Destiny

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Love is as much of an object as an obsession, everybody wants it, everybody seeks it, but few ever achieve it, those who do will cherish it, be lost in it, and among all, never... never forget it."

                                                                                     ______________Curtis Judalet

Two days later Gauri was just finishing her eight-hour tour when her pager beeped. She said goodbye to her patient and looked at the number, it was the unit secretary wanting her to stop at the desk. She frowned and hoped it didn’t delay her departure.

She needed to go home and prepare herself for dinner at Desais. Sunita aunty had called her especially to invite her along with her aunty and her parents. She couldn’t refuse the invitation. The wedding was in five days and this is the final preparation, and now that they know of her existence, Sanya’s parents also insisted on her presence.

“Hi Liz, you paged me?” She greeted the secretary. Gauri removed the pager from her waistband to hand it over for the day. Liz gave her a mischievous smile, Gauri looked around to see all her co-workers were also gathered around the desk. She felt a tingle go down her spine and wondered what was about to take place.

Liz reached under her desk and pulled out the most breath takingly beautiful crystal vase, with what looked like a dozen white roses and one perfect burgundy rose woven together with baby’s breath flowers in the middle. Gauri could feel the increased tempo of her heart rate, and wondered if anyone else could hear the loud sound of its beats.

She could feel the sweat on her palms and wanted to rub them on the side of her scrub pants to get rid of the sudden wetness.  Her stomach flip-flopping even as she noted the expectant looks from her friends. She reached out to take the flowers and saw her hands tremble visibly.  Taking a calming breath she looked at Liz questioningly.

Liz grinned at her and also held out a card for Gauri. “These were delivered for you few minutes ago.” Gauri didn’t need to read the card to guess who they were from. He had called her two nights ago to ask if she reached home safely and to wish her goodnight. When she asked him how he got her number he wouldn’t tell her. He again called the next day just to say “Hi.” She didn’t know how to persuade him to give up on her.

And now this, why did he have to do this at her work where she can’t even refuse to take the flowers with everyone watching her? She looked around at her co-workers and knew exactly what they were thinking but not bold enough to say it out loud, except for one, of course.

“Well, well, didn’t know you had it in you Gauri. Does he need glasses or is he desperate?” Gauri hated confrontations, but she also knew if she let this one get away things would only get worst.

Gauri took her time to compose herself before facing her nemesis. She didn’t know what Kendra’s problem is with her but it was time to confront her and let her know her taunting won’t work on Gauri.

She turned to the blond girl standing few feet away from her with a victorious smirk on her face and smiled. Gauri also didn’t like to embarrass people so she moved close to the girl and spoke softly enough so the whole unit didn’t hear what she said to Kendra

“Don’t worry about how he is Kendra, at least he is not married.” Her co-worker’s eyes flared in temper and before she said anything else, Gauri held up her hand.