7~ The jealousy
AKRITI
As decided, I reached the restaurant sharp at 2 and occupied a seat at the back so that we can get privacy. I don't like people overhearing me and my business, especially when I don't like giving away my whole life to outsiders.
Mrs. Singh soon came and sat before me. Opening the draft of the book on her laptop, she started telling me about the changes she had made and was going to make. I patiently answered all of the questions she asked.
"I think that's all, I'll finish editing the draft in a few days, then you can go to the publication", she said as we packed up with our discussion. I nodded and added, "I don't think it will take more than an hour, Ma'am agreed last time really quick".
She giggled and said, "She is such a cutie, unlike that ugly man".
I snorted at the mention of the old chairperson of the publication I work in.
He was such an old hag, he didn't left any moment to dishonour his employees and even authors like me.
When the first time I tried for getting my book published, he brutally laughed at my draft and threw the pages on my face saying that such books don't run the market.
I never tried there again but then after a month, I got a call from the same publication that they want to publish my book.
And guess what? The chairperson had been changed.
"Oh! He was such a bastard. Thank God, he is gone", I dramatically said, giggling along with Mrs Singh.
"Now, shall we order something? I am starving Akriti!" She asked, letting her head drop on the table. I giggled and said, "Looks like little Arohi ate all of your food". She looked up lazily at the mention of her toddler and said, "Don't tell me! She is such a devil, I am telling you".
"Ahh no! She is such a cutie", I argued, giggling. She shook her head and said, "You'll know how kids are when you will become a mother. They are so naughty!".
My smile disappeared at the mention of me becoming a mother.
How can I become a mother without getting married?
I love kids, I really do and even if I want to adopt one, I won't be able to because I am not married.
I don't know why marriage pokes its head everywhere!
Like literally! You want to adopt a child, you must be married, you want to live with your head held high, you must be married. Who exactly makes such rules?
But the idea of becoming a mother seems so appealing.
I will have a child who will call me mumma, just like I call my mother.
She will be enthusiastic and cute, we will have fun together.
Every night before going to sleep, I will narrate her a story or sing a lullaby to her.
I'll shower her with so much love of the world.
Having a child seems so calming to my burning soul.
"Hey! You there with me?" I was shaken out of my thoughts by Mrs. Singh's voice who was snapping her fingers in front of my eyes. I nodded and smiled. Maybe, I should consider adopting a baby.
"I am ordering veg kebabs as starter and dal makhani -naan for main course. You?"
"Same for me", I said and waved my hand to call for the waiter. He took our orders and I requested him to not add much spice as I am not really fond of spicy food.
We waited for yet another 15 minutes and after that the waiter brought our order. I was silently eating in peace, hearing Mrs. Singh narrate about her daughter when I spotted someone, none other than Dr. Adhyay.
But what is he doing here? Shouldn't he be working in the hospital?
He sat in front of a lady and smiled at her.
My grip on my fork tightened when I saw the woman giggle.
She was really beautiful. I couldn't see Adhyay's face because he was sitting with his back in front of me but I am sure he must be smiling.
Is she his girlfriend or wife? No no, she can't be his wife, I don't think he is married.
But girlfriend? I fisted my other hand under the table, seeing the two laugh continuously.
Why are you jealous?
I am not jealous! Why would I be jealous? He is just an acquaintance whom I met yesterday and who also happens to be my best friend's brother, nothing else. Why would I be jealous over a man whom I don't even know properly?
I tried to focus on Mrs. Singh's words and continued stuffing the food in my mouth, noticing his expressions.
They both looked happy together and they made a good couple I guess.
I couldn't help but compare myself to that lady.
She is tall, beautiful and has etiquettes.
See how her hands move while she talks. She screams perfection and her eyes hold warmth.
On the other hand, see me. I am short, a bit plump, I have a circular face with curly hair.
And most probably she is a doctor too and I am a writer who doesn't even write about romance.
Yup, I am not a romance writer as everyone expects me to be.
Romance is something that I never saw or felt and never wish to have in life.
I write adventure, science fiction, unlike the majority of writers who prefer writing romance.
I am not against romance but I think that science fiction is way more exciting than reading how two people fell in love, kissed in the rain and had sex.
That woman again giggled at something making me more angrier. Why am I feeling so angry seeing them together! Why?
"Akriti, I think I need to go. My husband is having a bad time with my daughter lol", Mrs. Singh informed with an apologetic smile and I nodded, my eyes still stuck on the two. Why am I reacting in this way? I never felt such emotion in my whole life, why now?
As soon as I completed my food, I paid the bill and got out of the restaurant.
Honestly speaking, I didn't want to stay in and see the two lovebirds.
Maybe, I am jealous, but why? Why am I jealous?
Adhyay is not mine, he will never be. Like come on, Adhyay and me are polar opposites.
He won't like me anyway, I am not of his taste.
He probably wants a doctor wife who'll understand his work, is patient and sweet and kind.
On the contrary, I don't even have guarantee that whether my next book will be a hit.
I am not a doctor, I am not patient, just the exact opposite.
How can he even like me? I am just his sister's friend!
Wanting to vent all of this out, I dialled Adrija's number. Of course, I wouldn't tell her that I saw her brother sitting with a beautiful lady and both of them were on a date, and that the lady could be her potential sister in law.
She picked the call at once and chirped, "Hey beautiful! Remembered your best friend huh?"
