Tapasya was relishing the soft breeze on a hilly evening, enjoying her solitude; when the doorbell rang. After a long day at work, she could feel home in her balcony. She owned half an acre of land in the mountains. Amidst the citrus orchard, stood a huge solitary bungalow inhabited by her.
The doorbell rang again and she rushed downstairs to check on the impatient intruder. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a handsome owner of aqua blue eyes. "Hi, I am Chaitanya", he introduced himself with an affectionate smile.
"Hello, I am Tapasya", she smiled back. Letting him in, she inquired, "How was the journey?"
"Terrible. I hate hairpin turns of the mountains." Chaitanya whined like a child and Tapasya was intrigued by his adorable gestures.
"Your house smells so good", Chaitanya sniffed with a smile and Tapasya could not help but laugh.
"I had been baking some croissants in the kitchen", she replied and Chaitanya could feel his mouth watering. He was hungry after a long journey. The flight from Delhi to Dehradun had been boring and then, an hour cab journey till Mussoorie had literally exhausted him. He craved for some rest.
"Would you like to have some coffee?" She asked, out of courtesy, after all, he was Mayank's friend and Mayank meant the world to her.
"Sure!", he mumbled. "Who can deny caffeine after such a tiring journey!", Chaitanya chuckled and her smiled faltered. Chaitanya was super-delighted at Tapasya's welcoming nature. She could have simply, showed him the accommodation after all, he was merely a tenant but he liked how nice she was being to him.
She rushed into the kitchen to prepare the coffee. Putting the ingredients in the coffee maker, she stood leaning on the kitchen counter as her eyes watered, all thanks to the bitter memories of her husband. Well! Someone could surely deny a coffee after a tiring journey.
It had been fifteen days to her wedding. Her in-laws had left for a funeral and she had been all alone in the house when her husband had arrived home from a business trip to Florida.
"Would you like to have some coffee?", she had asked her husband with a seductive smile. Clad in her favorite pink pajamas, she looked cute.
"Yes please, and mix some poison too", her husband had replied her with a glare leaving her into tears. It was too painful for her to stay with him, so painful that she was dying a slow death each day.
The beep brought her back to reality. The croissants in the oven were ready. Pouring the coffee in the cups, she took the scrumptious croissants for Chaitanya. Wiping her tears, she headed to the living room.
"Thank you, I was terribly hungry", Chaitanya mumbled, grabbing a croissant.
"This tastes heaven", he muttered and she was zoned out again.
She had baked a cake on their first monthiversary of their wedding. She had been depressed. At her new home, she had found affectionate in-laws but her husband had paid no attention to her since her pompous wedding. He had been busy on business trips while she had chosen to be a homemaker. Not that, she had a choice, though!
Having born and brought up in a conservative family, she was told to study and get married. She could of course, do a job, if her husband 'allowed' her. Her husband was not ready to talk to her, let alone, discuss about her career about the baking outlet she always wanted to start.
She had decorated the terrace beautifully with roses and fairy lights. Dressed in a red colored gown, she had managed to look seductive. Her in-laws were busy attending a party while she had decided to wait for her husband.
Her husband had been enraged to see her decked up. She had escorted him to the terrace and he had followed her silently. She had been over the moon, after all, she expected to spend some time with her husband.
"Please try the cake, I baked for us! Hubby, I hope to spend some more years of love with you." She had said, drooling at him.
Throwing the cake on the floor, her angry husband had replied, "I don't want to eat this disgusting piece of shit. I don't even want to stay with you, filthy woman. Just get lost."
She had been broken into a thousand of pieces, though, she had been used to it. Her marriage was giving her scars and she was enduring everything with a smile, hoping to make things fine, one day.
She was lost in her own thoughts. It pained remembering how her husband had never tasted anything baked by her ever. She was not ready to forget him, no matter, how cruel he had been to her. She could not understand why she was overjoyed after being praised by Chaitanya, practically a stranger to her. Her trance was broken when Chaitanya tapped on the coffee table.
"Woman, where are you lost? I am just saying that I can eat such croissants every day in my life. You have magic in your hands." Chaitanya appreciated her wholeheartedly after finishing all the four croissants from the plate and Tapasya smiled, mumbling an awkward 'thank you'.
"Kindly show me my room, ma'am", Chaitanya requested and Tapasya stood up walking towards the main door. Chaitanya, though confused, followed her.
Walking towards the backyard, she showed him another entrance of the building. The back portion of her house was simple. Painted in beige, it was a small bedroom attached to a kitchen and washroom along with a small living room. The porch for free for him to use.
He liked the accommodation. It was private and solitary, much to his liking. The citrus orchard around him was magnificent. The furnished interiors gave a cozy vibe in the chilly evening. Moreover, he was glad that everything was exclusive for him to use.
"Perfect", he mumbled and Tapasya smiled, this time wholeheartedly.
"Enjoy your stay", she murmured, leaving him with the keys. As soon as she left, he climbed the bed to sleep, mentally thanking her for the food. She was sweet, he concluded!
★★★★★
Hello everyone!
Another short chapter. Pheww!!!! 😅
Share your views 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Another chapter shall be up soon.
Take care 💕
With loads of love, I sign off. I will try being back soon 💙💙💙💙
P.S I tried baking croissants and they turned out well! 😋 😋 😋
See you soon 💛
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Second Innings
RomanceShe is someone who was broken and then, assembled by him. Disheartened and betrayed, she is someone who had stood by him. Abandoned by her own kith and kin, she is someone who was helped by him. She is someone who had taught him to embrace his ident...
