Social Distancing (COMPLETED)

Chapter 4

Amulya woke up to an empty phone. No notifications. Not even a call. She was expecting her mother to at least call her a few times already. But her phone was empty.

She had a class that morning, and she had two more days to write her last final. Then she will finish her specialisation, and will be able to start her training at the hospital.

She made some coffee and finished her daily routine. Within an hour she was ready to leave to her class and her phone was still empty. She was waiting for a message and she wasn’t ready to accept that fact.

She decided to text him herself. So she quickly sent him a text and rushed out of the flat. She had to take the tube and she wasn’t willing to go late that day.

Fifteen minutes later she was in the tube, and now it was a waiting game until she reaches her university.

She took out her phone and a smile lit up her face as she saw the text message from the person she was waiting for.

I write.
In fact, I’m working on a story right now.
I was hoping you could help me with the climax

She laughed out loud at this one, making the woman sitting next to her glare at her. Quietly muttering an apology, she typed out a reply─

That was smooth

She added a few laughter faces, exactly showing him how she felt.
So doctor,

How is your day?
How many broken legs today?

Broken legs?

Obviously
When they fell for you

This time, she couldn’t hold in her laughter. And the glare of the frustrated woman next to her didn’t stop her.

But the ringing of her phone managed to wipe it off completely. It was the inevitable call from her mother.

“Hello mama” she said with a low voice, hoping she could disappear. Or that her stop would come soon, but she wasn’t in luck. She still had more than half of the journey left.

“Keshav called” that was all the said.

“I know, Ma”

“It was you, wasn’t it? You called him and ruined your wedding. How could you do this to us, Amulya?” she was shifting between English and her mother tongue.

“Yes, mama” she sighed. “I called him. But no, I didn’t ruin my wedding or my life.  We don’t love each other, Mum. We cannot be happy together. Why don’t you understand that mama?”

“You are getting old Amulya. You have to get married. You cannot waste any more time.”

“I know mama, but I just started my life. I will finish my specialisation in a week. I already have a job waiting for me.  It’s all I ever wanted in life. I am finally here mum. I cannot ruin it all by moving back home and let this all go. It took me a lot of time and hard work to get here. I cannot just throw it away, Ma”

The line was silent for a while. She almost thought her mother hung up on her.

“Amu” she heard her mother say after a while. “I’m sorry. I am worried about you. You know how our relatives get. You are already 25, living in a different country. Do you know how hard it is to find a guy that is good for you? Matches with you? It’s all I want. To see you happy; having your own family and kids.”

“I cannot be happy with Keshav, ma. You were forcing us together. I won’t happy. Not with him” she saw the train coming to a stop. She had to get down. “My stop is here, Ma. I have to go”

“Call me in the evening, Amu. Take care. I love you”

“Love you too, Ma. Bye”

Alaric didn’t get a reply after his last text. He assumed she was busy, and got back to writing the next chapter. But it was one of those days, the words failed him. He stared blankly at the word document, playing with that chain on his neck. He still didn’t get any ideas.

The minutes became an hour. And then it became three. Before he knew it was evening and all he managed to do was drink a lot of coffee and stare at his computer.

He decided to call it a day and closed his laptop. He needed to do something. He cannot afford a writer’s block two chapters into the book. Hilary was ging to have a heart attack.

Hilary. He knew it has been too long since he visited her. He grabbed his car keys and drove to his sister’s house.
As soon as he walked through the front door he was greeted by the loud cheers of his niece and nephew. They were both four and had more energy than he could keep up with.

“Meghan, Tris” he greeted them, hugging them both when they attached themselves to his legs.

“Daddy won’t let us eat cake tonight” Meghan said, her cheeks rose and her eyes wet with tears.

“Daddy never lets us eat cake” Tristan complained, agreeing with his sister.
Alaric smiled at how cute they were being, especially how they pronounced certain words. Completely using ‘l’ instead of ‘r’ making it sound like ‘nevel’

“Daddy doesn’t want you guys getting sick. But if you both behave, I’ll let you eat a piece of my cake” Alaric whispered, making the kids shout with happiness.

“Don’t spoil my kids, Alaric” his brother-in-law said coming into the room, greeting him with a hug.

“I am supposed to spoil them. I’m their favourite uncle” the kids nodded with agreement.

“You are their only uncle” Devin rolled his eyes and the kids kept nodding, even though they weren’t sure what the conversation is about anymore.

“How far along are you?” Alaric heard his sister speak as she entered the backyard.

“Six months, I hope it’s a boy” he replied with a straight face, making Devin burst out laughing, and the kids join them, just because their father was laughing.

“It’s very funny, Alaric. I meant your book” Hilary rolled her eyes, with a sarcastic laugh.

“I didn’t come here for my editor; I came here for my sister. But if you must know, I am stuck after the chapter two”

“I really hope you finish it on time, before Elizabeth kills me” she says, shuddering as she imagined the look on their publisher’s face.

Alaric was about to reply, but his phone vibrated, making him pause and immediately take out his phone and look at the text from a certain stranger.

Sorry, I had a busy day.
And no, I wasn’t busy dealing with broken legs.
But if I had to, I’d suggest them to one of my co workers, which would make it legal to ‘see’ them if you know what I mean.

Amulya never flirted with anyone before, in the 25 years of her life. She wasn’t even sure, if this is called flirting. Her phone vibrated with the next text, which made her smile, as she read what he sent.

Oh how I wish that you would ‘see’ me, Amy

~*~

10.04.20