"Adrija! I need your advice on something", I instantly said, too eager to blurt everything out. She giggled from the other side and teasingly said, "Is this about a man? Or better, your man?"
I groaned hearing her say this and grumbled, "He is not 'my man'".
She shrieked, "So this really is about a man! Wow! I never thought you will take the truth seriously. Tell me, hows he? Is he handsome? What does he do?"
I facepalmed at her questions. How do I tell her that the man she is inquiring about is her brother? Wait wait! Why did I even tell her this? Now, she'll pester me and tease the hell out of me for weeks. I shouldn't have told her that.
"Ahem ahem, don't dream about him, tell me", she teased, her voice fluttery.
"It's nothing, I just saw him with someone else and I don't like it.
I don't even like him, we met recently. I don't even know him properly, it was just professional.
But seeing him what that woman, I am feeling nauseous", I gritted as the image of the two laughing flashed before me.
How come I am jealous over a man I don't even know.
"Ohooo! So that's the matter. Look, accept it that you like him, I felt the same for Yash. I even question my entire life when I see him doing weird things, like how could I even marry him", she blabbered with a giggle when someone from the background yelled, "I think the same for you Dhree".
"Shut up Yash, you don't think the same, you love your very beautiful wife", Adrija yelled back and I rolled my eyes at the two. These two are....gone cases. How did they even find each other? They are crazy!
"So anyway, I was saying that love at first sight is real and you like whosoever it is.
You are only jealous when you love someone.
You of course won't be jealous seeing a random human with his girlfriend, right?
And it might be possible that he was there for some work and that lady isn't her girlfriend.
Okay? Don't judge and before it's too late, accept your feelings", she said like she runs some 'Learn to Accept your Feelings in two days' Institute.
I sighed and mumbled, "I don't like him yaar".
"You do, and you'll realise it soon. And if you got the solution, I am cutting the call, Yash is calling me", she said.
"Yeah, bye. Thanks Dhree", I said and sighed. She disconnected the call, leaving me in chaos. Do I really like him? Do I? Can love really happens at first sight?
He is handsome no doubt, he is cute and charming, but do I really like him?
But if I don't like him then why was I feeling suffocated seeing him talk with some other woman.
I took a deep breath. Maybe it's just infatuation, I'll get over it in a few days.
It's not like I am meeting him daily that my feelings would grow strong.
I turned to open the door of my car when I saw him looking at me.
My cheeks suddenly started feeling hot with anger, or may be because I do like him.
My eyes suddenly stopped at his right hand when I saw that he had his hand wrapped with a bandage.
Not able to control my flattering steps, I went towards him and took his hand in mine.
It was all impulsive but I felt a sharp ache in my chest seeing the blood soaked white bandage.
I looked up in his eyes and questioned, "How did this happen?" His eyes morphed from a surprised look to a pleased one, as if he really liked that I inquired about his injury.
"A minor accident", he said, looking down in my eyes. I felt myself drowning in those beautiful chocolaty eyes which wanted me to explore their depths. Something was uncanny about my body. My hand started tracing his right hand, trying to relieve him of his pain.
"This doesn't looks like minor", I mumbled, paying attention to the dried blood. I still traced his injury and looked up again. He looked dumbfounded, surprised yet I could see a flicker of hope in his eyes. But he needs hope for what?
"I-I- my hand goy slashed with a sharp end of a metal sheet", he accepted honestly. I gasped and asked, "How?"
"Uhh, I was at the construction site of the new hospital and this happened", he said with a pinch of frustration in his tone.
Maybe, not all things went fine there. A part of me wanted to engulf in a hug and tell him that it would be fine, he can forget all the worries.
But the rational part of my shouted to get away from him as soon as possible, Adhyay and I aren't meant to be in this position.
I didn't left his hand instead said, "It would be fine?
" It sounded like I was questioning him.
He smiled warmly at me and croaked, "Yeah, it's not that bad.
Didn't cut my veins and I don't think it will take much time to heal.
I just won't be able to move my hand a lot or grasp things with this hand. Rest everything is fine".
I smiled at his answer and asked, "Did you get it cleaned?" He chuckled and nodded, saying, "Cleaned it myself. It was difficult to do everything with left hand but I did it".
I smiled some more and looked at his sparkling eyes. My heart was suddenly feeling at ease. I was feeling so warm and relaxed. My inner self was compelling me to stay with him.
"Was that your girlfriend?", I suddenly asked, remembering about the lady he was just with. I left his hand, instantly missing the warmth and stepped a bit away, maintaining an uncomfortable distance. His eyes which was sparkling lost their sparkle and instead turned disappointed.
"Who? Dr. Mehta?" He asked, probably confirming from me. So I guessed right, she is a doctor.
I slowly nodded and added, "The one with whom you were talking back inside?"
"Oh! Dr. Mehta only. No! She is not my girlfriend, she is the new cardiologist that signed in for the job.
I am single Akriti", he said, the last of his statement was hushed, like he was telling me that he is single just because of me.
I didn't even know why I asked him or why I felt relieved when he said that he doesn't has a girlfriend and is single.
"Why did you think that, anyway?" He asked, his eyebrows scrunched. I almost felt that he was trying to read my mind but of course, he isn't Doctor Strange right? How can he read minds?
"N-No, I just felt that. Anyway, I'll go now. Take care of your hand and please get it properly cleaned and bandaged. It's really bad", I said and turned to get into my car as soon as possible. I didn't even let him answer. Something is very wrong with me.