A Serendipitous beginning

Chapter 5

A tiny step towards....reconnect?

"Hi." Dev stepped forward towards her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighborhood. Decided to take you up on your offer." He declared.

"Eh?" Sonakshi looked confused. "What offer?"

He smirked. "That you would cook me something? I am hungry, so here I am."

Her jaw dropped. "You what? You came all the way for that?"

He was loving this. "Oh, did you not mean that? I thought you did." He pretended to be surprised. He knew she hadn't meant that invite at all.

She looked away.

"It's okay. I guess I misunderstood." He started to walk away, with a sorry face.

But he has barely taken a couple steps when he felt a light touch on his arm. "No it's...fine. You can come...upstairs." Sonakshi said, her words halting.

Realization dawned on him that she was scared. Scared of letting him in. In her space, her place, her life. He hated himself for making her feel that way. He considered refusing altogether but she had already opened the door and stepped inside.

They took the elevator to her floor. She opened the door to her apartment. "Please come."

The door opened to a small hallway, that led to the main living area. It wasn't too small or too big. Just enough space to make it cozy. There was an off-white couch right in the center, plush with yellow and blue pillow cushions to accentuate, almost inviting him to sit down. A multi-colored very-Indian fluffy throw completed the invitation. A chair and a recliner on either side made it complete. An area rug with a coffee table in the middle included some pillows to sit on as well. Did she have lot of company?

The walls were lined with ladder-like shelves with books and art pieces. A floor lamp and large potted plants in the corners made the whole place come together. There was a small balcony with French windows overlooking the living room covered by sheer yellow curtains swaying gently.

Strings of beads hanging down the on each side of the wall segregated the living area from an open kitchen. There was an island with a bowl of succulents as decor. He knew now this is where she has kept her phone the other day. The counter had that stack of espresso cups he had seen on the call the other day. A small breakfast table was by the tiny window there.

It was so cheerful he didn't know what to say or what to do. He stood there, taking it all in. Seeing how 'Sonakshi' this whole place was.

"This is my home. I usually don't prefer outside shoes inside, so I have home slippers you can use." She said. She took off her jacket and hung it up on a coat hanger at the entrance. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing...It's nice."

"Thanks."

"To be honest, it looks so cheery, I am expecting a bunny or two to jump at me just about now." He remarked wryly.

She rolled her eyes, finally breaking into a genuine smile. "You are still impossible." Dev was proud of himself for that.

"I will be right back." She disappeared inside.

Dev hung up his jacket next to hers, touching hers for a moment, feeling her warmth still trapped inside. He put on the home slippers she had pointed to. Why does she have these, who else comes here?