Chapter 32. Rising, Floating, Flying

🎶 Tera Mera Rishta

Published on 28.08.2022

| AUTHOR'S POV |

"So..... "

"So...... " He repeats, making her chuckle as they laid on the grass, in opposite direction with their head against each others shoulder, staring at the dark sky with the lone moon and occasional colourful showers littering it.

"A very random thought has come in my mind but it is now scaring the shit out of me."

Ayansh frowns. "And what's that?"

Inaaya puckers her lips in wonder. "Lying on the grass, looking at the sky is romantic and all but what if some insect bite us or worse," her voice pitches higher in emotion, "what if a snake comes and poisons us?" She shudders.

Ayansh looks at her weirdly through the corners of his eyes, doubting if she's actually being serious or fooling around and then, shakes his head having the realisation yet again that she's indeed a little stupid. "Does a snake daily comes to visit you here?" He asks in a monotone.

"No." She narrows her eyes. "But what if today is an exception?"

He titters at her animated tone. "Then we die together." He says in a low, solemn voice. "Our story will be remembered for generations to come. Modern Romeo and Juliet or Laila Majnu, Heer— "

"So modern that a snake ended their fate." She turns her face to look at him, feigning pity.

He too turns his face towards her, a warm smile grazing his lips as he simply basks in her presence, feeling sober and drunk all at once. He cranes his neck to lean towards her more and pecks her lips in a slow, almost seductive way taking her by surprise, making her heart skip a beat as if it was the very first time.

Inaaya stills, the abruptness of the action finally dawning upon her and she darts her gaze away, her heart thumping in her ears loudly.

"Can I confess something?" He murmurs, attracting her attention and dispersing the situation created.

"I'm listening."

Ayansh sighs. "I— I don't know what it is that made you like me and then even take such a big decision and I'm probably doing wrong by not trying to change your mind and stop you from taking such a step but— but I'm not sorry about it. It's selfish," he chuckles and let's his eyes fall shut, his left arm draping over his forehead. "I want you to stay. I don't want to leave you and I'm too scared of you not returning if you leave me— "

"I'm not leaving you ever, trust me." She says cutely, cutting him off but he doesn't laugh for he knows how easy it would be to change her decision if she ever came to know the truth.

"I hope not." He mumbles. "Inaaya," there's a cautious, serious tone to his voice. "Is there something that you would like to share?" He raises the question, something that had been weighing him down, bothering him since long. He knew there was something that Inaaya was keeping away from him and although, he respected it, he wanted her to know she can tell him if she wants to. "You can trust me." He adds softly.

"I do trust you." She says, without missing a beat. "But is it okay if I don't want to tell you? It's past and I want it to stay in the past. Yet if you want— want to know, I— I'll...." She trails off.

Ayansh turns his attention towards her, uneasiness settling within him with the way her voice cracked and dread gnawing at him looking at the conflict and struggle marring her face. He pushed his body and sat up straight, his fingers lightly brushing across her face making her eyes lock with his. "Does it hurt or make you uncomfortable?" He asks in a whisper.

She gives him a nod, clenching her jaw.

"Then don't tell." He murmurs.

She waits for him to say more but he simply lies down besides her and interlinks their fingers.

Inaaya looks at him, puzzled. "So it's okay if I hide things from you?"

Ayansh sighs. "You told me it's past." He turns his face towards her. "It doesn't define your present or future and if you don't want to tell me about it, it's totally fine. It doesn't change anything between us."

Her throat feels clogged up with emotions. She gazes at their interlinked fingers and how his thumb darts out to graze the underside of her wrist. "It doesn't." She repeats in a small voice.

"I'm always there for you." He says and she can hear the smile and sincerity in his voice which makes her heart warm. "By the way, what's your favourite food?"

Inaaya shifts and places her head on his abdomen and they fall into a casual conversation, knowing each others favourites, taking little, harmless digs at each other, giggling and chuckling, sharing little snippets from their lives, him kissing the crown of her head, her nudging his stomach, frowning and smiling and getting closer.

It's a little more than 2 am when Ayansh decides to leave. It's Inaaya who clasps his wrist before he could walk out of the door and goes on her toes to plant a playful peck on his nose to which he smiles warmly and kisses her temple, her eyes glistening as he hugs her and then, leaves.

When Ayansh encounters Kartik at the gate, he forces himself to smile at the man who eyed him warily before walking past him.

The first month of the new year surprisingly goes on smoothly. Work kept Ayansh busy while competitive exam in January and final exams coming up from 17th February kept Inaaya busy. It was all quiet, no family drama, no-one telling them what they should do and what they shouldn't and both of them appreciated it although Ayansh was sceptical about everything being too good to be true.

