Chapter 47 - Gut Feeling

||Innaya||

I poured tea in two cups and handing him his, I turned towards the kitchen counter. I hoped against hope to get some answers for the questions I had these days. I was never the one for indirect talks, I preferred the direct way.

"What's going on?" I started the conversation as I stirred the soup. My gaze flickered towards him just for a moment or two before I focussed my whole attention on preparing the salad.

"Nothing is going on, why would you think so?" He casually answered before he pushed himself from the wall he was leaning on and walked back to the dining table. He plopped himself on the chair from where we both could see each other.

"You want to lie to me?" I shot him an unbelievable look, feeling extremely frustrated inside. I breathed deeply before I declared hotly, "Okay, then go ahead and be my guest but have I told you, I hate liars." I turned from him and went to check on the chocolate cookies in the Microwave. If he wanted to lie, he could do as he pleased, just we will not be the way we used to be.

He sighed heavily and I could hear the tiredness in it. "It's nothing," he replied after some time.

"Great. You want to believe me that, you out of all the people. What do you take me for, fool? I might be the one. Considered how everyone is behaving with me, around me." I glared angrily, his face fell, and he lowered his eyes.

"You look cute with all that flared up tiny nose and those glaring little eyes." Siya Raghav announced her presence with her odd sense of humour.

"Shut up Siya," I nothing but hissed at her.

How on the earth she appeared here without any forewarning, was beyond my thinking. She casted a curious glance in his direction as she walked further in, before she plopped herself on the chair opposite to him.

"Aren't you supposed to be in your office?" I asked her.

"Oh, you don't want me here. Okay, I will take your leave then-"

I rolled my eyes at her drama. "Shut up, Siya. I was just asking. Have a sit and tell me what you would like to have."

She shrugged in response. She raised her eyebrows in his direction questioningly. I mentally smacked myself for forgetting about him.

"Siya meet Arjun Arya, Eshan's friend." I ignored the hurt that flashed in Arjun's eyes. When he doesn't want to be my brother and hide things from me, then why should I be his sister?

"Hello, I'm Siya Raghav, Innaya's best friend." Siya introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you Siya," Arjun smiled at her but I could see it was forced one.

Siya smiled back at him before she turned completely towards me. I was quite aware of those puppy eyes looking hopefully at me. She wanted something.

"What do you want?"

The smile that grew on her face only confirmed my doubts. She sheepishly rubbed back of her neck before she started, "Actually I took a day off as I was hoping you could accompany me to the mall. I might have forgotten some stuff at home."

"I will drive both of you," Arjun offered before I could say anything.

"Oh, thank you!" Siya unsurely looked at him and then at me. I nodded reassuringly at her.

"Ok, we'll leave after lunch. I'll just arrange everything," with that being said, I left for kitchen. Thankfully, I had prepared the food for three people- Eshan included, who bailed out on last moment. I was hoping Eshan and Arjun could sort out their differences with some alone time and thus have arranged this lunch.

However, I guess some things are meant to be sorted out on their own, without any interference.

*

Giving instruction to Cab driver to follow that Mercedes, I nervously wriggled my fingers before clasping them tightly. I realised the hasty decision I took of following them was not mature but I couldn't help. I dropped quick text to Arjun and Siya that I was leaving for home before fixing my eyes on the familiar white Mercedes on the road.

Spotting Eshan with someone happened for the second time within a week. Why were they both together, was beyond my understanding. He had said he was in meeting. Then what was he doing in the shopping mall? That carefree laughter on his face had my breath hitch in my throat. He looked so enthusiastic while talking. Maybe that was the reason, without giving any thoughts to the consequences, I followed him once I spotted him exiting the shop with that woman.

Thousands of possibilities swirled in my mind. The same fear of being cheated forced his ugly head, crawling disgustingly on my whole being. The way they were being very close and comfortable had me cringing in displeasure. Yet I tried thinking of all the good moments we had spent together. Maybe it was nothing, maybe I was over thinking. I should not let my past cloud my mind.

Too lost in my thoughts, I did not notice when the cab came to halt. The driver's voice brought my attention on the present. I looked outside only to notice we were almost out of the city. How much time had passed? Quick glance at the watch and I realized it was more than two hours drive. Paying him his share, I climbed down only to stumble on my steps.

The driver had stopped at some distance from Eshan's Mercedes. Eshan was unloading lots of shopping bags. I still hadn't seen that woman's face but judging from her poise posture, open brown wavy hair that reached till her mid back, red cocktail dress and pointed heels, she appeared very beautiful to me.

I watched them making their way inside through the open gate, still laughing over something. With heavy heart, I followed them. I paid no attention to where I was going. I just walked mechanically. There was that gut feeling, screaming at me- something very wrong was going to happen.

*