Poetic Sensibility

10- Summons And Calls

        Rishi couldn't hold back his surprise when he saw who was calling him. It wasn't that Sarah never called him; she called him when she wanted all kinds of dirt on Kabir every time they were arguing about something. He had been stunned when she had called him the very first time. His surprise was mostly due to the fact that someone as sweet and angelic as Sarah possessed claws. He would never want to get on the wrong side of that woman.

Answering the call on the second ring, Rishi heard her immediately say, "How did it go, then? I had completely forgotten that you were going over to help her!"

Rishi couldn't hold back a grimace, "And hello to you too."

"Oh yes, yes. Hello and all that. NOW TELL ME!!" she replied.

Rishi could practically hear the exclamation marks when she spoke. "Before I do, tell me, am I your first phone call or second?"

He could hear Sarah letting out an exasperated sigh, "I cannot believe that a guy is asking me a trick-question. I have been single too long."

"You have been single all your life," Rishi replied automatically. "And it does not necessarily have to be that way. You could simply ask..." Rishi thought better of telling her to simply speak to Kabir about her crush on him. Seriously, everyone knew they fancied each other. Except them. Rishi, however, wasn't a meddler.

"Ask what?" she inquired suspiciously.

"Nothing," Rishi said. "So am I the first or second?"

Now Sarah definitely exaggerated her exasperation, "Fine. I will tell you. You are the second."

Rishi drew in a fake gasp, "I am hurt!"

"Oh shut up," she said. "Now will you tell me?"

        Rishi was sorely tempted to ask her what Kiara thought of him and the time they had spent together. But he knew it would be a futile exercise. While Sarah was a typical lady when it came to... just about everything, she was one person you could take a secret to. It's why Kabir respected her. Sarah had always understood that when she was entrusted with a secret, the secret was hers to keep, not to tell. Fitting, he thought, when he remembered that Kiara's poem had been about the guardian of secrets.

"It was good," Rishi said, trying to sound as passive as he could. "I think it really helped her."

"Mmhmm," Sarah replied. "She said so too. She didn't fly off the bat at the prospect of another interview."

        Rishi had mixed feelings about what Sarah had just said. He was filled with warmth at the idea of Kiara telling Sarah that she actually felt better after Rishi had helped her with the interview and her resume, which Rishi managed to beef up impressively. Kiara had undertaken loads of solo projects and writing assignments and competitions. There was a whole lot of freelancing in there too. He shouldn't have been surprised though; she was an excellent writer. At the same time, Rishi felt a pang of disappointment. He had offered to help her with last minute revision whenever she had an interview and she hadn't called or messaged to inform him that she had one lined up. Somehow, he realized that he could not blame her. She had discovered him with her secret notebook, no wonder she wanted nothing to do with him. Rishi couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"What is the job profile she is interviewing for?" he asked her.

"Oh one of those silly design companies again," Sarah replied irritably. "If you ask me, it's way beneath her. I tried telling her that but she refused to listen. She really ought to focus on getting herself published."

"Oh and follow her dream?" Rishi asked, knowing he was baiting Sarah. It was a touchy nerve, pursuing dreams.

Sarah caught on, "Not funny, Rishi. I can't stand office politics. It's either starting a homespun business or joining a firm that has practically no office politics."

        Rishi recalled how unpleasant things had become when Sarah had discovered that one of her colleagues had been taking credit for all the work she had done. Sarah had been quite... bitey.

"Well, then I do believe that a homespun business would be best," Rishi replied honestly. No firm that he knew of was immune to dirty office politics. For the first time, Rishi wondered why Sarah had pursued what she had pursued when she was a poet through and through. "Why did you study business? Specifically investments?"

Sarah was taken aback, "I... well, there is no reason in particular. The college had just started the course and it was easy to get in."

        Oh well, Rishi understood the battle of getting into a good college to complete your degree. And Sarah had graduated from one of the best. Yet, he couldn't help but believe that everyone should pursue what they want to. Sarah's passive nature wouldn't help her succeed.

"So, did Kiara say anything about that day that I should know?" Rishi couldn't help himself.

Well, not really," Sarah replied slowly. Damn. She wasn't going to give Kiara up. "But," she continued, 
she did say that you encouraged her to do a sequel to the poem she had read- the one on secrets. She said she's had a nice idea for it and she might see it through."

        Rishi was pleasantly surprised. So she had decided to continue the poem after all. He was sure she was damning him to hell the moment he had suggested it. Oh she had appeared flummoxed and was terrified that he could sense there was more to the poem but the fire in her eyes was hard to hide. All in all, Rishi was as confused about her as he had been the day he had met her. He knew her better than he did then but he still felt he knew nothing of her. Not for the first time, Rishi wished she would let him read her notebook and examine her poetry and sketches. Maybe, someday. As of now, that day seemed like a distant dream. She hadn't even wanted his help for her... Rishi's thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of his phone. He glanced at the screen and couldn't hold back the big smile that spread over his face. Looks like Kiara needed him after all.