Sai

Sai (Chapter-5)

"It was him right! Your Suraj" Ira texts me as we wait for our food after Rajat, Suraj's brother leaves us.

"Yes, and he is not my Suraj! Also, why are you texting me idiot?"

"Do you want Ma to hear all the sordid details of your love at first sight?"

"No! Will you please stop? He didn't' even exchange more than two words with me."

"You know if Ma hadn't' been busy smiling at Rajat's teasing, even she would have felt the sexual tension between you two. Rajat did! So don't give me the "Not us" bullshit!"

"Shut up Ira!"

"You and Ma need to learn to deal with facts!"

"Oh really! Well, here's a fact for you, "Curiosity kills the Cat." Save yourself while you can..." I give her a fake sweet smile over the phone. From now onwards I swear I am going to destroy here personal space!

"Nah... curiosity gets hard tribbing and wet orgasms for the cat!"

"For the Bonobos you mean..." I send her a picture of a Bonobo with the caption "You even look like her!"

"Why are you girls glued to your phones! It's family time!" Mrs. Xavier yells as Ira gives me a look that promises revenge.

We both put our phones away and start appeasing her as our food arrives.

I almost moan with pleasure as I take the first morsel of food in my mouth. It's so good! And that's what I relay to Mrs. Xavier. "The Bombil is so good Masi!"

"Obviously. Suraj cooked it. He is an amazing chef!" Mrs. Xavier declares as if she herself taught him cooking. I stifle my smile.

"Some other chefs could have cooked it Ma. There must be more working to meet the demand" Ira says.

"Even if some other person cooked it, it's still Suraj's recipe. He personally trains his fellow chefs, and all the recipes are personally created by him. So, there are standards being followed. His Ma told me."

"So, he cooks too!" Ira whispers smiling. I kick her under the table.

"You will end up breaking my leg one day!" Ira hisses.

I zone her out as I continue enjoying the food and my thoughts return to Suraj. He would have labeled me a stalker if Masi wasn't here but why was he smiling like he was genuinely happy to see me and what was that look...aahhh!! I groan in frustration.

"What happened? You have almost finished your food. Do you need something more Sai?" Mrs. Xavier asks, focusing on me. I must have groaned out loud.

"Nothing Masi, I just need to use the washroom" I say standing up abruptly. I need to find out or at least look one last time at him again. I sigh. What's wrong with you head...

Ira gives me a knowing smile as I start to go at the back, where Suraj disappeared.

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It's been a while since I found the kitchen and am standing outside of it. I am hidden from plain sight here, but I can see whatever is going on in the kitchen quite clearly. Suraj is bent over a container stirring its contents to perfection. His hands are working so smoothly and so in sink that it looks like he is barely putting any effort in there. He is simultaneously instructing his staff without even looking up. It's clear that they all respect him, and his words are not floating aimlessly in the air. I am in a trance-like state, looking at his whole frame which exudes so much confidence, calmness and love for what he is doing.