Inaaya and he met occassionally whenever they could. They would go on drives or have ice-creams, go to cafes or parks or simply meet outside her college for a few minutes if possible. Kartik never said anything to Inaaya about it, probably because he felt guilty that Ayansh was with his sister when it should've been him on that night or maybe he trusted that guy with his sister now. Inaaya's friends teased her and she was immune to it now. Rahul didn't poke Ayansh about anything and although Ayansh had his doubts, he simply decided to stay silent until he knew he couldn't.

"What did you tell Inaaya?" Ayansh asks hastily, barging into Rahul's room.

Rahul eyed the door and Ayansh was quick to shut it. "I see Inaaya had told you." He says, playing it cool.

"I thought you're over it." He takes a step towards Rahul, looking at him with disbelief.

"Bold of you to make assumptions on my behalf." He retorts in a monotone, sitting on the edge of his bed in a relaxed manner.

The frustration brewing within Ayansh rises and he curls his hands into fists. "What do you want and what did you tell her?"

Rahul furrows his brows. "I thought you already told her the truth." At that, colour drains off Ayansh's face. "I saw her with her friends at the restaurant where I'd been waiting for a client. Thought it would be polite to greet her." He gives a cynical smile. "She actually thanked me for helping you with your startup and being supportive." He chuckles. "She's way too nice you know? Or maybe pretends to be— "

"Bhai," Ayansh interrupts him, glaring at him disdainfully. "She's anything but pretentious. Just tell me what did you tell her." He repeats, feeling annoyed.

Rahul tilts his head, studying his brother with a scrutinizing gaze. "I just asked if she knew about you. I thought she must have known since you two have been together for so long now but she just looked confused and I realised she didn't. She asked me what she should know about you and I simply said, she should ask you. I'm not a heartless person, Ayansh."

Ayansh heaved a breath of relief.

"When are you planning to tell her the truth?"

"Never." The answer is instant. "Does it really matter? Let's— let's pretend it never happened. I don't want to hurt her. You don't tell her anything, I won't and let everything go as it's going. There's no game, no facade right now." He says frantically as Rahul eyes him with a mild shocked look. "Let's just forget how it all started. Please?"

The desperation in Ayansh's voice has anger coursing through Rahul's veins but it keeps it cloaked. "What did you tell her when she asked?"

"I told her about the two day seminar I've to attend on 11th and 12th February in LA, said it was really important from my career point of view and you're the one who suggested my name." He breathes out.

"I did suggest your name, convinced Dad to send you there but you don't seem much elated about it." Rahul accuses and Ayansh scoffs in response.

"I'm grateful to you for that. I did say 'thank you'. What more should I do?" His voice pitches higher.

Rahul rolls his eyes and stands up. "So you agree you're in love with Inaaya?"

Ayansh stares at his brother critically, not understanding where he's going with that. After a moment, he answers. "I do."

"Tell her the truth then."

"I can't. Why— why do you want to ruin it?" He questions helplessly. "Can't you just see me happy for once?    Is your revenge more important than me?"

Rahul laughs incredulously. "Stop being dramatic Ayansh." He looks at him amused. "I just don't like how conveniently you flipped sides from your brother to a random girl— "

"Inaaya. Her name's Inaaya. Just leave her alone." He says tiredly.

"Tell her the truth then. You owe her that. The girl's not even going to Cambridge and I'm sure you're the— "

"How do you know that?"

"We had a long chat. I asked her about her future plans and that's when I got to know about this. Truthfully, I actually didn't want her to go to Cambridge because of you so when later you break her heart, she would regret her decision and her Dad would obviously be affected. Never thought it would happen in this twisted way with you falling in love with her." Rahul shakes his head with an annoyingly amazed smile.

Ayansh blinks. The words seeping deep into him, cutting him, hurting him. "You're cruel." He says, hatred dripping in his tone but Rahul looks unfazed. "What do you want?"

"Tell her the truth or I'll tell her and trust me that will be worse." He casually leans against the desk.

"I can't." Ayansh croaks. "She trusts me and I can't break her trust. I can't hurt her, can't see her hurt. Bhai," he begs, stepping in his personal space, "I'll do anything you want me to do just don't— just don't tell me to hurt her. Please." His vision blurs as his heart clenches in his ribcage.

Rahul stares, conflicted and in disbelief. The brother who never went against him, always wanted to please him is today pleading for some girl whom he met few months back and is ready to do anything for her. It hurt him but it also scared Rahul. He liked to know he was important to Ayansh, to be held in such a high regard by him, to be chosen by him again and again even when he didn't do the same and now, everything felt like slipping away. Ayansh didn't seem like the brother he had known all his life and that was terrifying.

