Names of businesses
"You said I was free to go and come?" she questioned
"I also said I HATE cats" he was angry
She looked up at him alarmed
"I am sorry I didnt say that. But I hate cats. " he stopped
"I wont bring him home" she promised
"trisha, can you tell me when you are planning a trip again?" he waved at her asking her to stop
She nodded quietly
"I will tell you when I am going to be gone?" he offered
She nodded fighting the lump in her throat
"i am sorry I was upset" she mumbled
"Oh I understand" he smirked reminding himself of how ticked he was at not finding her on Monday evening
she didnt ask him where he went though he wished she would.
He doesnt pay for my trip or my food
So he shouldnt worry where I go and how long I am gone
I should remember to be "cool" about his disappearance.
He showered and changed and watched TV, she slept to the comfortable sounds of the distant TV.
They woke around the same time. He was not a morning person. He needed a shot in the leg to wake up early and get to work.
She was asleep when he was ready for work
There was a knock on the door
It was Prasad with the cat
"Trishaaa" Ashvin hollered
She had never heard that holler before she woke up confused and walked out,
"Your cat's here" Ashvin said as the creature pretended not to look at him, instead slid off his arms and went to his couch and sat down.
They chatted as Ashvin went inside
"I have to thank you for doing this" Prasad said
"I love cats" she declared
"Thats good but still. Can I take you out to dinner as a thank you?" he insisted
"Umm.. I only came two days ago from Ullal" she mumbled
"Sure, take your time, but I owe you a treat"
She nodded and shut the door.
"Why is there so much food?" Ashvin came out
"Umm.. you didnt let the lady know" she said
"I texted her" he said frustrated
"You dont eat at home?" he asked
She shook her head gently "I sometimes make my food"
"But I thought we went over this in the prenup" he challenged
"Its OK I dont eat punjabi food everyday"
"Umm.. can you tell her what to cook? what you like to eat?" he asked baffled
"I am OK I can make my food"
"Oh I see that" he blurted
As she tried to fig out what he meant by that pot shot she realized he was referring to her burn scars
"I dont know how to cook restaurant food" she admitted honestly
"You told Chirag you cannot make anything without burning yourself"
"My father makes food sometimes, or brings leftovers. I cook some things" she changed course
"Its covered in the prenup. You should eat at home" he said firmly
"I eat when I am hungry" she argued
"Trisha I am really not in a mood for arguing" he raised his voice
"I am not arg.."
"We are. Let me know if you want to sit down tonight we can review the pages about food and such" he reminded
"I dont"
"Then please eat" he said blandly
He was unemotional. Like he was talking to a business partner
Why will she eat? This is like an office to her.
The cat walked over and rubbed its tail on her calf
She picked it up
"You fed the cat" he said
He had noticed the bowl with some leftover soggy spinach, cheese, banana and bread crumbs
"I looked up what people food they eat and gave it some" she said
"I dont care for the cat" he was impatient now
"Its a cute cat. Its big and fluffy. It wanders quietly and sits on my lap and stretches" she explained
How can you hate it?
"Essay over?" he asked
She turned red, a lil amused herself as she realized how her spiel must have sounded
"They dont even bark like dogs or want to be let out 5 times a day" she continued
"trisha... trisha" he begged
"I wont feed the cat if you dont want me to"
"I didnt say that. I dont want to hear nice things about it" he sulked
He turned to go to his room
"There is nobody else to say nice things about" she mumbled chuckling
He turned and froze as he watched her smile wide
"You think so?" he whispered aproaching her
She backed into the wall
the cat raising his head to look at him like "where do you think you are coming now?" look
"I meant you dont have any animals" she whispered.
"ONE cat's enough" he said poking the bloated animal in its belly, it screeched and got off her arms and slithered inside.
She studied that afternoon yanking her mind back to her papers and focussing with difficulty
Not waiting for the phone to ring with Rao Anna's phone call
She called her father, he answered politely and spoke little
When Ashvin returned in the evening, he was with Chirag
The cook didnt show that day.
The men talked about sports cricket, weather and the trip and work
She didnt make coffee today as Chirag told her he was full from lunch
She was in her room until...
Ashvin grabbed some water from the frig all ready to leave
"Are you going to tell me soon" she asked
He turned surprised "About what?"
"You said you will tell me when you go" she reminded
"I meant trips." he said
"OK.. thanks" she said agreeably
"I can tell you when I leave on one condition" he said
"what?"
"You will start eating the food made at home"
"I am not doing it to cause trouble. I dont eat that type of food"
"Then tell the lady what you eat and let her make it for you" he instructed
"We dont have that kind of relationship. I am OK making my food This whole thing is not a real.
There should not be expectations. I only wanted keys (thats why i stayed up)" she told him softly
Her honesty would badger him long afterwards. She was not delusional. She was as aloof inside as she was on the outside.
She was wearing a frilly midi dress in turqoise as she looked up a jar of spice on the shelf she had brought from Ullal.
He wondered if her favorite color was blue also. She stopped nervously leaning on the frig hoping he would pass by her
"I can see you can make your food. You have been" he said quietly approaching her
"Dont feel obliged to take care of me" she muttered
They stood less than a foot from each other. He was ready for his evening. No socks sperry feet and folded denim and a white shirt.
He didnt know what it was but she had a distinct scent. It had begun to arouse him the last few hours... OK may be few days...
"I wont" he promised softly, his tone unconvincing even to his own ears.
"this is all business" she clarified waving her hands with one holding the jar
trying to convince herself.
"Oh business relationships have expectations too" he said grabbing her jar and holding it up high above his head.
"Ashwinnn!!!" she screeched going on her toes and trying to smack it down with her fingers, hoping to grab it back.
She said it with a "W" sound, everyone that knew him said it with a V sound.
She jumped up and yanked her jar down by pulling on it, he would then return it to her.
he would channel that name calling late into the night, that night.
Edited by Nisha0604 - 6 years ago