Snapshots of Desire ✔ [Completed]

A Slip Of The Tongue : Part 04

Rajat sat sipping his coffee in blissful silence. He was early today, and for once Daya wasn't waiting in his office. The tell-tale glow of a computer confirmed that Shreya was already in her office. He honestly didn't know when that woman slept. She was always the last one to leave and she was always there way before anyone else. Now that Daya is part of the team, she was forced to leave at a more reasonable time. Rajat thought it was interesting that the man had such an affect on their workaholic friend.

Closing his eyes, he inhaled the delicious aroma of the hazelnut coffee as his fingers curled around the Styrofoam cup. Rajat loved flavoured coffees. There was something about the added ingredients that made drinking the warm liquid even more pleasurable. It was a secret than none of his colleagues knew, except for Daya. That man knew everything. A sudden noise coming from the hall startled him out of his reverie and he winced as scalding hot coffee spilled out of the cup and on to his hand.

"Five! Five dollar foot-long…."

Rajat shook his head with a groan as Daya entered the office singing the Subway sandwich jingle. That damn advertisement was so catchy. It would be stuck in his head for days. Rajat swore that Daya did it on purpose. There was no better way to annoy someone than to sing product jingles. Last month Daya had hummed the KitKat song every time the team took a break. Later that day, he had craved them immensely and had eaten a whole bag of individually wrapped bars. Rajat hadn't been able to eat a KitKat since then, and he loved that particular chocolate candy.

Rajat watched as Daya entered Shreya’s office with a paper bag in hand. He was amazed that two people could be so difficult when it was clear that something was between them. He would never be that dense. Concentrating once again on his coffee, he smiled shyly when Purvi entered the room munching on a bagel. Kavin soon followed and the team relaxed into their daily routine.

Around lunch time, the team found themselves on the road. They were returning from a particular easy case which meant Daya was in a good mood. Rajat’s cell phone rang as his stomach growled. Shreya chuckled on the other end and Rajat could barely see her form in the car ahead.

"We're going to stop for lunch at the next exit. Any suggestions?"

"Subway!" he practically yelled. He swore he could hear Daya laughing on the other end. There was a pause before Shreya confirmed that Subway indeed sounded okay. Purvi looked at him strangely. It probably was a surprise that he hadn't chosen his normal greasy fast food this time. It was all Daya’s fault.

Ordering their sandwiches, the officers sat down in the small restaurant. Daya and Shreya sat off to the side, while the other three took a larger table. Rajat swore it sometimes felt like going out to eat with his family, and he was once again stuck at the kids table. Unwrapping the sandwich, he shovelled it into his mouth as Daya leaned over to Purvi. He barely noticed the small argument as he satisfied his current craving.

"It's bigger than that, Daya Sir,” Purvi said as she glared at the senior. Shreya watched with amusement as Daya continued to hound Purvi by debating the actual size of the sandwich.

"Nah-it's maybe eight inches. There's no way it's twelve." Daya whispered back. Purvi rolled her eyes and gestured toward Rajat. She didn't even realize how loud her voice had gotten.

"Rajat's is definitely a foot long!"

There was stunned silence as a few parents turned to glare at the flustered Purvi while the subject in question turned bright red. Kavin pounded on Rajat’s back to help dislodge the pepper that was stuck in his throat. An older lady slowly walked over to the table and smiled kindly at Purvi as she took her hand.

"It doesn't matter how long it is honey. It's what's inside that counts!"

The team stared in stunned silence as the little old lady winked and slowly made her way out of the restaurant. Shreya put her hand on her mouth, but her shaking shoulders gave her away. Lifting her head, she wiped tears from her eyes as Rajat kicked Daya under the table.

"Well, that was awkward," Kavin added as they quickly left the family restaurant before they could be asked to leave.

"I can't take you guys anywhere," Shreya said with a grin as she patted the still silent Purvi on the back.

The End