"Will you do anything that I tell you?" Rahul questions with squinted eyes.

"Anything which won't hurt Inaaya."

Rahul stares blankly before speaking. "She has western day in college on 9th. It's in the evening. Go and pick her up."

Ayansh's forehead creases in confusion. He doesn't bother to ask him how did he know about it. He didn't care if Inaaya told Rahul about it or he came to know from somewhere else.

"Her parents won't be at home." Rahul continues. "Kartik and her Dad would be at work and her Mom is anyways leaving tomorrow for Delhi and won't be returning before 12th. Inaaya told me all of it." He chuckles mirthfully. "She gave me too much information unknowingly. All credits to you. She trusts you and hence was so friendly with me. All you've to do is go to her Dad's room and find the file named "Yenji's Estate". You just have to click pictures of the contents in the file and then give it to me."

"What the hell!" Ayansh exclaims. "Have you lost your mind? And how do you know about the file being in his room? God!" Ayansh pinches the bridge of his nose. "You've lost it!"

Rahul is about to snap at Ayansh but contains his anger. "I've my sources." He replies with a calm demeanor. "And it's business. The file is at his place, he had taken it home. Day after tomorrow, go and do the task." He shrugs.

"This is stupid." He mutters in response.

"Are you willing to do it or not?" Rahul asks, almost expecting Ayansh to turn him down because his baby brother wasn't capable of doing it. He wasn't capable of playing with people's emotions, cheating and backstabbing someone is beyond him certainly.

Ayansh contemplates, his jaw locking and unlocking. "If," be inhales deeply, "if I do it, you won't bother Inaaya and me again?"

Rahul narrows his eyes and slowly shakes his head. "No."

"Fine, if that's what you want." He murmurs lowly.

—

Ayansh waits for Inaaya in the living room as she goes to her room to get ready and when she comes back, she finds him in her Dad's room.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice makes Ayansh turn around quickly, staring at her wide-eyed as she looks at him inquisitively.

Inaaya raises her brows in question.

"I— I wanted to talk to your Dad." He answers and gulps inaudibly.

"About?" She tries to keep her voice void of any emotion but the sharpness in her tone betrays it.

Ayansh walks towards her slowly. "I'm sorry." He mumbles, taking her hands in his. "I know it's not my place but," he breathes out, "I know your parents are upset about you wanting to carry out your further education in India. I just thought— I just wanted to talk to them once and let them know it's not a bad idea. I— "

"My Dad isn't at home." She cuts him off and immediately grits her teeth, her skin itching because she had to address that man as her Dad. She hated it. "And you don't need to do that. You don't have to fight or try to resolve my issues." She snaps at him and he flinches. "What were you even doing inside?" She stares at him quizzically.

Ayansh stays silent for a moment, trying to settle down his nerves, trying to think of a good convincing reason. He swallows. "I heard some voices coming from his room and I thought he might be here. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't. I... " He trails off, looking at her apologetically.

Inaaya simply turns away and starts walking towards the door, letting his dumb reason slide because she felt too bothered by the information that he felt like talking to her Dad about her. She didn't want it, she didn't like it.

Ayansh follows her, calling her name but she shuts him off, wanting a moment with herself so she doesn't end up having a breakdown. She tries to open his car door and exhales frustratedly when she realises it's locked.

"I'm sorry." Ayansh says desperately, pulling her by her arm and making her face him. "I shouldn't have done that. I didn't want to spoil your mood. I just— I didn't know what I was thinking." He holds her face in his palms. "I'm really sorry." He whispers, his voice heavy with guilt and her expression softens at the vulnerability of his gaze.

"It's okay." She tells him and sighs.

"You don't look okay."

Inaaya removes his hands from her face and holds them together. "I'll be fine in a while. Just drop me off at my college."

Ayansh stares for a few seconds and then, nods.

Both get into the car.

"You look pretty." He says softly when he stops the car at a signal. She wore a black off shoulder one-piece that ended just above her knees, with full sleeves.

"Thank you." She says quietly, rubbing her nails idly and looking outside the window.

"Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not and focus on driving."

Ayansh drops off Inaaya at her college with a quick apology again which she dismisses and tells him it's fine.

It's around 9 pm when he receives Alisha's call who asks him to come to a restaurant cum bar and he wastes no time to get there as soon as possible.

"Ayansh." Inaaya says giddily with a wide grin etched on her face and she completely throws her weight on him when she sees him. He staggers a bit but manages to balance them both.

