The Strings Of Heart

35

Sitara POV

I lean my head watching the screen, "you stayed up all night?"

I turn my head to see David walking out of his room. He dressed up neatly holding his files.

"Yes."

"Why? You could've gone to sleep." He walked over and sat on the single sofa.

"I couldn't sleep last night."

"I'm really sorry for not being with you last night. I had continuous shifts, I was tired," he spoke guiltily.

"It's fine. I wanted to be alone, you don't have to apologize." He gives me a smile and nods his head.

"Freshen up, I will wait for you. We will go out for breakfast," he said. Even though I want to go out with him to have breakfast, I seriously need to be home.

"No, I need to be home."

"Oh?"

"I will go and get my things, drop me at home," I tell him standing up from the seat.

"Sure." I walk to the guestroom, I pick the cover which has my dirty clothes and handbag.

I walk back to the living room, David turned off the television and texting on his phone. When he heard my footsteps he looked up and smiled.

And I felt the same rush that I always get seeing his smile. As I think about it, yesterday I didn't expect to see David in the hospital.

I have never thought he would be worried and would search everywhere. When I saw him running in the corridor seeing me, those happy eyes of his were filled with worry.

He took me by surprise when he pulled me into his arms hugging me tightly. At that moment... I know I fell for him, it's not crush anymore.

The whole night I have been thinking about David and my feelings. I couldn't sleep, I never saw someone worry about me. Surely my friends did, but the worried expression and fear of not finding me, I didn't see that in anyone before.

I watched David as he turned off the electricity before turning around, "let's go."

I don't say anything and follow him out. I observe his face stepping into the elevator. Dark circles under his eyes. The eyeglasses are hiding them perfectly.

The elevator doors open, three people get in and they look at David and me.

"Good morning, doctor David," the woman says. She must be around my age or two years older than me.

"Good morning, Amruta. How are you?" David asked.

"I'm good, you are not staying in the apartment? We are not seeing you these days," she said. I crossed my arms leaning against the lift wall. The other two turned around and looked at me before sharing a look.

"Night shifts," David replied. The two spoke before we reached the ground floor.

"See you later David."

"Bye." I walked towards David's car and he unlocked the door. I took the shotgun and buckled my seatbelt.

We didn't speak, David turned in his seat placing his hand on my seat as he slowly drove backwards before driving straight getting out of the parking lot.

I pull my hairband and start combing my hair with my fingers trying to make a hair bun.

When I tie my hair into a messy bun, I lean back and watch the morning traffic. "If I ask to meet you on Saturday, will you meet me without making any excuses?" I say after a period of silence.

We have almost reached my house. I surely startled David as I look at his startled face.

He blinked his eyes looking at me before looking at the road. "I..."

I sighed, I knew he would make an excuse like always or visit the place then leave immediately.

"Fine, that's too much to expect from you. Anyway, thank you for coming and searching for me," I say when I saw my house gates.

He didn't give me an answer nor spoke a word. I expected him to say something... Perhaps an excuse maybe but he stayed quiet. I unbuckled the seat belt as he stopped the car.

I opened the car door and got down. Closing the door I started walking towards the main gates. I didn't turn back to see him nor waited for him to say something.

Right now, my emotions are everywhere and it would be better if I stayed alone in my room.

I walk through the main doors. I didn't expect to see Pihu, Rishi, my mom and my aunts and uncles.

"Hey Akka," Pihu said looking at me.

"Hey."

"Hey Akka," Rishi said.

"Hi." I slow down my steps and mum looks at me puzzled. Even Pihu had frowned brows as she observes my clothes.

"Whose clothes are you wearing? What happened to your clothes?" Mum asked.

I look down at my clothes, everyone can say that they are boy's clothes. My aunts looked interested in the question.

"Kavya's, I changed into her clothes last night while going to sleep."

"Oh okay."

"I didn't know that Kavya Akka preferred boy's clothes," Rishi spoke.

"People can be tomish and they can wear clothes from the male's section," I say looking at Rishi.

"Rishi... Sitara has most of her t-shirts from the boy's section," mum said laughing.

"I'm tired, I will go and take a nap," I say looking at mum.

"Have your breakfast first."

"Nah, too tired." I climb the steps and hear Pihu saying something to Rishi.

I close the door, lock it before throwing the cover on the floor and phone on the bed. I turn on the AC then fall on my stomach on the bed.

I don't have the energy to stay up and think about anyone. I couldn't sleep last night because of the accident as it surely startled me.

