Kissing A Devil (Complete and Continuing In The Sequel)

Chapter 27

Sidharth slowly stirs in the bed. He opens his eyes slowly and looks to his side to find it empty. He usually gets up early in the morning for his run. His routine included, watching her sleeping, kissing her forehead before going out. Then where did she go today? He looks at the clock on the wall. It's 9 o'clock.
"F***! It's late.."

He sits up and winces. His hand goes to the back of his head. His head is throbbing now. The pain of the wound and the hangover together is creating a ruckus inside his head. He sits on the bed holding his head. Why does he drink so much? He needs to control himself. He goes to the bathroom and washes his face. He feels a burning sensation on his knuckles and checks it. He remembers the incidents of last evening. He stares at the mirror and gives a devilish smirk.
"Fatu.. hope you are having a comfortable stay at the hospital."

Sidharth runs his fingers through his hair after coming out of the shower and his eyes fall on the glass of lemon juice on the table. He picks it up and finds a note under it.
Good morning SR ji..
Drink this and come downstairs. Your breakfast is ready..
Shehnaaz
Sidharth smiles, "SR Ji?"

Sidharth gets down the stairs and hears voices. He comes to the dining room and gets shocked. He finds Dadi, Sana, Arvind Ahuja, Rajiv and Richa on the table.

Sana finds him standing, comes towards him and holds his arm,"See today everyone is here. Come let's have breakfast together."
Sidharth removes her hold, "I am.. not.. hungry.. I need to go.. "
Richa stands up, "Sid.. Sidharth please have something.. don't.. go like this.."
Dadi says,"Arey Sidharth beta. Where are you going? Come and have something with us."
"I.. am.. sorry.. I need to go.. meeting.. have a meeting.", he says.
"Baba, meeting ko der hai."

Sidharth turns to find Kabir standing.
"Kabir chacha, Good morning! Aaj breakfast karenge toh?"
"Of course, aaj toh main bhi khaunga. Begum apne bhai ke ghar gayi hai..Chaliye Baba, never say no to food. Chaliye."
Kabir nods his head and requests him to go to the table. Sidharth stares at him for sometime and goes to the table with him.
Sidharth sits down on his chair and Sana puts a few pieces of fluffy pancakes on his plate and pours honey on it's top.

Sidharth immediately looks at Richa who smiles meekly at him. He stares at the plate not understanding what he should do.
"Sid baba, your coffee.", he hears.
Martha stands beside him and puts the coffee mug in front of him. She smiles at him, asking him to eat now.
Sidharth picks up the knife and fork and cuts through the pancake. Taking a small portion, he puts it in his mouth.
"Aren't these tasty? Aunty made everything today. I am in love with these parathas.."

Sidharth lowers his head not listening to the discussion on the table. He silently eats his breakfast till his phone starts to ring. He excuses himself to go back to his room. He goes to his dresser, unlocks it and pulls out a photo frame underneath his old t-shirts. It's him and Richa. He was 3 years old then. In the photo he is eating pancakes. His face is smeared with sugar powder and maple syrup. He is looking at the camera and Richa towards him, both are grinning from ear to ear. His Nanu, Richa's father had taken this photograph when they were vacationing in the USA. Things were not that bad then. Raghuvir had a temper but he didn't raise his hand on Richa or Sidharth. It started only a month after his Nanu passed away.

Pancakes were his favorite breakfast after he had tasted it in New York. He would ask her to make them and she would happily prepare them for him. He had stopped eating them once she left. He gave the reasons that he needs to eat healthy. But the truth was, he couldn't think about eating them anymore. After 12 years, he tasted it again, the very ones made by his mother. His eyes fill with water and he hears a knock followed by a voice.

"Hey, Sidharth Raichand ji! Busy?"
Sidharth wipes his eyes with the back of his sleeves, puts the photograph inside the dresser and then turns. Sana comes inside the room with the plate in her hand.
"You came here, so I thought I would bring your pancakes. C'mon eat them and take medicine. I know your head must be throbbing. Injury aur uske upar se itni daru.. By the way whose name was your heart calling last night?"
She puts the plate on the table and Sidharth immediately grabs her arms and pulls her closer.