Chapter 2
Alright it was 9 right now. I needed to sleep by 12. That gave me 3 hours. Rehearse for my interview till 10, by then dad would fall asleep. Ten to ten thirty--plan out the week's expenses. Ten thirty to eleven, dinner.
At eleven in hushed steps I'd head downstairs to his door. He'd be waiting with conversation that would decide the fate of the night. And at 10 to 12, I'd cut his promised hour short, like I always did. And in a protesting smile he'd allow my leave, like he always did.
***
"Will you ever wear a shirt around the house?" I guided myself through the mess with a method his apartment was.
"I mean I wear them outside and when your dad comes over," He answered with the cold pizza hanging from his mouth as he tried to put the room in some semblance of order.
I honestly wondered sometimes, what I was doing with him.
"I'm just saying if you get sick because of your Tarzan-esque ways again, don't expect me to drive you to that horrid Dr. Strum of yours," I heard a chuckle.
"You're just jealous she has the hots for me,"
"If jealous means relieved in your book then I'm burning with envy."
"Jealous or relieved...I'm just going leave your tender heart be with this oh so sensitive topic," he separated the papers on the couch from Stuff to Important Stuff.
"How was work?" I helped him out, well tried to at the least.
"Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of the caffeine addicts... oh but Mr. Brooks for once was pretty sober today."
"No way,"
"Well I mean, 'till noon before his wife stepped in," he explained hooking his notebook up with the charger.
"It's not plugged in," I whispered.
"I knew that," he quickly reverted to the original conversation, "I honestly feel bad for the poor guy."
Finally I reclined my tense bones to the warmth of his lap. He fiddled around with my hair for a bit, I liked that.
"Any update on the novel?"
"3 more rejections, what's new?"
"On the psychopathic murderer or the corrupt politician?"
"The corrupt politician, I swear it's all a conspiracy!" he dramatized while opening a word doc.
"You know I don't enjoy sharing your holy lap with your fat notebook,"
"Ok no, you do not insult Mumtaz like that, you're not the only one in this room that has feelings,"
"I'm in love with a man who named his laptop after a dead Empress. Clearly I've turned out alright,"
"Did you just say you're in love with me?"
"I swear your pathetic attempt at looking shocked would give the beauty pageants a run for their money,"
"Well then, I'll have you know the feelings are mutual."
I rolled my eyes, "Why can't you just say it? Three words, well four actually,"
"I'll say it when you do, explicitly," the corners of his lips began to fold. Teasing me won't get anyone far.
"Have it your way,"
I'd gotten used to it. But somethings were just hard to say.
"Your interviews?"
"I think we're going through a mutual rejection faze."
It was after the words left my mouth that I felt the weight of the words I'd said. It couldn't keep going on like this. How long was I going to manage of Dollar Tree minimum wage and Dad's retirement money? Before I know it dad's going to be gone, without a single day of complete bliss. And I'll still be washing cars and telling 5-year-olds who were without a doubt more mature than their parents to stop playing with the bouncy balls on aisle 5.
"Zoe?"
"Still alive," I assured him. It took one look and he knew it all, not the specifics rather the emotions. His half unsure smile asked if I was alright, all I could offer was a blank face.
"Hey," he fancied himself with my cheeks. His touch abrasive yet not so surprisingly soft. He drew tantalizing portraits on my skin and before I even knew it the ambiance of the room had taken a major turn.
He came closer, I knew I'd retreat, eventually. But for these few seconds, I wanted the illusion. After the first kiss, he let go.
My eyes beginning to fill with sleep blurred my vision. For a few seconds I decided to give in to fantasy and yet I thanked him for understanding me before I understood myself.
Letting go was hard, but I did offer a kiss in compensation. He had let go a while ago, but I still felt his hold.
It was ten to twelve, I must take my leave.
*** A/N: There was more dialogue than I would've liked. But I felt as though the characters needed to speak for themselves. Their equation is close to my heart. -Shweta
Edited by -ForeverYours- - 11 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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