All Chapters of SWEETHEART: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

                A small army of hairy caterpillars skitters under her skin at the recollection. Her hands twitch and fidget without her concern. In dire need of a distraction, she turns to Mike “Where are we going today?” Her fake smile behind the wry-filled eyes didn’t miss his apprehension. She keeps clenching her hand into a fist, masking her fidgets. As a psychiatrist, Mike couldn’t help but read her. His eyes trail from her face to the floor. 'If something is this much bothersome, why doesn’t she just talk about it?' he slips into his own turmoil.             Left hanging in the air, Sarah turns to others and all she gets is the same reaction. Each one pondering on to confront or not. Finally, Jessica spoke, breaking the silence. “I badly need a shower. Then... maybe we can go to the mall. Nothing like a shopping therapy and I could use one now”. Seems rig

No interruptions. No facial changes. Just occasional clipped questions. And then... 2 whole minutes–120 seconds of dead silence terrorizes the house. By now, Mike manages to conjure Sarah a cup of milk. Her index finger dents and glides around the rim of the cup in infinite circles, staring down into the white liquid; God’s best creation. Her mind is vacant. Not needing any response from Mike. Purging THE NIGHT from her system and not being judged for it is good enough, enlightening even.               Instead of the usual response from society such as ‘It’s your fault; You dress is too provocative; You seduced a man; You were too careless’– Mike didn’t rush to any conclusion. He let out a sigh and said “OK” and then pause again, searching for the correct word. “OK! I know this is unusual for you, but a kiss is harmless. Plus, he didn’t take anything from you, did he?” he is an Italian hunk with a car

Cold, breezy Monday morning, redefines Monday blues when Laura’s red car stops at Sarah’s house. Mike and Sarah were loitering around the front porch, just about to leave for work, with Sarah holding on to Mike’s arm, hopping to pull her heels on. Laura slides out of her car, readily rolling her eyes. The 2 have become practically inseparable now since they are living under one roof. Inseparable, as in no space for another woman, for example, Laura, and that surely is a good source of frustration. They didn’t even notice her arrival, busy talking about one of Sarah’s weird customers, the bubbly mouth Gary. “Hi, you two” Laura hooked their attention towards her. “Laura!!! Haven’t you gone to work?” Sarah queries with a little surprise. “I am, right after this. I must talk to you guys before going to work. I am thinking of arranging a trip this weekend. Are you guys free?” Laura casually began orchestrating her plan. “But…” recalling a surprise they have been keeping, Sara

After hours of nerve-wracking drive, they finally arrived and a step out of the car to a completely different axis, greeted by a piercing chilly swirl of air. Humidity surging through their nasal way till it hits the high note on the brain and cricket chirps in the ambiance of a rain forest. With no exaggeration, they were in the middle of a forest. The effort to make each visitor’s stay comfortable and non-primitive are obvious, with a valet boy running towards them, bowing, and taking over their car. The pack paced into the resort, awe-struck, scanning the whole entire space. The lobby walls were primarily built with tempered glasses, giving a clear vision of the surrounding forest. Smell of fresh roses engulfs visitors. Everywhere they turn, the light was dim to soothe aching eyeballs. Nothing too sparkly or colorful can be found hanging or laying around since all the furniture was made out of mostly wood and rattans, tying the whole theme together. A hot water pool outside, on t

The confined space in the Convertible BMW has never been this suffocating. Sarah was still upset with Mike’s impulsive behavior as she gave him the silent treatment, looking outside her window, still hugging herself across her chest. Mike couldn’t help stealing glances at Sarah, again and again. Every time he turns to look, the car slipped off-road a bit and Sarah will flinch before glaring at him, only to be winked at. “Ok, STOP THE CAR!!!” the 5th slip was her last straw. “What? Do you want to walk back to the wedding? Hitchhike?” Mike was serious but Sarah stuck out her tongue with a mocking face “You going to kill me driving half asleep. I had enough sleep in the afternoon. I will drive. Stop!!!” stern little puppy she was. They slowed to halt by a roadside and switched seats. Sarah took the wheels. Although she is nervous about night driving, she concealed it well and so, the drive cuffed all of her attention to the road. Mike, on the other hand, lowered his seat, l