I have never witnessed an accident nor saw that much blood. It scared me but Isha and others were too important to think about my fear.

But once everything calm downed and I was left alone in the living room, I couldn't sleep nor close my eyes.

Last night I thought of waking up David many times because I was scared of sitting alone in the huge apartment.

Even though I was scared last night I decided not to wake up David. Even he had hectic days and had to run around searching for me.

He needs sleep and rest, so I decided not to disturb him and watched the drama all night with lights on.

Now that there is so much light outside and inside the room, I can sleep. I just hope that I don't see blood in my dreams.

*

I woke up around five in the evening, I didn't know I slept all day. "Should I tell mom about the accident or not?" I asked myself washing my hands.

"Better if I don't say anything about it. She would be worried." I look at myself in the mirror, I'm wearing David's clothes.

I didn't take a bath nor I'm interested to take one. My stomach started growling loudly.

"Let's take a shower later. First I will take care of you," I say patting my growling stomach.

I walk out of my room and go downstairs. Make a beeline towards the kitchen. Thankfully Farheen Aai is present.

"Aai..." I say sitting on the breakfast table. She turned around and smiled.

"There you are... I was waiting for you. You didn't have your breakfast or lunch, I came to call you but you didn't wake up," she said walking over to me.

"Yeah... I was tired and slept peacefully."

"Can you give me food, I'm hungry."

"I will warm the food," she said.

"Nah, I can't wait. Just serve my plate please." She chuckled and nodded her head.

I leaned my head on the table waiting for food. "Pihu and Rishi left?" I ask her.

"No, they are in the projector room, watching a movie."

"They didn't go with their parents?"

"They are staying here for a few days."

"Oh?"

"Yes, Rishi said his exams are over and they are staying here."

"Here," Farheen Aai said placing the plate and water glass.

"Thank you Aai," I say getting up to wash my hands in the washbasin.

"What about my aunts and uncles?"

"They out to attend some function."

I sit down and start eating, "I will go and rest for some time," Aai said.

"Okay."

"Hi, David..." Aai spoke. I stopped eating and turned my head to see David standing at the entrance of the kitchen.

"Hello Farheen Didi," he greeted her before looking at me.

"Did you have your lunch? I will warm your lunch for you."

"No... No... I will have my food later. Can you please make me a cup of coffee?" He asked her.

"Sure, have a seat while I make your coffee." He flashed her a genuine smile. Farheen Aai turned around and mouthed me 'behave'.

I shook my head and started eating my food, David walked over and pulled the chair which is beside me.

I side glanced to see him sitting down keeping his phone on the table.

I munched on my food, we stayed quiet. Farheen placed the coffee before him, "thank you, Didi," he said.

"I will leave now," Farheen Aai said leaving the kitchen.

David calmly sipped his coffee and I ate my food. "You haven't changed your clothes?" He asked.

I stopped eating and looked at him. I look at the clothes I'm wearing and then at him. "No, went straight to sleep."

"You woke just now?"

"Yes, had to fill my stomach."

"Why are you here?" I ask him.

"Hmm... To check on you. How are you feeling?" He asked keeping the cup down.

"I don't know... I was startled seeing the blood and everything. I will be okay," I say.

We become silent, I finish my plate and drink the water. I stand up with my plate and glass to leave them in the sink.

I lean against the counter watching him. He got a call so he answered it. Why he has to come and check on me?

It only raises my hopes and the desire to make him mine. I want him to push me away... So that I can give up. Now I don't think I can give up on him after seeing him yesterday.

He turned around with his cute face and cute eyes looking at me.

"Yes Yashwanth, just send me the PDF file and I will check the files."

"Hey, David!" Rishi walked in. David ended the call and looked at Rishi. Pihu didn't follow Rishi to see David.

"Hey Rishi, when did you come?" David asked.

"In the morning, Pihu and I staying here for a while. Our parents are going to the village to attend a wedding so we are here."

"Nice."

"I heard even you are staying here? Is that true?" Rishi asked. I looked at David, I didn't know about his stay.

"I'm not sure, Aishu aunty asked me to stay here as she is going on a business trip. I will see if I can stay."

"You are staying here? Nice..." I speak up. David turned around and looked at me.

"It's not decided yet."

"If you are here... That means mum is going to make you stay here." I smile.

"Where is Pihu? Haven't seen her in a while," David asked Rishi.

"Yeah... She is in the projector room. She is actually keeping her distance from you when she got to know about Sejal."

"Oh."

"I will see you guys later, need to go and take a shower," I tell them.