. I did what I once used to do during college time to get Rey’s attention when we had kept our relationship a secret from others till the time we were very sure about it. I coughed twice and Rose handed me water. But I refused and fake-coughed again three more times.

He got the hint and looked up to her. I said moving my eyes from him to rest, “I’ll be right back.”

The rest nodded making an inference that I was going to restroom.

***

 A/N: Is there anyone who can make me a cover for this? If you do, you'll get a little surprise (hehe, I know I'm bribing.. I'm just not in the mood to do it myself :$ ) Inbox me please! (:

Hope the chapter wasn't a disappointment.. I personally am not much happy with the outcome.

Dedicated to @Ratzz_Arsha for adding this book to her reading list. Thank you sweets! :*