The Smile: the eternal Sunshine (Completed) *Editing*

This is the edited version of chapter one but not all the chapters are edited yet..you'll find these notes on the edited ones ...

Chapter 1

A ray of Hope in the Dark?

Nidhi

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the headache starting to take over my senses. Today it was at its worst, not letting me concentrate on anything. I stared at the blank word document; the need of doing something to keep my mind busy was overwhelming. My mind could be compared to a window on a foggy day, there was no sun shine beaming on me.

It was probably the hundredth time in the last 3 hours that I created a new word doc. Just sitting there, doing nothing but trying to push myself was making me tired. I let out a long breath hoping to get rid of the throbbing that had permanently resided in my head.

 “Why can’t I start on this freaking article?” I mumbled and raised my hand to punch the table, but something stopped my moment of craziness. I could sense someone staring at my back, giving me those chills down my spine.

I turned around, only to be face to face with a man I had come to detest. Without bothering to return his smile, I turned back to my computer screen like I didn’t notice him, silently cursing my luck.

Why can’t people just leave me alone, especially when I have made it clear thousands of times that I was definitely not interested in their company? I wasn’t sure if he was simply dumb or acting to be one, but I knew that he was ready to open his big mouth and buzz like a fly near my ear.

I sensed that he was moving closer to my table, but what he did next took my already boiling nerves to a new level. He stood by my chair, bent down, and his hand was over mine, pulling it off the keyboard. I was about to snap at him when I noticed that I was pressing on the full stop key so long that I had filled in the whole document making it look like an empty form.

Sometimes, I wished that life was like that empty form where we could all fill in whatever details we wanted. I decided not to start an argument, keep my mouth shut and avoid him. So, I fixed my eyes on a distant object, as he reached down for the backspace key and erased all my full stops.

He brought his face so close to mine that I had to chant in my head, ‘I’m not going to push him away, not going to push, not going to push.’

I sensed him glancing at me from the corner of his eyes & moving aside. I guess he got the message that I’d throw up any moment if he didn’t move away. I could finally breathe but the smell of some expensive cologne lingered in the air as he moved away. Probably some branded stuff, I guessed and why not after the very recent changes in life.

I thought he was going back to his cabin and was relieved that I didn’t have to talk to him today.

 “Should I bring you a cup of coffee? You seem very tired.” I heard him say in a low husky voice, almost a whisper.

Yep how could I be so lucky?

When I didn’t respond, pretending I didn’t hear him he hesitated for a few seconds cleared his throat and spoke louder, “I’m making coffee for myself. Do you want some? You seem tired.”

“‘No, I’m fine.”, that was my best don’t bother me tone (the one with the least level of rudeness).

He didn’t seem to get the message in my not so rude tone, “You should take a break Nidhi, it will help you clear your mind”.

I didn’t know if he meant that I didn’t have a clear mind, and frankly speaking didn’t care. I knew how to ignore buzzing flies and I replied not bothering to even turn around, “Yes sir, I know that’s why I have these.” And put in action my latest discovered ignore people device – my headphones.

Now, he couldn’t buzz anymore.

What he didn’t know was I never turned on the music & just pretended to listen. When I was sure that he had finally left I could relax a little. Taking off the headphones, I turned right on instinct and saw Kaya giving me an angry ‘What’s wrong with you?’ look from the nearest cubicle. She wheeled her chair towards me, her light brown waves flowing behind her. She looked at me with eyes similar color to her hair, eyes that could become blazing fire if someone hit the wrong button.

“Kaya, I don’t want this now, please.” I pleaded before she could utter a word. I was hoping to ignore the discussion that might come along.