Manners withheld

BETWEEN THEM
Part 43

Dreary day....

The pain was bearable.... and Shriya did not want to let it stop her routine....

Back home.... She tried to cook herself a decent dinner.... She was feeling unusually hungry even with the headache....

She ate a lonely meal standing by the kitchen table... looking out through the window at the black sky.... It was getting cold....

It was still early and she could do with a walk... She took a different route and walked on at a slow pace...

It was a still night, with not even a rustle from the trees on the sidewalk... The avenues and cross streets were all deserted.... The houses had bright lights shining through the windows.... They made her feel an extra shade lonelier....

She decided to buy some aspirin... and walked up to the small pharmacy at a turning a couple of streets away from her residence.... Maybe a whole strip would last the rest of the month....

"Shriya...."

Shriya turned around, it was Krish.... standing by his car...

"Hi"

"How are you? Pharmacy?.... Ill?"

"Not really.... Just a headache...," she sighed... "How are you anyway? What are you doing here?"
The last line came out harsher than she had intended.... If he was hurt, his eyes did not reveal it....

"Fine... I was returning home... And stopped when I saw you enter that shop.... " he pointed at the pharmacy....

"I had just taken a walk around...."

"Felt lonely?"

She had hoped that she would not have to have Krish ask such things.... But the question was hanging there between them...

"Yes... lonely... But then I think I don't mind"

"Maybe you should drop home sometime Shriya... Mom would like to have you there.... She told me she met you in the airport a few months back...."

"Drop by?... yea sure... someday...." And yes, I will meet that future fiancee of yours and have a ball of a time planning how your reception can be held...

"You sound like you don't want to.... Look what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong... Am feeling real tired today.... I don't want to be standing here and trying to make conversation"

He looked at her for a long time...

"Shall I drop you home?"

"No...."

"I live in Jayanagar..... 8th block, 36th cross... 14...."

"I got to be going now... "

"Meet you later then... "

She just turned and walked away... Hugging the sleeves of her sweater around her... She looked back when she was near the corner....

He was still standing there hands folded across his chest.... looking at her....

She turned the corner and walked out of sight......