Secret In Our Hearts We Held

Chapter 9

(Pavitra)

"Your mother has a peculiar taste." I saw him, checking my mother's book collection of Romance novels on the T.V cabinet, I chuckled, "Yeah she can be a binge reader sometimes." And that's where I get my binge watching habit. I was preparing Coffee and some cookies. The mark on my neck was ok, but it had reddened more. I looked up from the phone screen as it sting a little. But it's ok, soon it'll be less stinging and more fading away. I made my tea. My special- with ginger, cloves, cardamom and creamed milk with the right exposure to the right amount of boiling.

We had open kitchens and the only thing that separated our living area from the kitchen was the island. He was on his phone and his coffee was almost ready. My tea on the other hand was taking time, (The right amount of exposure to the right amount of boiling huh?). I handed him his coffee, and cookies on the kitchen island, he wasn't going to sit as I insisted again and again. "Here you go... Mr. Vats." I went in to grab my tea

When I turned, saw him taking a bite, his eyebrows went up as he took a taste. "I know... I baked these." A little narcissism isn't self-harming, right? He smiled at himself. "What?" I asked, with a hint of giggle.

"Nothing..." He said, looking at his coffee.

"There has to be something. What is it?" I really wanted to know.

"You are a lot different than I thought you'd be." Mr. Vats said.

I came back with my tea. "What does that mean?" I recalled he said something like that in the corridor..

"Nothing... Just that I judged you wrong. In fact, I hadn't even seen you but heard a lot." I suppose from the Flood relief management hours.

"What did you think of me then?" I stirred my cup, taking a sip.

He smiled a little. "Let's see... A-Grade senior student, academically amazing, won competitions for my-my Massi's school. By your name as well, It seemed you'd be a boring, nose in the books and high focal lenses wearing girl..." He said, looking me in the eye. "I do wear focal lenses." He saw my offended face, smiled at it. He ran his hands through his hair, "But, I never thought you'd look anything like...now." I escaped my glance from him, feeling his eyes on me... God. "You are not that girl, rather interesting, bold. You have your own charm of attracting people.

And here it was... I was blushing, and tried to hide. "Am I?"

He looked at his coffee, one hand in his pocket. "Bright... and bold."

I took a long breath, "And?" I wanted to know more. His eyes met mine. I held them steady this time, he smiled.

"And good at baking." He stepped closer, concern on his face. "Is that still hurting?" Mr. Vats placed his hand close to my neck, his thumb finding the bruise under it.

"No, just. I'll use some ointment on it. But I Don't think it will be necessary." It seemed he didn't hear me, because he had pulled in. "I didn't realize-" He stopped, I was going to move back when he touched my skin, and I lost my grip on the tea. The cup touched the floor and broke. "Oh, god." We stepped back from each other, from the spilled tea.

Mr. Vats was again concerned, and his shirt was messy with the tea and coffee, all mixed. God, those drinks were very hot. "Oh God, are you ok, it might be burning-." I was approaching him. "No! Stop!" He stopped me. "Careful of the tea." HE pointed at the wrecked floor, I didn't move, he came walking to me. "I am sorry, I got sur-" I exclaimed. He stopped. "Pavitra-" I was panicking, his shirt was a mess, he has worked all day and here I was- stopping him from having the end of his day. I saw his eyes, tired and dreamy

"You sit there! I'll find something to clean this mess and.. And" | saw his shirt ruined as I said. "F-Find you my father's shirt." He tried getting up. He opened his mouth to speak, "Or... I should clean this... You go find me a shirt and before that change yours as well."