The Twisted Knots

36.

Why would I say that?

Rajveer's shocked expression mirrored my own, adding to the palpable tension that hung in the air between us.

I hesitated, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic whirlwind of doubt and confusion. But then, with a determined resolve, I found my voice again. "Do you hate me, Rajveer?" I asked, the words tumbling from my lips in a rushed whisper.

Rajveer's eyes widened in disbelief at my question, and he shook his head vehemently. "No, Tara, no," he insisted, his voice tinged with sincerity. "I could never hate you."

His words offered a small measure of comfort, but they did little to ease the turmoil raging within me. "Then why?" I pressed, my voice tinged with frustration. "Why would you tell Yash about my meeting with Shrestha, as if you wanted revenge on me or something?"

That was a good save, Tara.

Rajveer's expression softened, a flicker of regret shadowing his features. "Tara, I didn't know he would react like that," he confessed, his voice tinged with remorse. "If I had known, I would have never told him."

But despite his words, doubt still gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. Could I trust Rajveer's sincerity, or was he merely playing a part in a larger scheme?

"He loves you very much, Rajveer," I countered, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "Of course he will get angry when he finds out I was with Shrestha."

Rajveer's gaze faltered, his eyes clouded with uncertainty. "I know," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I never meant to cause you harm, Tara. You have to believe me."

The blaring honk from behind us snapped me out of my reverie, jolting me back to reality. I realized with a start that Rajveer had stopped the car in the middle of the road, and there was a line of vehicles waiting impatiently behind us. Without a word, he started the car and began moving forward, the awkward silence between us thickening with each passing moment.

As we drove on in silence, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle over me. What were we supposed to talk about now? The tension between us was palpable, and neither of us seemed to know how to break the silence.

Finally, Rajveer pulled the car to a stop in front of a 7/11 convenience store. He turned to me, his expression unreadable. "Do you need anything to eat?" he asked quietly.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to refuse, to maintain a sense of distance between us. But the rumble of my empty stomach betrayed me, and I couldn't deny the gnawing hunger that had been gnawing at me for hours.

"No, thank you," I replied curtly, hoping to put an end to the conversation.

But Rajveer didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure?" he asked again, his tone gentle yet persistent.

I shook my head, a stubborn refusal on my lips. But before I could voice my objection, he simply nodded and stepped out of the car, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As he disappeared into the store, a pang of regret washed over me. Maybe I should have accepted his offer. But it was too late now, and all I could do was wait for his return, my stomach growling in protest at my stubbornness.

As my phone buzzed in my back pocket, signaling a new message, I hesitated before retrieving it. It was from Shrestha, the woman whose trustworthiness had been called into question by Yash. Despite my initial reluctance, curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the chat.

Shrestha: Tara, are you free tomorrow?

My heart quickened at the prospect of what she might have discovered, but I remained cautious.

Me: Why?

I replied, keeping my response guarded.

She wasted no time in replying,

Shrestha: I found a very important clue. Can you come with me? We need to go somewhere.

Before I could formulate a response, the car door swung open, and I hastily concealed my phone.

Rajveer stepped into the car, a sizable plastic bag in hand. Handing it to me, he gestured for me to take a look. Peering inside, I was greeted by an array of snacks – chips, cookies, soft drinks, and even my favorite ice cream. Despite my efforts to maintain composure, I couldn't help but feel a smile tug at the corners of my lips.

Rajveer chuckled at my reaction, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "How can you eat all this?" I questioned, attempting to deflect the warmth spreading through me.

His response was simple yet genuine. "I cannot. But you definitely can," he replied, his tone soft and sincere. "It's for you, Tara. I already had dinner."

I wanted to refuse his gesture, to maintain some semblance of independence. But the rumble of my empty stomach betrayed me, and I found myself succumbing to the temptation of the snacks before me.

With a murmured thank you, I reached for a bag of chips, the familiar crunch filling the silence between us.

As Rajveer declined my offer to share in the snacks, he was suddenly engulfed in a phone call, his attention drawn away from our conversation. With a casual flick of his wrist, he produced a cigarette from his pocket, the action catching me off guard. Without a second thought, I reached out and plucked the cigarette from his lips, shaking my head in disapproval.

To my surprise, Rajveer responded with a small smile, accepting the silent reprimand as he tossed the cigarette out of the window. It was then that I realized there was much more to Rajveer than met the eye. His calm demeanor belied a hidden complexity, leaving me with more questions than answers.

As he resumed his conversation, his previously tranquil demeanor gave way to a sudden burst of anger.

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK! I WANT IT DONE BY TOMORROW. BY HOOK OR BY CROOK" The intensity of his words sent a shiver down my spine, leaving me to ponder the depths of Rajveer's true nature.

"Rajveer, can you take me back home?" I interjected, my voice trembling slightly as I attempted to mask my unease. "My parents must be back by now."

To my relief, Rajveer's demeanor shifted once more, his composure restored as he flashed me a reassuring smile. "Sure," he replied, his tone gentle yet resolute as he navigated the car back towards my home.

But even as Rajveer remained outwardly calm in my presence, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. Determined to uncover the truth, I seized my phone and began typing out a message to Shrestha, determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding Rajveer's enigmatic persona.

Me: Sure, send me the address.