Chapter 17

Athira Patel

Dev made a delicious pasta for the both of us once we reached our flat. I love his cooking because he will make yummy and mouth-watering varieties of food. So I always find ways to skip cooking so that he can cook for us. He won't mind though. He likes to cook for me. So I use it as a bait for excuse. He bears everything for me and cares a lot for me. Sometimes I feel like I am the luckiest girl to get a friend like him. When I was in my high school I had a crush on him but he got nidhi as his girlfriend. So from then on I never gave a thought about it and moved on when Akash came to my life. Even today I know that whoever he loves will be the lucky girl.

We both took the seats on the dining table and started eating our delicious pasta. No scratch that. It's more like digging the pasta and devouring the taste of it.

"How was your day? It took you so long to log out today." He asked looking at me and placing his pasta in his mouth.

"Ya. It was a busy day. I have started designing today and we all got another task too" I said keeping a spoonful of pasta in my mouth.

"Oh Really. That's good. It's no surprise though. I have already thought that you will start it today" He said smiling "What task you got again?" He asked taking another mouthful. I have explained to him about the task while we completed eating. We both started doing dishes when there was a knock on the door. I said to him that I will answer and got to the front door opening it only to be welcomed by a warm smile from Aunty.

"Hello beta. How are you?" He asked once she released me from the hug. I am still in a shock to reply. I didn't expect her to directly visit our house. But still it's nice to see her.

"I am fine Aunty. How are you? And what a surprise? Please come in" I said smiling and opening the door widely for her to enter inside.

"This place looks good Athira" She said looking at our flat holding a smile on her face. "Sorry for coming by without asking. I was feeling pretty bored. And don't want to be alone. Thought you might have come home, so just came by" she said looking at me and explaining it hesitatingly.

"Oh no. It's fine Aunty. It's not a problem. I thought of coming to your flat itself. Please take your seat" I said smiling and gesturing her towards the couch in the living room.

"Who is that Choti?" Dev asked from the kitchen.

"It's top floor aunty. Come here" I explained Dev and took the seat beside her.

"So aunty, want to have tea or coffee?" I asked looking at her when Dev entered the hall looking in between the both of us not knowing what to say or do. It's hilarious seeing him like this.

"Hey Dev. This is the.. " I turned towards the Aunty since I didn't know her name. My intelligent brain forgot to ask. Good job Athira.

"Hema beta" aunty said smiling at me to which I laughed awkwardly.

"Ya right. This is hema aunty from the penthouse. And aunty this is Dev, my best friend" I said introducing both of them and smiling towards them.

"Hello aunty. It's nice to finally meet you. She was saying about you yesterday" he said smiling kindly at her and sat beside me.

"Ohh really. It's nice to meet you too. I thought she was staying alone. It's a relief that you are there to look after her" she said looking at me and smiling.

"Haha. That's nothing. She is my friend and it's my responsibility. Uncle will kill me if I don't look after this idiot" he explained nudging my shoulder and winking at me.

"It's good to hear that you care for her. I'm surprised that you both are not a couple up to now" she said wondering looking at our side.

Woah.. again? Why everyone thinks that we are couples.. it's surprising.

"God.. no. We are not couples aunty. We are just friends" I said laughing and turning towards Dev shaking my head. He smiled somewhat forcefully. What happened to him suddenly? I looked at him asking 'what happened' to which he just shook his head.

"Ya aunty. We are just friends. Everyone thinks that we are couples because of our closeness. That's it" Dev explained her looking at me and smiling in assurance. I think it was just my imagination that he smiled like that. You have lost your brain girl. These days you are getting out of hand. And this is all because of that Abhilash.

Wow.. welcome to my unknown stalker. I just remembered him again. Can't you leave me alone you dumbhead. Why do you always have to be in my head to irritate me. Is it not enough that you are irritating me at the office? Go away Abhilash. I'm not in the mood to think of you dammit. Someone nudged me at the shoulder at the same time to which I looked at my left side to find Dev asking me if I'm ok.

"Ya I am ok. Why so?" I asked kind of confused that why he is asking me like that.

"You just zoned out. Aunty was asking you about your office details" Dev explained looking at me in concern and somewhat unknown expression.

"Ohh. Sorry aunty. I was thinking about something. We are working in Gordon saint Architects as junior Interior Designers. We are still under training though" I said smiling at her proudly.

"It's ok. Really. That's a very good company you got into. Congratulations to the both of you" she said smiling at the both of us.

"Thank you" we both said at the same time.

"I forgot to ask. Did you have your dinner?" I asked remembering since it's already 8:00 PM.

"No. I have to. But not in a mood to have. So came to just visit you." She said smiling sadly. Don't know why but looking at her like that I felt like to go and hug her to comfort her. It's confirm that something is bothering her. Anyone can tell just by looking at her. I turned towards Dev to see that he too observed it.

"It's not good to sleep on an empty stomach. You ladies chit chat meanwhile I will just go and prepare something fast" Dev said winking at us and getting up from the couch.

"Oh no. Don't bother. It's fine. I will just order something later beta" aunty said, shaking her head.

"It's fine Aunty. It's not a big deal. He is very good at cooking. Just try once." I said, assuring her that it's not that big of a deal for us.

