Broken

Part Seven: Lean On Me

Flashback continues
Day Seven - 24 March 2016

Eco Lodge Dining Hall
8.30 am

Ishita waved across the room at Raman as he strode into the dining hall, his eyes searching for her.

She had not seen him since his confidences of the previous night, and she had been wondering how he would be this morning, and how she should act when she did see him. It was his son's birthday today, after all. He must have woken up with his son on his mind, thinking back to the time of his birth. He must be wondering how his son would celebrate this milestone birthday. And he must be so conscious of the fact that he could not share the day with his little boy, could not celebrate the day when he had become a father.

She had felt so much empathy for him yesterday, had finally seen and understood the pain he hid underneath his gruff exterior and his sarcasm. And she had felt close to him, had truly felt as though they were friends. But everything about last night had such a dream like quality. She hoped that the closeness she had felt to him, the friendship that she believed they had developed, had not just been an illusion of the twilight. She hoped that he did not feel embarrassed or awkward that he had opened up to her, had told her the hidden secrets of his life, the truth about his son and his estranged wife.

But there was no awkwardness in him as he sat down opposite her.

"Phir ghaas poos" (Grass again) he wrinkled his nose at her plate, as one of the waiters came scurrying over to him.

"Aap ka roz ka breakfast ladoon sir" the young man said eagerly. "Aap ka chai, toast aur fruit."
(Shall I bring your usual breakfast sir? Your tea, toast and fruit)

"Nahi yaar, aaj toh mujhe aloo ke paratha khane ko man kar raha hai. Double makhan laga kar." (No buddy. Today I feel like eating aloo paratha. Buttered on both sides)

He looked pleadingly at the young man, who immediately nodded his head. "Mein chef se kehta hoon sir. Aap ke liye zaroor bana denge."
(I'll tell chef sir. I know he will make it for you)

The waiter scurried away and Ishita chuckled as she shook her head at him, relieved to hear his banter. He seemed okay. He seemed normal.

"Kaise karlete ho yeh sab aap?" She mock scolded him. "Sab aap ka kaam karne ko taiyaar ho jaate hain"
(How do you always do it? Everyone gets ready to do whatever you want)

"It's called charm Dr Iyer" he looked at her thoughtfully, his lips curving into a smile.

He had woken up this morning thinking of Adi, it was true, but there had not been the despair, the hopelessness of yesterday's awakening. He had not been dreaming of Adi leaving him. Instead, he had been dreaming of Adi coming back to him. There was renewed hope, renewed vigor in him, and he thought, he believed, that it was partly because of her. She had offered no unnecessary words of advice, no trite cliches the night before, but just unloading his sorrows to her, having her arms around him, had comforted him in ways he could not understand. He was grateful, and he was hopeful. And so he smiled.

It was the first smile that he had ever given her that reached his eyes, a slow sexy grin that shed years from his face, enhanced his handsomeness and that spoke of true happiness. And it sent a shiver of warmth coursing down her body. A burst of pure joy, an irrational happiness that blindsided her with its intensity.

He was right. He had charm. But why was she getting charmed? She wasn't some silly girl like Mona, she was a professional woman, a dentist, she was smart, she was sensible...and she was floored. She looked away, confused, chiding herself as she bent her head to her own toast.