A Promise Forever

Chapter 8

Mini

It was finally the day I was leaving for college.

I didn't miss seeing how red and puffy my mom's eyes were as we drove to the airport, giving me an idea of how she might have cried to her sleep last night. Dad was silent all through the drive yet his face was contorted and even now, if he had a chance to stop me, I was certain he would. Aadhi was the only one among us who was laughing and making silly jokes to make the situation lighter for everyone.

Veena was coming with us to the airport to see us off and she was going to visit her friends later that same evening. I actually felt sorry for her that she had to be on her own for the rest of her vacation. And what's more, it was because of me Ela couldn't accompany her to meet her friends. To my heart I know, I tried my level best to talk Ela out of it but he's as stubborn as a mule and he didn't bother changing his mind till the last minute.

After my conversation with him on the terrace, Veena and I didn't talk to each other much. Every time we were in the same room, I could witness a permanent frown etched on her naturally pretty face. Her previous friendliness was gone and now replaced by something like suspicion? I didn't know it for sure but she certainly didn't like me, I can say that much.

It makes me wonder if she was aware of the unimpressive kiss that we shared three years ago, sorry, the kiss that I stole from Ela. Just the thought of it makes me cringe internally.

What would she think about me for kissing her fiance?

She must already hate me for that.

I would definitely have hated anyone in her place if someone had kissed Ela.

That again deepens my thought process. Ela and Veena are engaged. That means they must have kissed each other and why wouldn't they have?

Ela is a drop-dead gorgeous male and Veena is no less than a s*x goddess. They might have done more than just kissing and hugging.

Even though I promised I would try to move on, it ripped my heart out of my soul to picture Ela kissing another woman like I wanted him to kiss me.

I still couldn't take the scene of her hugging Ela from my head. It kept nagging me the whole week and as for me I didn't know what I felt about her anymore. Like I said earlier, I don't want to intentionally hate Veena but how much ever I tried the jealousy that brewed inside me, manipulated me, always won against my morality. I was never this person who would hate someone without a solid reason but Veena managed to bring out the worst in me. She turned me into this jealous, possessive, and immature little girl that didn't want her near anywhere near what's mine, at least what I think has always been mine.

I don't know if Ela told her what we talked about that night but knowing him, I doubt it. He's his own man and doesn't share things with everyone that easily but Veena is not just someone to him. She's his fiance. Ela is thirty, almost thirty-one. He's at the age when people get settled down, have kids, and start families.

She would eventually become his wife and soon his world would revolve around her. They will have kids together, kids who would become his priority, and I would mean nothing to him. Even if I was pissed at him for treating me like a child a part of me will always cherish the fact that I have always been Ela's first priority to this date. Even now you can see, when he's supposed to be going with his fiance, he chose to go with me. In the deepest, darkest, secretive corner of my heart, I am happy about it. I feel like a dog with two tails for gaining Ela's attention and love. However, I don't know how long that would last.

God, that just hurts so much.

Why can't I forget him, move on and live without this pain that I hate so much but has now become a part of my life?

I wanted to cry for lost love and fantasies, for leaving my parents and Navira, and for many more things, however, I had to hold on to my tears for a little more. I didn't want to cry in front of my parents and brother and make them even more worried than they already are.

I wanted to make them believe that I was happy about going to college. As a matter of fact, a few months back I would have been overjoyed to leave this place with Ela but not anymore. He'd made it crystal clear that I would hold no special place in his heart. If anything, I feel like a hindrance to his love life which I absolutely don't want to be, no matter how much I love him and want him in my life forever. I controlled my tears which were not just tears anymore but physical proof of my grief and torment.

Navira and her parents were meeting us at the airport, and her presence was what I just needed at that moment.

"I can't believe he's decided to go with you instead of being here with his fiance.." She murmured when we two were away from our families.

"Me too.." I nodded, my gaze locked on Ela through the curtain of my hair.

"Sometimes, I think he doesn't love her and is only willing to settle down with her just for the sake of the society.."

"What?" I snapped my eyes to Navira, "Why would you think that?"

She scooted on her seat closer, "Because he doesn't look at her like he does at you.."

"like what?" I was dying to hear more of what she was trying to tell me.

"Like he's doing now. Don't turn right away.." She warned right before I could turn to him and check if he really was looking at me, "As if you are the most delicate and precious thing to him in the whole world and you would break or even get lost forever if he takes his eyes off you even for a second.."

After an agonizingly long fifteen seconds when I glanced up, Ela was still staring right through me. The moment I noticed, he peeled his eyes away casually, leaving me achy and confused more than before. Now that Navira has voiced it out, I had to agree he never looked at Veena like a man who's in love.

If you ask me how I know about all that then it certainly means you never have been in love with someone before. I don't mean he loves me in any other way than he is supposed to but still, whatever Ela and Veena have between them seems very friendly and platonic.

Then, why the hell does he want to marry her if he doesn't love her?

Or am I simply imagining things again?

What if he truly loves her and doesn't do public displays of affection but does all the things to her that loved ones do when they are alone together.

My overthinking is definitely going to kill me one of these days.

Wiping out my grief, I let out a sigh, "He's just being overly protective in a brotherly manner, that's it.."

"Maybe, but it still doesn't sit well in my head. How can a man leave behind his fiance and go with a girl who is not even his biological sister?" She wondered tapping a finger on her lower lip.

