Chapter 2
The next morning he woke up with a hangover. He pressed on his head and remembered that he somehow stumbled into the room the waiter got for him. He didn't move and stared at the ceiling. Soon he fell asleep.
When he woke up again, it was 11. He freshened up and checked out of the hotel. He had some food in the bar's restaurant. When he was done, he saw the blonde waiter who helped him the night before. He called him for the bill and left some tip.
The waiter then said, "I don't know if I can say this, but don't delay your happiness because of just one person."
He slowly nodded. He drank quite a lot. He barely remembered what all he told this boy.
The boy kept searching his face. He asked with curiosity, "What are you going to do?"
"She isn't that unbearable. I'll go find her now."
The boy turned his lips down and nodded.
He'll know when he falls in love, Ramit thought, looking at the young fellow.
∼•∽
He got down the taxi near her office and waited on a bench nearby.
"I'm here," he spoke into the phone.
"What is it?"
"I want to see you."
"Tonight?" His heart broke every time she took things that way. Perhaps sleeping with him was the only profitable thing she got out of this whole marriage.
"Now. Let's go out."
"I'm at work."
"I'm here already," he said as he walked to the group of ladies that had just come out of the building.
"Hi," he smiled at her and nodded at the group, who seemed to be intrigued by him.
They all looked at her expectantly, perhaps thinking about how he looked similar to her. Geetha and he were the only south Asians among these Europeans.
"I'll be back after lunch." She smiled at them but said no more. No introductions, nothing. She hooked her arm around his and walked away, taking him to the parking lot.
"Were you busy?" He asked slowly. She said so but she seemed quite relaxed.
"We were going for lunch."
"Well. Let's eat together."
She unhooked her arm and went to her car.
Seeing him standing still even after starting the engine, "Get in," she said tiredly.
"Where are we going?"
"Restaurant."
"Let's go home. I'll make you lunch."
She stared him straight in the eye.
"Get on!" She maintained her volume at a low level.
"Let me drive!"
"Drive yourself wherever you want! I'm going."
"Wait!" he quickly climbed into the passenger seat.
The lunch was just another mundane activity for her, while he sat on tenterhooks observing her.
After she was done, she sat idly waiting for her man to fill his stomach.
He got the bill and they walked out.
She turned to him to bid farewell.
"See you then."
"I'll wait at your office. Let's go home once you're done."
"..."
∼•∽
Persistence is the key and she relented, for once, and let him drive as she set the navigation to her home. And finally, there he was in her small apartment. He looked around and it was cosy. He cooked a simple meal for the two and she ate without a word. They'd both be humbled down when it came to cooking. But the main difference was, he had a passion for food in general and so, for cooking. She hated the job because it ate up too much of her time. She'd gobble down anything tasty and be done with the problem of food.
Later that night they both snuggled in her bed. She got on top of him and kissed him passionately. He kissed her alike. She took his clothes off and removed her draping too.
In the morning he woke up with a start as his alarm went off. He usually woke up an hour later, but he had to wake up before her that day. In fact, he would have stayed awake all night, if he could.
Soft hair covered her face. He smiled looking at her.
She too opened her eyes soon.
"Ah, you're still here?" she asked. He thought for a moment and his mood took a hit. He was forgotten.
"Hm."
"I should get ready. Freshen up and get going." She turned to the other side. She reached out her hand from the blanket, grabbed the table calendar and planned her day.
"Today is a holiday, right? Some local festival..." he asked softly. He planned this quite carefully.
"It is."
"Then let's spend today together."
She gave him a once over. "I have work to do. Leave soon."
"Just do what you have to. I won't disturb." But he wanted to make her cancel her plans for him.
"I need to go out." She got out of the bed and on the floor was a mess of their clothes. She picked out his clothes from the pile and took the rest to the laundry, clearly showing how she didn't want him there another time.
"I won't move anything here. I won't steal anything. So no worry, right?"
She gave him a hard stare as she folded her hands, her full breasts loosely resting over her arms. He was still in bed, also naked, but beneath the blanket that covered his lower half.
"When I come back I hope I don't see you." She had tried hard the last day, but the man still came into her house.
He sat up and kept watching her. But she didn't read into his actions and went into the bathroom.
He too got out of the bed. In her rented one-person house there was only one bathroom. He rummaged through his small bag and found his toiletries. He took out a fresh pair of casuals. This time he had vowed not to turn back when she disapproved.
After a while she came out all fresh and ready.
"Why are you still here?"
Perhaps this was the first time he showed her a grim face. He did not respond and went inside the bathroom.
"I'm hungry. Make some breakfast," he said before he closed the door. Had he had some clothes on he'd whip up something for the two, he was not comfortable staying naked for too long, unlike her. Could that be the reason why she didn't want him around? Because she wanted to be naked all the time at home? He never thought about this particular 'reason' but she did like to walk around with bare minimum. It was definitely her way of asserting dominance, showing him the whole place was hers, not theirs. Or was it because the days they'd sleep together were the only times he actually spent with her? He shook his head under the shower.
She looked at the bathroom door livid. "You dare order me around in my own home!"
This was the reason she didn't want anyone in her home and also the reason why she wanted a home for herself. She did not wish to change her lifestyle. Or put it more meaningfully, she didn't want to waste her time and energy on anyone. She did not want to waste her time and energy on him, who would especially eat up too much of them as her partner.
The doorbell rang.
