Destined by Chance

Chapter 5

He was curious. There was no denying it. He glanced at the silent girl who walked beside him towards the coffee shop. The second he had seen her sitting at that table he had resembled her to a mouse. It wasn't just her height or petite structure. There was just something about her that made him feel that way. It could be her easy acceptance of his explanations. Or the fact that she came across as overly nervous not to mention overly worried. Those little traits hadn't missed his notice. Half the time when she had been talking she hadn't been looking at him and the remaining half had been animated. It was amusing. One because he normally didn't warrant that kind of response from women, two because he hadn't even tried to unnerve her and yet she was, three because Preet was a complete opposite of how her cousin...what was her name, ah yes, Simi Sardana came across and four he couldn't believe Preet had actually sent someone to save Robbie's hide. After all it was his aunt's gift and after how Robbie had treated her she should have washed her hands off him. This wasn't her problem. And yet she had sent her cousin to salvage the situation. Best, she and Robbie had thought of a similar solution. He could have laughed but Miss Sardana might not have understood the cause for his humor and so he had refrained. Though he did admire Preet's sense of responsibility.

Coming to Miss Sardana, well, she wasn't a pretty girl. But cute. In a very mousey way. She had thick black hair but devoid of any style. Just long and that was it, tied in a haphazard ponytail behind her neck. An oval face with big brown eyes, small nose and thin lips. There was hardly any makeup he could detect on her face. Maybe just kohl and a lip gloss. Even her clothes. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans, with a grey cardigan that was way too loose on her, he could see the neckline of a black round tee shirt beneath the cardigan, a red scarf that hung around her shoulders more than her neck and a pair of running shoes completed her overall look. She looked more like a teenager than a grown girl. She lacked both style and confidence. She probably just lacked a pair of glasses. Had she had those she would have fit the clichéd look of a librarian. If he had to really find one good quality, then it had to be her voice. She had a distinctly sweet voice. Soothingly sweet.

As they sat at the coffee shop he pulled out the chair for her. She gave him a quizzical look before accepting the gesture with a polite thank you. It seemed to Neil as if she wasn't used to such gestures. They were going out of fashion he agreed but there were still a few around who believed in them. Maybe she hadn't met those few. He sat opposite to her and handed the menu over to her.

"I will take a cappuccino," Simi said without even glancing at the menu Neil had handed her.

"Did you have lunch?" Neil asked quietly. It wasn't his concern. But she was Preet's cousin and she had travelled all the way here to help her. Besides it was a bit of a long journey for her. She did look out of sorts.

"No," Simi replied and looked away.

"Okay, maybe you shouldn't have the coffee alone," Neil suggested and she looked back at him, "how about a light sandwich to go with it," he said pushing the menu back at her, "you will have acid reflex by the time you have dinner," he told her matter of factly.

She looked as if she was debating out his suggestion or logic. Why was that? She hadn't had lunch, she should have stopped on her way and had some. To go without food for longer periods of time wasn't good, he recalled the faint words from what his mother had said once. Neil watched as she hesitated and then picked up the menu to go through it. Why the hesitation? Was she indecisive too? He didn't know. Did he want to know? Not really, came the answer. He was just being polite because she was his friend's cousin. That was all. And she decided on a turkey avocado sandwich. Satisfied she had listened to reason, he placed the order for two cappuccinos and one sandwich. As they waited for their order, an awkward silence descended on the table. All her blabbering from before came to the fore. She was right. She couldn't stay with him considering they didn't have any relationship. Not even that of friendship. They were practically strangers. She was right again when she had pointed out the peak season and the availability of another room within the resort or any place nearby. Neil had heard the receptionist decline a customer over the phone for last minute booking. They were packed, she had said. And the truth was there were some strong storms lined up in the coming days. One was to hit them just this evening. He really couldn't see her driving anywhere in that. So what could be the possible solution? The suite he was living in was big enough to accommodate at least ten people. The problem was there was only one room. And one bathroom. Besides, the receptionist had addressed Simi as his wife. It would now become difficult to convince the woman that there had been a mistake. Damn. As their order arrived he watched Simi dig into her sandwich. Poor thing. She was hungry. And he sipped his coffee trying to come up with a way that could prove to be advantageous for both of them.