After all this time

C H A P T E R 2

'Do you know the seven wonders in the world? ' Smitha teacher was asking the kids in her class.
Amaya, who was doodling on the last page of her social science book, raised her head to listen to her teacher and classmates.
Some of her classmates were raising hands and answering the question

' Great Wall of China...'
' Christ the redeemer..'
Amaya usually stayed silent in class, she was that one student who was too silent and too shy  in the class. But this time, she joined the rest of the class and shouted her answer, Taj mahal.
She knew this because of  a documentary she watched recently , because it was in India.

Smitha teacher smiled at her student,  partly because probably this was the first time she caught Amaya talking in her class or partly that Amaya smiled while answering it. While the teacher continued with her class, Amaya silently relived in that thought. Taj mahal,  something that magnificent,  such a monument which could consider as one of the wonder I this whole world, is in  India, in her country !!.   She was proud. The naive Indian in her took it rather seriously.
Like everything else in her life, she forget to realise that, despite being included in the seventh wonder of the world, situated in India,  Amaya probably won't get a chance to see it. She realised it later. She is still fascinated by it, but in a detached way.
She felt the same with Advaith too...she was close to his words in the book, too close if she thought again...but that is far from reality. She admired his writing,  he made her curious and maybe she had a little crush on him but when he suddenly appeared in front of her, it broke the illusion she used to wrap around it. It was like the ice just melted and she was going to drench in water when she only want to stay dry.
These thoughts were racing through her mind as she paced in her studio apartment. 

' It's not real right? ' She asked herself, then stopped for a moment.

'No...I am sure it is  true but why am I freaking out?'
She was curious to know about his whereabouts half an hour ago, now he was here. As a true fan she should be happy about it, which she was albeit feeling anxious about the situation itself. 
What she did wasn't professional.  Amaya rarely messed up in her job even though she was miserable with her life, her job was the only thing which was steady and stable.  Now that's affected too.
She sat down on the tiny couch and sighed in exasperation.

' What have I done now ' she put her head in her hands and almost pulled her hair out thinking about the dramatic exit she made.

She didn't even give the menu and brochure he had requested for. 
What a first impression she had made. Advaith won't even think about choosing her for personal assistance. 
Amaya could forget about the extra money and tip altogether.  If he complained about the ignorant staff, she would be in a tight position with the management,  which she hoped  he wouldn't do.

Amaya took a few deep breaths and her damage control mode started working. 
She made a call to the reception and asked them to send the new guest the menu and brochure he asked for along with the premium gifts( which he deserved of course)
She hoped it won't be too late to make the amends now and she needs to apologise,  in person,  before it becomes too late..but she refused to go then.
She really needed a shower, some food in her empty stomach and sleep.
She took a quick shower and put on her sweat pants and sweater. She had worn it for so many times,  it felt like a soft warm hug to her tired body.
Her stomach growled reminding her that all she had eaten today was the dosai from the hotel and a bottle of mineral water.
She usually  had her meals at staff break room, even though she had a small kitchen at her room. Her cooking abilities were limited to making  Maggie and coffee. She liked baking though , that too, occasionally.  Amaya didn't want to go back there for dinner, she didn't want to risk another encounter with Advaith right now.