It was the delivery of a small pizza she had ordered just before she went to freshen up. She ordered only one, and she ate it all. She had gotten a ticket for an art exhibition that day. After that she wanted to have some time for herself and do some drawing.
Just as she took the last bite, he came out afresh.
The scene before him really beckoned him to reality. His loneliness grew folds. She really didn't want him around so she wouldn't even be kind enough to let him have some food. Was this her way of making him leave now that he was being stubborn?
"What should I eat?"
"Just get out."
"Don't you think that you are very inconsiderate?"
Well, that was the reason she did not allow him into her home. She looked at him with some contempt. She thought he would listen and get going, so she ordered just for herself. Who knew he was planning to stick to her and irk her all day.
She saw his confusion when he came out. She saw him clutch his towel and tighten his jaw. But what good did it do to explain to him that she wasn't inconsiderate? After all, she was and she very well wanted to be that way.
"I'm heading out now. I'll drop you by the restaurant."
He did not respond. He walked into the kitchen and cooked himself two eggs. She stood at the kitchen door all the while he cooked. "Pack that and just go."
He sat comfortably and started eating slowly. "What are your plans today?"
"An art exhibition to attend. And it'll start soon." She was distressed with his behaviour. He changed overnight.
"I'll come too."
"Pre-book tickets."
"You have one?"
"Of course."
"Show me."
She showed.
He snatched it from her.
She noticed something and shrieked, but it was already too late.
He tore the ticket in two. The ripping sound resonated as both of them realised something about the other.
He could feel her frustration penetrating his skin and bones.
She was baffled. He really changed. Her life wasn't going to be peaceful anymore, she thought.
"Sorry," he said.
"Why did you do that? I have been looking forward to it for two months!" Tears came to her eyes and she was yet to realise that.
He did not say anything. But his heart was racing. He felt a little guilty but he was more scared of what she'd do next. To think that she'd cry.
"Get out. Get out now!" she raised her voice but it was still levelled.
He looked down, saying nothing and he continued eating.
"I'm talking to you."
"I'm eating!" He had a frown but it eased completely when he looked back at her face.
She was not just angry anymore. She felt done. She contemplated if she should snatch his food and dump it away. But she was a person of her own and she liked to respect the other person just as much. However, sometimes it was simply impossible. She let him be, feeling tired.
"Please leave after you are done and don't ever come here again." Her tears flowed out and she quickly turned away. She rarely cried and so she had not yet succeeded in developing the skill to control her tears.
She went into the bedroom and closed the door shutting him out. Outside, in the dining room, the man had no appetite anymore. He still chugged the food.
∼•∽
Later he knocked on her door gently. Of course she did not respond.
"I'm sorry." All of this was way better than being strangers who met for sex every once in a while. Now they had something to bother each other about, even if it was unpleasant. 2 hours later, his mood wasn't that down anymore.
"I'm sorry. Why don't I take you to a park? I searched just now and there's one nearby."
"Are you asleep?" he said after 5 minutes.
"Should we eat out for lunch or shall I make something?"
"What do you want to eat?"
"Okay, but I do have something very important to tell you. Are you sure you won't regret not knowing it?"
He heard some shuffling inside from time to time. She was definitely not asleep.
"I won't tell you if you don't open the door."
She opened the door then, asking him harshly, "Just... move yourself out of here. Please."
His heart kept sinking, yet he didn't know where his guts kept coming from. He was even slightly enjoying this. He gave her a sad smile.
She felt guilty too but more than that she felt outright discomfort from seeing him in her house. She felt invaded. "You forgot the contraceptive." He said after some thought. The frown on her face went away as she blinked.
"Ah.. I did forget this time." She said more to herself. He was being so hard to deal with, that he ate up half her brain. No wonder she forgot. She quickly opened a nearby drawer, pulled a tablet out and took it.
He stood there watching her. Every other time she'd take one as soon as they were done and then she'd leave. Yesterday he kept kissing her until she fell asleep after they were done. His original intention had been to impregnate her. That was how much his desperation grew in the past year.
This was the longest time he had spent with her alone and at one stretch until now and he had a better idea about her. Even if they had a baby, she'd leave them. Or worse much, she'd simply get it aborted the moment she knew she was pregnant.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"I want to live with you." He held her hand and said looking her in the eye.
She looked at him and did not know what to say. Handling a situation like this was easy to her but considering he did her a favour just before, she did not have the heart to reject him outright. It was just like what happened when he asked her out. Out of respect for their friendship, she said yes.
"How... How long?"
He again gave her the same smile she would often see on his face. It was bitter and grim.
"I can manage my work from anywhere. So for a long time." He wanted to say forever but he'll keep it for a time when she'd be more accepting.
Five minutes passed and she still did not say anything.
"Why do you want to live by yourself like this?"
She still did not answer.
"Do you bring people here? Men?" There had never been such a doubt in his heart but how was he to get an answer?
She blinked. "What?"
When he saw her slow reaction, he squeezed his eyes shut.
"... Do you bring men here for the night?" He still said. The words he uttered were't going to erase themselves from history. Adding on would not do any new damage. Who knows, he might get an answer.
"You've known me since school. Do you think I will?"
"Then why?"
"Fine, think whatever you want." She ended the conversation.
"I didn't think anything like that. I don't think like that, alright?" He said desperately, but she didn't acknowledge.
She left the house quickly. She hoped he would lock the door when he left. There were quite a few valuables in there.
∼•∽
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