Jealous & Jaded
"Nahi... hum busy nahi hain she said primly not making eye contact "Hamey laga aap Chandu ko miss karenge if you think of Hemant you know... its like he is Hemant's child she gave a rather elementary explanation
"I didn't actually sleep in the same bed with Hemant.. so I guess I am OK he laughed uncontrollably
The joke sunk in slowly, she turned redder
"Not funny she warned waving a finger
"You are gullible he nodded with a serious look
"I AM NOT... I have lived and worked in Delhi and have worked for a bank. They don't let you manage money if you are dumb
"I didn't say dumb... I said innocent he taunted
"Hum innocent bhi nahi hain... I am very sharp and very aware and very astute
"That's a whole lot of "very don't you think? he laughed
"Aap har word ko itne dhyaan se kyon sunte hain? she asked curiously
"Kyon ki words heen hain jo hamey jitate ya haraate hain he muttered
"Oh yeah Lawyer "Pfft "What was I thinking she grinned
"You seriously did not have a boyfriend? he asked trying to not make himself sound angry
"Umm... she lowered her gaze self consciously
"I am surprised you didn't get asked out he said possessively
"Delhi mein... friends mein... you know, there are all sorts of friends she parried
"And?
"I didn't... I wasn't interested in guys that were interested in me she said slowly
"What kind of guys were thoe? he asked softly
"You know... umm.. Dilli ke hi... lots of Punjabi guys... they dress well, and spend a lot of money she giggled
He was listening, with rapt attention
"What would you say to them? he coaxed
"Dad hamey maar daalte... she laughed "No... I guess I didn't think about it much the last couple years. I should say they didn't... because who wants a 26 year old with a kid she smiled self deprecatingly
"You are not self aware he said quietly
She flushed at his scrutiny
"Hamey itne sawaal kar rahe hain, aap batayen AAPKE kitni girlfriends reh chuki hain she smiled trying not to make eye contact
"Oh, you know... I am just a boring lawyer that wears black he said impishly
Her own words thrown back at her, somehow sounded sexy and dangerous when he said it.
"So no serious relationships then? she asked looking him straight in the eyes
"None he said softly
They ate quietly the next few minutes, she rejoicing there was no one, he did the same.
"I am sorry for being so upset that night Avantika he began again
She was startled to hear a simple direct apology
She nodded pleasantly
"I don't think you did anything wrong. I think I may have over reacted. Considering what happened in the waiting room. Bauji has approved ending visitor hours at 5 I believe? So you are free to go down whenever you like
"Except... YOU wont be there she said
And realizing she spoke to directly about wanting to see him she exhaled awkwardly
"I am still looking for a place
"Why cant you meet case owners at home and have visitor hours?
He smiled slowly
"Because people often don't respect posted signs and show up any way, begging and crying and the guards at the gate allow them in. It will take a whole lot of coaching and retraining to help them understand we want to be strict
"Can some one else attend to them after hours?
"Yes, Bauji has a bunch of clerks and paralegals and assistants, I have a few
"I am going to make sure that never happens again he said when she didn't look up from her plate
"Ma ko pasand nahi ki aap naye office mein jaayen she played her final card
"So its not you but its actually her? he goaded
"hamari to aap sunte nahi she ssaid in such a tired indifferent married-for-30-years tone, he exploded into laughter
She smiled when she realized how she might have sounded
"For a couple that hasn't even made love yet, that sounded very jaded Avantika he grinned
"I am sorry she said sheepishly, covering her eyes
"I am too ( for delaying the physical intimacy way too long) he said delicately
"Pick a place, we can go away he suggested
"You pick she said eagerly
"Rishikesh he muttered
"Now who is jaded? she said shocked
"You'll see he said with a passionate promise
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