Dear Sir: Our Risky Business

five

Anay knew that life would change its course soon. He was waiting for it to happen. He was anticipating a huge storm, an avalanche. He was yearning for it. Because this numbness and stagnancy was hurting more than the brokenness.

"Akriti! Locker ke keys kaha hai?" Anay called out.

"Nahi pata." She simply replied, going on with her work.

"Dekho na please? I can't find these documents!" He muttered, looking under the pillows.

"Aapne kabhi di nahi mujhe woh keys. How will I know?" She shrugged.

"It's alright. Tum nahane jau." He said, annoyed with her.

She walked off into the bathroom and he sighed, grabbing his phone and sat down on the bed. He looked up the customer care number of the locker system company that he owned. He needed some important papers from the locker. He laid back, his head and his body was aching. Saturday was supposed to be relax day, but he felt so sick, he just wanted some comfort. Akriti walked back out of the bathroom, wrapped up in a towel around her hair and robe.

"Mile keys aapko?" She asked, clearing her throat. He shook his head, she grabbed her kurti and walked back inside to get dressed.

He felt like there was somehow, this hot air blowing out of his eyes. His body was almost as if it was in agony. His head was heavy too.

"I'm going out for lunch with my coworkers." She said simply, grabbing her bag. He nodded, pulling the covers over himself and called the customer care. He watched as Akriti sat on the poof and did her make up. He spoke to customer care to have the locker opened and a digital one installed. He put away his phone and closed his eyes. His body felt light and heavy, cold and hot, exhausted and yet, restless all at the same time. He was getting sick. He was used to not having anyone take care of him except for Pari, and his baby sister could only do so much. And she wasn't around. He really wanted to call his little sister and tell her that he was sick, but she needed to focus on studying. He sighed, getting out of bed to make himself a light meal. He looked in the mirror, his eyes were red and glassy.

"Mai shayad raat tak bhi nahi aungi." Akriti said, following him out as he walked into the kitchen.

"Hmm." He nodded.

"Aap theek ho?" She asked. He felt hope stir in his chest. He looked at her face, she was excited to go out. And he was waiting for that heart warming concern to show up on her face, and he couldn't really blame her when he didn't find it.

"Yeah..." He smiled at her. She paused and looked at him. He hadn't smiled at her in so long, never almost... Not like this.

"Are you okay, Anay?" She frowned, walking closer to him.

"Haan baba! Tum jao!" He nodded, moving away from her.

"Do you want to eat?" He asked.

"Lunch pe jaa rahi hoon!" She shook her head.

"I'll... I'll go for dinner. I'll let them know... You don't look okay!" She said, her brows furrowed downwards.

"It's alright." He refused, putting a cup of rice into a vessel. He then took out the container with dal and put a cup of that.

"Sure?" She asked. He could see that she really didn't want to stay, she was lurking at the main door, and he knew that she would only be uncomfortable trying to care for him. She was constantly looking at the phone. And he didn't blame her for that. It didn't come naturally to her to nurture and care for him, and that was okay. He nodded, washing the rice and dal to make some kichidi for himself.

"Bye Akriti." He said finally, giving her the way out.

He quickly did a tempering and made the kichidi, and then left the cooker on the stove. He spent the next few minutes trying to look for medicines in the house, but they had none. He made a mental note to make a first aid kit for home. He dialed up Sahil's number, sitting on the couch, kind of shivering and waited for him to answer.