What's up with you?

1.III

'Meeting'. He had called it a 'meeting'. The word, as simple as it is, went up and down in her head like on a roller coaster ride. She had to blame herself. She shouldn't have called him when the Brothers poster had released. A message on WhatsApp would have done the same, but no, she had to call him. And since that day her phone was constantly full of calls from him, which she hadn't picked up. Sure most of them she really couldn't take, but with some she hadn't felt like it at all. Until yesterday evening when she made the second mistake and called him back.

She opened her eyes and stared at the plain ceiling above her bed. Like a big screen it reflected the pictures she saw every day for the last 2 months. Not on purpose of course, it never bothered her what others were doing, but they were different. They were everywhere.

For a short while she wanted to stay in bed for the rest of the day, but she knew this would take her nowhere. She couldn't call in sick, she had to function. And for the rest of this Friday she did pretty well.

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A last look at the flowers in his hands and they went right into the trashcan next to him. Stupid me, he thought, he knew she didn't like such stuff, yet he had bought them this adternoon, on his free saturday afternoon. Stupid me and stupid picture! Ya, the picture of those sad eyes was to blame not him! He didn't even try to get why she posted it. - but UGH! Who was he actually kidding? He asked himself while pulling his hat deeper in his face knowing this would end bad.

He entered the empty lobby of the appartment building. Quick as he could (which was pretty quick) he made his way to the porter to announce himself. He was aware of the look by the man behind the desk, but still Nikhil Solanki was notified as guest and guided to the elevator.

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For a brief moment she stood at the telephone system unable to leave the button. She just let him in. Stupid me! Why on earth would he come? What the hell did he want? For heaven's sake what should she do?

One glance in her appartment told her, there was no way to let him in like that. Empty bowls, socks and 500 magazines had become the floor of her living room. In a speed which broke every record, she made her carpet appear again. When she grabbed the box of tissues from her rom-com styled couch table an idea hit her. In no time she scattered one white Kleenex after the other over her couch, threw a blankett over her shoulder and started rubbing her nose although she had to believe it was already red and swollen just like her eyes.

With one last deep breath she opened after the second knock at her door.

"Hi, Nikhil." she said and literally felt the fake smile hurting her face.

"Meeta..." he nodded at her smirking in his typical smirky way and walked in. Before she could close the door, he turned back to her.

"You look horrible! I mean..." defensive he lifted his hands"...you look like you feel horrible."

She spread her arm towards the living room to let him in. "Ya, well...!"

"Have you been crying?"

For a brief moment she freezed. "Uh...no..." she then said trying her best nasal tone she could offer. "Just a common cold." My poor cheeks, she thought, pouring that smile in them, they'll never look the same.

"You want something?" she asked.

He shook his head and sat down "I mean ya, I wanted to clear something up."

Although she had actually meant a beverage she let him talk.

"About what Alia said to you."

Good time for her to get confused, she thought. "Why?"

"I think...I don't think...I mean..."

"Sure!" she answered nodding and felt good. At least she hadn't lost her sarcasm.

Right when she sat down, he jumped up and started talking so fast, she had problems to understand him.

"It was all Karan's idea, I don't have a film, Alia doesn't. I mean back then. For a longer time. I don't even have a female co-star in my next!" Like a captived tiger he started to go up and down.

Her silent, inquiring "Okay?!" was left unheard while he continued his sally talk. "You know how competitve this place is..." she nodded "...we have to stay in people's heads, we can't just disappear and expect them to stay interested!"

"Uh...?"

"See, I didn't think it would go that viral! Those things fizzle out, but Karan...and now Alia." hard breathing he stopped walking. "I liked the idea, that's it. Now I'm not sure anymore."

"Sid..." she cleared her throat and remembered the faked cold. Although it was difficult to keep on talking like that she had no other choice. "Why exactly are you telling me this?"

He looked down as if to find an answer there and grew stiff. She followed his wide eyes to the place where a little beep came from. Her tablet! Her damn tablet had brightend up to remind her of the low battery. Behind the note, she saw his face next to Alia's.

Shocked he looked up in Pari's face: "You aren't sick, right?"

Unable to defend herself she slightly shook her head. "Could you go now?"

Despite all his most inner feelings he agreed. Together they closed her door, she from inside, he from the outside. Still holding the knob he leant against the hard cold wood not knowing she did the same on the other side. Standing back on back departed from a door, he decided to do nothing until he was completly sure of his actions and she, she would start to come out of this shell and become herself again. On monday. Maybe.