Falling For The Enemy

Chapter 4: Jokes

The little scene that took place at the canteen played in her mind as she was in the bus, looking out through the window. It was an air-conditioned bus with limited standing people allowed, hence the ride back to the home was hassle-free. Although, traffic jam always made it impossible for her to reach home within an hour.

As she was lost in her thoughts, overthinking and micro-analysing the scene in her head, her phone buzzed. The screen flashed "Father" and she picked up the call.

"Lyla, seems like you'll be late again? So, I'll buy the groceries. You don't buy it. Okay?"

"Oh. Okay okay. Thanks papa. Could you just cut the vegetables and boil the rice? I'll make the curry as soon as I reach home."

He was silent for a second but he spoke with distaste, "Okay. No problem." He ended the call before she could say goodbye.

Her jaw tightened as her eyes roamed at flashing red and yellow lights of the vehicles. She looked up at the sky through the black thick wires blocking the view- the purple sky, moonless night. Her eyes then landed at various fast food corners and cafes.

After an hour when she reached home, she quicked unpacked her bag, got dressed into comfortable pajamas and got into cooking. While cooking, her father entered the kitchen looking at what she was doing. "Good thing I made the rice. We'll be able to eat in time." He said in his soft old voice.

"Papa, I will hire maid soon. Don't worry, things will be ready in time."

"Maid won't wait here till we arrive home. She will do the cleaning and leave. They got other homes to clean too." He said while sautéing the curry.

"I, seriously don't know what to do anymore. It's all so messy."

"If only your mom could've have stayed and helped us a little." Father remarked with a distasteful expression on his face.

"Why would you bring her up to ruin our mood?" Lyla raised her voice a little but couldn't do anything else. Looking at him, frail and weak, still working makes her feel miserable. Lyla couldn't help but remember that night when her mother finally decided to leave, when she was still seventeen. It has been five years now. "Papa please go and watch TV. I'll bring the food to you." She calmly urged him and he agreed.

The dinner was ready in about half an hour and they ate the food together silently. "How's work? Fitting in well?" He asked, not really looking for an honest answer.

"Yeah it's been great. I'm a part of a big popular group." Lyla said nonchalantly.

"That's new. Aren't you a reserved type?"

"There's always a good day to change." Lyla said while gulping the food.

"As long as it suits you."

After she made sure that her father was in the bed, she cleaned the whole apartment. Again, washed herself up and went to bed. She instantly fell asleep as she was tired till her bones.

In the morning she woke up to her alarm and started her day. Her father was already awake making her lunch. She did her part of chores, consisting to doing dishes and laundry. After she was done, she got ready for work. By the time she got ready, her father had already left. She packed the lunch and waterbottle and left for work.

In the morning, since so many people commute to work, the rush is insane. She misses one or two buses and finally gets in where she has to stand all the way. When she reaches the office, she greets everyone 'Good Morning', hiding all the fights she was fighting behind her polite gestures. Lyla carried herself very carefully in public.

"Lyla, Riya and Jeet. You guys are so lucky. I finished my training yesterday. And now I'll be handling the clients. They will be assigning me their already existing client. I'll be overlooked by Rajeev." Sangeeta announced the first thing in the morning.

"How does it make us lucky?" Jeet questioned with a mischievous smile.

"Bro you guys are getting trained and paid this month. That's why lucky."

"You were in the same position."

"Right right. I was just nervous. You guys are mood killer." Sangeeta irritated, turned away and got into the work.

"Guys! I want to show you guys something." Riya chimed as she sat between Lyla and Jeet. Both of them eyeing her curiously.

"Oh it's you." Jeet said, not amused at all just looking at her selfie. "Didn't know you have narcissistic tendencies."

"Narci..sis? What? Whatever! I'm not showing the selfie. I'm in a car. I'm driving it!"

"You're clearly not driving it with the phone on your hand." Jeet scoffed.

"Did you pass your driving test?" Lyla asked politely.

"YESS LYLA!" Riya hugged Lyla in excitement, which made her a bit awkward. She isn't used to people hugging her. "I had failed like thrice and now I've finally done it. I'm so proud." She fake cried.

"That is awesome. I'm so happy for you." Lyla cheered for her.

"You girls are dramatic as fuck. You must be too dumb to fail thrice." Jeet mocked Riya playfully. Lyla was taken aback by his remark and she said, "that's so mean."

"I know right! Should I punch him Lyla?" Riya gestured her fist at him.

"Yeah do that and I'll put POSH on you."

"Eww bro. Let's boycott him." Riya playfully smacked him and left the seat.

"Oh suddenly it feels much better." Jeet said as he went back to his phone, texting someone.

After Riya left, Lyla could see that Jeet and Riya have opened up a lot with each other. Their banters are lighthearted and seems to project a bond between them. She felt a little left out when they were communicating.

She wondered how Jeet could say those mean stuff and still be very likable. Is it a method to develop a good friendship? She definitely knows that it shouldn't be too mean to push people away and not too light to make it sound cringe-y. It was way too complicated for Lyla so she didn't think much about it.

However, a right moment appeared where she thought, she could practice little openess. After contemplating about this topic, she thought to give it a try. During lunch, she saw that even Jeet had began to pull jokes on Saya, Sangeeta and Yash. They all mended together so well as if they've always been the part of the group.

"Guys Riya can finally drive!" Lyla took the step to initiate the conversation, getting everyone's attention.

"Oh my my yes!" Riya smiled brightly.

"After she failed thrice." Lyla added with a small laugh.

The table fell silent and Lyla knew that the timing wasn't right and it made her sound mean. "Lyla... didn't expect that from you." Riya playfully hit her. "Yes I did in fact failed thrice. But I made it." She continued. She successfully managed to lighten the atmosphere instantly.

Lyla felt a plunge in her guts. What did she do wrong? Throughtout the lunch period, she ate silently. She felt as if everyone at the table dislikes her. When they all got up to take a walk around the building, Lyla felt like an addition to the group nobody wanted. As they left the canteen, she walked behind them miserably. As everyone was conversing something of their own which she had no idea about as she was lost in her own thoughts, they didn't notice that she wasn't walking with them. Soon, the distance between them grew and Lyla halted. She turned back and went to Sales Team office room and sat at the chair. Her heart beating faster as she felt something that she couldn't understand. She wanted to hide herself....