Relationship Status - It's complicated

Chapter 8 - Tea time talks

Shiv

I was extremely annoyed at my sister and then at Jai Jeeja. Yes, I did want a companion in my life. I had often seen myself wondering what I was even doing in my life after Shikha had left and there was definitely a void in my life. Papa had often said "Don't bury yourself in these responsibilities. They are never ending. You need to live your life beta"

I was driving to office when I passed the bus stand that I had picked up Anjali from. My thoughts lurked back to what Jai Jeeja had said over the phone 

"You will only find out more about her and understand her after talking to her. It isn't going to happen automatically. " He had responded when I said I barely know her so how I am even supposed to think anything of her. 

Thinking about Anjali brought back images of her simple dressing, her calmness, her near shy smile, her confidence when she responded to Aniket about her work life , her vulnerable state when I gave her my hand to help her get up, the way she adjusted her dupatta when my gaze hovered over her neck or the way she smile. For some odd reason, my mind also played the image of her drenched in rain, her simple cotton kurta stuck to her petite frame in rain. I know I shouldn't be thinking of her in that way - by all means I barely knew her but probably my desire levels were elevated these past couple of days.  Ahh, she was a simple beauty. Of the three times that I met her, I always sensed a mysterious aura around her which to me directly indicated that her story was perhaps bigger than mine, more painful than mine and required much more patience. 

Who was she after all? The fact that I am thinking about her so much means I need to talk to her? Maybe I should consider this alliance and get to know her. That's it ? Am I completely over Shikha ? My more than decade old relationship was over like that and I felt nothing today. 

Just then my phone started ringing, I pushed the button on the bluetooth speaker of the car and answered. After a few minutes on the call, I was becoming a member of the near by local gym and decided to meet the assigned instructor at 7pm. 

I decided to get a gym membership to get back in a healthy routine and loose some belly fat. While I had laughed at Riya's comment the other day, it had affected me. I needed to get back into shape soon. My divorce time was very stressful and I realized I am a stress eater which needed to go now. Thankfully I hadn't developed any long term side effects due to my over weight and I wished to keep it like this in the future too. This was the same gym that Harshit frequented , so may be some bro time would be motivational too. 

Shoot, I should change the appointment to tomorrow. If I went today, Shivani will simply think that I am all ready for a marriage to Anjali and that is why I am joining the gym. 

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I got a call from Shivani at around 1pm which was lunch time for us. I was in no mood to talk to her even though I had calmed down a little. I wanted to talk to Jai Jeeja and talk it through him. If I considered Anjali, I wanted to get to know her but I wanted no pressure on both of us; specially on her. 

I let the phone beside me ring for as long as it wanted to. I knew Shivani was stubborn, she wasn't going to let go easily but there was no need to call during the day. Few minutes later, it was ringing again and much to my annoyance, it was again Shivani

"What do you want Shivi?" I answered the call

"Relax, I know you are angry but Dadi has decided to go over to Anjali's house and enquire about her well being as she was hurt. I wanted to let you know in case you wanted to accompany us? We leave at 5" She replied and I could sense the calmness in her voice 

"What! Why! Why does Dadi want to go there? And I am not ready yet. " I panicked, I was only beginning to think about this and here they were all ready with the rishta talks.