"Yes. And how can I let a beautiful lady like you to sleep on an empty stomach? It's not fair to Dev's dictionary you know" he said standing dramatically opening his hands and posing. What a playboy he is… he always knows what to say because aunty started laughing full heartedly listening to this.

"Oh my god.. boy. I'm your mother's age. So please don't try it on me now. May be if I am younger I might have responded positively to you" aunty too said flirting with him and smirking.

"My goodness. Who wants age when a lady is ready to give me a chance" he countered back equally smirking at her.

" Oh sush… You are flattering me boy. I must say he is one hell of a package deal" aunty said smiling widely looking at me to which I nodded in acceptance.

"Ya he is" I said smiling at him in a thankful manner.

"Ok ladies. Wait for Chef Dev's special dish." He said and turned around to go to kitchen while humming some tune.

"So aunty, I don't know if I am crossing a line. But I can see that you are feeling sad. It can be seen in your eyes clearly. May I know what happens if you don't mind" I asked looking at her after a few minutes of silence between us.

"Is it that transparent?" She asked looking down placing both of her hands in her lap.

"Yes" I said still looking at her waiting for her to explain. For quite sometime she didn't speak anything. I thought she needs time to express. So I waited patiently for her to open up.

"Today is my husband's birthday" she spoke so quietly that if I am not seated near to her then I won't be able to listen. I didn't understand what the problem is in that. I think I don't need to wonder much because her next words answered my every question. "And I miss him a lot today compared to other days. It's been 5 years already since he is dead but still it feels like everything happened yesterday." She said taking a huge breath and slumping her shoulders.

"I'm so sor.." I was about to apologize but she cut me off before itself.

"Please beta. There is no need for you to say sorry. It's just that we use to go outing every year on this day and I quite miss my family a lot. Of course both my son's visited today. But still i miss him a lot and don't want to be alone today. So just thought of meeting you" she said holding my hands and smiling at me. I can clearly see that how much she loves her husband.

"It's good that you have come. I'm glad that you thought of me in this situation. Though I don't know what to say to make you feel better. But I definitely know one thing that uncle didn't go away. He is still there in your heart and living his life with your eyes. So live and enjoy uncle's life too aunty." I said equally giving her assurance that we are there for her.

"You know you are just so nice. I thought of talking to you and forget about him. But you made me look at the world in a new way now. I am glad that I came to you today" she said hugging me suddenly. I was surprised with the sudden affection but responded to her hug eventually. I am happy that she is smiling again. I can understand what she is going through because I know the pain of losing someone. Even I too miss my mom a lot but dad doesn't make me miss her much. He makes sure to make me happy all the time that i won't miss her presence.

After few minutes she released me from the hug wiping her tears and folding her hands in her lap. We both are silent for sometime. But it's not awkward. It's pleasant and comfortable silence. I like it.

"He is a good boy Athira"She broke the silence after few minutes "And I can see the love in his eyes for you" Aunty said suddenly turning towards me sounding serious. What? Dev? Love?

No no no…. It can't happen. She is just seeing things… that's it. Not Dev…

"No aunty. I think you just thought like that because he cares a lot about me." I said explaining to her looking confused.

"Oh my innocent beta. You can't even see your friend's own feelings for you. I can clearly see the way he looks at you with so much love in his eyes. I just met him but I can surely say that he is loving you from quite sometime now" aunty explained taking my both hands in her hands.

"I know this is a shock to you since you were in blind up to now. But that's the truth. I can understand why he didn't said anything about his feelings up to now. He might be thinking that you will leave him or get angry at him. Or even he knows that you don't feel the same way for him. In either case he is being patient. I can see that." She said smiling at me in assurance. I just nodded my head because I'm unable to think of anything. It's like my brain is in some pause button.

"Tada…" Dev shouted posing while placing the plate full of fried rice in front of aunty. "Here presents Dev's most demanding receive" he said fanning himself dramatically and taking a seat beside me.

"Wow Dev. Indeed you are an excellent cook. I love this. Thank you beta" aunty said eating mouthful and smiling at him.

"Welcome aunty." Dev said smiling and keeping a hand on my shoulder by side hugging me. "I have listened to your conversation." I got stiff listening to this. "And I must agree, I am proud of you Choti. You said very maturely." He said indicating to uncle's topic. I relaxed knowing that he didn't listen to our later conversation. I don't know why but I don't want him to know about this topic. I am not sure if what aunty said is right or wrong. I don't want to ask him directly without knowing any proof and if what aunty said is right then I don't know how I will react. I am not ready to accept the fact that he loves me even if it's right. I am scared that our friendship won't be the same if this thought actually becomes truth. It's better not to react until i know for sure.

While eating both aunty and Dev spoke about Hyderabad, Dev's childhood and aunty about her marriage days. I just listened to them and was smiling and giving my answers when needed. Looks like aunty became a good friend of Dev. I suppose there is no need to get surprised in this. He is like that, he can interact with anyone devoid of any age. After completing her dinner she stayed for sometime and left when it's 10:00 PM. We both cleaned everything and went to the bedroom to sleep. I just gave one word answers when Dev asked something. He observed that but didn't ask me anything to which I'm thankful. I don't know what I would say if he asks me. Before sleeping he kissed my forehead and slept on his side after switching off the lights. I kept thinking about aunty's words repeatedly. Don't know when I have started feeling sleepy. So I just stopped thinking and closed my eyes sleep overtaking me.

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