Alisha huffs. "I'm sorry Ayansh but I didn't know whom to call. She just kept chanting your name. Niki didn't come with the rest of our classmates to the bar after the party. Inu is a lightweight and she has drunk way more than her capacity today. I couldn't handle her alone so I'd to call you." She explains at one stretch.

"It's okay." Ayansh tries to flash an easy smile but he freezes and his face morphs into shock when Inaaya places a wet kiss on his cheek.

"Gosh." Alisha grits her teeth.

"It's fine." Ayansh says quickly. "I've got her. Don't worry."

Alisha's shoulders slump and she looks at him with an undecipherable emotion. "I'll help you take her out."

They both manage to drag Inaaya out as she continues to mumble incoherent words and keeps clinging onto Ayansh like a baby panda.

"Inaaya," Ayansh calls out, his one hand secured around her waist and his other hand tilting her chin. "Inaaya, I'm here."

"You're." She smiles and pulls his cheek.

"Stay still for a moment for me please." He pleads with his eyes.

She clicks her tongue in response and buries her face in his neck, inhaling his scent.

Alisha chuckles, attracting Ayansh's attention.

"I'm sorry," she mumbles, scrunching her face. "It's just funny to see her like that. She hates when we try to be affectionate with her physically or be clingy and look at her now." She giggles.

Ayansh gives an awkward smile. "I'll take care of her. Thanks."

"You better take care of her." Alisha laughs but Ayansh doesn't miss the severity behind her statement. "She's happy." She adds solemnly, gazing at Inaaya who continues to nuzzle his neck. "I've never seen her this carefree and happy since the time I've known her. She has always been a little guarded. I mean she still is," Alisha sighs, "but it's different. It doesn't feel as if she's carrying some weight all the time. It's good to see her allowing herself to lean on someone or just let someone be by her side. She trusts you." Alisha smiles. "Even more than she trusts me or Niki. And although, I envy it, I'm happy for her. So you better make sure, you never do something that will make her regret it or I'll make sure to make you regret hurting her." She warns and glares at him playfully.

"I'll keep that in mind." He retorts in a small voice, his heart thrumming in his ears.

"Get home safely." Alisha tells to Inaaya, brushing a hand through her hair and mouths a "thanks" to Ayansh again before leaving.

"Ayansh?" Her soft voice is like a caress to his hurting heartbeats and he looks at her only to find her obsidian eyes staring at him with warmth.

"Hmm?" He tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ears.

"Remember you told me not to fall in love?" She says in a whisper as if talking about a secret meant to be only between them, her eyes widening and the innocence behind them tug at his heartstrings painfully.

The moment flashes in front of his eyes and he forces himself to nod, finding it hard to mumble a word.

Inaaya smiles like a fool. "I didn't." He squints his eyes and looks at her with confusion. She frees herself from his hold and takes a step back. "See," she outstretches her hand, "I'm rising in love, floating in love, flying in love." She laughs, unrestrained and his hands come around her when she's about to stumble but she continues to laugh without a care in the world as if she knows she can trust the man blindly in front of her to always save her before she can fall.

She loops her hand around his neck and that stupid grin plastered on her face reluctantly manages to pull a laughter from him. She chuckles, rubbing her nose against his and he exhales, savouring the moment and not letting any other emotion take away the beauty and value of being able to spend time with her.

"I know I was upset earlier." She hiccups and that elicits another laugh from him. She kicks his shin and he yelps as she puts a finger over his mouth and glares at him. "So.... Alisha told me," she taps his nose twice and smiles at herself, "you were just looking out for me," she looks up at him, "thank you for looking out and thinking about me so much." She embraces him again and sighs when his arms come around her.

He drops her home after giving a call to her brother and telling him truthfully about Inaaya being a little drunk and Alisha calling him to the pub. Kartik thanks Ayansh for safely dropping his sister home.

Ayansh has lied a lot but he hopes today marks the end of it all. He didn't find the file in her dad's room. He went through every drawer and his wardrobe but couldn't find the said file. The locker asked for the password so he couldn't check in it. When he informed Rahul that he had failed, he expected his brother to mock him about how once again he had disappointed but surprised when he didn't say anything and when Ayansh asked if he'll tell the truth to Inaaya, he simply said he doesn't care anymore. Relief coursed Ayansh's entire body. He feels guilty about a lot of things but he's ready to stay with it if that means the smile on her face stays always.

The goofy, childlike smile on her face? Worth it.

He hopes so.

***

Messy chapter maybe? College and everything has been so hectic and draining *sigh*. Anyways, if you liked the chapter, do vote without any hesitation and it would be even more lovely, if y'all could drop a comment. Take care and lots of love ❤️

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