He looked at her, her eyes conveyed a lot more than she had ever said. Sitting across the table, he just wanted to grab her hands, kiss those furrowed eyebrows and ease all her worries.
She was a strong-willed woman. A creative director of an advertising agency won many awards, yet worried about the recent label of divorcee that she had acquired.
'Akanksha, stop it! Let go of the past. Shruti will understand, just tell her the truth. She would not want her parents unhappy anyway. You and Rohan have done the right thing. And as your friend, I am telling you, Shruti deserves to know.'
'Aarav, are we really friends?' A wistful smile shaped Akanksha's face. 'We have too much history together Aarav. You are my ex. And now after the divorce with Rohan, I don't want anyone even Shruti, to blame you. Because it's not your fault, you are no way involved.'
'Is that the reason Akanksha?'
'Reason? For what?'
'The reason why you don't look me in the eye? The reason why you were so reluctant to meet? I have been away for 15 years and still could not forget those eyes, the eyes that are now flickering and avoiding me. And yet, you agreed to meet me.'
'Aarav! My marriage has just ended. Don't make it about you!'
'No Akanksha. It's about you. Didn't realize how important you were to me, until you walked out on us. And the last 15 years have been a struggle since you left.'
Akanksha closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her face. The man whom she loved dearly was again sitting in front of her. How she wanted to hold him. How she wanted to kiss him. But what would her Shruti think? What would Rohan think? That right after their divorce was finalized she was kissing her ex? But was he really her ex? Hadn't his memories been the reason that kept her going?
Thud. Thud. She heard someone else come. Who was it? Akanksha was scared to open her eyes. But then a familiar, hand clasped her hands, jolting her. Startled, Akanksha opened her eyes. It was Shruti!
'How are you, Mom?' Tears welled up in Akanksha's eyes as Shruti hugged her.
'Shruti! What are you doing here? How did you? I don't understand.'
Shruti looked at Aarav. 'He called me here Mom.' 'And yes papa told me about the divorce.'
'Maa, don't cry. You have the right to be happy.'
Akanksha rubbed her hands against her forehead. Wiping her brows. She was overwhelmed. She burst into tears as Shruti hugged her. 'Maa, you have been strong and independent for me and Pappa. But now it's time to be vulnerable and open yourself to love and happiness.'
'But, Shruti at this age?'
'Yes, Maa. You deserve to be happy and why are you bothered about age now? Haven't you always told me? Age is just a number.'
Akanksha smiled. She was filled with gratitude. Gratitude towards her daughter for understanding her. For understanding that there was a need for love in those empty spaces of her heart.
She looked at Aarav. He was there. He was not going anywhere. She looked at him, held his hand, and saw the man whom she loved, break down into tears and hug her.
Shruti smiled. Her phone rang. It was Papa. 'Yes papa, I did it!' It was then that she heard something she never had. She heard her father tell her thank you.