CHAPTER : 28 A Warning and a Declaration
Outside, Tulasi took blessings from the uncle and aunt, thanking them for their kindness and showering the aunt with a warm hug. Abhi shook Shashirekha's dad's hand, introducing himself. The dad, looking a tad disappointed, tried to intervene, "It's already evening, dear, and it's a long journey. Why don't you leave tomorrow?". Shashirekha, summoning all her courage, stepped in. "Yes, Tulasi, we planned to see the sunrise tomorrow, and the trekking! We had so many plans! It's already evening, please stay, Tulasi!".
Tulasi looked at Abhi, then, with an innocence that stood firm like stone, said, "No, we're leaving".
Shashirekha tried one last time, "The sunrise is super lit, Tulasi, you'll totally miss out! Who knows when you'll come back? Lots of people travel just for that sunrise, you know!".
Abhi shot Shashirekha a serious look. "Don't worry, I'll take her to see the sunrise " he declared, then grabbed Tulasi's hand and started walking, pulling her away.
Shashi was, like, totally flabbergasted and followed them. "Abhi, my luggage!" Tulasi remembered, her innocent eyes wide. Abhi just glanced back at Shashirekha, a silent, "Those friends of yours can bring," then kept leading Tulasi to his car. Shashirekha continued to follow them, like a persistent shadow. Abhi noticed Shashirekha still trailing them, and his 'bad boy' anger flared. He subtly placed his hand behind Tulasi, not quite touching her, but his fingers danced provocatively near the exquisite curves of her waist and hips where her skin is shining in the evening light like gold. There, without touching her but intimately tracing an 'S' shape with his fingers, he gave a silent, undeniable warning to Shashirekha: "She's mine. Back off". Tulasi was talking to him, completely oblivious. Abhi's eyes were on her, even as his hand delivered the clear message to her friend. He opened the car door and settled Tulasi inside.
He slammed the door shut, giving Shashirekha one last, intense glare, then slid into the driver's seat. "Three days of no sleep, no food, just pure torment and loneliness, all thanks to her," he muttered under his breath.
"What's wrong, Abhi? Why so serious?" Tulasi asked, her innocent gaze filled with concern.
He flashed her a small, charming smile. "Nothing, sweet pea," he replied, then revved the engine and sped off. Tulasi just gazed at Abhi, her heart absolutely overflowing with happiness.
The fact that Abhi had come all this way for her... it totally melted her heart.
"Why are you staring like that?" he asked, a playful grin on his lips.
"When did you even start your journey, Abhi?" she inquired, her voice soft with wonder.
"Yesterday evening," he replied, "like, 18 hours ago". He explained that he'd stopped at a hotel to freshen up before reaching her. "Do you wanna freshen up too? There's still a room available," he offered.
Tulasi pouted adorably, "My clothes are back there, Abhi! You didn't even give me time to change, just whisked me away!". Abhi tightened his grip on the steering wheel, fighting a powerful urge to just lean over and kiss her pout away.
Tulasi, oblivious to his internal struggle, happily chatted away, recounting her two days at Shashirekha's, all the festival fun, everything. Abhi, occasionally taking sips of water, just listened, a quiet contentment settling over him. Then, it hit her. "Abhi, did you eat lunch?" she asked, suddenly noticing his tired face, the dark circles under his magnetic eyes, and how utterly exhausted he looked. "Eighteen hours of driving? How, Abhi?" she worried, asking again. Abhi just looked at her, no words.