Chapter 32: chapter 32

CHAPTER-12GOWRIBy morning my ankle feels better and I can walk slowly. I learned to ice my ankle after Shiva slowly explained it again. I iced it by myself before going to bed. My left leg is propped in three pillows put on top of each other. I slowly and carefully remove my leg from the top of the pillows and stand up from my bed. I glance at the clock. It is six in the morning. I want to go back to sleep so that I wouldn't feel the ache in my ankle but I can't.Grudgingly I move slowly to the bathroom. After all my morning cleaning rituals, I walk into the living room to a delicious aroma of coffee. My empty stomach craves the coffee.I slowly limp to the kitchen. Shiva is making the coffee. His back is towards me so that he doesn't see me watching him in silence. His brown skin shines in the sun rays through the window. His beard had grown denser. He is humming a tune as he mixes sugar. Oh! Come on, Gowri. Didn't you resolve yesterday night to never stare or ogle at Shiva? Get a grip on you. I shake my head and make a clearing sound in my throat to gain his attention. He turns to face me. A small smile plays on his lips. “How is your ankle?” he asks looking down at my feet. “A little better,” I answer. I lean on the counter to ease my weight on it and put as much as less weight on my ankle. “Here,” he tells handing me over a cup of coffee. “Thanks,” I tell taking the cup.  “You are going to work today?”“Yes.”“Why? You can take a day off and rest,” he tells with a frown. “I can but I am already on the bad side of my lead. So, it is better if I go to work.”Shiva doesn't approve of this but he lets it slide and says, “Fine, remember what I said yesterday. Don't strain your ankle too much. Ice it before going to work.”“Okay, boss,” I tell with a salute. He laughs. I finish my cup of coffee and put the cup in the sink as a thought crosses my mind.Oh! How Careless Of Me.I didn't refill the ice cube holder yesterday night. Oh damn! Why can't I be living in Antarctica? I can get ice instantly instead of waiting hours for the water to turn into ice.As if reading my thoughts, Shiva tells, “Don't worry. I refilled the ice cube holder yesterday. Just get on started.”I smile as he leaves the kitchen. This man is always on the extreme. No matter what it is. If he keeps doing this kind of sweet things then it would become difficult for me after the divorce.🍀🍀🍀🍀Coming to work is a bad choice and I am regretting it now. I don't get any free time for icing my ankle and the pain seems to be increasing tenfold. A big salute and respect to all those people who had survived this pain and even worse than this.I am busy messaging Sara in the afternoon break when I hear footsteps in the room. Thinking it is some student who has come for counselling, I say without looking up from my phone, “Give me ten minutes, I will hear your problem.”“My problem is you,” a male voice says. That is when I smell the perfume smell. JAY! My insides twist and turn in an unexplainable fear.“Hey,” he greets me when I finally look up from my phone. His hands are tied back. Other than that he is his usual self. Happy and sappy. “Hey,” I tell not sure what to say. I am not going to speak about yesterday until he brings it up. But I have decided to maintain some distance from him. I was never grateful for the big teacher's table before me.“I am sorry for yesterday. I was riled up and I didn’t know what I was doing. I shouldn’t have left you like that.”“You don’t have to be sorry. It is not like I expected you to drop me home,” I tell in a neutral tone. For a second he looks annoyed but then he smiles at me. It is the smile he always gives me but after yesterday, I am being cautious with him and for the first time I feel that the smile is not genuine.“But I feel obliged that I should have made sure you reached your home safely. So, please accept this,” he answers bringing his hands to the front. His hands are holding a big bouquet of red roses.“I am not a kid. You don't have to feel obliged for me,” I snap ignoring the rose bouquet.If he is taken back by the tone he doesn't show it on his face. “I am just concerned about your safety. This city is new for you and I just left you stranded in the parking lot.”Why does that sound familiar? Everyone is concerned for my safety. First, my parents and now him. Seriously, do they think I can't take care of myself? Why can't they just believe me?“Ok, thanks for your concern,” I tell getting the bouquet from him so that he would leave me alone but instead he pulls the chair in front of me and sits down.“Gowri, you don’t understand how much I like you. You rejected me yet I couldn’t get over you. I tried hard to move on but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. You are special to me. You are a gem that only a few know your value. I am ready to lay the whole world before you. Please Gowri, stop pretending like you don’t care about me. I know you also like me,” he confesses looking into my eyes. Those eyes are serious but I couldn’t understand them like I can understand Shiva’s eyes.Irritation itches in me. No. No. This is going too far. I need to put a stop to all this. No matter how many big bouquets he gets or even if he promises to lay the whole world before me, I can't tell him yes. Partly because I am already married and partly because I don't feel any sort of spark towards him.“Jay, I-” I start but he motions me to stay quiet.“Gowri, think about it today. Answer me tomorrow. You will realize that you too love me.”I sigh. I am going to put a stop to this right now. Shiva will possibly kill me if he knows what I am about to do. But I am done with Jay and his feelings for me. I don't want him to have false hopes. Time to come clean.“I will never realize that because the truth is I don’t like you in that way. You are my good friend. I don’t have any other feelings for you.” Taking a deep breath, I tell the words, “Besides, I am MARRIED already.” I expect Jay to gasp and leave the room calling me a liar but instead, I hear him laughing. A humourless laugh. Wait, don't tell me he has gone mad.“Good joke Gowri,” he tells standing up. “Why should I believe you?”I take my Thalli from my collared dress and show him. His eyes go wide. For a minute he is silent appraising me. Then a slow smile spreads on his face.“What sort of prank is this?” he asks going towards the door.“It is not a prank,” I shout but he is already out of the room.🍀🍀🍀🍀