Promised Love

11. Lunch date

I put my hand under the shower stream to check the temperature. It's perfect, not too hot, nor too cold. But just then my eyes sight the mud on the floor of the bathroom. Alarmed, I collect some of the water coming out of the shower in a mug and spot the brown water and the muddy grains immediately.

Luckily I am still dressed, so I don't waste another minute in getting out of the washroom and running to mom, who is currently folding clothes on the terrace.

"Mom?" I call out, stepping into the terrace and look for her left and right. "Mom?"

"I'm here." Comes her answer. She is sitting in the area which is covered by a wooden shade.

"Mom, my shower is giving out muddy water." I complain. She slaps her forehead.

"That problem has started again? We got it fixed last year itself but looks like we need to call a new plumber for a permanent fix."

"But we are getting late for the lunch with Mr.and Mrs.Rai. I need to take a bath quickly."

"I know..so...why don't you use Abhimanyu's bathroom. Until then I'll call Abhi's dad and let him know to call a plumber. Ok?"

I give it a thought. Abhimanyu isn't even at home right now, so it's safe to use his bathroom. He'll probably won't even get to know I used his bathroom if I am discreet enough. Perfect. "Ok mom. I'll do that." I tell her before turning on my heel and rushing downstairs.

It's already eleven am and we have to be in Mr.Rai's house by one, I need to rush. I quickly take my clothes, undergarments and a towel before running up the stairs to Abhimanyu's room. It's been a very long time since I last came in his room. Not much has changed, except now his couch has a pile of clothes. I turn a blind eye to it and get into the bathroom.

Not surprisingly, the bathroom smells like men's perfume. It's a pretty good smell, its musky. But I don't remember Abhimanyu smelling like this. He usually smells spicy, fresh, like an autumn day.

Whatever. I have better things to do than contemplate Abhimanyu's scent. I turn on the shower and get under the cold water to give myself a quick head bath.

By the time I am done with the shower its five minutes past eleven thirty, giving me barely thirty to forty minutes to get ready. I undo my towel and one by one slip into ever piece of clothing I carried with myself. After doing a final rinse of my hair with the towel I step out of his room.

"What the!" I curse when I bump into a wall? Or somebody's chest.
I don't remember there being any wall here, so that kind of removes that option.

Rubbing my forehead, I look up to find Abhimanyu's flushed expression. It was his chest, obviously. I hate to admit it, but the guy is built. Something tells me he would be ripped as well.

"Wh-What are you doing in my room?" He asks me but his eyes remain focused on the wall behind me. His cheeks are flushed pink and he is fidgeting with his hands telling me that he nervous. But why is blushing?

"My room's shower was giving out muddy water...so mom asked me to use your bathroom." I explain. He nods, still not looking at me.

"Ok...move out of the way, would you?" His eyes are now glued to the ground.

"Why aren't you looking at me?" I blurt out. That question brings his eyes up at my face, but he averts them within seconds. I sigh and move away to give him way into his room. This man is so confusing.

Just as I take a step towards the stairs I hear Abhimanyu's say "Next time close the door when you're putting on clothes". The door shuts but my steps halt. My cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. Oh God! That's why he wasn't looking at me.