Love's Strange Ways *COMPLETED*

Chapter 18

Vishal's eyes slit open as sunlight streamed into the room through the window the next morning. He jumped up in bed as he recollected that Darling had called him but he had fallen asleep without hearing the reason for her call.

Vishal found his mobile phone lying next to his pillow and grabbed it. He unlocked the screen and checked the call log. It was not Darling but Shreya who had called.

Vishal hit his palm to his forehead upon realizing his mistake. Their voices are so similar that I mistook Shreya as Darling. Hearing me say 'darling', Shreya would've been pissed off. Shreya doesn't like Darling. She's already being aloof to me for some reason and now, she'll be annoyed as well.

Frantically, Vishal dialled Shreya's number.

"Sorry, the number you have dialled is unreachable. Please try again later...." The response he was getting from the other end of the line worried him even more.

He tried calling her a few more times but to no avail. Her number was unreachable.

In a hurry, Vishal got ready and headed out of his room to Shreya's room nearby. The door to the room was open. The hotel cleaners were bustling around inside the room.

Vishal peered into the room, looking around for Shreya, in confusion.

"Yes? How may I help you?" asked the main cleaner, upon noticing Vishal.

"The girl staying in this room, where is she?"

"She already checked out of this room early in the morning. You may ask the receptionist downstairs if you want any more details."

Shocked, Vishal rushed downstairs to the reception area. The hotel receptionist smiled upon noticing him.

"Hello, sir. Ms. Shreya had asked to inform you that she had to leave urgently for Bangalore in this morning's flight. She will contact you from Bangalore again."

"Oh okay, thank you." Vishal returned to his room in a state of confusion. Why had Shreya left so hastily? Could that be the reason she had called last night?

***

Later that morning, Vishal left Goa as per the scheduled flight that he and Shreya were supposed to travel in. Jo and Abhay were traveling in the same flight but their seats were further away during this flight.

After landing in Bangalore, Vishal tried calling Shreya's number again. Her number was reachable now but she was still not answering his calls.

***

Late in the afternoon, Vishal was in his apartment when he received a phone call. He checked the screen of his mobile and frowned. Darling? After more than a week since she last called, why's she calling now?

Puzzled, Vishal answered the call. "Hello."

"Hey, Vi. Still remember me?" Her familiar chirpy voice infuriated him today. She's the main reason I couldn't keep Shreya happy in the first place! And look how jovially she's talking now!

"How can I forget you? Ever since you started making problems for me, everything in my life has only been going worse!"

"I didn't know I was such a torture for you. If you found me such a problem maker, why didn't you block my number in the first place?"

"I blocked your number actually. Then I unblocked it the same day thinking no matter what problems you caused me, you're still my friend."

"Oh, so you still have a soft spot for me?" Vishal felt gobsmacked by her response; he didn't know whether to snap or laugh hearing her question. Did she really think that I might still have a soft spot for her after she ruined everything between me and Shreya?