- Chapter 9 -
Breakfast was a silent affair that morning. It was complete awkwardness for the two strangers who now sat not even 2 feet apart. There was an air of discomfort looming over the atmosphere. Both knew that there were many things that needed to be said. Many things that needed to be asked. But neither knew where to start. Their eyes met and their eyes drifted. The sound of forks clattering against the ceramic plates was deafening. Their hearts beat loudly, as nervousness wound around them. Arnav was especially surprised. He had never realized the feeling of being nervous. He had never felt it. And then today... in front of this girl... his heart was beating like it had never beat before. "Th-the food is nice." The girl spoke at last. Arnav could feel goosebumps on his skin. He resisted the urge to shudder at the angelic voice that spoke and instead, grunted, as if acknowledging her presence.
"You have a great house...." She added, trying to make conversation. All she received was a second grunt. Her eyes wandered to her plate, realizing that the man in front of her was obviously not one of many words. She closed her eyes, sighing. The silence was killing her. Especially since she had so many things she had to say to him. So many things she had to ask. And so, eventually, unable to resist herself, she was the first to begin the conversation.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked. He looked up, his brown eyes suddenly cold. He had expected this question from her. "Doing what?" He asked, icily. Does he really not know? She wondered. "This..." She replied slowly. "Helping me last night... saving me from the accident...allowing me to stay in your house...." He stiffened. "I'm not answerable to you." He murmured before returning to his breakfast. The girl was surprised. She had been prepared to hear anything. Any possible explanation. But how did one prepare themselves for such a response. He mouth was open. She wanted to say something. Retaliate. But her mind was suddenly blank of comebacks.
"Close your mouth." Came his curt reply. "You look like a fish."
Although she had silently obeyed his command, her eyes remained fixed on him, curiously. She didn't know how long she had continued to stare at him, but she figured it must have been a while, because she suddenly heard his voice, breaking her out of her thoughts. "I'm leaving." He pushed his seat back, standing up. She looked at him, confused. "Where?" He gave her an odd look before he threw his napkin on the table and let out an obviously exhasperated sigh. "Where does a person go, carrying a briefcase, decked out in suit and tie so early in the morning? In MY world, they go to WORK." The girl felt humiliated. Apparently it was also wrong in his world to ask questions. So when it came to asking the next question, she was unusually nervous. She wasn't prepared for another of his snide remarks. "Leaving me all alone?" She whispered. He blinked in wonderment. Looks like she's completely gone nuts after that accident. "You don't expect me to come with me do you? I see you have some high hopes." He rolled his eyes grabbing his coat and heading towards the door. "And before you think that I've let you completely off the loose let me inform you that I have cameras in every area of this house. Steal anything, and I swear it won't be pretty." He threatened, not even offering her a backward glance.
There it came. Another humiliation. Although it had only been a day since she had met him, she was starting to get a fair idea about his character. Ekdum dheela. She thought. I mean, she knew he had offered her a place to stay.... She knew he was putting food on her plate. And she was grateful for that. But were his offensive remarks really necessary? She certainly didn't think so.
"I'll be back around 6." He added before making his way out the door.
She decided to remain silent, in order to avoid his comments. Her eyes were fixed on the bowl of cereal in front of her. Strange. It tasted different. As if this was not the type of food she was usually accustomed to. She stirred her spoon, absentmindedly, through the milk. So much had happened in so little time. And somehow, she had made her way into a place she would probably never even think to go in her wildest of dreams. Destiny? Perhaps. What were the chances of her ending up here? Why was she even here? She suddenly wondered if everyone was as thoughtful as Mr. Raizada. How many people, after witnessing an accident, would not only bring the victim to their house, but also give her a place to stay and food to eat? Not many, she assumed. And then she decided it. This man was as strange as the bowl of cereal in front of her.
Sighing, she let go of the spoon and pulled back from her chair. The servent of the house immediately rushed to clean up the area. "Hari Prakash ji!" She interrupted, suddenly. "Leave it. I'll do it myself."
"Par...aap, memsaahb? (But you, miss?)" He asked, surprised. "Ji. Main dekh loongi! Waise bhi, itne badde ghar me poora din kya karoon main? (Yes, I'll see to it. Anyway, what will I do the entire day in a house so big?" He nodded. "Jaisi aapki marzi. (As you wish)"
The girl smiled. At least this would keep her occupied for an hour or so. She followed HP into the kitchen. What she saw was beyond her imagination. All the cabinets and cupboards were pure white and rimmed with gold around the borders. In the dead centre was a counter with a large, intricate glass chandalier hanging from above. The countertops were all made of marble stone and the young girl could not spot even a speck of dirt in the entire room. She scanned the entire area, awestruck. The kitchen, which she assumed would be the messiest place of the house, was perhaps the neatest and appeared completely unused.
If HP hadn't spoken at that very moment, she may have remained lost in admiration for a long time.
But he did. "Shuru karein memsaahb? (Shall we start, miss?)" She nodded, slowly heading over to the sink and dumping her bowl of cereal in it. There were no other dishes to be cleaned. In fact, she wondered if the man even HAD any other dishes! She couldn't see any! Shaking her head, she returned to the task at hand. No WAY this was going to last her an hour....
Maybe if she did it really slowly.....
"Aap theek tho hain na, memsaahb? (are you alright?)" Asked HP, breaking her out of her reverie. "HP ji, aapse ek baat puchoon? (Can I ask you something?)"
"Jee, beshak! (Yes, without a doubt!"
"Aapke saahb aapko kis baat ki paise dete hain? Yahaan tho kuch saaf karne ke liye bhi nahi hai! (What does your boss pay you for? There's nothing here to clean!)"
He chuckled. "Tho ye baat chal raha tha aapke man me! Aaj tak main ye sawaal ka jawab nahi dhoondh paya hoon memsaahb! Main tho bas ye samajh leta hoon ke ye sab bhagwaan ki daya aur maalik ki achayi ki waja se hain! (So that's what was going on in your mind! I haven't been able to figure out the answer to this question even today, miss! I just believe that it's 'Maalik's' [Arnav's] and God's kindness!"
She nodded, thoughtfully.
"Aapko lagta hai ke aapke maalik achhe hain? (Do you think your boss is a nice man?)" It was a question she was dying to know the answer for. Arnav was giving her mixed feelings. At times she felt so comfortable around him that it made her feel as if she were always meant to be here... and at others.... she felt as if she was staying with a stranger.
HP looked at her, knowingly.
"Jaante hain, mehmsaab. Pehli mulaakat me sab humaare maalik ke baareme aise hi sochte hain. Par jitne sakt woh bahar se dikhte hain na, andar se utne hi naram hain. Buhot acche hain, humaare maalik. Warna, hum jaise log, iss badi si duniya me na rahete. (I know, miss. At first sight, everyone thinks the same of my boss. But he's as soft on the inside as he is strict on the outside. He's very nice, my master! Otherwise, people like me would not be able to survive in a world like this.)"
*updating*
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