The Lost Thread

Looking Out

Richa was relaxing on the benches, which can be imagined to be sofas, or storage units, or even bed, depending on the mood or requirements. Richa did not care much for labels, as long as any surface is less hard than a rock, she can relax in it. The early morning sun had given way to a misty afternoon, which suited her mood. Her work here is almost finished. She will be leaving soon and leave behind a bit of her heart with the good doctor. She will also be carrying a lot of fond memories of little Kedar and Maya, and wondered for a hundredth time if she should encourage Maya to get closer to Krish. 

Her musings were interrupted by the sudden knock on the door. She was very surprised to find Krish on the other side. Krish gave a wan smile.

'Can I come in?'

'Maya is not at home'

'I know, I wanted to talk to you'

Richa was more surprised than ever. What does this man want with her?

'Although we are going to talk about Maya, and I feel bad about talking behind her back, but she needs someone to watch her back' said Krish, watching Richa with an expectant expression. 

'Tell me Krish, can we not talk about anything else, other than Maya. With the amount of care and devotion you are pouring into this relationship, you should actually get married to her'. Richa could not hide the tinge of jealousy that came with it. 

Krish smiled a sad smile of self-consciousness. 

'I did entertain the idea, long time back, but I could not remove Dhruv from the picture, even after his death, and now, his sudden return'

Richa wipped about with that. Her heart suddenly stopped and started beating again.

'What do you mean sudden return'  

Krish did not hesitate to tell the whole story to Richa. He also did not leave out his reasoning for not telling Maya. But Richa was conflicted. At one end, she was overjoyed that Maya can be finally with the man she loves. On the other hand, she seriously doubts Krish's reasoning. Men, who were single and rich, usually indulged in a string of affairs. That does not make Dhruv a bad man. Hell, even she has had her flings, but does that make her a bad woman? 

'You should not meddle', said Richa, a bit too harshly. 

If Krish was surprised by her tone, he did not show it. He had always found his woman maddening. Even, now, he was getting distracted by those long, toned legs stretching out for eternity from under those shorts which are living up to their name. As his gaze slowly continued it's journey upwards, his gaze was met with an equally unashamed perusal of himself. As Krish relaxed and met the gaze head-on, he was surprised to see a bit of hurt in those beautiful eyes. 

Krish frowned, 'You know you are beautiful', he offered as a sort of explanation. 

'So, is Maya, but I have never seen you look at her with lust?'

'I don't feel lust towards her'

'Only love, I believe'

'Only adoration' Krish corrected, 'She deserves it'

Richa stiffened, 'And I deserve only lust?'

Krish stood up and slowly approached her. Richa's surprise made her back up until she was pasted on the wall, with the usually indifferent Krish leaning towards her with his hands on the walls beside her, caging her in. 

'What's wrong with lust? Do you want more?'

'Yes?'

'And what do I get in return? Disdain, arrogance and cold-shoulder?'

Richa was chilled with the coldness in Krish's eyes. 

Krish pushed himself off her and moved to the other side of the room to calm himself. He did not know what had come over him. He did not realize he was lusting after Richa so much. He turned around and said quietly. 

'I know you think I am a simple man in love with a woman, whose heart belongs to someone else. But you are wrong. I do not lust after married women. So, these hints that you keep dropping about Maya and me has to stop. She is a friend, both to me and you. If you don't want to help, I will keep you out, but don't you dare come between our friendship.'

Richa now was furious. 

'If I should not come between your and her friendship, you should not come between Maya and Dhruv. Let them figure it out'

'I am not meddling, I am just watching out for her'

'You need to give her some space, to make some mistakes. She is tough, she will pull through. She has to face that man someday, why not now?

'And what if he takes Kedar away from her? This is not America. Here money is the real power, then what do you think will happen to Maya?

Richa did not think about that. There is still so much she has to learn about this country. But by what she has seen so far, Maya is nowhere ready to take on a battle with someone powerful and ruthless. 

In the silence that followed, both were aware of each other, breathing heavy and slow, waiting and curious. Richa looked up and met Krish's intense stare. She has always been so wrapped up in her feeling for the doctor, she never for a moment thought that she might be receiving any sort of reaction from him. Everytime she had looked at him, she had found him looked anywhere but her. At first she though it was plain dislike, but now it seems something else. The thought sent a shiver of awareness through her, pebbling her nipples and making her toes curl. And the observant doctor missed nothing.  He started down her tank top with acute interest. 

'Stay for a few more days Richa. Do a bit more exploring. You might find more than you were looking for'

With that parting shot, Krish brushed past Richa, making sure to brush his knuckles across the thin strip of tummy exposed over the top of her shorts. 

Richa did not move from her place and when she did, she threw a book at the door.

'Scoundrel'