Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

twenty-nine

29. Aapka saath itna khubsurat kyon hai? (Why is your companionship so beautiful?)

•°•

- priya -

"Will your car be ready until this evening?" Aditya asked me when my stop was close.

Yes.

"No," I answered.

"I'll come to pick you up." His hand slid off mine, the tip of our fingers curled, feebly holding onto each other.

I nodded, letting my hand fall back to my side as I rushed to get off the bus. I turned quickly, catching his attention with a wave. He smiled and waved back, looking at me until the bus whisked him away.

I sighed.

I was getting way too attached to him. It almost made me feel like a kid. I was used to doing things on my own, worrying alone, and solving my problems alone. But Aditya's attention on me is something I look forward to every day.

Clutching my tote bag tighter, I turned around to head toward my office building.

Sheena was already at the reception and upon noticing my presence, she wished me good morning. I nodded back, requesting my usual coffee while entering my office.

"Actually, your-"

She stopped abruptly and I realised why.

"Priya!" Ragini Mami smiled wide at me.

"Make it two, Sheena," I said to my assistant, referring to the count of the coffees. She nodded and returned to her desk wordlessly.

I entered the office and placed my bag on the desk as I pulled myself a chair to settle down. "You could have called me," I said softly, pulling open the drawer and grabbing the paper slip from inside.

She smiled, taking the cheque from me. "It's been two weeks since I haven't seen you." She reasoned before looking at the cheque and frowning at the amount. "Uhm, it's less than what I told you? I wouldn't have asked more than usual but you know Saransh and Ketaki are preparing for their boards and are thinking of joining NEET classes in the summer holidays. We need to pre-book the seats since this academy is well recognised and prestigious and only smart kids get to join it."

I nodded. "I know. I told Sheena to get in contact with the academy staff and get Saransh and Ketaki their seats. She'll sort everything out."

"Oh," she muttered. "Okay." She forced a smile at me. "And what about the renovation? I told you the bathroom ceiling is leaking-"

"I remember. But Mama told me not to worry about it. He'll do it."

She sighed. "Priya, you know he'll say that. Why did you talk to him about it? Half of his salary goes to house installments and in remaining half, I manage to keep the house running. I understand you're married now and you don't want to carry our burden but if you didn't want to do it, you could have told me. I'd have sold some of my jewelry."

I clenched my jaw. "I'm sorry. But I didn't bring it up. He called me on his own. And my family is not a burden on me, Mami. I'll send someone by this evening to fix the ceiling. Don't worry."

She shrugged, shaking her head in disappointment before leaving the office.

I leaned ahead and closed my eyes.

No, how are you, Priya?

Are you settling well?

Are they treating you nice?