Destiny or Coincidence?

Athira Patel

I woke up to the sound of my mobile ringing. I searched the bed looking for it still closing my eyes and when I finally found it beside me, I took it out and without looking at the caller ID I answered the call.

"Hello" I said in a sleepy voice covering myself in the duvet again.

"Good morning princess." "Good morning Athira" both Charitha and Sahana said simultaneously shouting on the other end of the call causing me to wake up all of a sudden.

I groaned looking at the time to see that it's still 6:00 AM in the morning.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys" I too shouted getting irritated because they have disturbed my beautiful sleep "why are you calling me at this hour of time and shouting in my ears idiots"

"Calm down sleeping beauty." Said Sahana in a singsong voice to which Charitha laughed.

"Ya this idiot called me too and woke me up at this hour. What is the reason Sahana" asked Charitha yawning on the other side while I just kept the mobile on my cheek and just listened to their conversation by sleeping on my pillow by closing my eyes.  

"Ya, so the reason I have called you both is that i want you both to meet me in the cafeteria today morning for breakfast. I need to talk with you both in private. So please don't bring any male insects today" Sahana said, no scratch that. She literally ordered us to be there in the cafeteria before 8:30 AM. God this girl has no brain.

"What got into your pants today that you want us to meet you that early" asked Charitha sounding kind of irritated. I cannot blame her since even i too am feeling the same way because of Sahana.

"Please guys, i will explain everything to you when we meet. Make sure that you will be there on time. I really need the help of you guys." She asked pleasing us to come to the office at the mentioned time. We both sighed in defeat.

"Ok i will be there. Now don't disturb me or else you are gone for good if I catch you later in the office"  i too warned her not to disturb my sleep again.

I can hear their laughter on the call but I ignored it and disconnected the call tossing the mobile beside me and covered myself in duvet again to sleep.

But then suddenly I remembered everything from yesterday and sat up straight looking here and there to see if i am in my house or in aunty's house. Sure enough i am still in aunty's house so got up eventually and looked at myself in the mirror before going out of the bedroom to look for aunty.

Its enough that she let me sleep in her house up to now and I don't want to be a burden for her again. So I chose to go to my house and get ready because there is no way that I can sleep in the same house with Dev knowing that i need to face him one or the other way.  

I know I am being a coward but it's better this way until i get a grip on my emotions. And I don't want to hurt Dev by rejecting him so i am looking forward to postpone the situation until I can. I will face it when there is no other choice left but to answer his questions.

I looked around the room to find aunty in the kitchen preparing coffee for herself while humming a tune which I didn't recognise because it was from some old Bollywood movie.

After getting near to the kitchen I cleared my throat to get her attention and i was successful because the next moment she turned towards my side and smiled looking at me.

"Good morning Athira, did you sleep well?" She asked looking concerned at me and sitting on the dining table in the kitchen with her coffee.

"Ya aunty. Thank you for everything. And letting me sleep here in your house" I said taking a seat in front of her and folding my hands together.

"Oh shush. It's nothing. Don't thank me for that" she said waving her hand in the air dismissing the topic.

"So tell me, what would you like to have it? Coffee or tea?" she asked getting up from the seat, probably to make me the coffee or tea which she asked.

"Oh no aunty, its fine. I was just leaving to my flat, i will freshen up and have it. No need to worry for that" I said smiling at her and was about to stand when she placed a hand on my shoulder stopping me from getting up. Confused I looked up to see her, keeping her hands on both sides and looking down at me with an intimidating stare as if daring me to get up and walk away without having anything.

For the first time her stare looked as intimidating as Abhilash. I gulped, thinking that there is no way out until or unless I take her offer. So i sighed leaving a breath and nodded my head in acceptance to which she clapped her hands in excitement while giving me her full on wide smile.

"So what would you like to have? Coffee or Tea?" she asked getting excited while taking a pot from the cabin and placing it on the stove. Seeing her happiness i was unable to hold back my own smile and smiled widely while shaking my head. She is very bubbly and easy going person.

"Coffee please" I said without thinking because, if there is an option of coffee then i cannot see any other. Because obviously it's coffee though.

"Ok good. Even i too love coffee a lot you know" she said giving a glance at me "So while I prepare the coffee for you, you can go and freshup  yourself. Down below the mirror you can find two shelves. To the right side you can find the spare toothbrush which you can use it and to the left side you can find the towel" She instructed everything while i started going towards the bathroom which is present in the living room.

Even bathroom is very big with white and cream colour walls and full length mirror to the left side of the door. You can find the bathtub which can easily fit upto three members and then there is a shower which is separated by a glass doors. You can say that it's quite modern.

As aunty said i did find the toothbrush and towel and got freshed up and went out looking at the interior of the living room since yesterday I was not in a mood to check it out. While exploring the hall I came to stand in front of a wall where there is a photo frame of the family with two little boys who were not more than 6 to 8 years with younger version of Aunty and a male person probably her Husband. Both the boys are standing beside aunty and uncle hugging them with a smile on their faces while aunty was kissing one of them. You can clearly see the love in their eyes in this picture. I can understand why aunty felt lonely few days ago. Anyone else in her place will also feel the same way if they too had the family like this.

