An Office Garden

    I badly wanted to know where the hell Denver is. Why he is not coming for service, even if he left his job, he shall have come to say at least a single Goodbye. Though we are not good friends, but as beer partners or at least acquaintances. 

    I picked the landline receiver dialed 3,

    "Good Afternoon, how can I help you?"

    "Can I speak to Mr. Denver White"

    "No personal call Mam, call him on his number, Thank you."

    Fuck. The person on the other side cut the call off. He could give hints at least, like "He can't get the call" or "He is not here" or "He left his job" or any such thing that would help me out. I feel some dumb for calling him.

    I was frustrated all day, looking at the monitor, which also was reminding me about Denver more. But it was not only Monitor, Even Denver has stuck in my mind since our meeting at the office garden. 

    Since I called Austin 'Denver', I was trying my best to behave normal and casual with Austin. Of course I understand, it would definitely suck your mind if the person you love calls you by other name. 

    On the other hand Austin is trying his best to impress me but keeping it casual. As he already is, he won't stop trying to be in my life again. But the good thing was he was not being cheesy anymore, because now he was clear about Lucas. I have no problem with his friendly approach towards me, unless he tries to get me back. I respect his feelings, but this time I just don't want to be in a relationship because he loves me, I want someone whom I love to be my partner. But whatever happened between us in the past, won't make me avoid anymore. He will always be my good memory, good friend.

    "Are you done?" Linda asked, tapping me on the back.

    "Yeah, I am Not even working"  I shut my computer immediately and stood up, taking a bag.

    We stepped outside premises, I was still thinking about Denver, trying to find the reason behind his sudden disappearance. Me and Linda were stepping towards the exit gate, my eyes were on garden globe Light, Where I talked to Denver for the first time. Garden was dark and empty as always, we reached the exit gate, the moment I would step out of the gate I saw someone walking in the garden. I am wishing him to be Denver, I immediately stopped walking. Linda turned to me, giving a weird look.

    "I just forgot to tell you, Emily Aunt is sending her son here with some parcel, so I will wait for him"  I lied. I wanted to check the garden, hoping to see Denver there.

    "I can't give company, what time will he reach?"Linda said casually.

    "No, you must leave, he is coming from Frido, so I just can't ask him to leave immediately, we will hang out some while maybe. I will manage."

    "Sure? I can wait till he comes if you want me to?"

    "No" I said raising my voice, I mean "Thank you, but it will be more awkward if he see you leaving"

    "Yeah right" She said,"Fine then, take care and call me when you reach home"

    "Sure, Bye" 

    "Bye"

    Linda may have noticed a hurry in voice and sudden change in behavior. She left giving me a weird look. I was still at the gate, Waiting Linda to go far, pretending to wait for Emily, aunt's Son.

    I turned immediately when I saw Linda disappeared. I stepped inside the Gate, walking towards the garden, as fast as I could. I reached the garden, No one was there, I looked around, went to the bench, Looking for the sign that he was here. But I couldn't find anything, a beer cap, bottle, nothing. I remember him last time keeping caps, bottles in his bag while leaving.

    His absence there frustrated me. This is the same place, where I used to like to spend time alone, finding myself. And now the first time ever I am here to find someone else. We aren't even friends. I was standing there like idol, thinking all this, someone grabbed me from back, screaming ghostly,

    I started screaming loudly "Nh-Nh-Noo, Noo Please don't don't"

    The person grabbing me, left me and started laughing loudly, I turned immediately. It was him, Denver. He was laughing, pointing at me, repeating "Look at your face."

    "It's not funny, Not at all," I said, angrily. I picked my bag, which fell when he grabbed, and walked to leave.

    "Hey, hey, stop please stop" He halted me, standing in front. He saw a tear dropping on my chick He continued, "Are you crying, please I am sorry, I am sorry, I won't repeat, Never, Never  I promise, I am sorry" 

    He grabbed my face in between both of his palms, wiping my tears with his thumb, "I am sorry" He whispered, Looking straight into my eyes. 

    This is the first time he looked handsome to me, I couldn't look away from his eyes. His touch was warm and calming me down. He was caressing my face with his finger. Repeating whispering "I am sorry". 

    I was angry, Very much, but not for him scaring me away, Bcoz I felt his absence the whole week around me, but somewhere he didn't. I was still looking at his face like I have seen him after decades. We had only 4 meetings till today, after the 1st meeting, I wished, I wanna never see his face again and the rest of our meeting was meaningless. Still his absence sucked me., it gained all my attention than this was the only week I did not complain or worry about my fucked up life, my penny earning, my no plans for future, nothing. 

    "I need to leave" I replied, removing his hands from my face, avoiding eye contact.

    "Leave if you want to, but can you please give me company for a while.?"

