Nitya was in the middle of a busy day at work, juggling meetings and deadlines, when her phone rang. She hesitated for a moment before answering, hoping it wasn't another work-related call.
"Hello?" she said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Nitya, darling! It's Mrs. Wattson. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Mrs. Wattson's warm voice came through the line.
Nitya's heart skipped a beat. What could Mrs. Wattson want? They hadn't spoken in weeks, and Nitya had been too busy to catch up with her.
"Not at all, Mrs. Wattson. What's up?" Nitya asked, trying to sound casual.
"I need your help with something, dear. I have a little project I'm working on at my home in the Hamptons, and I could use your expertise. It's a lovely day, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to catch up. Would you be able to come over?" Mrs. Wattson asked, her tone innocent and friendly.
Nitya was taken aback. What kind of project could Mrs. Wattson need her help with? And why did she want to meet at her home in the Hamptons?
"Uh, I'm not sure, Mrs. Wattson. What kind of project is it?" Nitya asked, trying to stall.
"Oh, it's just a little something I'm working on. Nothing too serious. And besides, it's a beautiful day, and the Hamptons are lovely this time of year. You could use a break from the city, don't you think?" Mrs. Wattson replied, her voice persuasive.
Nitya hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Mrs. Wattson's words were convincing, and she did need a break from the city. Maybe a day in the Hamptons would be just what she needed.
"Okay, sure. I'll come," Nitya said finally.
"Wonderful, dear! I'll send a car to pick you up at 2 pm. And don't worry about dressing up – it's just a casual afternoon," Mrs. Wattson said, before hanging up the phone.
Nitya arrived at Mrs. Wattson's beautiful Hamptons home, feeling a little out of place in her casual clothes. But Mrs. Wattson greeted her warmly, and they spent the next hour chatting and laughing over coffee and pastries.
Just as Nitya was starting to relax, Mrs. Wattson's phone rang. She answered it, and Nitya could hear her talking to someone in hushed tones."Nitya, darling, I'm so sorry, but I have to take this call. Why don't you go out to the garden and enjoy the view while I'm on the phone?" Mrs. Wattson said, handing Nitya a glass of lemonade.
Nitya nodded, feeling a little uneasy. What was going on?
As she walked out to the garden, she heard Mrs. Wattson's voice behind her.
"Nitya, dear, I want you to meet someone. His name is Rohan, and he's a lovely young man. I think you two would really hit it off," Mrs. Wattson said, her voice dripping with excitement.
Nitya's heart stopped. What was Mrs. Wattson talking about? She hadn't agreed to a blind date!"Mrs. Wattson, I don't know if this is a good idea," Nitya started to protest.
But Mrs. Wattson was insistent. "Nonsense, dear! You need to get out there and meet new people. And Rohan is a wonderful guy. I'm sure you'll love him," she said, her voice firm.
Nitya felt trapped. She didn't want to be rude to Mrs. Wattson, but she didn't want to go on a blind date either.
"Okay, fine," Nitya said finally, trying to sound reluctant. "But just for a few minutes, and then I really need to get back to the city."
Mrs. Wattson beamed with excitement. "Wonderful, dear! I'll go get Rohan. He's waiting in the living room," she said, before disappearing into the house.
YOU ARE READING
The Beauty of Balance
General Fiction"I don't have a personal life, I have a restaurant to run. And if you're lucky, I might let you join me for a 3 a.m. kitchen experiment." I've learned to rely only on myself. It's not that I don't trust others, it's just that I know I can do it bet...
