"Aarthi, come soon," Vijay urged sitting in his car.

"One minute," I said curling my lips. I carefully plucked the bloomed white rose and pinned it on my hair before walking to the car. Vijay's eyes quickly glanced at me and then he turned his gaze like I didn't notice it. I can't help but smile biting my lower lip as the car passed the gates to the roads. The gates were closed by the old security guard who came to work today after a month-long leave.

Yesterday, like we planned we went out for a movie, it's a romantic comedy with a usual plot, there are not many people at the theatre and I barely enjoyed it. Vijay watched only the movie and when we came out he said, "It's a stupid movie," and walked not even holding my hand. I huffed seeing his non-romantic gestures and wondered is this the same guy who kissed me yesterday.

Did couples who go out to the theatre just to watch movies? I expected he will initiate something between us but it's all ended in nothing. But one good thing is, he bought me a wonderful dinner. After we came home, we talked about random things, and then we landed on the topic of why he discontinued his studies. Vijay answered, "I thought college degree is a waste for me so I quit engineering and started working in the hotel." But then he asked, "Are you bothered about the fact that I am not a graduate?"

I know where this conversation will lead so I said, "No, I also agree to that point." and ended the conversation there with a smile.

He smiled back, then he asked me, "Do you want to come to the hotel, tomorrow?"

"Yes, sure," I agreed.

Then I slept voluntarily holding his hand, I don't want to put a chance to change this side of him so I made sure that everything is okay between us.

"What you will do at the hotel?" I asked since I am too curious.

"I mostly work at bill counters, if I am bored I help in cooking, and sometimes I will be a server," he answered driving the car.

"Really?"

"Yes," he nodded seeing my face. "Since all I know is how to work in a hotel. Though I own it, I work there every day because I don't know anything better to pass my time," he genuinely accepted which I admire about him. If I was him I wouldn't easily accept that I don't know anything, I have this stupid ego.

"Great," I smiled. "That's why you're successful."
"Maybe," he shrugged.

"I am too strict following my own rules. If I am not like that then I won't be here talking to you," he confused me.

"What do you mean by that?" I hesitantly asked.

"Nothing," he got away by just nodding his head.

Though I want to ask more, I decided to stay silent. Why should I willingly turn the day disastrous!

The car moved in the busy streets, Vijay is a good driver, he drove smoothly even though the roads were jagged.

He stopped the car before his large busy hotel, he has one more branch in the same city but today he chose here. I have already come here a couple of times when I was in my final years at the university. My classmates told me that the non-veg meals here will taste so good since I was craving too much at that time and didn't get a chance to go home because of internships and projects, my father sent money for me to have good food in the Sundays.

I came here with my friend Nithya. It was true, I had fantastic food here. But it's far away from my college so I couldn't come here often. But that time, I never thought that I would be marrying that hotel owner. What a crazy fate? I don't think I noticed him at that time.

I thought, walking behind him. Vijay is wearing a black shirt and grey tailored slacks. As usual, he's clean as a new notebook. I know I am looking dull in my blue salwar and today I got my periods earlier in the morning which I am not at all happy about.

As he entered the hotel, the man sitting in the bill counter got up and welcomed with a smile.
"I will work here, you go inside, Anand," Vijay said and that man left the seat.

"Sit here," Vijay said pointing the chair beside him. He started to bill for the customers.

The servers looked at us while walking here and there. "Is it weird?" Vijay got my attention.

"What?"

"Their stares,"

"Yeah," I nodded. That time, a middle-aged man came to us.

"Congratulations, Vijay sir," he said.

"Thanks," Vijay smiled and I felt awkward too.

"The same bill?"
"Yes," that man nodded and paid fifty rupees before walking away.

"He's one of our regular customers," Vijay said to me

"Oh," I nodded and looked at the people eating, chatting and some were on the phone. All the fifty-plus seats were filled and busy this morning time.

Vijay was so good to his customers and I noticed he knows well to attract people, he gave free chocolates to all the kids who came along with their parents and also had a small chat with them. He must like kids or maybe it is one of his business wiles.

When I was in my thoughts,

"Do you want anything?" Vijay asked me.

"Wait," he didn't listen to my reply. "Mani, bring two coffees," Vijay said to one of the waiters.

He must be the same age as Vijay, a late-twenties guy. He came out with a coffee and smiled at me. Vijay noticed that in sideways when I smiled back at Mani and turned to see him.

His face sulked, his jaws clenched and I felt a sudden fear.
Because of that, I can't even enjoy that sweet coffee.

"Have your coffee," I said.

"No, I don't want," he said not looking at my face.

I saw his silly irritation in his gestures and I felt weird to sit beside him after that. Neither of us didn't speak for an hour.

That time, when we are awkwardly sitting, a customer came to us. After paying he complained, "Sir, the side dish has too much salt and I can't even eat it. We are giving a hundred rupees for the meals, try to give all the items in the same taste."

That was a little loud and the frown on that customer's face made Vijay even more irritated as I can see it in his face. This is a humiliation as few customers looked at us too and I can feel Vijay is not going to leave it simply.

But instead of arguing with him, he replied, "I will tell the cook. Next time this won't happen."

I sighed under my breath in relief. But it is short-lived.

"Hey, Ganesh." He called the guy standing near the sweats display. Vijay asked him to fill his place until he returns. I don't know what he's going to do and I just stared at him. Inside I strongly felt that he's going to get angry with someone now.

Rolling up his sleeves Vijay walked towards the kitchen. First I was hesitant then eventually I followed him there.

He took a spoon from the dish dryer and went to the food vessels. He opened a large Kadaai and took a spoonful of that side dish. After eating that, he turned to the cook who's standing beside him already.

"Why salt is less in this, add even more," Vijay sarcastically remarked.

"Mistakenly I added salt two times and I tried to reduce it but..." the cook scratched his head.

"Last month you did the same thing. I am not running a hotel for you to make a mistake. Get out," Vijay gritted.

That man looked shocked and sad.

"I don't want you to work here anymore," Vijay said and I stood at the door side watching the entire scene. He's too harsh. I thought Vijay should give him a chance because that middle-aged cook looked pity.

"Please. I won't do this again,"

Vijay huffed clenching his teeth, "I said go. No more talking," Vijay ended and walked to the door before commanding another cook to throw that dish in the trash.

He glanced at me and I looked at him with that far-fetched face. Vijay walked past me like I am not at all standing there and I turned to look at the cook who's sad and dejected for losing his job. His eyes filled with tears too. I can feel his pain but I can't do anything about it.

I came back to the bill counter, thinking why he's so narcissistic. I sat beside him and he didn't mind me for some time.

"Do you want to go home, I will ask Mani to drop you," his tone isn't normal and I wondered why he's bringing that guy here. Wait! What's this mean? Why he is? Ripple of anger and sadness struck me hard. I didn't reply to him, instead looked down at his shoes.

There's no better way, I can undermine this worst situation by not answering him so I kept silent.

That time, my phone started ringing. I picked it up and I badly wanted to get out of this place so thinking this is the best opportunity, I acted like I didn't get the signal and walked out to the gate hastily.

"Appa," I tried not to cry.
"Aarthi. Are you at home?" he asked.

"No, I came to the hotel," I answered.

"How is your experience there?" he enthusiastically questioned me.

I smiled being in this pathetic state and told him, "It's so great to be here."

Even though I hang up the call after answering a few more questions I still had the phone in my ears and stood there looking at the passing vehicles. I don't want to go inside. In fact, I don't want to come here ever again.

Disappointed greatly by the way he didn't treat me in the way I expected, my face becomes gloomy and I wondered why he even brought me here?