My Tom-Boy Girlfriend

#7 : Criss-Crossing Paths

Raghav's POV

🎶🎶
If the heart is always searching

Can you ever find a home

I've been looking for that someone
I'll never make it on my own

🎶🎶

         Sasha hung up the call and opened her mouth, everything around me seemed to be moving in slow motion, I was eagerly waiting for her next words. She said, "Okay! Let's go!"

"Uh?!", I blurted in disbelief.

"Come on Raghav, let's have coffee. I don't have much time, I have a meeting at 5:30."

"Oh ok!"

We made our way to the snack-cum-fast food cafe, at the other end of the hallway, which was open 24x7.

"What would you like to have?", I asked while standing in front of the cashier with my open wallet.

"No, No no.... It's my treat , remember?", she effortlessly pushed down my wallet, "I'm having juice, ate too much", she said while rubbing her tummy, "You?"

"Cappuccino will be fine", I said with a smile.

       After collecting her lime mint cooler and my cappuccino we settled at our table. I came to know we had few similarities. This was the first company for both of us, she joined a year and a half after me and she was also staying away from her parents but in a shared accommodation, unlike my single room flat. We shared the same hometowns too, what a coincidence.

"Which account do you belong too? I haven't seen you before...", I was cut off my her slight shriek.

"Oh Shit!", she cursed aloud and immediately ducked her head. She was hiding behind her mint cooler, like it did any good. "Stand up!", motioning me to do so with her hands, "Stand up!", the urgency evident in her voice. Sasha kept ducking. As an obedient soldier I sprung to my legs, clueless of the situation we were in. "Right! right", her black eyeballs immediately hit to the top of her eyes, to meet my confused face, "Move right one step please", she said. She looked adorable, like an innocent toddler trying to hide away from her parent's warth for something she shouldn't have done. What could that be?, my mind questioned, shrugging it off, I did as I was ordered.

"One more step.... One more step right.... Right", I complied as and when the orders were thrown at me. I gave quick glance at our surrounding ambiance and let out an inwardly sigh of relief, Thank God the Cafe is deserted. With her chin resting her right hand to avoid clashing with the tabletop, she shook her head, signaling me not to glance around.

       This moment felt surreal, like I was transported to a battle ground and reprimanded from my commander-in-charge for deviating from her orders. It felt like l was the barrel gun of a tanker, and she was the commander who had its control, to maneuver it in any direction. I was no more a human being but a piece of ammunition. Instead of using to shoot, it's purpose was to shield from the enemy. The enemy only known to her. With each step I took right, she shifted her chair left, to get maximum coverage.

After few minutes, Sasha sat up straight in her chair and let out a loud sigh. Taking a sip from her cooler, "Thanks, you may relax now. He just stepped out."

"What was that all about?", I inquired with my thumb pointing behind me and took my seat.

"Escaping from some one", she coolly replied with a slight shrug, "It's a long story, may be for another time."