An Aesthete - A triangle love story

Chapter 3

Darshana

The alarm buzzes and I scrabble my hands on my bed, searching for my mobile. I switch it off and bury my face in the pillow and hug it. Basically, I'm not a lazy person but I'm frustrated today after what happened yesterday.

Last night after reaching home, I couldn't concentrate on cooking and was not in a mood to order from outside and eat alone. I asked my friends for a dinner date if they were free and we all met at a restaurant. I first let them share the happenings in their lives before I started mine.

They listened to my rants throughout the main course, "Hridhay is a player, he is rude and arrogant but he was never this blackmailer, well fake blackmailer."

"Are you irritated that he faked the kidnap of the girl or that he cared for you?" Divya cut into her brownie with vanilla ice cream.

"Hridhay and Care? He never cared for anyone, not even his father. He is A-Hridhay, Heartless," I took a spoonful of Tiramisu into my mouth.

"Then being worried that you were late, staying after office hours for you, asking to have a coffee before continuing your work, what do you call these?" Sneha dug into her butterscotch.

"It was Ashok Anna who was worried and he clearly stated that he is answerable to my dad if anything happens to me."

"Are you still irritated by the fake kidnap? Because you went to Beguile and Veda's paintings always soothes whatever shit mood you are in," Divya words automatically brought a smile to my face.

"Rather you are irritated by his sudden display of care or you have overseen his care," Sneha shrugged before biting on the choco stick, given as a topping to her ice cream.

I leaned my elbows on the table, "I repeat, Mr Hridhay is incapable of caring for anyone in this world."

Divya and Sneha laughed at me before Sneha saying, "Accept that you both are not ready to accept that he cares for you. As you said he almost said that he was panicked before changing it to your Ashok Anna's name. And here you are confused and blabbering, trying to convince yourself that he doesn't care for you."

They continued laughing and I looked at Malini who was silently devouring her chocolate pudding. "Nee maatum yen amithiya iruka neeyum sirika vendiyathu thaane." She looked at me with popping eyes and the spoon stuck in her mouth. (Why are you silent without joining them in laughing at me?)

She pulled the spoon off her lips, "Illa di, I tried to stop listening when you said Hridhay pinned you against lift but I stopped listening when you shared his response for your comment on throwing coffee at him."

"No, you didn't," I didn't want her to do that.

"No, I didn't," She shook her head in denial. "I'm trying not to ..."

"What Malu," Divya smiled evilly, "Did you just imagine Hridhay pinning Darshi against the elevator wall or dragging Darshi to his shower to clean him?"

"Don't say it," Malini and I kept saying but she stopped only after completing.

"Now, I understand why you were irritated," Sneha leaned on the table, crossing her arms. "Darshi madam is not irritated as she is not ready to accept that Hridhay cared for her but she imagined the scenario when he threatened her.

Malini is an avid reader and I'm an aesthete, and we both have one main problem which is visualising in our brain's eye, whatever we read, see or hear. It's not that we visualise by choice but it automatically visualises.

"Aama, athuvum 23am pulikesi la vara mathiri, intha thalai antha udal oda inainju vanthuduchu," I covered my face with my hands. I was angry at myself as I visualised what Hridhay said but with his face and Veda's body.