Chapter 5
*Aneesha*
"Mom, relax. Yes, we are still staying in two different rooms but things are fine." I spoke, as yet again my mother asked about the arrangement. I had told her about it the day we had decided to take our relationship smooth instead of making each other uncomfortable. Mom had a problem with that then and even now.
"Why? Is there a problem? Did you guys fight over something? Why not the same room still? It's been more than three months almost, Anni!" I heard her concerned sweet voice.
"Mom, we both are comfortable. We're just taking things steadily. We have a lifetime to live in the same room." I spoke walking to the kitchen. Explaining the same old thing again was a little irritating but I didn't want my mom to freak out and jump to conclusions.
"Anni, I am your Mom. Tell me clearly if there's a problem. Is he gay?" I heard my mom's melodramatic gasp. Oh great! She's freaking out.
"Mom, please. He is not gay!" I uttered. Why was mom planting baseless ideas into my head? At one or two points, I had the same doubt. But with the way I had seen him notice women on screen or a woman in general —like the one other day, who was crossing the road before our car; I was sure he wasn't gay. And then there was what happened last night. I smiled at the thought of last night.
"What do you mean, by how do I know? I know. He is not." I exclaimed walking back to the hall.
"Mom, Please, be happy we're going for a honeymoon." I said sitting on the sofa,packing the snacks into the bag. That should give her some relief. Honeymoon? One word could make so much difference.
"Yeah right, to Pondicherry, three day honeymoon!" My mom's voice on the other end was dripping of sarcasm.
"So what if it's three days? We'll take multiple trips throughout the year. We have our work also, right. " I said, glad that I could come up with that in our defense.
"But Anni, what if he.." There the concern was back in her voice.
"Mom, he's okay with it. He understands. " I smiled. The memory of last night just couldn't get out of my head. Every time I thought about it an unknown knot formed in the pit of my tummy. I felt like a teenage girl who knew a guy had a crush on her.
"But Anni, he may..."
"Mom, I will tell you if we shift into the same room. Okay? Now, bye I am getting late." I cut her off quickly cutting the conversation.
"Fine. Enjoy your birthday. Take care and love you!" Her sweet voice made me smile. Oh! I missed her.
"You too!" I grinned and ended the call. Sighing i zipped the bag looking at the clock. Five forty. He wasn't up yet? I walked back to my room to get my small wheeled suitcase out.
"Good morning!" He smiled at me.
I smiled back."Good morning. I thought you were planning to be awake by ten." I teased him, dragging my bag till the sofa where he stood with the airbag on the sofa.
"Funny!" He rolled his eyes. I grinned giving him a proper scrutinizing glance. He wore a deep brown cargo shorts with a faded green polo tee. Wow. He was perfectly dressed for a vacation. And he looked quite dashing. "Water!" I said immediately and quickly strode into the kitchen when I thought he almost caught me staring at him. Yikes! This was so weird. Once again my thoughts went back to last night. Did I offend him? Would he have felt bad? Shaking my head I walked back with the water bottles I had filled.
"Good to go?" I asked as I reached the hall to find him tying his shoe laces.
"Yep" he said rising.
"Right. Did you switch off the geyser and lock the windows of your room?"
"Yes for both. And..I will switch off the main supply to the flat so relax."
"Okay. Then. Your driving license, car papers?" I asked trying to point out if anything was a miss.
"Yes for both, Ma'am," he chuckled.
"Your id?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Booking documents ?" I reminded.
"Its all on my phone and that is in my pocket. Anything else, Ma'am?" He asked me filled with amusement.I ignored it, looking around. Hopefully all was well. I took a deep breath. I have my id, my license, my debit card, money in my purse, sanitary napkins check, tissues yes that it anything I missed?
"Earth to Anni." his voice brought me out of my thoughts.
I looked up at him. "Let's go." I smiled. He returned a genuine one, placing his airbag over his shoulders and dragging my suitcase.
