Love or Retribution?

Chapter 12

"Here you go", the chef exclaimed while placing a parcel on Bhargav's desk.

"What is this chef? ", Bhargav asked confused.

"Puttu, kadala kari, you asked me to pack some if I made it again remember?", Chef replied casually while popping the complimentary candy that was on Bhargav's desk.

"Oh that! yeah right, it won't be necessary chef, thanks for the gesture though, but you can take it back", Bhargav said in a not so interested tone.

"Are you sure? last time I checked, she still lives in that house right?", chef asked with a sarcastic smile pushing the candy from one side of his mouth to other.

"What? who? I have no idea  what you are talking about", Bhargav exclaimed in a shocked tone, avoiding the chef's eyes.

"Ha ha, it is possible that you have no idea what I am talking about, but I do, go give it to her and talk it through Bhargav, there is nothing in this world that a heart to heart conversation cannot solve", the elderly Chef said looking at Bhargav with concern.

Bhargav looked down without replying.

"I don't know what happened between you both, but I saw a different, excited Bhargav for past few days when things were good between you both and now suddenly you are back to your grumpy self, your fake smile can fool others but not me, I know you are in pain, something that can be solved by just talking, this food is just an excuse, go give this to her and talk. You deserve to be happy Bhargav,", the chef said and left this room.

Bhargav looked at the parcel, lost in thoughts. He had not met or talked to Indira since Subhashini's timely sudden visit. Initially, he was angry, then disappointed but now just frustrated, he is still not sure whether Subha and Indira are the same. Despite Subha showing up, he is still not convinced that she is who she says. But he has come to the point that he doesn't care anymore, he is just going to go with his instincts. Something is pushing him towards Indira, he initially thought that it was her being Subha, but if not that  then whatever it may be he is going to honor that feeling and give himself a shot, he owe it to himself to at least try.

He let out a huge sigh and got up, Nandhini had gone home to spend some time with her family as her sister has come  on leave. Bhargav was thankful for that as the extra work helped him to stay diverted.

He looked around,  not many at the restaurant, it was almost 6 pm, the crowd doesn't start until 7  and he was done with that day's  check in and check outs.  He got up, called for his manager, let him know that he will be gone for an hour and left with the parcel.

His legs stumbled as he neared her house, he was not sure whether Nikhil was still there or even she was there. The porch lights encouraged him, he took a deep breath and opened the main gate when she saw the door opening.

She came out as beautiful as always making his heart beat multiple times faster. She was wearing a white embroidered off shoulder crop top and a high rise, sky blue, wide legged pants.

"Going somewhere?", he asked startling her as always as she was locking the door.

"Huh! what ?", she almost screamed and turned, but this time  he was ready and caught her from falling off the door steps.

But what he was not ready for was the electrical current that shot through his spine when his hand came in contact with her bare waist that was peeping between her crop top and pants.

Her face too changed indicating she too felt exactly the same, the message in her eyes encouraged him, that he slowly brought his face down towards hers, lips just few inches apart, ready to taste each other, he slowly lifted his eyes and looked into hers, despite her common sense screaming against, it gave him the approval he needed, he happily tried to turn his attention back to her lips. But the familiarity in her eyes was too much to ignore, which made him realize all the complication behind this circumstance.