Chasing Her Shadow - Chapter Seventeen

S. Meera

29 September 2008, 01:33

Continued From Chapter Sixteen

He left early, skipping breakfast. She decided to give hers a slip too and caught an auto to work. A riot was on in her mind, but she felt detached. It being a Thursday, the work was on in full swing as the next day her supplement would be out. Though secretly relieved that she will not have to attend the wedding reception – it would be tough getting out of office today early – she was upset about what happened in the morning. She felt Ravi was over-reacting. What was there to feel tense about Mary’s attending the wedding? They could slip in and slip out without having to stay long, the way they had done at Latha’s party. Why so much ado about nothing?

She felt uncomfortable. Personally she didn’t find it strange that Mary and Ravi moved in the same circles. If it was not an issue at the time they broke up, why was it one now? If they knew how not to cross paths then, how was it that Ravi knew everything about Mary now? Was Mary trying to play games?

She got off the auto, and without fighting with the driver for a change, gave him what he asked for. It was a mercifully busy day, and as a lot of demand was made on her time, she got an involuntary break from her own worries.

*

She noticed in the evening that there had been no communications from Ravi at all. That either meant he was upset or too busy. It also meant that she would have to go home on her own. It would be another two hours for her to be free. She didn’t want to call, and let him chill it.

By the time she reached home, it was 10. She was worried to see that Ravi hadn’t arrived yet. She tried his office unsuccessfully. She felt restless, fearing the worst and cursing herself for letting her pride and work come over concern for him.

It was almost 11 when he came home. He looked cheerful, surprisingly.

“What happened? Where were you?”

“Didn’t you get my message?” Ravi asked.

“You know it’s no use leaving a message for me on a Thursday!!”

“You and your useless office,” he replied lightly. “I was at Latha’s house.”

“Doing what!”

“Baby sitting. Latha was going to James’ reception and Joy was going to be late. So, when I told her that I am not going to the reception, she asked me to baby sit Anil.”

Shyamala frowned. `How silly!’ she thought. “But you could have called again from there! We really must get a cell-phone.”

“Yes….didn’t think of it,” he said, going in to change.

“Did she return so late?” Shyamala asked when he came out.

“No dinner for me. I ate there. No, she came at around 9 and we were chatting of this and that.”

Shyamala could feel her temper rising.

“Of this and that?” she asked, knowing fully well what that would be. Ravi looked sheepish, confirming her suspicions.

“Is there anything that is private between us?” she asked, exasperated.

He winked, tapping her cheek, “Of course.”

She pushed him back, laughing.

That didn’t reduce her irritation. She didn’t know who was a bigger menace – Mary or Latha. Maybe Joy’s long absences were responsible for this. She hated herself for thinking like this, but she felt pushed to a corner.

Continued In Chapter Eighteen

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