The Girl in the Gym

Holiday over

Getting back to Mumbai after two weeks of relaxed bliss was like a jolt to the system. Jack felt lethargic and mopey, he wanted to go back to his holiday. They were being driven back to Zero Bulge by Prakash, who was, as usual, chatting away without a care.

"How was it? Did you go kayaking? Did you do parasailing?" he asked.

Jack and Inaya smiled. She was looking out of the car window as they drove over a flyover. Jack answered, "Yeah man, we did everything we could. It's a heavenly place. I didn't want to come back at all. Except Bud would think that I had abandoned him. I did find a few pet-friendly hotels there. I'll go back with him once my course here is .... finished." His voice trailed off at the last word. He quickly glanced at Inaya, but she was facing away from him. Jack could see a bit of her reflection on the car window and imagined for a moment that her face had tensed. It could have been a trick of the light, he couldn't be sure.

"It really is a beautiful place," he said heartily, trying to dispel the awkwardness he thought he felt. Prakash, on the other hand, gave no indication that he had heard the pause. "Ahh, wonderful. You must go again and again," he said. He didn't speak any more on the rest of the drive as the traffic was picking up and it took all his concentration to thread his way between cars and bikes.

"So, it's back to Inaya's boot camp now," said Jack, trying to insert joviality into his words.

"Hmmm."

That was all Inaya said, although Jack admitted to himself that it had been a weak try on his part in the first place. They sat in silence the rest of the way and soon enough, they were at the huge gates that guarded Zero Bulge. Ducking out of the car, Jack and Inaya hauled their bags and started walking toward their respective rooms. Jack chanced a look at Inaya and suddenly stopped. "Hey, thanks for the Goa trip, Inaya. I know it was a part of the treatment and all that, but you made it all better by being there. So, Ummm, thanks for that," he finished. And held out his hand.

Inaya looked up at him and gave him a radiant smile, "You're welcome, Jack. I do that for all my trainees." There was a bite in her voice, as she snapped out the last sentence. It pierced through Jack, as he snatched back his hand, hurt and confusion showing on his face, clear as day. Inaya softened at that look and said in a friendlier tone, "You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow and we'll recommence your program." Nodding at him, she headed off in a different direction, where her living quarters were.

Inaya cursed herself for her callous behaviour toward Jack, she had not meant to be so snappish. But he had sounded so glad at the prospect of finishing his course at Zero Bulge and going back to his life, that she couldn't help feeling bitter.

Why am I feeling this way, she thought despairingly. It is my fault that he has become a good friend. That the mere thought of him leaving makes me want to punch the wall with bare fists. Inaya opened the door to her room, threw her bag on the floor and flopped down on her bed face down, groaning in frustration. Jack has been nothing but sweet to everyone, and I repay his kindness with snark. Disgusted with herself, Inaya decided to be on her best behaviour with Jack from now on, no matter how she may be feeling on the inside.

Back at his suite, Jack puzzled over Inaya's behaviour. He racked his brains, trying to think of anything he may have said or done to put her in a snarky mood. When he failed to come up with anything, he threw his bag in a corner and stepped into the shower to wash off the day's fatigue. The hot shower did a world of good, and when he finally went to gather Bud from the pet care centre, he was in top spirits once again.

Bud was overjoyed to be reunited with his master. He barked non-stop, going wild with exhilaration. Jack laughed and sat down on the grass to cuddle with Bud. "I know, I know. I missed you too, my friend. I found you in Berlin, remember? I'm never leaving you," he murmured, holding the puppy close to his chest. He was struck by the canine's loyalty and love for him, it was so unencumbered and unconditional. They spent some more time getting reacquainted and then walked back to the suite where dinner was waiting for them. The pup wagging his tail furiously, the man happy yet thoughtful.

After dinner, Jack lay on the carpet on the floor, because Bud was still suffering from separation anxiety. And before he knew it, he was fast asleep, with Bud nestled somewhere near his knees. His dreams were hazy and confused, like a slightly out of focus film. He could only make out shapes of trees, and a woman calling out to him. He was walking on a path that wound through the forest. But his shoes were making a clicking sound, something that no tar or dirt road produces. He knelt down to examine it closely when he discovered that it was some kind of compound. A single sheet that made up the forest path, and when he poked it with his index finger, it gave way slightly but regained its original shape. A sudden gust of wind made him look up, and it tilted. He was falling....falling.