"Stop. Stop. Stop it", I scream into my pillow,my voice muffled.
It's been sometime since I returned from the beach,and my mind is playing the kiss like a broken recorder.
It wasn't even a proper kiss,for heaven's sake. He pulled away just after he pecked the corner of my mouth,shocked. The both of us dispersed faster than anyone could say 'What Just Happened?', tucking our tails between our legs and walking away in opposite directions.
I look up to the heavens for help, frustrated.
I bang the door to Anshu's room open.
"Can't you be quiet, Sandy?",Anshu scolds.
"Ma'am,NikhilSirfromPaediatricshas come to meet you",Pallavi tells me when I'm in the OT(Operation Theatre)."Now?",I mumble to myself.It's been a few days sincethatday,the day we've mutually decided to not talk about via telepathy.Things are back tonormal."What are you doing here?",I ask Nikhil, pulling my mask down as I see him just outside the OT."It'slunchtime, Sandy",he deadpans."YouknowI have OT on Thursdays.""And I also know you skip lunch on
"Youcando it Sandy",I encourage my reflection,"It's just Nikhil."I grimace at myself, slapping my forehead.I've decided to have the talk today.I'm going to sort out thisthingbetween us.I hum to myself, trying to be distracted.Surprisingly,I don't see Nikhil even once,neither in the hospital nor outside.I don't let it get to me. Maybe he's busy.I am bewildered when Nikhil doesn't eventryto start conversation with me during lunch. And the one timeItried ,he just gave me a vague reply.Although i
I'm in the library, gathering material for my upcoming presentation,my concentration wavering when I feel movement beside me.I hide my surprise when I see Nikhil standing next to me."Oh,Hey Nikhil",I whisper."Hey",he gives me a tight lipped smile,"Can we talk?"My heart jerks in my chest."Um. I'm busy right now. I have to study",I say.I really have to study. I have my presentation tomorrow."Oh",his shoulders slump,"I can wait",he offers,"When will you be done?"I glance at my mobile.
"I'm fine",I sniff, pulling away,embarrassed that Nikhil had to see me crying.My lips quiver as I couldn't help replaying aparticularsentence in my head.Apparently,it shows on myface, as Nikhil pulls me into another hug,"I'm so Sorry Sandy. I shouldn't have shouted like that."I sniff. I am ready to sleep away the day,tired.Nikhil clenches his jaw as he wipes my tears away,"Ineverwanted to be the reason you cried."I nod.I am stronger than this,I affirm.Mere wordscannotbreak m
"Stop hugging me Anshu. I'm fine.""HowdareNikhil pounce on you that way, especially in myabsence!"I roll my eyes."You should have texted me,at least",Anshu exclaims,"I would have given him a piece of my mind.""I'm just so done dude. This istoo muchdrama for me to handle.""Sandy, I'msureNikhil didn't mean it,like he said. It was probably a slip of tongue."Anshu knowshow muchimportance I give to words. I take things at a face value,unless Iknowthe person like the back of my hand.
"Come with me Sandy",Anshu drags me across the stairs."Why did they have to shift the xerox machine to the freaking fifth floor",I grumble."I know right. This isnoway to make us walkjust becausethe hospital thinks they haveoverweightresidents. Howcanthe lift stop working too?",she says, annoyed.I gasp when I see Nikhil coming outside the Xerox room,sporting a black eye and a bruised jaw."Anshu",I hiss when he leaves,"You said you punched him once.""But I punched him only once", Anshu persists,"Avyukth had done the rest.""You are-"
"It's been some time since we met Sandy",she grins.I nod, feeling uneasy.Somebody rescue me,please."Yeah. It has",I smile."Nikhil is working here too. I'm sure you probably know though",Ananya shrugs."Yeah. We see each other quite often",I smile.I was surprised to see Ananya waiting for her brother outside the hospital. Though I was startled,I couldn't stop myself from greeting her.Even though the initial few minutes of conversation flowed quite smoothly,I feltawkwardnow.I'm talking to t
I dip my legs in the warm water, enjoying the sun on my head. I smile when a hear a squeal, followed by high pitched laughter."What are you doing here, sitting all by yourself?""Their mushiness makes me want to gag."Nikhil grins, looking at Anshu and Avyukth in the pool. We came to a resort to celebrate Avyukth's Birthday.I swing my legs,"Why did you agree to come?""You don't want me here?""Not like that",I shrug,"Iwouldn't have,if I were in your place.""I had no plans to. But",he presses his lips,"Anshu and Avyukth had somevalidpoin