WHEN FATE BRINGS YOU HOME

CHAPTER 16

A black ceramic pot along with a brown paper bag was waiting for me at the door when I reached the lab today. It's been two days since our library encounter and I thought he must have forgotten about it. I felt my heart expand to it's fullest. Is this what is called heartwarming?

Three contents dropped from the paper bag when I shook it out on the counter. 

~ A mini plastic container with seed capsules. 

~ An instruction manual on how to plant the seed.

~ A handwritten note.

I forced open the four times folded piece of a quarter of a Stonehenge paper. It has the same handwriting from that in my notebook (which I've kept in safety as evidence), and is written with the same blue ink. The note instructs me to start planting the white orchids tonight, if I didn't want to lose. He also added his contact number with a P.S.

In case you already have my contact, please ignore the above ten digits.

My heart skipped a beat when I finished reading it. Is he some kind of a soothsayer? I do have his number saved in my phone as Professor White Shirt. It happened a day in the first week of our arrival here, when Hera forced me to it, saying I'll need it someday. That day I was so sure I wouldn't be needing it at all, especially not for stalking. He's not in Instagram and trust me again, I was not stalking.

I finished my work super early and jogged my way to the apartment. Before taking up any time to freshen up, I went through the manual once, prepared the moss mix soil, arranged a drainage system for the plant, and placed the pot on a table near my east facing window where she can get enough sunlight. Oh, what should I call her? Since she's a major part of the bet, let's call her Bet. The manual says Bet will take almost three months to bloom and the flowers may last for over two months or so. I can't wait to see those white petals, also the expression of failure on his face. I watered Bet, talked about the best ten things in my twenty four and a half years of my life (first impression matters, even for plants), and controlled my strong desire to play loud music in my room before going for a bath. Rules are rules.

In between my showers, I heard the main door unlocking. Hera's back. I finished my shower faster than I planned to since getting to see Hera is pure luck nowadays. I got dressed in tees and pajamas and ran towards the living. Hera looks more exhausted and energy drained than she did yesterday. It must have been the decoration shopping today, the most tiresome of all. 

"How did it go?"

"Got the perfect color for the theme."

"Which is?"

"A surprise."

Wow, I thought I could get some answers, but she is up on her games even when sapped. I'm impressed.

"Will I get to see you tomorrow before the program?"

"I don't think so. I have to arrange the hall, you know."

"I know. And what about my dress?"

She held a hesitant look before opening up a bag from the loads of shopping bags surrounding her. 

"Why did you buy a new one, Hera? I could have just wore something of yours."

"It's not new."

She took a bubblegum pink fabric out of the cover. It doesn't look like a dress though. Hera doesn't have a dress in this color-

"Is that a saree? Hera, I told you-"

"No excuses. You're wearing this tomorrow."

All kinds of clothing is acceptable except a saree, or any Indian costume. It is a ban which is part of the how to avoid being homesick mission I started. My mom made me pack most of the Indian clothes I had, kurtas and salwar, but I made a decision not to wear it at any cost.