Love Unreachable

Chapter-5

It was exactly half past 1 pm. I had gone to my dad's room to give him lunch and tablets. He was much better than yesterday. Mom was out doing grocery shopping. So I had my lunch alone and came back to my room to continue my office work. As it was too hot outside I decided to turn on the AC in my room.

While doing my work, I got a call from Ashi. I wondered why she would call me at this odd time of the day. It was very rare she called me when she was at work. Then I thought maybe it was lunchtime and she would want to talk about her meeting. I picked up her call for the third ring.

Without even allowing me to say HI, She breathlessly asked me 'Appu, are you free, can we talk, it's urgent, please spare me five minutes, I want to tell you something important.'  Her voice kind of worried me.

I was given no choice hence I said 'I all ears Ashi, go on'

'OK OK, so after our meeting, my clients decided to have some dessert outside. As it was hot we all voted to have ice cream. There is this newly opened ice cream parlor which is just opposite our tech park. We finally chose to go there and try out new flavours' She paused to breathe.

'We ordered our favourite flavoured ice creams and chatted while waiting for it to be served. A waiter came and served our ice creams and out of nowhere he gave me the same flower bouquet as I got in Subway' she said with a shaky tone.

I became blank. I was speechless and shocked at the same time. I did not reply.

'Hello Appu, can you hear me'? Ashi asked sounding worried.

'Yes, Ashi, please continue. I'm blank and trying to digest what you just told' I said keeping my voice calm, but my mind was filled with millions of thoughts.

'I still can't believe it Appu, I'm in the washroom and my clients are out having ice cream. I acted cool in front of them like I knew who it was from and came to the washroom to call and tell you about this ' Ashi replied controlling her tears.

Again I was just silently listening to her without uttering a word.

'I have no idea how to stay calm after getting the rose from the waiter Appu. When I asked him 'who gave', He said a kid gave him to give it to me and that's it, no other information I got Appu' s Ashi said, this time half crying.

After about 10 seconds I found my voice.

'Calm down Ashi, you're with your clients and nothing will happen to you, this may be just for fun again, OK?' I said trying to calm her down.

'But Appu, you and I both know that it's not just for fun or prank. They know my live location now. They may be following me too Appu. Who is doing all this and why?' asked Ashi sobbing.

'You don't worry, I'll come over tonight and we can talk about it Ashi, now go back there with confidence and act as if nothing happened at all, ok?' I tried convincing her somehow 'Also, please don't create any trouble for yourself at the office. Now wipe your tears, set your makeup, and go back there.' I repeatedly told this. 

' Ok Appu, thanks for always being there for me, daily. Muahh. See you tonight' said Ashi after wiping her tears, she sounded much better and then she hung up the call.

I was in complete shock. After disconnecting the call, I just sat on my bed without blinking an eye for I don't know how long. The fact that I had a dream about the ice cream parlor was scaring the hell out of me. This time I was really worried. I had not yet decided whether to keep the dream to myself or tell Ashi. I guess I'll skip the part depending on how she is tonight. I don't want her to worry more.

This may sound funny but I somehow started to believe my dream was coming true. A first the white horse resembled a white car, now the ice cream parlor. God. Also, I have a strong feeling something was fishy, and something was going to happen soon.