2

I close my eyes as the plane takes off,my heart trying hard to piece together.

I stare at the gentle waves crashing against the shore,not bothered that my feet and most of my pants are wet.

"Hey"

I turn when I hear a voice.

"Hey", I'm surprised. How did he know I was here?

He seemed to read the question in my mind.

"Anshu told me you could be here",he explained.

"Oh."

"Do you mind if I join you?"

I shrug,which he takes as a welcome.

We stare at the sea for some time.

"Why are you here?",I ask softly,my heart skipping when I felt him stare at the side of my head.

"Don't you want me to be here?"

"No. Not like that",I say quickly,"I mean",I start off slowly,not wanting to make myself look like an idiot,"I don't mind."

"I'm sure you don't",he teases.

I was surprised when he shifted closer to me.

I only blushed,my heart palpitating when our hands brushed against each others.

I turn to look at him, unable to understand what's happening.

"I didn't want you to be alone when you are upset",he answers eventually.

"I'm fine. It's not that much of a big deal",I shrug gently.

"Maybe",he took a deep breath, interlacing our fingers together,"But I wanted to be there for you."

"Thank you",I squeeze his hand bravely,leaning my head against his shoulder.

He flicks his eyes at me,my heart racing when his eyes lowered to my lips-

"This is to announce we are going to land in the next fifteen minutes. You can collect your belongings from baggage belt 3."

I stir awake, surprised that I'd fallen asleep the entire flight,my heart aching at the dream,my body still familiar with the one I leaned on,the lips that-

I shake my head, getting out of my thoughts.

I was going to meet someone. It's not fair if I think about him.

I take a deep breath, looking around, drinking in my father's appearance when I saw him,my heart coming to a sudden relief pleasantly.

I am so glad I'm back home.

I squeeze my father,coccooned in his protective embrace, missing the warmth of his embrace immensely,now that I could bask in it.

I send a quick text to Anshu,saying I reached safely.

"Good flight?",I heard my father ask, kissing my hair for a fraction of a second.

I nod my head,"Yup."

We settle comfortably in the car, conversation flowing, mostly me talking and Dad inputting here and there as I updated about my life back in Mumbai.

I grow restless, waiting for my mother to open the door as I ring the bell.

"Mummy!!",I screech into her ear, jumping into my mother's arms.

"Wow. So much excitement? And you didn't even want to come home",my mother teased.

I ignore her words, squeezing her tightly, tears pricking the corner of my eyes.

"Come on in",my mother patted my cheek.

"Finally",I heard a voice.

"Why are you here?",I ask my sister, surprised.

"Thank you. I feel very welcome. I came home three days ago",she rolls her eyes, pulling me into a hug.

"Oh. Brother-in-law too?"

"No. He didn't come."

"Cool",I squish her once again, secretly happy my brother in law is not here.

Don't get me wrong. I respect my brother in law a lot. But the selfish younger sister in me has a teeny tiny bitter feeling that he stole my sister from me. We couldn't go to sleep talking or spend time completely with the other.

I loved drifting to sleep as my sister and I talked about anything and everything. I miss that after she got married,we no longer could do that.

"I am so hungry Ma. Feed me something?"

"At least go freshen up Sandy",my sister teases.

I give her a blank look,"You take shower in the evenings usually."

She shrugged,"Only when I'm on leave."

I roll my eyes,making way to my room.

"Wow. I can't believe I miss home food",I say,taking a seat.

Everyone around the table laughs,"You do?"

"Yeah",I address my sister,"All the time at home,I wanted to eat fast food and restaurant food. And now that that's all I eat,I want home food."

I see my father laugh, shaking his head.

We have a noisy dinner,talking and laughing along.

Damn. It's good to be home.

I stretch my hands,making a weird sound as I'm seated on the couch.

"Don't stretch as soon as you eat Sandy",my mother scolds.

"Yeah yeah",I grumble, flipping the channel.

"Why don't you go to sleep?"

"It's not even twelve Mom."

"You should be up early tomorrow."

"Wrong answer."

"Sandy!"

"What Ma?"

"The guy's family is coming to meet us tommorow afternoon."

I yawn,"It's in the afternoon."

"What kind of a creature have I created?",my mother laughs.

"The best,the most intelligent,and the most unique one."

"Behave yourself tomorrow Sandy",my mother gives me a concerned look.

"I'm anyway going to say No. What's the point?"

My family only sighs,"Fine. Just be polite at least."

"Of course",I nod,"Can we finish watching this?"

It was almost one when my sister and I settled in my room.

"Why are you in my room?",I tease her,though I'm secretly happy.

She only rolled her eyes.

"Sandy?"

The way my sister took my name was enough to ring warning bells.

I yawn over exaggeratedly,drooping my eyelids for extra effect,"What? I can't hear you. I'm so sleepy Sneha",I nod my head.

She slaps the back of my head, irritated,"Don't you want to know anything about the guy?"

I pause, pressing my lips,"Should I?"

"It would be weird if you ask his name on his face. They expect you to know some details."

"You can tell me tomorrow."

"Is something the matter?",she questions.

A pair of honey brown eyes come to my memory, making me let out a harsh breath,"No. Why would you ask that?"

"But you'll tell me if something is the matter, right?", she presses, catching on my lie.

I turn my head away. There really was nothing to say.

Everything was over. I didn't have anything to say.

My heart cried,as I gave my sister a forced smile.

I let out a single tear as my sister pulled me into a hug, silently comforting me.

I close my eyes, willing to stop crying,not allowing more than that single tear that leaked it way through the crack in my heart.

No matter how many times I vowed to not cry over him,I broke it. Every single time.

"You'll be fine."

I nod my head, wondering why she's not drilling me. I would have,if our roles reversed.

But I could only see understanding and love when my sister pulled away.

"Go to sleep, Sandy."

I close my eyes,willing to push away the image of honey brown eyes that never failed to make my heart skip it's beat and a gentle smile that always managed to ease my worries.