Always with you!

Chapter 5 Trial for acquaintance

A week had elapsed since Shiv was at her door, it was not long, yet the interval was rather interesting. He had learned recently from the neighbours that she went to her hometown. He had cherished however vainly, a hope of seeing Vanshika again like somewhere he required the congenial soul of her acquaintance. Of course he didn't know why he had been looming over her so exclusively? And indeed, there was no special sense organ to transmit such a preposterous idea. He didn't even remember her face in any precise detail even when he kept interrupting himself to search his memories, but he only remembered that she was beautiful. The wet curls of her brown hair and felt the coldness of her fair hands as he handed over the folded Xerox (he couldn't forget them). While He wanted Just to dispel a little impression, vanshika made on him, yet She was not here, thereby indicating the unapproachably. Shiv was Dusky gipsy in aspect; in dress and manners a gentleman, rather slovenly, yet not looking amiss with his negligence. He had an erect and handsome appearance and rather exuberant, his face often gave the impression of under-bred pride. Yet he was an abidingly happy soul.

Shiv went to his flat and towards his bedroom. He formed a singular contrast to his Apartment and style of living, The room contained a small bed, neatly made, two straight-backed chairs, a Bookshelf, a bureau—with books stacked up and above its own height and a small table. There were no drapery curtains at the windows, no pictures on the wall. All-day, the sun had been pouring down upon the floor, and the room was like an oven for heat. As there were no screens, the windows had not been raised. A big fly was buzzing angrily at the window glass, up and down, up and down, trying to get out. He opened the door to let the fly out. He had made Black coffee for himself earlier that still lied on the kitchen shelf. He took a sip of the coffee. A fleeting expression on his face showed malcontent, yet soon he was smiling broadly once more as if nothing was wrong at all. He glanced down at the mug, thick, ceramic, cold to touch, and supposed it was that which had stolen the heat; it was tepid like old bathwater. In an undertone of peevish displeasure he got up to make himself a fresh cup.

"What kind of girl is she?" he said out loud and rather abruptly to himself, he was disappointed in general and particularly because she did not inform him of her departure and now his hopes of getting the documents on time was slim. He was too light for sleep, two cups of caffeine was the culprit which made him resort to such stinginess.

The rain going on for the few hours had now stopped, of course only temporarily, as a congregation of grey clouds lurked above hiding the blue sky each of them sensing the presence of the sun from above. And making the weather bearable toward evening, Shiv took a walk alone, circumstances had enhanced this enjoyment, and nowhere was the wetness more obvious than in the grass verges. Just yesterday Shiv had only noticed the grass; today he saw the soil, dark like molasses under the glossy strands.

He spent a good hour in the garden his balcony looked out onto, a little pain lurked in his temples and to feel the fine wands of grass tickle his soles as he walked barefoot he felt a kind of freedom from it, that natural feel he supposed. It's good, calming. He hardly thought of Vanshika, he was happy breathing again in the freshness of new earthly aroma which somehow had made the disgustingly polluted air feel fresh.

Shiv walked behind an old lady who walked really slowly, yet he was light-minded enough in peace of his thoughts, to even walk past her as others had did earlier. To Shiv, there was no hurry, nor did it mean he was leaving. To him there was an element of beauty in that as well. She seemed in general weak and fragile, yet her face was strong and in relative peace, he walked behind her intentionally for it. And secondly to help her if she needs, even from a distance. After coming by twice making rounds she stopped, turned, and demanded to be helped down the two short stairs that separated garden from the compound, Shiv ran to her held her hand supported her elbows with another. After all, she isn't someone he'd have wanted to offend so blithely.

Shiv Sir! Sir! Shouted someone, the guard leaned out of a small window at gate as his dusty cloth wrapped around his neck slowly untied itself into a long towel and asked his attention. The guard sprinted towards him with a letter in one hand and raised other to call for attention. Shiv, instantly knew it was the bank letter he had so religiously waited for. The guard told him that the postman had made 3 rounds and was rather angry not finding him home, it had been returned and resent almost twice by the bank and hence the postman had decided to give letter to the guard to safely deliver. Having been reconciled with the letter which laid in his hand now, he partly dispelled his apprehensions on Vanshika, Yet not fully since, first, for the time it took him to receive the letter, and second, for the fact that he thought it to be disconsolately clumsy. Of course it was a misunderstanding through and through; yet in contrast of the overall situation. It was the narrow ground they shared in the situation and both didn't desire to add more weight to the worry of the other.

They both could stand a little more happiness, little more security, a little more abundance, although by no means certain, is it?