The man next door

A piece of sweet

Anika went to the kitchen and started making a bread omlette sandwich.

"My dear neighbour, your face is always red with anger. I shall make your sandwich just like you", she said to herself while putting chopped capsicum, jalapeno and green chilli in excess too the egg. On top of that she put black pepper powder and red chilli powder on the onions along with chilli sauce and schezwan sauce in the sandwich.

"Perfect" she praised herself while plating the sandwich. His door was open once again. She noticed the drawing room had been almost set up. The drums, guitar, violin and mike were in place.

"Oh! So he is a musician", she prompts to herself.

She was careful not to step inside before he sees her else she might be thrown out again and if the neighbours saw it, it would become a trending news within a second. She went on ringing the bell till he stepped out.

The young man had just woken up and was just in his pajamas when he came out. Anika saw yesterday's angry young man was now in messed hair, half-open eyes. "May I get in?" she said in a louder voice to wake him up.

"Hmm" was all he said in his disheveled state and he went inside.

Anika saw that there was so sofa or chair in the drawing room. She approached towards the kitchen and saw that it was empty, nothing was set up yet. She peeked into the bedrooms and realised that they were all also empty and unchanged. The man had come out by then and saw Anika sneaking around.

"What are you doing here early morning?", he asked.

Putting up a fake smile, Anika sweetly replied, "I am deeply sorry for getting inside without your permission yesterday. So I-"

He could clearly catch her sugar-coated words, "I accept your apology, you can go now."

"I made a sandwich for you. We are neighbours so we should be on good terms."

"I am not interested", he replied bluntly.

"I will not leave till you have your breakfast. This time you can't throw me out", Anika said, stumping her foot.

Seeing her firm behaviour, he took the plate from her, while Anika smiled mischievously at the success of her plan. But he ate quietly. Anika observed his face carefully, there was no change, no discomfort- leave behind the desperation for water. He quickly finished the sandwich and giving back the plate, he said, "It was bland. I am been in Rajasthan for years. All these food taste tasteless. Make something more spicy."

Anika was staring at him with her eyes round open. "This man isn't a human" was all she could think. "Shall you leave now?" he inquired roughly.

As soon as he stepped towards her, she took out the piece of sweet she had hidden in her bag and pushed it inside his mouth.

"Your mouth must be burning now. Eat this" was all she said before she ran out.

"Crazy woman" he said.

Anika had just stepped outside his house when a delivery guy stopped her.

"Maam there is a parcel for you."

"Me?" Anika was confused.

"Mr. Shivaay Singh. Flat no. 102" he said after checking.

"Oh. He is inside", saying so she went towards her flat.

She had learnt the most important thing about him "So his name is Shivaay."