The first thing I did after reaching home was get into a hot shower as soon as possible. As the drops of water touched my body, I felt relieved. The entire weight of the hectic day was as if lifted from my shoulders! But still, the lingering thought kept nagging from time to time.

I closed the shower knob and stepped out of the bathroom and changed into my comfort wear. My humble flat was my safe space where I could be just me. A tiny little balcony was my favorite spot in the house. I opened my freeze, glanced at the ingredients, and decided to make vegetable pulao for my dinner…easy, quick & healthy. I then took out the milk packet and turned on the gas knob to reheat it. A strong tea is what I craved !

Just then my phone rang. Maa had called. My constant in my life. I picked up the call and marked my attendance for the day. From what did you eat ….to what are you going to eat tonight… my maa and her questions revolved around my food intake. She has still not realized that I am not a child anymore. As irritating as those questions might seem, deep within I kind of like it. I like the fact that someone is worried about my well-being, someone who wants me to be healthy, and someone who loves me unconditionally in this selfish world. Her call is like a therapy. I finished my call with a smile on my face. It was time for my tea now.

My ginger tea came to a boil and I waited for the perfect color to appear. I strained it into my favorite cup and went to the balcony to soak in its awesomeness. Just then his face flashed in front of me. Was he really telling the truth? Was he really the same person claiming to be? I opened my social media account and went into the DM section. Ahhhh …. there it was …his message highlighted in bold.

” Hello Maam, you really paint beautiful mandalas. A big fan here.”

I clicked on his DP. It zoomed up. Yes… it was him and he had the same sharp features and with the same smile. His bio read as

Suryansh Tripathy,

Entrepreneur, Passionate creator

But why did he come to my office today?

To be continued …

To read Part 1, click here

Love,

Chinmayee

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024