Second Wife, Second Love.

4. Spying On Mr. Verma.

***Ramya's POV.***

"How many times have I told you to be careful? Small pieces only. How do you feel now?" Mum asks me and I give her a thumbs up.

"She is fine. Please don't worry." Mr. Verma says.

"All because of you. Thank you so much, Suku." Mum says, and my eyes almost pop out when I see his cheeks getting a little red.

"It was nothing. I should leave now." He says.

"But you didn't even finish your dinner?" Mum asks.

"I can read the room. You both need to talk. So I should leave for now." He says and turns to leave.

"No. Wait a second. Let me pack it up for you." She says.

"But-" He says, but he should know he can't win against my Mum.

"No, but. I made your favorite, so you have to take it with you and eat it." She says, and he nods.

The awkward silence between us is making me feel dizzy and before I could break it, he does and says, "Looks could be defying. If there is anything you want to know about me, please do ask me. I will answer you honestly."

"I will think about it." I say simply.

Because first I need to ask my Mum and know her side of the love story. It is quite exciting but also I am terrified too. What if this man turns out to be... I don't know... like that jerk? I don't want my Mum's heart to break. I know she is strong, but that doesn't mean she has to get used to being hurt. Not as long as I am alive.

"Here." Mum says, giving him a big box, and he nods, "Let me see you off properly. Ramya, don't drink or eat for now. I will make something else in a few minutes."

I nod and wave at Mr. Verma as Mum walks with him. They look good together as they walk out, and I admire the smile Mum is giving. She smiles, but not like that. I sigh.

"This is going to be difficult." I say to myself.

But when I see Mum coming in with her lipstick a little lighter than before, I say, "No, I was wrong. This is arduous."

"Ramya, can we talk?" Mum asks, and I nod.

She sits beside me and I ask, "Is this about Mr. Verma?"

"Yes." She says as she wrings her hand like a teenage girl, "About Sukhit, I am sorry I lied. I just wanted you to know him better before saying this, but Sukhit asked me to be just done with it rather than stretching it."

"But isn't he a little... cold?" I ask.

"No." She says as if offended, "No, he isn't. In fact, he is the super cutest guy in the world."

"Okay. And from what angle?" I ask in confusion.

"I met him a year and a half ago. Even when I first met him, I thought he was this frowning and cold man. But looks could be deceiving. When I lost my hotel keys, he stayed with me and tried to find it for forty minutes. I asked him I would be fine, still he wasn't convinced. He gave me his room's key and said he would stay with his friend. Next day, we got to talking, and I found him interesting. But then he had to leave for India." She says.

"Please don't tell me you moved your business here to find him?" I ask in disbelief.

"I would be lying if I said no." She says and I gasp, "But I could not shake off this feeling, Ramya. This feeling is that he is the one for me. I didn't even realize it until I met him in Delhi that I was falling for him. Do you know how much courage it takes to move on from your past and finally accept someone?"