The Love Ride

6. Day 3: Comfort in chaos

"Bye Maa!" I said while hugging her.
"You should have rested at least today. It is Sunday." She uttered breaking the hug.
"I will be back till noon maa, then I will rest whole day. Okay?" I assured.
She nodded and I left for Ananya's home.

I reached 5 minutes late. I thought she would be standing outside her house in anger, but to my surprise she wasn't there. I waited for 2 minutes but she didn't arrive. I called her but my call went unanswered. I went to her house and rang the bell; first bell went unanswered, I started to panic. I rang the bell again twice and the door opened.

She stood there wearing an oversized t-shirt and pyjamas, holding a milk pan in her right hand. One eye closed while she rubbed the other; struggling to open both. Her hair fell on her face covering it a little, still her nose and cheeks, covered in pink hue, were visible. It was clear that she has just woke up. Her bare face looked like a blooming flower; delicate and soft like a petal. Her t-shirt was falling down from one shoulder, making her mole clearly evident. My eyes widened and lips parted on their own when I looked at her. I was lost in her beauty, my heart was fluttering. I just wanted to look at her forever.

Her words made me snap back to reality.
"Uncle aaj to Sunday hai na, aap aaj kyu aagye doodh dene?" She murmured with her eyes still closed.

[Uncle today is Sunday, why did you come to deliver milk today?]

I chuckled at her goofiness. She misunderstood me as her milk man, what a girl she is!

"Arey sorry madam mai to bhul hi gaya" I replied in a heavy voice. I was trying so hard not to laugh.

[Oh sorry madam, I forgot]

"Madam?" She asked puzzled and opened her eyes slowly.

She gasped with widened eyes when she realized that it was me and I bursted out laughing. She immediately closed the door on my face, but I was still smiling. I should be angry on her for being late, but I just couldn't.
After some time she opened the door, clothes fixed but not changed, hair organised and face washed. She was so embarrassed that she wasn't even looking at me.

"I am extremely sorry! I don't know how I completely forgot about the driving session and woke up so late. I am really sorry, I misunderstood you as my milk man. Sorry-" She said everything in one breathe looking at the floor.

"That's enough 'sorry' I guess." I cut her words in between as she apologized three times within a minute.

"Sorry, I mean-ugh."

She was still looking down. I lifted her face and made her look at me.

"Its fine, I know what you mean." I said softly, looking in her eyes. She nodded.

"Oh, I even forgot to call you inside." "Please come in." She said breaking the eye contact and pointing towards her living room.

I entered her house.

"Sit here. I will bring water." She said removing her blanket from the sofa.
She must have slept here only.

"You live alone?" I asked puzzled as I thought she lived with her family.

"Mhm." She replied.

"Oh." I sighed as I know living alone isn't easy.

"Here, have water. Just give me 15 minutes, I will get ready, we are already late."

"Okay."

"You had breakfast? Do you want something to eat?" She asked from the kitchen.

"No I am good. Thankyou." I replied