Between Lies

Asha sat on the edge of her bed, running a hand through her hair, staring at the dim light pooling through the curtains. The house was too quiet. The kind of silence that made her aware of every small sound. The tick of the clock, it's midnight. And then, something else.

A faint creak.

She froze. It wasn't the usual settling of the house. This was different. Slow. Deliberate. Footsteps moving around the living room.

Her pulse quickened. She listened, her body rigid, the blankets gathered around her like a fragile shield. Then, another sound. The handle of her bedroom door turned.

Asha's breath caught. The door swung open abruptly.

She gasped, her heart slamming against her ribs until she saw the figure standing there.

"Maya?" Her voice came out sharp, breathless. "What the hell? You scared me."

Maya leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You scared yourself," she said, stepping inside. "I called your name twice."

Asha let out a slow breath, pressing a hand to her chest. "You don't just sneak into someone's room at night."

Maya ignored that, shutting the door behind the wall. "How are you feeling now?"

Asha blinked. "I think I'm fine."

Maya shook her head. Musa stayed back. He was worried. You just… disappeared without telling him."

"Worried? About what?" Asha replied.

Maya leaned against the sofa, studied her face, "That's what i was hoping your going to tell me"

Asha let out a small laugh, too light, too forced. "Musa always worries, you know how he is." She goes back to pressing her laptop, as if that was the end of the conversation.

But Maya didnt let it go, "Asha", her voice was softer now, careful.

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

For a moment, Asha hesitated. A flicker of something doubt, fear, guilt crossed her face, but it was gone just as fast. Smiling, "Maya, please. You're starting to sound like a detective."

Maya narrowed her eyes, "You're lying."

Asha let out a small laugh, light but hollow. "You always think I'm lying."

"Because you always dodge questions like this." Maya said.

Asha looked away, focusing on the curtain's slow sway. "Maya, it's nothing. Just a lot on my mind."

Maya exhaled. "Asha…" She hesitated, then softened her voice. "You can tell me if something's wrong."

Asha turned back, she sighed dramatically. "You know what I really need? A proper vacation. Somewhere quiet, away from flour and ovens."

Maya laughed, "That's your answer?"

Asha smiled. "That's my answer."

Maya held her stare for another moment, then pushed off the bed. "Fine. Let me go and refresh myself." She walked to the door, pausing before stepping out. "If u need anything you let me know."

Asha's smile remained, "But as the door clicked shut, She asked," Did you bring something to eat? because I am super hungry as if I haven't eaten for a week.

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The bathroom door swung open, sending a wave of warm steam rolling into the bedroom. Musa stepped out, a towel slung low around his waist, beads of water still clinging to his skin. He ran another towel over his damp hair, shaking off the lingering heat from the shower. The night air felt cool against his skin, grounding him as he moved toward the closet.

Then, just as he reached for a T-shirt, he paused.

Asha.

He had meant to call her earlier but had gotten caught up in the evening's routines. Now, in the quiet of his room, with nothing but the distant hum of the fan, she drifted to the forefront of his mind.

Musa grabbed his phone from the bed, and dialed. It barely rang twice before Asha's voice, soft and familiar, filled his ear.

"You finally remembered me," she teased, the warmth in her tone unmistakable.

Musa chuckled, stretching onto the bed. "You know I can't go a night without hearing your voice."

Asha let out a small laugh, but there was something gentle in the way she sighed after. "I was waiting for you to call."

Musa closed his eyes, the sound of her voice washing over him. "I miss you," he murmured. "Feels like I haven't seen you properly all day."

Asha hummed. "We were together in the morning, Musa."

"Doesn't count." I miss the real you. I miss my baby gal so much. The touches, the kisses, I want to feel you right now.

Asha laughed again, softer this time. "I miss you more, I can't stop craving for you always"

"You kind of do." He grinned, letting silence settle between them for a moment before speaking again. "Are you okay, though? You left early today."

She hesitated. "Yeah… I just needed some air."

Musa frowned slightly but didn't press. "You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"

Another pause. Then, "Of course, Musa."

It was an answer, but not the kind that reassured him. Still, he let it go.

Instead, he shifted onto his back and stared at the ceiling. "Listen, I was thinking… Tomorrow's the weekend. Let's get away for a bit. Just us. A long drive, maybe even a few days somewhere quiet."

Asha didn't respond immediately.

Musa smiled to himself. "I'll take care of everything. You just have to say yes."

Asha spoke, but her voice was different now, still warm, but hesitant. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah. It's been a while since we did something just for us."

She exhaled, "Musa, I… I don't know if I can."

His brows pulled together. "Why not?"

Asha in her own room, gripping and holding the pillow tight. Her mind raced. Tomorrow. Richard. The meeting. She had almost forgotten.

"I, um… I have something I need to do," she said carefully.

Musa answered, "Something important?"

She forced a smile, even though he couldn't see it. "Just… yeah. Something I can't put off."

He sighed. "Alright. But promise me we'll do something soon? Just us?"

Asha closed her eyes. Lying to him was getting too easy.

"I promise."

Musa let out a soft chuckle. "You better. I'll hold you to it." The call ended.

Asha sat in the dim glow of her bedside lamp, she let out a slow breath, staring at her phone.

Tomorrow, she will see Richard.

And no matter how much she wanted to pretend everything was fine, it wasn't.