With quiet hurt in his voice, Ken said,
"Come on, I'll drop you to your hostel."
Sejal gave a small smile and replied,
"No… I'll go on my own."
Ken didn't argue. He quietly walked out of the café without another word.
Just as Sejal was about to leave, she saw Dean walking toward her from across the street.
Dean approached her and asked,
"Did your conversation end?"
Sejal nodded, her voice tired—
"Yeah, it's over. I'm heading back to the hostel now.
I'm not feeling very well..."
Dean looked concerned.
"You didn't have dinner either. Let's eat something first.
Then I'll drop you off safely."
Sejal agreed, and the two of them headed to a small restaurant nearby.
After dinner, just as Sejal reached for her purse to pay the bill, the owner smiled warmly and said—
"Ma'am, your bill has already been paid. Sir took care of it earlier."
At that very moment, Dean appeared behind her and chuckled—
"You've really grown up now, Sejal… trying to pay your own bills?"
Then, teasingly added—
"You don't have to worry about that anymore.
Your boyfriend earns pretty well now—
He can buy you anything you want."
Sejal didn't reply.
She quietly walked out of the restaurant and headed toward the car.
Just as she was about to open the car door, Dean gently took her hand and turned her toward him.
"What happened, my love?
Is your mood off?"
Sejal softly replied,
"Yeah… just a little."
Dean pulled her into a warm, comforting hug.
"Don't worry," he whispered.
"Everything will fall into place.
It may take time…
but I'm right here with you.
I always was, and I always will be."
Hearing that, Sejal hugged him tighter—
as if silently telling him not to ever let go.
Later that night, after Dean dropped her off at the hostel and headed home, Sejal lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Thoughts swirled in her mind—
> "If Dean wasn't in my life… and it was just Ken…
Would I have fallen in love with him?"
No… that's impossible.
I've always seen Ken as a friend.
To love someone, your heart has to crave for them.
That never happened with Ken…
Sigh… if only my parents could accept Dean as their son-in-law…
That would've been perfect.
Whatever happens, happens.
I'll be visiting my parents and brothers next week.
I miss them too…"
---
To be continued… 🌙💫