    "You don't deserve it" 

    I walked to leave, He Held my hand immediately and pulled me to his side. He grabbed me in his arm, hugging me tight. He was caressing me with his folded hand around me. He kept his hand on my head, caressing my hair, whispering in my ear "I am sorry, I know I did wrong, I did not realise this will scare you much, I promise, I won't repeat it ever, please stay little longer for me."

    I felt his lips too close to my ears. Each word of him was music to my ears. What he said was very casual may be, but the way he said, it got in my heart. I couldn't control myself, I hugged him back, the moment I folded my hand around him, He held me tighter. The feeling of being in his arms was so protective. I rested my head on his shoulder, He was keep caressing me, I lost myself in him.

    "Are you ok?" He whispered in my ear.

    "Yes, I am ok, I just.. I just.." I said, stepping back from him.

    "It's ok, Its ok, and I am sorry, this was just for.., I hope you don't.." He said, looking away from me.

    His half sentences were showing that we both were equally nervous, I know he hugged me to stop me, calm me down, but hugging him back was not a good idea. I don't know exactly what calms me down, his presence, his warm and tight touch, or his words. Maybe it all worked together. We remain silent for a while, avoiding looking at each other. I was regretting hugging him back, though somewhere in my mind, I knew it had to be done, it had to be felt. I was expecting a beautiful turn in my life, maybe meeting Denver was that beautiful turn.

    "It's colder today" Breaking the silence, He said.

    "Yeah" I said, trying to be casual, managing my body language.

    "Beer?" He said picking his bag,

    "No, thanks" 

    We were taking a long pause between each of our talks. But still I am loving these small talks. I wanted this moment to stop, and last my whole life. 

    "Can we please get seated, my legs hurt." He said in a childish tone. He looked cute.

    "Sure" I said smiling and turning to the bench.

    My smile made him comfortable. He smiled at me back. He looked back in his teasy mood. 

    "What brought you here today, I mean it is not Month end, or overtime day" He asked, wanting me to speak, making me more comfortable.

    "Nothing" I replied, avoiding having a conversation.

    "I think someone missed me today" He taunted me.

    "Who?" I asked without looking at him.

    "A girl, with straight hair, Hypnotic Blackish brown eyes, soft pink lips, mole on back neck, Smells like a rose." He described me in words, I could never do myself. I smiled without saying a word, without looking at him.

    He kept trying to make me talk "Just accept, that you missed me today"

    "Me? Haha, No way" I replied. Respecting his efforts.

    "Can I speak to Mr. Denver white?" He teased making a girly sound.

    "Ok I called, also asked the other technician but it was just because I was expecting you to come with monitor and not him"

    "Ohh, Is it so? What about bracelet calls? What was that?"

    "It's because I thought they fired you," I said. The embarrassment lowered my voice.

    "What if they would have done?" He asked me looking straight into my eyes.

    "Then I would have called your boss, and told him to give your job back, but only if you would have begged me to do so" I replied in the same way as he asked.

    "Really, and why would I do that?"

    "Because your boss is my friend"

    "Is he? Really? I did not know that"

    "Yeah, but now you know, so keep in mind before you woo me for next time, It will affect your job too."

I lied to tease him, but now I am thinking of stretching this, I can take advantage of this lie, teasing him more. I stood up, picking my bag, 

    "Need to leave, Have home stuff to do"

    "Your wish" He stood up too, and continued "May I drop you"

    "Its not that late, I can manage"

    "Fine" He replied in lower voice.

    We stepped together towards the exit. We both were silent, avoiding to look at each other, looking at our shadows. 

    "You want me to come for your service for tomorrow too?" He asked, winking at me. Opening door of the taxi.

    "I remember saying I expected you to come, but you are welcome, if you want to" I winked him back. Taxi left. 

                                                                                            ***

    It's been 4 PM, I am tired of attending stupid calls, Yesterday's meeting was keep running in my mind, sometimes thinking it could have been better, and sometimes regretting about somethings. I shall have asked for his contact, but for what purpose. He may have come in office, But I can see him only while coming in or leaving office. Or yes, if anyone else registers a complaint, but though its not confirmed that only he would work on all such random complaints. All these random thoughts kept running in my mind. My body was in the office, but not my soul. 

    "Don't miss me please" someone whispered in my ears, I turned back and stood up,

    "Denver" I whispered back, "What are you doing here"

    Linda looked at us, wondering what was going on.

    "I am here for service" Denver turned his tone into formal.

    "But, I don't remember registering any complaint," I replied in a more professional way. I saw Linda turning to her computer again.

    "Madam, it's a regular visit. Actually, the new part attached to your monitor yesterday need to recheck" he said, winking and smiling.

    "Sure" I looked at him surprisingly. I got up and stood in the corner.

    He pretended working, opening-closing random windows. Smiling at me and I was looking at him smiling back. I don't understand what exactly it was going on, but I was enjoying this.