Chapter 207 - Running In Circles

|Innaya|

The faint line of worries clouded Eshan's expressions. I stood at the end of the stairs as I looked at him, seated with his eyes closed on the sofa. His hair was in a mess as if he had ruffled them several times. He did that wherever he was stressed or worried. He would often run his hand through his hair. The sight of him slumped there did not feel good to my eyes. The exhaustion was visible on his face, and it hurt me, knowing I was the reason behind it.

I looked around for his friend who had poured oil and lit a fire in our relationship. She seemed to be not present. It was a wonder though. She was missing the chance of having alone time with Eshan. Perhaps, she had left. That would be great though. It would be peaceful for us.

After pondering for more than an hour in my room, thinking about what had happened in the past one month; I had left the bedroom when I had gathered myself together. I could not be hiding in the room, hoping everything gets solved on its own. After how Eshan was angered today, I did not know if this could go on.

His patience was hanging on the thinnest thread. For the last month, he had been trying to stop himself from reacting in the worst way. At least that was what I would like to believe.

The doorbell rang out almost making me jump in my place. Eshan's eyes snapped open as if he was startled as well.

"I'll see who's on the door," I said softly as I walked to the door.

"I know," Eshan replied. "It must be the delivery guy. I have ordered our lunch from the restaurant." He stood up, pulling down his shirt, and took out his wallet from his pants pocket. He did not meet my eyes but kept his gaze elsewhere.

That surprised me. "Why would you order for delivery? I was going to make our lunch now." I frowned.

Ignoring my words, Eshan walked to the door. His back blocked my view. I could not see what was happening. His distant self bothered me to a great extent. Then again, could I expect him to behave normally as if nothing had happened?

I shook my head, not wishing to think about what had happened. There was no end to it. Instead of ending up crying and regretting, I should focus on how I was going to deal with tomorrow's situation.

I moved to the kitchen when I saw Eshan bringing parcels inside as he locked the door. "Keep it on the dining table, I'll serve," I simply said, trying to keep hurt out of my tone. He had preferred to order from outside and didn't even bother to tell me. Did he not wish to see me?

That thought made me halt in midway. I had not thought about it. The Eshan I knew would try and avoid me after he had lost his control. Did he not lock himself for those two months, because he thought he had hurt me?

I turned on my feet abruptly, and it just happened that Eshan was behind me. I bumped head first to him. "Ah!" I shrieked because of the suddenness. I thought I would fall, but Eshan was there. How could he let me fall?

His hand sn.a.k.e.d around my waist as he steadied me and himself.

"Sorry, I-I…"

"It's okay. I should have watched where I was going."

I stared at the man who left as if we were strangers. Steading me on my feet, he left by walking around me. My eyes narrowed again. He was the Eshan before this morning, who avoided me at every opportunity he got. Things were back to how they were for the whole month. How unfortunate!

"Innaya," a woman's voice called out. My eyes moved to the owner of the voice from the back of Eshan. Ayesha stood a couple of steps away. Oh! She had not left. If it was me, I would have left long ago. I would not know how to face the people I had hurt. She had some guts. Maybe, she was rather shameless.

Her face looked pale considerably. Her eyes looked little swollen as if she was crying or was that makeup? She looked at me, but her eyes darted to behind me.

"I'm sorry, Innaya. Please, forgive me," she apologized.

She lacked sincerity in my opinion, for her eyes kept glancing behind me.

"I wanted to leave, but Eshan stopped me. If you don't like my presence

I'll leave now," she said lowering her voice.

Eshan stopped her? Despite how angry he was at her? What was she asking my opinion for?

"You're Eshan's friend and our guest. You're welcome to stay here," I replied after considering her words. I knew what she was trying to do. She wanted to show me her place in Eshan's life. How he did not ask her to leave and instead stopped her

She forgot one thing. I knew Eshan better than her. I understood Eshan better than her. She mistook his intentions of letting her stay here. It was visible on her face. I did not care though. She could do whatever she wanted, for I had seen through her.

"Come on, let's have lunch." I changed the topic. She could waste her energy, how much she wanted. I would not waste my breath on her.

I left her standing there. By the time I reached the dining table, Eshan had already taken out everything from the containers. He did not pay any attention to what was happening.

"I have some work, so I'll have my lunch in the study," Eshan announced, ladling soup in the bowl.

At that moment, I noticed he had filled his plate and was going to run away again. Did I not know his habit? I was well aware of it.

I just did not understand who was at fault and who was not. We were hurting each other, and we did not know why. Well, I knew. Was I not hurting him, so that the truth did not hurt him? For how long this could continue? His mother was going to arrive here tomorrow. How would things turn out then?

This suffering we were going through, was it worth it?

When Eshan brushed past me, I held onto his wrist. Eshan stiffened but did not withdraw his hand away. That was a relief. He raised his questioning gaze at me.

"Have lunch with us. Ayesha would feel uncomfortable with me. And, what kind of hosts we would be? Instead of cooking for her, we've already ordered from outside," I half said, half requested bringing his attention to his friend and the conversation he had left incomplete outside.

"Okay." He looked at me for a while and then nodded.