Gyan drove silently watching the traffic. His favourite song playing on the radio while the AC cooled the temperature inside the car. He was excited to spend an entire afternoon with the woman he was so interested to get to know.
He quickly peeked at her next to him. She was listening to the song as she watched the surroundings pass by. They had been silent after their initial "Hello and how are you?"
He didn't want to make their lunch awkward so he decided to make her comfortable. "How do you like the song? " He questioned.
She looked at him and smiled "It is good. Do you like old songs? "
"Some of them. Do you? " he asked.
"Some" she replied.
"Which one is your all-time favourite? " he asked trying to keep the conversation going.
"The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel" she replied.
"hmm.." he thought "Not heard of it" he declared but did a quick Google search and found the song online he played the song using Bluetooth in his car.
Soft music filled the car as the words slowly started to fill the silence he listened carefully as she hummed along.
"I am leaving, I am leaving but the fighter still remains," she sang as the song came to a powerful end. Every word in the song seemed so close to her. He tried to imagine what it had been for her. The silence continued as the next song played.
"It's a beautiful song I like it" he added. She smiled at him.
"What is your favourite?" she questioned.
He smiled and quickly played it from his playlist "Jab koi baat bigadjaye" started playing. She listened to it carefully and silently till the end.
"Why do you like that song? " she inquired.
Gyan took the turn leading to the parking of the restaurant they were eating at. He stayed silent focusing on getting a parking spot. They walked to the elevator waiting for it to reach them.
"I like that song because it's a promise that no matter what goes wrong there will always be someone to rely on." He answered her question.
She looked at him as if she was looking at him for the first time. He smiled as the elevator door opened and he guided her in.
"How do you stay so full of hope?" she questioned.
"Because I accept life for what it is, nothing more nothing less" he replied as they got out to the 13th floor. A maître d' welcomed them recognizing her companion, she led them to a small private table for two.
"I will bring in the menu Mr Airwan enjoy your meal" she greeted us and left.
Once left alone Gyan turned his complete focus to her. A spark in his eyes made her skip a beat. She wanted to know him but was intimidated by the attraction she felt and fought it.
"If you accept life for what it is how do you stay positive unless you have never faced loss?" she questioned.
"Loss, heartbreak, and pain are a part of living don't you think? " he asked her.
She simply shook her head "I don't know, I can do without it" she replied.
"Is that why you avoid me?" he asked.
She looked at him deep into his eyes which were warm and sincere she wanted to give him a truthful answer.
"Sir would you like to order the wine?" their waiter asked.
He broke their connection to respond but her mind was in a whirl. She thought of her attraction to Siddharth and her attraction to Gyan. "Am I making the same mistake again" she questioned. "Siddharth had pushed himself into her life but Gyan even though he doesn't give up easily he didn't push himself into my life. He.... " she thought of the right word. She felt his palm on her hand and looked up shocked.
"Are you OK?" he asked concern in his eyes.
She released the breath she had held and smiled "Yes" she replied.
He let her hand go and place the wine menu in her hand "What would you like? " he asked.
She looked at the long menu not in the mood to choose "What do you recommend?" she inquired.
He smiled and took the menu from her "Would you want me to order for us both?" he asked.
She nodded and let him order her drink. She simply sat at the table lost in her thoughts her mind constantly moving between Siddharth and Gyan until a mild headache began to form. She pressed a cold hand to her head.
"Raiza you don't look alright?" he enquired.
He wanted her to have a good experience so he could take her out often but looking at her all worked up he didn't know what to do or say.
"I'm OK it's just the migraine" she replied.
"Oh" he sounded disappointed "Do you want me to take you home?" he asked knowing well that's all he would want to do when the migraine builds up.
"No, I have my meds it will recede" she explained.
"Are you sure?" he asked concern laced in his tone.
She smiled "Yes" She took out her Ayurveda medicine bottle and mixed it with a glass of water, soon she drank the thick concoction that tasted like poison. As the medicine hit her throat her body relaxed. She looked up at Gyan observing each move.
"That looked and smelled awful" he made a face.
She laughed a genuine laugh "Ayurvedic meds look and taste bad but are very effective" she declared. He hummed not believing her.
"So back to my question why do you avoid me? " he pushed for an answer.
She sighed "You remind me of my ex-husband" she blurted.
He looked at her in complete shock. That was the last thing he wanted to hear. She looked at his changed expression and burst out laughing.
"Are you OK? " it was her turn to enquire.
"Are you serious? Do I really remind you of the man you dumped? " he asked sincerely sounding upset.
She nodded "You two have a lot in common" She sighed and became silent.
Things suddenly seem to make sense to him. Her withdrawal, defensiveness, and complete mistrust. He sighed "I wish I didn't remind you of the bad things in life" he stated finally.
She looked at him suspiciously "Why do you say that? " she inquired hoping he didn't know about her past. If he did know it would be either through someone from her past, which was bad news or he ran a background check on her the same as her ex had done. Both situations were alarming to her.
He looked at her and with complete sincerity sighed "He is your ex which means something bad would have happened and me reminding you of him isn't a pleasant thought to me" he declared a little upset.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Well maybe we separated with mutual agreement" she suggested.
He squinted "Then he is an idiot, and it gets worse for me" he pouted.
She laughed shaking her head "You are impossible"
"Hey if you were my wife there would have never been a mutually agreed separation. I would fight heaven and hell to change your mind and fall in love again" he declared.
She listened to him silently observing his passionate outburst.
"Sorry didn't mean to scare you" he added to lighten the mood when he saw her expression.
She smiled again the wine arrived and they toasted to each other's happiness.
Gyan kept bombarding her with questions and in time they even discussed their views about movies and books. Gyan watched Raiza laugh and smile as she relaxed in his company and enjoyed their lunch.
YOU ARE READING
Raiza's Burden
RomanceRaiza fell in love with the charming and passionate Siddharth she was sure it was meant to be. A love to last a life time. His passion turned dark and she escaped. Two years after their divorce he returned in her life will she survive his darkness o...
