The Strings Of Heart

31

Sitara POV

I wear my favourite sweatshirt and grey skinny pants. I look in the mirror and check myself out before giving a thumbs up.

I wear my sneakers, take my wallet and phone with keys before stepping out of my room. I hum a song under my breath with a soft smile playing on my face.

"Sitara..." I stop and turn around to see mum.

"Hey mum," I say.

"You going somewhere?" She asked looking at me.

"Yeah."

"Where are you going?" She questioned.

"Hmm... Just catching up with a friend. Will be back soon," I say.

"Okay, don't be late. If you need Ajay to drop you I will send him with you," she said.

"Nah... It's fine. I'm driving the Vespa," I tell her.

"Apply for your driving licence..."

"Yeah... Yeah... Will do later. Bye ma," I wave my hand and start walking before she asks the other questions.

I run downstairs and run towards the entrance. I'm happy and excited because David agreed to meet me at a coffee shop.

I get on my Vespa and start it before driving. The coffee house is 30 minutes away from my home and near to David's hospital.

I have never gone to that coffee house but David did. He is the one who suggested the place.

The traffic was heavy and hectic but I was able to reach the place before time. I park my Vespa in the parking lot and look at myself in the mirror, comb my hair with my fingers before going towards the entrance.

I stop when I saw the small flower bouquet shop. I look at the different flowers available.

"How can I help you?" The lady asked. The lady is about my age I guess.

"Hmm... Can you wrap three lilies?" I ask her. I'm not sure if they give you three lilies or you have to get the whole bouquet.

She smiled, "sure, just a minute."

"Yup, take your time."

This would be my first time giving flowers to someone. I have never given flowers to anyone nor I received flowers.

I asked her to wrap three flowers because this would count as the third date from my side.

Never in my life, I thought I would buy flowers for David. "Here, that would be seventy rupees," the girl said handing me the flowers.

I pull my wallet out and pay the girl before taking the flowers from the table. "Thank you," I tell her.

"Have a nice day." I smile before entering the coffee house.

The place is beautiful and minimalist, social media-friendly as I walk further into the café to find a place to sit.

I find an empty table and walk over there, place my flowers on the table and sit down.

I pull my phone out and dial David's number. He doesn't answer my calls so I leave a text saying I'm at the location.

I look around, play on my phone. Tell the waiter that I'm waiting for someone when he walked over to me asking if I'm ready to order.

I don't know how much time passed or how many weird looks I got. I seriously thought I was stood up by David.

He wasn't even answering my calls and messages. I thought of leaving but I leaned back when I saw him walking towards me.

"Sorry had an emergency, did you wait for long?" He asked taking the seat.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"You could've sent me a text or answer my calls," I tell him.

"Calls? Huh... My phone wasn't with me. It was in my locker," he answered.

"Here..." I push the flowers to his side gently.

"You got flowers?" He asked looking at them with a surprised look.

"Yes."

"Why did you bring them?" He asked taking the flowers.

"Because I wanted to give you flowers," I tell him. He gave me an awkward smile and I shake my head.

"Why did you give lilies?" He questioned touching the petal of the flower.

"They mean ideal love, you are my ideal love," I say openly and he blinks his eyes.

"Sitara-"

"I know... You don't have to repeat everything. This is just a casual hangout..." I tell him. He only agreed to meet me when I told him it can be a casual hangout.

"Are you ready to order?" The man asked.

"Yeah."

I gave him my order while David only ordered coffee. "You know you can order a sandwich or something like roll maybe?" I tell him.

"Oh no, I only got thirty minutes of break," he said.

"Thirty minutes?" I ask him in confusion.

"Hmm yeah. I'm doing the rotational shift so I have my night shifts going on," he said.

"Oh, why didn't you tell this before? We could've met earlier."

"Sitara... I can't give you more time and honestly, this feels weird. I'm just giving you one hour because I can't say no to you. It's better if you stop this soon and honestly even if there is a chance, I can't spend more time with you or go out with you. The emergencies in the hospital and sudden shifts would never allow me to have a normal life."

I just watch him, "I get it, I know what I'm getting in to and it's fine."

He shakes his head, he was about to say something but stopped what he was going to say.

The next thirty to thirty-five minutes were spent with both of us silently eating our food. David was awkward and silently sipped his coffee.

I didn't have the same energy and enthusiasm to talk with him when he clearly looked uninterested. So I enjoy the solitude and the food.

He looked at his wristwatch then placed his empty coffee cup on the table.

"Do you want to eat anything?" He asked me. I shook my head looking at him.

He was going to pay the bill when I stopped him, "David, you don't have to pay for my food. I will pay mine," I tell him.

"What? No, it's fine. I will pay, you don't have to do that."

"No, I like to pay my own bills when we are not in a close relationship. If you pay then it means you are giving me a chance," I tell him.

He blinked his eyes not knowing what to say. "I... I will leave my coffee money then," he said.

"I will pay for your coffee, I wanted to buy you a coffee but didn't get the chance. Let me pay for your coffee."

"No... No..."

"Sitara, don't. I will pay for my coffee," he added.

"You are wasting your time, I won't be using your money to pay for the coffee. Just let me pay," I tell him. He looked unsure but nodded his head.

"Okay, bye."

"Bye." He leaves while I watch him go. I sighed leaning back in my seat finishing my unfinished sandwich. I get looks from people.

I look at the flowers David left behind, I roll my lips into my mouth feeling the better sweet taste of rejection.

The lilies are laying on the table unwanted. I call the waiter to bring my bill.

After paying the bill I stand up with my phone and pick the flowers from the table. "You are wanted, I will keep you three," I tell the flowers looking at them before walking towards the entrance.

My gaze goes to the guy sitting with a girl, his eyes widen in surprise but I keep my blank look. He is that Rishi or Karthik guy. I don't remember his name properly.

*

"So he left the flowers and went back to the hospital?" Kavya asked as I fall on her bed.

"Yes."

"Maybe he truly doesn't feel anything for you, I don't what you to get hurt Sitara. I don't like this..." Kavya said falling beside me.

"Hmm yeah... Let's see where it goes before I give up for good," I tell her. We become silent, Kavya doesn't speak on that matter knowing I don't want to talk about it.

"By the way, you remember the Karthik guy?" She asks.

"Which guy? The guy who tried to talk to me?" I ask her.

"Yeah... Yeah... The one from the architecture department who doesn't talk with other girls."

"The attitude one?"

"Yes."

"What about him?"

"He asked about you today, he even asked for your number but I didn't give him. So he asked Pranav," she said keeping her hand on my arm.

"Did he give him my number?" I ask her turning my head.

"I don't know."

"I would kick his ass if he gave my number to him." Kavya laughs nodding her head.

"Yeah... I guess he didn't."

"I actually saw him today," I tell her turning around and laying on my back.

"Who? Pranav?" She asked.

"No, Karthik. He was with someone, while I was leaving the cafe  I saw him."

"Did he say hi?"

"Nah, he was surprised seeing me there and I gave him a blank look," I said watching the rotating fan.

"I want to eat Pani Puri, let's go," I tell her rolling out of the bed.

"Sure." She rolls out of the bed.

I stay in Kavya's home for a sleepover, we watch the Annabelle series all night.