Chapter 13: chapter 13

Surya explained everything to Ravi. Ravi felt happy about it but Surya wasn’t.“Ravi, I don’t like all of this. She wants to walk away from me after the divorce. Her words pulled out the strings in my heart! I lied to her that I’m thinking the same. She thinks that I’m loving someone else.”“Surya, I do understand. But we don’t have any other option, do we? Your love story is different from others. Sandhya is haunted by her past. It will take some time for her to accept your love and let go of the past. You have to win my sister’s heart within the time you are left with. Don’t worry. Anyway, there’s a lot of business work left to be done, let’s get on with that, what do you say?”Surya smiled, “Sure, boss,” and both of them were involved in their respective work.That evening, everyone finished their dinner and got into their beds except Sandhya. She wanted to wait for Karthik and have dinner with him, “He might have been anonymous to me till yesterday but he is my friend now. How can I eat without him? I will wait for him,” she thought and waited for him.Surya wasn’t taking care of the office for a couple of days and there was a lot of work pending. Surya was working immensely as he had to prepare a tender for an important project. Ravi observed Surya. Surya doesn't care about anyone when he is involved in work. Ravi was happy because Surya seemed confident after so many days of disturbance and vulnerability.“So, the boss is back, huh?”Surya smiled gently.“Enough work for today. Look at the time, it’s almost 12. We can finish the remaining work tomorrow, Let’s go.”“Just a minute, it’s almost done.”“No way, it’s already late,” said Ravi and dragged him out and sent him home. Surya waved bye to Ravi and ignited his car. The clock hit 1 by the time he reached home.Surya walked in and looked at Sandhya, sleeping at the dining table. He was worried, “Oh god! Sandhya was waiting for me all the time.”“Sandhya,” called him and she jolted awake.“Hmm.. you are her finally. Go freshen up, let’s have dinner.”“Sandhya, why were you waiting for me all this while? I will be late everyday because of work. Please don’t wait for me. I even told mom not to wait for me. It will affect your health. You do not…”“Ugh! Karthik, go freshen up. I’m craving!”“Why would you listen to me?” he sighed and came back, freshened up. She served him food and for herself too. Both of them started having dinner.“Karthik, you are so worried about us and our health. But what about yours? I won’t listen to your reasons anymore, I won’t even touch food till you come home at night. And for lunch, I will be at the garden and eat along with the staff there and you have to come home and have your lunch here.”Surya felt ecstatic as Sandhya was so concerned about him, “Sure, your majesty. But I do have a condition too! You shouldn’t walk all the way to the garden, you have to go in the car. It’s even better if you don’t go there but you should definitely use the car if you wish to go.”“No, Karthik. I wish to walk and please don’t force me to do it.”“But Sandhya..”“Please, Surya. Don’t think otherwise, I have my own reasons!”Surya didn’t want to force her. He was becoming close to her and he didn’t want to hamper it. Venkatesh looked at both of them having dinner and was astonished. He eyed Sandhya smiling and felt happy for her and blessed both of them in his heart.They walked into the room and Sandhya wanted to sleep on the floor like everyday. Surya denied it, “No Sandhya, you sleep on the bed. I will sleep on the floor.”“Karthik, it’s okay. I will sleep on the floor, I’m used to it.” “No way, not at all. Do you think I will let you sleep on the floor anymore?”“You are my friend then! How can I let you sleep on the floor?”“Okay Sandhya, I will arrange another bed in the room by tomorrow. But for today, you have to sleep on the bed.”“No, you should sleep on the bed,” and both of them continued to argue for some time. One of them ended up sleeping to the right of the bed, and the other one sleeping to the left.In the morning, Sandhya was done with her chores and walked into the room to give Tea to Surya.Surya wasn’t habituated to sleeping on the floor and cramps conquered all over his body. Sandhya awoke him, “Karthik,” and he woke up, fragile.“Good morning, Karthik! Seems like you haven’t slept properly the whole night. Have this Tea and sleep on the bed for some time.”“Thanks, Sandhya,” he said and thought to himself, “When are you going to call me Surya? When is that day gonna come when you treat me as me? When will you stop treating me as someone else?” and his heart was a mess. Days passed by, and Surya and Sandhya became good friends in the meantime. Surya mingled with Sandhya’s family and gained their admiration. Maggie was also talking to him on call everyday. With the influence he has in the states, he made sure that Maggie’s treatment was taken special care of. Maggie liked Surya a lot. She calls him Uncle. Parvathamma was very happy because of Surya’s behavior.As the winter season arrived, Surya forced Sandhya not to go to the garden as she was not used to the cold. He asked Parvathamma to make sure Sandhya doesn’t go to the garden in winter.Sandhya eyed him furiously and he chucked and went to the office.Surya returned home a bit early that day and Shashikala looked at him coming, “Brother, you are home early?”“Should I not?” he answered a bit reluctantly.“Hmmm, why are you always angry?” she said and walked away, smiling. Surya wasn’t able to diagnose it and walked into a room. Sandhya was looking outside standing by the window.Surya tried to scare her and screamed behind her. Sandhya was terrified and hugged him in an instant. It was out of the blue and Surya was awe-struck. He felt like a sudden breeze caressed his body. He was lost in her and his arms were wrapped around her. The love, the passion, he has for her wasn’t letting him move away from her. He wanted to feel her rosy lips and all of a sudden, Sandhya came back to her senses. She realized that she overstepped and wanted to move away from him, but she couldn’t. She eyes into the passionate eyes of Surya and he grabs her even closer. They were lost in their own world.“Sandhya madam?” a scream pierced into the room and it was Sombabu. He looked at them being intimate and apologized immediately, walking out of the room.“Sorry, Sandhya!” apologized Surya and walked out of the room in an instant.Meanwhile, Sandhya stood there still, and her mind was a completely blank slate.