chapter 1 #3

Her order rwas ready soon, and she thanked the waiter with one last smile before leaving the restaurant. She walked on the uneven sidewalk at the edge of the asphalt road,kicking up dry dust with her sneakers. It was close to 1.p.m., and Kishan's office was still about twenty minutes away. She walked as fast as could without stumbling and falling on her face. She couldn't have another one of those. Kishan would make fun of her and called her a baby. She laughed quitely at the thought ; he was always teasing her, but he knew better than anyone else that she was not a baby.

By the time she turned at Bannerghatta Main Road, Maahi was turning short of breath even in the pleasant September weather. The sidewalk got narrower and the dustier. It was 10 past 1 and she was afraid Kishan might have left for his break already, maybe even sat down and ordered food. If she had to call him and ask him to come back, her surprise would be ruined. She wished she were taller, just so she could have longer legs and walk faster. At 5'3" she found her pace quite restricted. She was thinking about how she looked next to Kishan -------- who was 6 inches taller, right outside his office building. He was in conversation with a colleague, Payal, his head leaning towards her to listen. Maahi had meet her a few times and wasn't particularly fond of her.

"hello, " Maahi said, stopping right in front of them.

Kishan looked up. "Oh, Maahi! hey, what are you doing here? "

"Are you joining us for lunch? " Payal asked her lips barely stretching in a tight smile. Her pointed nose was shinier than usual.

"Actually, " Maahi raised the take out bag and said, "I brought him lunch. "

"Aww, isn't she the sweetest girl! "

Maahi didn't like Payal's patronizing tone, bit tried to be reasonable and shake it off . She felt better when Kishan said, "I know, right? " and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She blushed instantly. Kishan said to Payal, "Sorry about lunch. Some other day? "

"Ya, " Payal said. "Ya."

"Bye, " Maahi murmured, before Kishan turned her away and they started walking to his office.

"I didn't know you were coming here, " he said, looking down at her sideways. He had recently taken to growing his beard. Maahi thought it was funny how it mostly spread around the edges of his face, making the V-shape of his jaw look rounder. The hair on the rest of his face, including his mustache, was scattered sparsely.

"That was the point ----- it's a surprise ! don't you...remember? " Maahi asked, inspecting his eyes.

"Of course I do. Happy anniversary, baby, " Kishan said rubbing her lower back.

The touch of his hand through the fabric of her shirt sent shivers up her spine . Maahi snacked her arm under his and rested it at his waist as they walked to his cubicle, some people glanced their way and nodded. Maahi nodded back. She liked coming here, meeting Kishan at his workplace, round his colleagues. They were all nice to her and she enjoyed every visit.

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