Chapter 2 - It was all a dream

"Aaahh!", Aria screamed as she opened her teary eyes.

She was covered in sweat, her heart pounding hard as she cautiously looked around to figure out where she was. Her legs didn't hurt and her head was perfectly fine.

Was it a dream?

She wasn't sure where she was as the tear in her eye blurred her vision. After wiping off the tear in her eyes, she looked around again. This time, she was sure of where she was. She was in her room, on her bed.

She sat up and breathed a sigh of relief as she realized it was a dream.

"It is just a dream.", she said, trying to make herself feel better.

She was still on her bed when she heard a knock on her door. Before she could give a reply, Lila Pardeshi went rushing into her room.

"Are you okay?", Lila quickly asked.

It was obvious from the look on her face that she was worried about Aria.

"Are you still experiencing nightmares?"

It wasn't Aria's first time experiencing a nightmare. In fact, for the past few days, she had been waking up screaming, with tears in her eyes.

Aria, still overwhelmed by her nightmare doesn't respond.

"Are you okay?", Lila asked again, concern written all over her face.

Aria, finally shaking off the thoughts of her nightmare, turned to Lila. "You can't just barge into my room and start interrogating me."

"I didn't barge in, I knocked before entering." Lila countered.

"And I'm not interrogating you, I'm concerned about you...about your health."

"I don't see why me having nightmares should be a concern of yours", Aria said coldly.

"It is. I am your doctor.", Lila answered.

"Your health matters to me."

"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine so please leave my room.", Aria said forcing a smile.

"I'm not only talking about your physical health but also your mental health."

"Dr. Pardeshi, are you trying to say that I'm not okay mentally?"

"No, that's not -"

Before she could finish explaining herself, Aria cut in; "Good. You can leave now."

"Okay.", Lila answered feeling a little disappointed.

As Lila turned around to leave, Aria asked her; I hope you're already looking for a new apartment.

"Don't worry about that. I won't be staying here more than a month as promised.", Lila replied.

"Cool.", she said, showing no emotions.

A week ago, Lila had asked to stay in Aria's house for a month as she just arrived in the country after a long vacation and didn't have a place to stay. Aria had agreed to let her stay as long as she minded her own business. "You do your thing, I do mine", she had said. Lila had agreed to mind her business but added that if Aria's health were involved, she would interfere. "I'm perfectly fine so you won't have to worry", Aria had said.

She and Lila had a doctor-patient relationship, nothing more. And Aria wanted to keep it that way, no unnecessary familiarity.

"Now, I have three weeks to find an apartment to live in.", Lila said in a whisper before leaving Aria's room.

"Was I too harsh?", Aria thought to herself.

"It's better this way.", she reminded herself before inhaling deeply.

"Augh!", she said in frustration as rays of the morning sun fell directly on her face through her window.

"I guess it's time to get ready for work.", she finally said, getting up from her bed, as she made her way to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, she came out of her room dressed in a red power suit and black 4-inch stilettoes, feeling confident and ready to start the day. She looked perfect from head to toe and she loved it.

She turned around and started to leave the house when she heard the loud voice of Lila which stopped her in her tracks.

"Wait.", Lila yelled behind her.

"You're not going to drive to work yourself, are you?", Lila asked her.

Aria had fired her driver just the day before.

"I am.", she answered.

"You know you shouldn't drive yourself. It -"

"Don't worry. I'll find another driver soon.", Aria quickly added before Lila could continue.

She knew she shouldn't drive by herself but she didn't care. Before Lila could say another word, Aria quickly walked away and left the house.

She went to the integral garage where her black sedan car was safely parked, entered her car and slowly drove off.

*****

On her way to the office, she decided to stop by her regular coffee shop for a cup of coffee.

Entering the coffee shop, she walked straight to the counter to order her coffee.

The coffee shop was quiet, only a few people were seated, drinking their coffee. The coffee shop was usually less busy at that time of the day which was why she loved going there. She wouldn't have to wait in line just to make her order.

"What are you having?", the barista asked her.

"I'll have a tall double shot latte here.", she replied.

"Alright. It'll be ready in a minute.", the barista said.

Looking at him, she felt something different. Something she could not quite put her finger on.

"You must be new here.", she finally asked him.

"I am.", he answered her while still preparing her beverage.

She was a regular at that coffee shop and it was her first time seeing him there.

"Here you go.", the barista said handing her a cup of hot latte.

"Thanks.", she said as she collected her coffee then turned around to take a seat on one of the chairs there.

She sat down and started sipping her coffee before she would head for work.

The barista slowly panned his head in her direction, fixing his gaze on her. He knew he had seen her before. After seconds of failed attempts to remember where he had seen her, he brushed it aside and shifted his gaze away from her.

Aria finally finished her coffee and turned to take one more glance at the barista.

"Why does he look so familiar?", she said in a loud voice without realizing it.

"Did I just say that out loud?", she whispered to herself.

"I hope he didn't hear me."

To be sure he didn't hear her, she slowly looked in his direction, only to have her eyes meet with his.

Uh-oh. He heard her.