"I may not be his biological sister but he loves me like one.." Despite the flutter in my tummy, I argued with her.

"Or maybe not, and that fiance of his is just a means to make him realize that."

"Realize what?"

"That he loves you more than just a sister.." She presumed calmly as if she wasn't sowing the seeds of hope that I thought were dead.

"You think so?" My lovesick heart hopped out of my ribcage.

"Yes.." She nodded with unwavering faith in her notion. "But.." She brought a finger in front of me as if she was warning a little girl. "Do not hold on to that hope. Enjoy your college life, make new friends, give your heart other choices, and most importantly make Ela realize what he is losing.."

"How do I do that?" Questions seemed to come back to back into my head like they had no end at all. What could I do, her hypothesis was that good to hear.

"By staying away from him, going out with other boys, and by making him jealous.."

I rolled my eyes at that, " I don't think he's the jealous type. He's never been one."

"Believe me, all the men are jealous when they want to be and your Ela is no different."

Your Ela?

Why did it sound so saccharine?

"If he's meant to be yours, then nothing could stop it from happening, and if not, then let it be his loss. I don't want to see you sit and cry over it, understand?"

I nodded, even when I knew not crying over Ela wasn't an option for me. My life was going to be doomed if there wasn't Ela in it but she didn't have to know it.

When the time for us to leave came, my family took turns hugging me and wishing me good luck. I wanted to get lost in dad's warm and loving embrace. Mom quietly sobbed against my shoulders and I feared so much that I would start crying like my first day at kindergarten, begging them to take me back home with them.

Even while I was drowning in the sadness of leaving behind my loved ones, I caught a glimpse of Veena hugging Ela and then placing a chaste kiss on his stubbled cheek.

"I will miss, Ela.." She whispered but my hearing ability was heightened to unbelievable extents to not catch every word of it. I know, I know it's wrong on all levels but whatever.

"Hmm.." He nodded but did not say it back which made my heart do a quick somersault but as soon as he observed my eyes on them, his arms came up to enclose her closer.

"Call me every night, okay?" She looked up when pulling away slightly, disappointment was clearly written on her face when he didn't say what she was expecting from him. If I hadn't loved him so much, I would have seriously smacked his head for treating the poor girl in that way. No one deserved to be treated that way.

But I think, he isn't doing anything on purpose and is just an unromantic i***t or maybe Veena doesn't bring out that trait in him.

When the realization dawned on me that I was staring at them for too long, I diverted my attention to my parents. I consoled my mom not to cry with a smiling and boldface when I was actually feeling miserable from the inside for having to leave them.

"Our house is not going to be the same without you. Promise me that you will eat well and stay safe, little one.." Dad muttered, kissing the crown of my head.

I nodded maintaining absolutely zero eye contact with him, knowing for sure that he was trying to make me cry.

Even my brother who is almost always an ass to me said he was going to miss me and that he would call me every weekend. They were only making this more difficult for me.

"Shall we go?" Ela asked me softly, our first conversation in many days. "They are about to start the boarding process.."

Pulling away from my mom, I bobbed my head in answer to him.

"Take care of our baby, Ela.." I heard my mom say.

"I will always, ma.." His reply was resolute and unswerving. "You don't worry, okay?" He wound his large arms around her.

"How can I not when both my children are going away from me?" She sniffed against his pristine shirt.

"We will be fine. Minu will be fine. I will do everything to keep her safe, I promise you that, ma.."

"I know.." Wiping away her tears, she tried to smile at him. " You will always. You be safe too. No matter where you go, come back to me, Ela.." She ordered him in a motherly tone like she did the last time he left her.

He flashed a real smile, making me breathless for a second there, "I will.."

"Let's go now.." Throwing one last glance at our family, his palm came in contact with the small of my back to guide me towards the boarding.

The moment we settled down, all the pent-up sadness came bursting out like fireworks and I sobbed into my hands.

"Minu.." He shifted closer on his seat, "Sweetheart, come here.."

His arms engulfed me and I didn't think much as I buried my face into his chest. "I miss them already, Ela.."

"Sh.. I know but it's going to be okay.." He kept whispering against my hair. I didn't know how long I stayed in his arms but I needed it at that moment so very much. He didn't move and only patted my head soothingly. Just like that, I felt calm and safe in his iron hold but the moment I remembered what Navira told me, I jumped away from him.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I muttered a 'sorry' but frankly, I missed his body heat around mine and wanted to curse myself for creating the distance between us that my heart so didn't want.

"You feel better now?" He bent down to hold eye contact with me.

"Yes, thank you.."

When he hummed, I leaned back on my seat and turned my head towards the window, trying to ignore the woody cologne he wore. I didn't realize until then the plane had actually taken off. That's the effect he has on me. For the rest of the flight together I tried to keep my eyes and mind off Ela. Considering all the previous sleepless nights, it didn't take me more than a few minutes to doze off soundly.

A/N:

My dear lovely readers,

I am extremely sorry for the late, late update. I don't know how often I will be able to update for a few more days. I am really stuck with a lot of assignment work to do. I hope you will wait for the updates patiently. I will post on my sss page regarding the next update until then you can check out my completed books.

I hope you liked this chapter and sorry for the typos as I did not edit it but desperately wanted to give you guys an update today. Please don't forget to leave your feedback and comments.

Love,

SwaRam