Ain't Meant For LOVE..!

Worries...

Tasha’s P.O.V

I was deep down reviewing all the incidents when my cellphone buzzed. It was my Snazzy 3; Manasvi Raut. I smiled and received her call.

“Hey Baby Doll! Wassup? Hope I am not disturbing you. I have a friend here from New York and he was asking about some quick tour in Delhi.” Manasavi’s soothing voice fell to my ear.

“Yea Sure, I will be sending you a to-do list and you know few of those place yourself.” I told her as I lay on the couch and placed my right leg over the left one.

“I agree. By the way, I am in Delhi and missing you. When would you be coming back?” She asked hopefully.

“Soon... Anyways, who this friend is? Have you mentioned that to me earlier?” I thought maybe it slipped my mind if we have discussed it before.

“Naah! But I will tell you everything laters. Right now I am sitting with him and we are about to have dinner.” She said mischievously.

“Ooooooohhhh Okayyy! I got it! I want all the deets. Byeee will wait.” I cut the call giggling to myself.

Then I remembered Damien and decided to leave him a text message. I opened w******p and texted.

Me: Hey! Hopefully everything is great? Don’t forget to take dinner though and ask them to make it less spicy. Call me soon.

I debated to self whether to include ‘I Miss You’ or not... deciding Not I hit the send button and suddenly my eyes fell on the Last seen.

-‘What? Just 5 minutes ago. He didn’t even answer my text or calls. Is he okay?’-

Now I was worried. My heart was beating irregularly as my stomach had these weird knots forming with pain in my chest muscles. It felt like betrayal. I mean, I am not jumping to a conclusion but it felt like there was something wrong. Something wrong between us that I dunno why felt like missing the connection in my heart. It had been freaking 22 hours since he left and don’t tell me he couldn’t leave a freaking text.

I was angry with myself to come to the conclusions, I better wait for him to return and see what hold him back.

“Hey... Breakfast time cupcake!” Edward stood behind the couch as he patted my head.

I won’t lie but I am a bit hesitant around him knowing there are things he had hidden from me.

“Yea, coming right now.” I put my cell on the table and started to walk towards the dining table as he held my hand. I turned to look at him for a brief second and quickly moved my gaze toward the wall behind his shoulder.

There was a picture of two men and a little boy holding a crucifix and a rosary along with bible testament. Squinting my eyes, I tried to see who they were and what they had.

“Tasha you seem odd. Is everything okay?” Edward asked searching my face.

“Ye-yea. I am just wondering about something I need to send my friend about.” I spoke without glancing at him.

“Do you know? You can’t lie to me.” He sighed deeply as he made me sit on the nearest chair and taking his own seat. “I know there are many things you wanna ask but just give me two more days. You needn’t be afraid of me till then.” He gave me a small smile.

I stared at his face and one thing dwelled on my mind. He is never worried for himself but for me. How could I have been afraid of such a person? I exhaled loudly as I enthusiastically uncovered the lids and dug into the dishes. Edward smiling brightly as we took turns to feed one other.

***

I was busy working in the office as Ben knocked on the door. I looked up and passed him a smile.

“What a pleasant surprise!” I smirked as he just laughed and shook his head.

“You never gave me one so I decided to surprise myself.” He said still leaning against the door.

“Fair enough. So, how may I help you?” I asked him closing my documents and placing my chin on the back of my palms.

“Let’s have lunch together and don’t keep me waiting because I am STARVING.” He said placing his hands on the stomach dramatically.

I laughed and stood up taking my cellphone and moving out of the cabin. I scrolled through my phone when reaching the elevator I realized Ben is still not beside me.

-‘Where is he gone now?’-

“Ben!” I called him and started retracing my footsteps only to meet him halfway. He seemed a little weird as I eyed him raising one eyebrow.

“Hey! I went to use the washroom. Can’t I?” he asked shyly as I shook my head.

“Yeah yeah. Why not?” We entered elevator as my eye started twitching badly. I mean it didn’t stop ever since that day but it was twitching with high intensity as I got worried. I tried rubbing it, pinching it a little and forcing it to shut and open. My mind racing at all the possibilities that could go wrong and the strongest one was Damien.

He hadn’t text me till now and it got me hooked up a little. I started texting him but didn’t thinking that might irritate him.

Ding!

We got outside and headed towards the basement where the cafeteria was. We spent a good time talking about the future possibilities of Merbourn. I saw him getting a little on the edge as he started scrolling with his phone. Maybe texting? Who knows?

“Shall we go? We have been sitting for extra five minutes now.” I pointed it out as we were occupying one table when it was already rush hour.

“Yea, just lemme make a call first.” He went outside as I started making my way to the exit. He suddenly cut the call and gave me a nervous smile. I started doubting what is going on with him?

“You okay? You seem different not like the old Ben.” I crossed my hands over the chest and waited for his response.

“Is it true? That you are really in love with Damien?” he asked in a hushed voice taking me for a surprise.

“What does that even supposed to mean? I am not sure but that’s not up for discussion.” I gave him a straight face.

“You don’t understand. You have to stay away from him and it is what is good for you.” He looked frustrated and worried.

I grabbed his hand and took him to the elevators.

“Am not a kid Ben and what is it that you are hiding?” I asked him as soon as the doors closed.