"Ah, I will.." I had barely said those words reaching him, when he suddenly turned.
"Let me, madam!" He grinned and walked ahead. I smiled, for some reason my cheeks were warming up. Excitement was bubbling inside me. I inhaled carrying the snack bag and walked till the the door of the apartment.
"Sid, one minute I will check the windows of my room." I said aloud and ran back in. I returned satisfied I had closed them already.
"Are we leaving today?" He asked me looking at his watch.
"Yes we are!" I entered the lift and he followed.
"I am driving." he said as we reached the car.
I smiled, "The pleasure will be mine"
He grinned in response.
"As we reached the highway his speedometer needle started going beyond hundred. Now, I understood the excited 'I am driving'.
"What?" he asked as he found me staring at the speedometer.
"Just reminding you, we are not in a game where we will get lifelines."
He chuckled. "Trust me with this. Highway is my oldest loyal girlfriend."
"Really?" I stated amused changing the folder on the music system.
"I swear."
"So out of four one was highway or highway was the fifth."
"Oh, wow. You remember the details huh?"
I grinned turning to look out at the serene morning driveway. "you didn't answer my question." I said without looking at him.
"Which one do you think?" his voice made me turn to look at him. As expected he had that flirtatious smile. Did I just classify his smile as flirtatious?
"How would I know?" I displayed a coy smile as he gave me a quick glance. He had eased on the speed I noticed.
"Well, you're the mind reader. "
"I am not." I shook my head smiling.
"I mean it. Your reading people thing is still a mystery to me."
"So is you're rubics-solving tactic to me."
"Tell me about your boyfriend. Why did you guys not work out?" He asked.
"Smart way of changing the topic. The topic was your girlfriends." I gave him a look. I didn't want to bring up my ex, definitely not today!
He chuckled. "I am an amazing liar. You should know that."
I bit my lower lip smiling, staring ahead at the road. "I feel cheated. Should have told me that the first time you met me."
"I am not a fool, you see."
I laughed smiling and shook my head. "You cleverly shifted the topic again." I stated victoriously smiling.
"God, you women are very shrewd."
"Excuse me. Like you're less." I sat up straight on the seat.
"Anni, relax. Don't get offended."
"I am not." I said darting my eyes away from him.
"Your body language just gave away." he said looking straight at the road. Seems like he was noticing much.
"You should focus on the road you know." I remarked.
"I am."
"Yeah." I muttered turning to look out at the monolithic rocks covered in green. "You still haven't answered by the way." I didn't want to brag. But I did want to state that point out and aloud.
"Anni! Excluding." he finally answered. " Is the Queen of Sheeba pleased?"
"Very well." I mumbled.
"What about the answer to my question?" He asked.
I realised why the answer came know. Because he wanted an answer too. So we were getting even about our past. Not that I had a problem. "I told you before. He was a..wrong choice." I said evasive.
"And how did you realise that?"
"With time." I murmured.
"What did you not like about him?"
I blinked looking at my nails. He was very smart. "Many things." I played smart too.
"Like ?"
I did a mental dance, I was so expecting him to say that. "Like he forgot important dates.." I said playfully. This idiot did not know it was my birthday today. Not that I liked celebrating my birthday, but still. It was my first birthday with him. But nonetheless I was enjoying the day already.
After a pause, I said, "He was a little too dominating, he ...why do you care to know?" I asked turning toward him.
"Just like that," he said casually.
"Anyways. Let's talk about something better." I said unlocking my phone screen.
"Oh, yes! Himanshi added you to our WhatsApp group last night. If you're not okay you can.."
"I am more than okay." I flashed a smile looking up. I curiously opened the group and saw the hundred unread messages. I smiled seeing the photos we all had clicked last night. We actually looked great together. But what was better was we got along still better. I was beginning to realise that I like Sid more than I actually thought I liked him. Oh, there again the swarm of butterflies in my stomach.
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– Anami! ♡
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