"They both are my kids and he is my husband" Aunty said startling me from back to which I jumped a little.

"Oh my god, you scared me" I said keeping a hand on my heart which is beating very fast due to sudden shock.

"Sorry to scare you" she said looking apologetically.

"Its fine. I was just looking at this photo. Its beautiful" I said looking back at the photo and towards her to see that she is already looking at the photo with aroration in her eyes.

"Ya its beautiful, He is my elder son Bolu' she said showing the one who is hugging her husband and smiling at the camera "And this idiot here is my younger son Bunty, He is very naughty you know" she said indicating to the one she is holding in her hands whom she is kissing while he was tugging the hair of his elder brother. By looking at the photo itself a smile formed on my face because it's a lovely pic.

"Ya true. It's a lovely picture"I said while taking the cup which she handed me and we both went to the kitchen and sat on the dining table where she was saying about her children childhood memories while I was drinking coffee and listening to her. Looks like both of their kids are naughty and smart at the same time and presently working out of bangalore. May be that is the reason she is staying alone because she doesn't want to leave bangalore since there are many memories here for her with her family.

After chatting with her for some more time i got up and left her house since it's already 7:30 AM and I need to get ready for the office.

I booked a cab after getting ready since I didn't want to disturb Dev, but i know that he is too lazy to get up so i put the alarm at 8:15 AM sharp and kept it beside his bedside table so that can wake him up. I have even kept a note saying that I left early to the office since I need to meet Charitha and Sahana.

After paying money to the cab driver i got out of the cab and started walking towards the entrance when someone suddenly came from inside running towards me and pushed me in the process, and I was unable to balance myself since there was nothing on the steps to catch for support. So I closed my eyes tightly waiting for the impact to touch the ground but found that someone caught me before falling face front on the steps.

I opened my eyes to look at none other than the devil himself. His chocolate brown eyes are so mesmerising that i want to look at them forever. I don't know what is so special in those eyes that are so captivating my heart and soul with in a heartbeat. Before i get lost in those orbs i got out of the trance composing myself.

"Are you alright?" He asked looking concerned at me and turned his head towards the entrance looking here and there "what the hell is going on here" he shouted when he saw the security men coming towards his side. He made me stand on my feet and once he was sure that i am alright he turned towards them and started firing questions.

Looks like someone came barging in without anyone's notice to steal some important project but someone in the junior department caught him doing act and he escaped my pushing him and went outside.

What a great day to start. Note the sarcasm.

Sighing i went inside the elevator to go to the cafeteria where my friends are waiting for me.

Once I reached our usual table, both of them hugged me and we ordered our parathas for the breakfast.

"So what is this early morning meeting is about" i asked looking at Sahana who is busy typing something on her mobile. Charitha snatched her mobile so she could concentrate on us for the time being.

Good, at least Charitha is having some brain unlike my other friend here.

"Oh ya, sorry for that." She said smiling nervously. Looks like the help she is going to ask is very important by the way she is acting now.

"I know that this is too fast, but i think i like Karthik" she said fidgeting with her fingers looking down not meeting our eyes.

Wow she really is nervous. This is the first coming from Sahana.

"What the hell?" Asked Charitha looking shocked while i was just sitting there not knowing how to react. Yes it is shocking to know that she likes Karthik since few days back she behaved like a mad cat ready to bounce on Omisha for Abhilash.

What happened in this few days that she started liking Karthik all of a sudden?

"Are you sure that we are talking about our Karthik itself?" Charitha asked to which Sahana glared at her. "Ok, no need to be rude. Just clarifying" she said while raising her hands in surrender.

Or is it possible that she is not feeling as confident as she was and have insecurities about her? Wow, now this will ve very new if this is right.

"The thing is i don't know if he likes me back. And i am kind of feeling insecurity about myself" she said looking inbetween us biting her lips with uncertainty in her eyes. "Hell I don't even know how i will express my feelings to him. This is the first time i am feeling like this and i am not sure how to act to make it correct. To say frankly i am scared guys" she admitted looking down with tears pooling in her eyes.

I have never seen Sahana in this state and i don't want her to behave like a lost puppy.

"Fine, don't become grumpy pants now. We are ready to help you. What do you want us to do that we can get Karthik on track with you?" I asked looking in her direction to which he looked up directly towards us with a hope in her eyes. God she really does like him. Silly girl.

"Really? Would you guys help me?" She asked sounding hopeful to which we both nodded in acceptance and suddenly she got up from her place squealing in excitement while hugging both of us and making the whole cafeteria look towards us.

Looks like we are the weirdies and everyone should get used to us.

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Hello everyone, as promised here is your awaiting chapter. have a happy reading. please don't forget to vote, comment and share.

next update will be on next Sunday. till then have a great weekdays.