Indu

I wonder what I would do had he not been my neighbour.

I know things have changed between us. We have more comfortable with each other.

I can just call him and ask him anytime to cook something for me and he obliges.

It was 1 AM by the time I emptied all the three juice bottles. I put the kheer in the fridge like he said.

I sent him a thankyou text and went to bed.

I heard my phone ring. I checked the time and it was 7:15.

"Good morning"

"Hey"

"The guy is here. We are at your door, quickly clean up and open the door when you're ready"

"Yeah, give me 5 minutes"

"Take your time" he said and hung up.

I quickly changed into pajama pants, cleaned my teeth and opened the door.

There was a guy with Rohan.

A chair was laid for me next to my shoe rack.

"Sit," Rohan said.

He took a few steps back.

When that stick was pushed into my nose, I almost sneezed since it was so irritating.

"Aaram se, it's done. Relax" I heard Rohan's voice.

The guy took the sample, and a few personal details before he left.

"Shaam tak bataa doonga sir" he said.

Rohan paid him and let him go.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked.

"Nothing different. Couldn't sleep well last night"

"I am going to make some khichdi. You can take that kheer out from the fridge and have it with the khichdi"

"But I can't eat khichdi,"

"Leave that to me madam. Go easy on the shower for today. I will be back in 30 minutes, need to go get some groceries"

"Okay"

"See you"

Around 9, he got me a very light, mushy khichdi in a tupperware.

The whole day, he kept sending food.

It was 7 in the evening when I got his call.

"Hey, any news?" I asked, answering it the next moment.

"You tested positive Indu" his voice was low.

"I kinda expected, I guess I lost my sense of taste since I couldn't relish your amazing khichdi"

"That's terrible"

"Hmm"

"So here's the plan for the next 15 days. I am going to make you lunch before I leave for work. I got enough fruits for 3 days. You need to make sure you eat them all. I will get something from the hotel while coming back home for dinner"

"Rohan, calm down. You don't have to do this. I will manage"

Why is he so sweet and caring?

"I'm not going out of the way to do anything, so yeah that's okay"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

"What are you doing now?"

"Nothing, I just cleaned up the place and did my laundry"

"Do you want to come over to the balcony?" I asked.

"Yeah"

I cut the call and went to the balcony.

"Still feeling terrible?" he asked.

"I am glad I do not have a bad fever, it's just the weakness"

"You need to rest a lot. Did you inform your office that you'll be on leave?"

"I did. Most of my team is down with the same reason"

"Yeah, it's pretty bad out there,"

"Rohan, aren't you scared of going to work everyday?" I was really curious.

"Do I have a choice? I get tested once every 3 days. I got vaccinated. I take all the precautions. That's all I can do"

"How's the donation drive going?"

"Great! We're getting praises from the government as well. Many other hotels came forward to share the load, so I am guessing from next week we'll come down to making 2 meals a day and not three. We're going to get some help. Plus I am running short on staff"

"Hmm, that's good that you're going to get some help"

"Did you tell your family?" he asked.

"I called my mom this afternoon. She freaked out. She said she can't thankyou enough for all that you're doing for me"

"Happy to help"

"Rohan, are you alright?" He looked dull.

"Why are you asking that?"

"I don't know. You look tired. Not I am tired from work kind of tired, this is different. You know you can talk to me"

"You're right, something is bothering me"

"What is it?"

"Acha I wanted to ask you something, who was that Nikhil? You sounded like you didn't want to meet him"

"Arrghh! He is an idiot. He likes me and he wants me to like him too. He is so clingy. He works with me. Always irritated me with do you want to grab a coffee, do you wanna go for dinner, what are your weekend plans bla bla bla"

"He did seem like an idiot," he said.

"Is it? Did he say something?"

"I told him you were at the dentist. He went on saying you stupid things"

"Like what?"

"Like something that made me want to punch his face"

"Really? That bad?"

"Yep! And trust me, I never wanted to punch anyone"

"Was that what you were worried about?" I asked him.

-------------

Rohan

She wanted to know why I was worried.

If I tell her it's because of her, would she stop talking to me?

I made plans for this week. I took special permission from the chief of operations at the hotel to take her. I wanted to spend time with her, and maybe tell her that I have started to feel differently for her. And then everything is ruined.

It wasn't easy to build up the courage.

I never approached a girl for a date. That was going to be my first time and I was a nervous wreck.

Every night when she used to sit in the balcony talking to me, her hair let loose, I wanted to touch her hair.

I wanted to hold hands with her, hug her.

I never realized when I started to develop such strong feelings, but I don't think I can put a pause over them.

"Hello! Earth to mister" she said, clapping.

"Sorry, I zoned out"

"It's okay, I figured you don't want to talk about it. I won't force you" she said, giving me a warm smile. Since we had enough distance between us, she took off her mask.

"Got an early day tomorrow, need to go to bed" I said, avoiding the conversation.

I didn't know how to respond to what she said.

"Alright, goodnight"

The next 20 days were few of the toughest days for me.

I didn't get to see her much.

We didn't talk much because she was weak.

I felt terrible.

And my feelings for her only became stronger.

I could no longer wait to hold her, and I really wonder why. I have been a goner all this while.

I messed up in the kitchen a couple times which never happened before.

It was the last day of her quarantine today.

She tested negative on the 12th day and was in isolation.

I continued sending her food.

And today, I am at the hotel cooking and all I can think about is to be able to stand close to her.

I know I am not going to intimidate by hugging her already.

All I want to do is spend some time close to her.

Not sitting in separate balconies.

It was 7 and time to go home.

I made her special pasta using the best of my culinary skills and a vanilla ice cream. She loves vanilla.

I drove home with a grin on my face. I even got her some flowers.

The moment I got down the elevator on our floor, I noticed two pairs of footwear at her doorstep.

Is someone visiting her?

I knocked at her door as it was closed.

The door opened and there stood a lady I never saw before.

"Yes," she said.

"I am here for Indu" I said.

"Rohan?" she asked.

"Yes,"

"I am Madhu, Indu's mom" she said with a smile on her face.

"Hi aunty, pleasure meeting you" I said.

"The pleasure is mine. I don't know how to thank you enough for all that you've done for Indu"

"Arre aunty, that's okay. She is my neighbour and friend, itna toh kar hi sakta hoon" I said.

"Acha she just went to her room to rest for sometime, but you can come inside"

"That's fine, I need to freshen up anyway, I will see her tomorrow. Uhmm, can you just give her these" I gave her the bag with food and the flowers.

"Sure. She'd love them. She was waiting to know what you were going to cook today" she said.

"I hope she likes it then. I made pasta the way she likes and some vanilla ice cream. I know ice cream is bad, but just give her some. I promised her"

"I will. Thankyou beta"

"Bye aunty. Goodnight"

"Goodnight"

There goes my excitement into the gutter.

Looks like her mom is here to stay for a while.

I came back home, took a shower and had dinner. Although I was excited till a few moments back, I feel tired now.

Maybe it was just the high of seeing her.

Texting her a goodnight, I put my phone on mute and went to bed.