“It’s nothing. Leave it.” He sighed irritatingly.

Now I was irked up. Whatever! If he can’t tell that’s fine.

We went to our allotted dept. as I pushed my cabin doors open. There was an unknown smell lingering around; there was someone here. I don’t know who might have come here but I shrugged it thinking it might be one of the cleaners.

After the clock strike 6 PM, I grabbed my things and went home deliberately taking my time. Everything was boring.

Ring...Ring...Ring...

“Oh...” “Hey sweetheart. So tell me about that guy from NY.” I asked her sitting in my car.

“That can be done later on but tell me where is Damien?” Manasavi asked urgently.

“Huh? Why? He isn’t back so I don’t know.” I replied in an unsure voice.

“Yea. Guess what? He is looking for your past and he met your in-laws. I am so annoyed that he has hidden that fact from you. I wasn’t meant to tell you this but I don’t want to keep you in dark so I thought of sharing it to you.” She spoke ferociously.

-‘What? He lied!!! He went there and didn’t even bother to ask me. Was that the reason he kept asking their names. Why Damien why? Why did you do this?’-

It hurt me but I decided to wait for him. Maybe he would tell me now. But I am not gonna lie that keeping in dark and looking for my past behind me only made me think one thing. He didn’t trust me. That’s the freaking thing that hurt me most.

C’mmon, it’s not just him with trust issues. I have too, that didn’t mean he would do this.

“Are you listening? You don’t have to let others know that you have found the reason for his visit. Okay? You there?” She asked me anxiously.

“Yea don’t worry, I will keep that in mind. BTW how did you know this?” I tried to figure out how come she got that and not me.

“The guy I met was his best buddy. Zac Nelson. He said you know each other.” She spoke carefully.

“Oh yes. So, Zac was there with him?” I was upset.

“No Not at all. Zac is here to run his own investigation to prove your innocence.” She defended and I smiled a little. –So she likes him.’-

“But why? Why does he wants to do that?” I was astounded.

“I dunno. I will ask and tell you. But he is freaking hot! We are spending most time together so you can be assured that the investigation is taking place under my supervision. Okay? Relax and remember what I told you.” She spoke confidently.

I rubbed my temple and nodded. “Yea dear. I got it. See ya soon. I gotta go.” I cut the call and I pulled my hair out in frustration.

What the hell he is doing? Bringing up my past! Didn’t he hear me when I say that they are barbarous? They made my life a living hell? Wasn’t he able to see the pain I had been through? How stupid I was to share something so intimate with him. Arrrghhhhh! I punched on the steering wheel and hit the gas pedal hard, driving in a crazy speed.

I reached my apartment in no time as I smashed everything present on the table there shouting to myself. I felt heat rising in my body as the sight became black for a brief second. The skin appeared to be red and the things got clear. I felt a burning sensation on the hind neck as I tried to grab it hard but the pain only elated. I tried to take deep breath to calm myself, breathing in... Breathing out... The futile attempts making me more annoyed as I felt my phone buzz.

Damien...

I didn’t feel like talking to him and suddenly the heat rising more making me groan in pain. My eyes closed as I kneeled on the floor hugging myself when Damien’s face crossed my mind. ‘Hey you okay?’ the first time we met. The concern, the worry his face held as I stopped my action sticking to that memory. It made me soothe my aching heart and... and my aching body.

I opened my eyes slowly and felt my body back to normal with only itching at the back... on my neck. I inhaled deeply as I took my phone and saw him calling again. Swiping right, I held the phone to my ear.

“Where are you Tay? I know you might be angry for not texting you but I am sorry. I wanted to surprise you but I reached late. Can we meet?” His pleading voice made me calm.

“Okay. I am at my apartment.” I spoke in a low voice.

I have had anger issues but I had that managed since I was a kid. My granny made me meditate and narrate stories that might keep me away from the negative source. This was the second outburst I had in my entire life and I know I was on the verge of becoming a criminal so I always made sure not to let my anger run over me.

After about fifteen minutes, my front door opened as Damien rushed in wearing office suit. He might have come directly from the airport.

“Hey!” I smiled at him. I was a complete i***t. There were so many things I wanted to say and ask and all I could manage was a happy smile? I was relieved seeing him fine. I was so hell worried about him since the terrible eye twitching.

He came and hugged me with one hand and let me go after a moment. Kissing on my forehead he handed me over a shopping bag as I looked at him curiously.

“Go ahead. It is for you.” He gave a cheeky smile that melted my heart.

I opened and found a gift inside as I hurriedly unwrapped it. Excitement brewing in my stomach as my heart raced in anticipation. I opened the box and found a beautiful couple pendant set inside. The chains made of gold and platinum and the pendant was in form of a star. A complete star enclosed in a ring. The ring had engravings saying ‘Pinky Promise (Diamond) To Always Find U’ and the star had a diamond each with my image on the bigger one and his image on the smaller one. Our names were engraved at the backside. Mine star had Damien and his star had Tasha. It was so damn beautiful that I couldn’t hold the tears back.

“Hey! Don’t cry. I wanted to give you this as a promise that I will always be with you Tay.” He embraced me and kissed my forehead.

“Pinky promise?” I laughed as I extended my little finger.

“Pinky promise...” he hooked his little finger around mine.