Feeling

"Do you like her?" Rocky asked Aditya as they were driving home. No one spoke about Aditya and his uninvited friend over dinner but they all were curious as well as excited about what future held for them because it was sure that this was not their last meeting.

———

"Good all set, be careful for the time being though." Vedika said after putting braces on an eight year old boy.

It's been a week since the unfortunate incident with the camera and she has already stopped thinking about it and everything related, well maybe not everyone.

"Vedika someone is here to see you. He said he is your friend" Shisha, the receptionist in her clinic called out from the door.

"Who?" Vedika asked.

"I don't know he is all covered up." Shisha said.

"Strange send him in." Vedika said and Shisha went of.

A few minutes later a man in black Jean's with black boots and black blazer came in wearing a face mask.

Vedika stood up in confusion and suspicion.

"Who are you?" Vedika asked with hand holding one of her dental instruments behind her back.

"Don't attack me please. I am Aditya. We met a week ago, in the traffic." Aditya said pulling off his mask.

"Aditya you are here?" Vedika said, her face lighting up.

"Thank God I thought you won't remember me." Aditya sighed with relief.

"Why won't I remember you? Ok leave that come sit down." Vedika gestured to the seat in front.

"Thanks." He took the seat in front and pulled out a green handkerchief from his pocket, "I think you dropped this in the restaurant that day."

Vedika looked at the handkerchief intently and shook her head.

"No this isn't mine. How did you even find me?" Even though Vedika was low key happy, this was something she needed to ask.

"I ran into your friend from that day. His name is..um..Asad right?"

"Yeaha."

"So I asked him." Aditya held back the information of Asad getting excited on meeting him. Clearly he was a big fan of cricket, just didn't notice or ignored all the famous players in the restaurant that day amidst the trouble with his friend.

"Asad gave you this address. He never give unknown people my address." Vedika was shocked.

"Maybe he knew me from the day in the restaurant." Aditya said.

"Oh my God yes, why didn't I think that. Sorry. It's so nice to meet you though."

"You too. So it's a mistake, this isn't yours." Aditya said holding up the handkerchief.

"Nope."

"So I will just go." Aditya got up thinking about ways to ask Vedika out on coffee.

"I am leaving too. Let's go out together." Vedika said and Aditya held back the beam of smile.

"Sure."

"What line of work are you in Aditya?" Vedika asked as they were walking out in the lobby of the clinic.

"I am a cricketer." Aditya said nervously thinking about her response.

"Like Naseer?" Vedika asked surprised as to why she hasn't heard about him.

"Yes a cricketer as he is in profession."

"I haven't watched any cricket in a long time. Do you play for India or domestic. " Vedika said as they walked out into rain.

"I play in Indian team and domestic too. Its raining. I didn't realise." Aditya said taking a few drops in his hand.

"Wow nice."

"Wow nice what? Its raining or that I play in Indian cricket team."

"Both." Vedika beamed at Aditya and continued, "I will watch next match you play."

"Thank you it's a pleasure." Aditya bowed dramatically.

"So....." Vedika trailed of as she tried to find words to speak.

"So..... I don't know. Do you want to grab a cup of coffee or tea?" Aditya asked nervously.

"At this time? It's almost 8:00 in the evening." Vedika said looking at her wrist watch.

"No? Sorry that was a bad idea." Aditya scratched his head smiling like an adorable baby.

"Aditya you are so cute you know that." Vedika's statement made Aditya blush but he didn't knew what was coming.

"But I don't want you to get any ideas about us. I mean we.... you know ...can't." This altered his expressions to sadness and pain.

He was sure vedika also liked him even if just a bit so it was hard to process where this came from.

"But I like you and we will just go like friends if that's what you want." Aditya said his voice almost breaking.

"We can't be friends Aditya. Thanks for helping me that day." Vedika was about to walk off when Aditya held her wrist.

"Tell me the truth at least." Aditya demanded.

"What truth?" Vedika asked not looking in the eye.

"Tell me if you don't feel the same for me. If you don't like me, don't want to be with me." Vedika knew if she stood there for another second, she would tear up and say everything that was in her heart.

Vedika left him there standing and climbed on to the auto that stopped in front.

She was feeling miserable, she was sad but this was for both of theirs sake.

She liked Aditya since the first time they met, no doubt about that but her present life was unstable because of that psycho Aman. She had no idea what she was going into when she went to meet Aman on insistence of her parent's friends. It was suppose to be just a meet for the sake of their satisfaction but as Aman's eyes wandered over her body the whole time and that forceful hugs and stalking after that, it was impossible to handle.

They complaint to police but he was let go after a warning, to her and Hema and Harish's relief he didn't came anywhere near them in two years until last month when he suddenly showed up at Vedika's clinic with a bouquet of flowers and when she refused he turned into a violent maniac, throwing stuff away.

Aman departed with the last words that implied that he won't rest till he doesn't get Vedika for himself.

She hasn't seen him since then but the thought scares her. She can't put Aditya in danger. She knew a bit about fame of cricket in India, with him being a cricketer, nothing in his life could be private for long and if the news of them being together reaches Aman then... no she can't let anything happen to Aditya.

This was going to hurt.