The Things That I Left Behind..

Chapter-38

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C h a p t e r - 38

"You can only be jealous of someone who has
something you think you ought to have yourself."

― Margaret Atwood,
The Handmaid's Tale

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Mr Malhotra watched as I glued the envelope.
He patiently waited as I gave a final look before giving it to him.
He took the letter and placed it in his hand.
I whispered,"Thank you Mr Malhotra."
He nodded as he adjusted his glasses before he spoke,"What secrets are you both writing?"
I try to think of an answer as I adjust my purse before I shrug and say,"That's a secret."
Mr Malhotra rolled his eyes before saying ,"Okay."
I smiled back at him before wearing my earrings.I could feel his stare as I looked at the mirror.
Our reflection seemed to be clear. We stood from each other at a distance.
But I didn't have the strength to look back and stare at him.
His words from our last conversation were still fresh in my mind.I wish if I could ask him but I didn't have the strength to hear it.
"You are important to me."
No one had last spoken such words with genuineness. But was I mistaking his friendship with..
Breaking from my thoughts instead I say,"I am returning back to Mumbai in few days."
Instead of a nod or a shake,I heard a shocking scream and I watch Mrs Smith cry as she enters the room.
She is so freakin' adorable!
She cries at first before she hugs me while I hug back.
Mr Malhotra stands back and seems to be lost in his own world.
I say some calming words when Mrs Smith stops crying and says,"I will really miss you.You have been like a daughter.Hell,you are a daughter to me like Shyra."
I smile and say,"You have been so kind and selfless. I will always remain indebted."
Our conversation carries on before I notice Mr Malhotra already missing.
When did he go?!
Noticing my confused look,Mr Smith chuckled and answered while entering the room,"Your boyfriend has already got out."
Oh.

Wait what!!!

Boyfriend?
Mr Malhotra?

I wanted to laugh at the thought.Not that he could be my boyfriend but at the thought that I still didn't know his first name.
It's so strange.
I never literally cared for his name.
Before I could give any answer,I saw both Mr and Mrs Smith had left me while I stood pondering.
Suddenly it made sense why Mr Smith thought he was my boyfriend. He thought I had a breakup with him when I met him,crying.
I laughed at the thought before walking down the street to buy a few groceries.

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Slowly,tucking my notebook in and after noting down a few observations, my gaze fell at a nearby cyber cafe.
My mind suddenly zoomed at the thought of trying to find Aditya.
I took out my cell phone and called Mr Malhotra.
At two rings,he picked up my call and answered,"Hmm?"
I instantly knew he was busy.
I only could gather,"Umm,nothing.Bye."
Before he could say anything,I cut off the call and decided to go to cyber cafe.
After few more failed attempts of trying to find Aditya,I gave up for the day.
It was exhausting.
The search was like building a mountain out of sand. I had this fear that maybe he would not be on social media.
Depressing thoughts were settling in before I decided to sit at a cafe and have strawberry shake.

After finding a suitable cafe and selecting a corner seat,I waited for the waiter to take my order.
Suddenly,I noticed two distinct figures.
Mr Malhotra seemed to be chatting with a woman. At other times,I would have brushed aside it as a business meeting but when the woman kept touching his hand,I could feel that it was an informal meet.
He was dressed in casuals,definitely different ones that he wore this morning.
And cafe was definitely was for dates,because currently everyone sat in couples.
Suddenly,a waiter arrived and took my order of strawberry shake.
Mr Malhotra must have cracked a joke because next moment the woman was laughing her heads off.
A venomous feeling clutched in me.
Mr Malhotra noticed me but instead of making an acknowledgment,he smiled a little to the lady.
I lowered my gaze and waited for my milkshake.
I could see his gaze fall on me many times but he didn't acknowledge me.
I never felt this way of treacherous feeling.
Was I jealous?
I shrugged at the thought and stared at my plain nails.
Suddenly,a guy around my age sat in front of me.
I turned to look at him.
His skin was pale,green eyes and sharp jaw.
On giving a questioning look,he spoke,"Hi!I am Brandon."
He extended his hand while I looked confused at him.
Still,I shook his hand,"Hi."
He waited for me to tell my name but I never spoke.
I could feel Mr Malhotra looking in my direction.
An evil thought prevailed in me.
Two could play a game of ignorance.
Brandon smiled at me and said,"Pretty girl,what are you doing here alone?"
Right.Why was I here?
I smiled uneasily and spoke,"Uhh..Dancing?"
At my sarcastic answer,he laughed loudly and he spoke,"I like sarcastic girls."
The guy winked at me.
I could only blush and before I could excuse myself out of the cafe without my poor milkshake,Mr Malhotra was already standing.
I looked and found that the lady was nowhere,whereas Mr Malhotra was glaring at Brandon.
Brandon cheekily said,"Yo dude,are you her brother?"
I internally choked at it his tone.
It was straight up mocking.
Mr Malhotra,a bit taller than the guy,stood near me and had the audacity to wrap his arms around my shoulder.
He spoke,without any doubt,as if,"She is my girlfriend."
What!?
My eyes widened at his reply and I only spoke,"Really?"
Brandon tilted his head to examine and spoke,"But you were talking to the other girl.Are you trying to cheat her?"
Mr Malhotra laughed and spoke,"Well no.And dude,none of your business.Now,how about you take your hands off her and get away from here?"
Brandon smirked and spoke,"Well,The lady could have liked me,if you would have thought?"
Being the nervous spectator,I was already running away from the cafe when both of them saw that.
Cursing,I tried to run,but instead both caught up.
Thanks or actually curse their long legs.
Brandon smiled at me and asked,"Why don't you tell her pretty lady?"
Mr Malhotra too spoke,"Yes,princesa,why don't you tell him?"
Princesa?
What?
My mind was in whirlwind with the nickname.
But before I could gather my wits,both tried to get my attention and I spoke,"Uh.Sorry Brandon.But you are a nice guy."
Brandon looked a bit sad before he smirked,"Its fine. But when you breakup with this dude.Call me.Hey give me your number."
I was flat out refusing when Mr Malhotra scribbled angry some numbers and threw the tissue to Brandon before saying,"Now go away."
I watched Brandon go,satisfied.
But I only muttered,"Hey!"
I glared at Mr Malhotra who shrugged before saying,"Unless Pizza Hut's number is yours,your number is safe with me."
The guy had the nerve to wink at me as I watched shocked before giving an amused smile.
It was not everyday that Mr Malhotra showed impulsive nature.
Either he didn't notice my amused gaze or he simply ignored it as he spoke,"So,I have heard the cheesecake of this cafe is best."
I could only nod and already knew what to right next to Susan.