Aly’s fortune teller wasn’t wrong. Before we left the hospital, her mum called that a relative had died. ‘Damn. I’ll remember to have my fortune read the next time I’m in India.’ I thought to myself. The ride back home was quite silent. My earlier thoughts had quietened a little and I’d resorted to looking outside the car window and enjoying life a little. Those thoughts would be back to hunt me and I would have to face them one day but Aly had just given birth and things were finally good with Jared. Well, almost, because of what he’d said at the hospital. I didn’t think he was wrong. Honestly, I never imagined myself ever saying those words but thinking about Aly’s baby, I would do anything for it. “Leah…” Jared closed the door behind him and almost ran to meet me, his eyes pleading. I stopped walking when he wouldn’t let me take a step further. I was about to sigh and say something when I realised something smelled different. Like a dog, my nose went up in the air and started

A Year Later I took a huge breath as I laced up my shoes. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my gown so it fit well. “You look perfect.” Aly said while carrying baby Nalini. We had been right, it was a girl. A very beautiful girl. Aarav wasn’t disappointed. In fact, he turned out to be quite the doting father. I picked Nalini up from her and cradled her against my chest. She was so gentle and soft to hold. Sometimes, I always had the fear that I was going to drop her. She was smiling at me, grabbing at my face with her little fingers. She was barely under 5 months but she was so full of life. “I think you should hand her to me. You don’t want her drooling over your gown.” I frowned at Aly. “I don’t mind it, but I do have to go.” I handed her over to her mother and picked my handbag from the bed. I took a huge breath and exhaled. Why was I nervous? I’d been waiting a long time for this. “What is it?” “Honestly, I’d never imagined today being like this. Not that I didn’t

I kicked the door to my office open with my leg. I was carrying huge boxes around. Maybe I’d spoken too soon and concluded that work life was something easy and nice. My heart thumped wildly for exhausting myself and it was barely 9 in the morning. Judy – sorry, Jessica had taken it personally with me and now I was the office delivery woman. Nobody cared about my degree here or that I came out top of my class. “Newbie!” I groaned. I wasn’t even called by my name. “Yes?” I smiled at Jessica. I had already apologised and she told me there was no problem. The saccharin smile on her face said otherwise. “The main office is out of paper currently. Be a dear and have it restocked.” “The main office as in the CEO’s floor?” She nodded at me and patted my arm like I was stupid for asking her the question. “But don’t they have secretaries for that?” She cocked her head to the side as though she could not believe that I’d questioned her. “Of course but I want you to do it.” I pressed my te

I hadn’t seen Ryan Fisher in a while and I was starting to get curious about him it was almost getting ridiculous. “thinking...flower arrangement… Leah!” I looked at Aly, a little startled. “What?” “You’ve been distracted all day. What the hell is going on with you?” I blinked a couple of times, trying to find the word to say and settled on sorry. “Are you getting cold feet?” I paled at her words. “What? No! Of course not.” She narrowed her eyes at me for a few more seconds before looking away. Nalini seemed to be enjoying our conversation, looking at both of us with a smile on her face. She was such a happy child. “If you have a different opinion, you should talk. It is YOUR wedding.” She shrugged. I didn’t have a different opinion. In fact, I liked Aly’s input. I would have been hella confused on what to do if I’d been left alone with it. “Nah. It’s cool. I’m sorry, I should be more attentive.” I gave her a small smile to show that I was sorry for zoning out. I yawned tiredly

I breathed in the diner air. Fresh as ever. Jack and I had agreed after multiple scheduling and missed calls to catch up. He’d become a bestfriend too over the years and I missed seeing him a lot. To be honest, it was my fault.“How’s work with you?” He looked so tired I felt prompted to tease him but I was no better.“Ugh! No one told me this would happen! I thought I’d work and get paid.” He groaned.“Isn’t that what is happening?”“Not really. I leave work and still have work. I can barely eat man. My fridge has been empty for almost a week now.” I started laughing.“Trust me, I know how that feels.” I relaxed against my chair and looked around. I wasn’t one to notice faces around Joe’s but it was clear that they were new around here, freshers maybe. The nostalgic feeling hit hard and it’d barely been months.I took a large slurp of my strawberry milkshake, remembering how young I was back then.“How’s the wedding planning going?” That question wasn’t supposed to catch me off guard