He is sleeping peacefully sticking to me like a gum after snatching my precious sleep.

How can he sleep like this hugging me as if it is not a big deal?

How can he even suggest that stupid deal?

What does he think of himself?

Did he think that I am his business partner that he is offering me a deal?

I am his wife for God’s sake.

Why is he hell bent on complicating things now when it is almost over?

He is so different than me. I want all in or out in this relationship where as he wants to get whatever he can.

Will this deal work out?

I mean I too want this. I want to know him, I want to explore this relationship too. But won’t it make everything very very complicated?

No matter how much I think about it I couldn’t come to a conclusion. I removed his hand around me, took my phone and went to the balcony to talk with Sid.

He didn’t pickup the first time. He then picked and answered groggily, “Naan, is everything okay?”

“Yeah Sid. I just wanted to talk with you. Everything is fine.”

“You are not the person to call at...2.30 in the morning and to talk. So tell me what happened?” he asked yawning.

“I...” I don’t Know what will I tell him.

“I am scared of everything Sid", I whispered.

“Anu, if this is about tomorrow’s date, don’t worry too much. It’s just a date. Arjun is a good guy. He wouldn’t force you to do anything that you are uncomfortable with", he explained with sleepy voice.

“Not that Sid. He gave me a deal...." and I told him everything.

“So are you going to take the deal?”, he asked.

“I...I don’t know"

“Anu, what do you want from him?”

“I don’t know”

“Okay. Just answer yes or no", Sid told me.

“Do you like him?”

“I...”

“Yes, or no Anu"

I let out a sigh and answered, “Yes"

“Then take the deal. Don’t think too much.”

I didn’t answer anything.

“It’s okay to be selfish Anu. You like him. He likes you. It’s as simple as it is. Don’t think about complications. Who knows the said complication might give her permission?” He soothed my apprehensions.

“I can only give you suggestions Anu. But, at the end of the day you have to take a leap of faith. She is your sister. She might get angry that you married the guy she loves, but she will never want your marriage to break. She didn’t give you much chances to trust her. So take this chance. If she truly thinks you as your sister she will never ask you to divorce him. And if she did ask, then she is not your sister. She will be just a selfish bitch.” He told me.

“She loves him Sid"

“But she also left him humiliated in front of his family and relatives. So I don’t think she loves him. Whatever she had with him, it’s over. Let me ask you a question. Do you think if I tell you to forget Sharanya and live your life happily with him, will you do it?” He asked me.

“You know the answer Sid.” I told him quietly.

“See. You are loyal to her. Sharanya knows that. He knows that too. May be that’s why he gave you this deal. He knows that no natter what will happen you won’t stay with him. So he wanted to be happy at least until you get separated. So the ball is in your court now. Make your choice. Do you want to be miserable your whole life and think about all the what ifs or you want to be happy at least for until she returns?”

Sid hung up after some time. I too thought about some time and came inside and slept beside him.

Next morning when I woke up he was not there.

I opened my phone to see a message from him.

I am in a board meeting with dad. It might take longer than I expected. I cancelled the movie. We can go for lunch. Is that okay for you?

What should I say to him?

No matter how much I think I couldn't come to a conclusion about the deal. It would not be fair to him or me. If there is no chance for this relationship why bother starting it?

I texted him saying okay and he asked me to come to the restaurant directly as the meeting is still going on. He won’t have enough time to come home and pick me up.

I was the first one to reach the restaurant. I wore a simple purple blouse and black jeans. I don’t want to go over the top. But, I am regretting now. This restaurant is over the top. I should have at least worn a dress.

I am sitting at the second floor of the restaurant with a nice view of the city. I can see the garden from the first floor. After ten minutes I saw a person waving hand at me in my periphery. I looked down at the first floor garden to see him smiling at me while waving. I too waved without realizing. He signalled that he will be coming up now and went away.

He is coming.

I can hear my heart beats. Why am I feeling this nervous?

Now to think about it, it is our first official date. God that thought alone is making my heart go haywire. Now that I am here all my courage seemed to fled away and I too want to flee with it.

Can I run away?

Damn, they only have one lift to the restaurant.

Where the hell are the stairs?

If anyone would have told me before four months that I would be waiting for “The Devil" in a restaurant for a date to discuss our relationship with my heart fluttering I would have laughed my ass off. He is my boss for God’s sake.

Okay. I am officially hyperventilating.

Someone give me a calming pill.

I immediately took some water to drink and calm myself.

That five minutes he took to come from first floor to second floor felt like five years. I felt every second passing by me.

Just as I completed drinking the water, he came and sat in front of me.

“I am sorry. That meeting went long than I expected.” He apologised to me.

“It’s okay sir. I too woke up late"

“Let’s order first. I am starving" he told me.

“Sure sir"

God I should stop calling him sir.

But my mouth is not being controlled by my mind. It’s like my mouth developed a mouth if its own. Am I even making sense?

How can he be so calm when I am hyperventilating here?

Once we placed the order there is an awkward silence. I didn’t even have the courage to look at him. So I pretended to look at the restaurant.

“So?” He asked me.

It’s starting now.

I looked at him. We both know what he is talking about. But he repeated again for the sake of my pretending ass.

“Have you thought about the deal I mentioned?”, he came straight to the point.

I feel like I am sitting in front of an investigation officer now.

“I...I don’t think that would be a good idea" I told him slowly.

“On the contrary, I think it is a good idea”, he told me confidently.

“It will complicate everything”, I again told him slowly.

What happened to my confidence?

“What’s there to complicate? I am not asking commitment from you. I will let you go. All I am asking is be true to your feelings.”

Why is he talking to me in his business tone as if he is negotiating a deal?

When I didn’t reply anything, he let out a sigh, “ Ananya, if you are not sure then let’s start with being friends for now. Let’s go for some dates and then you can decide. What do you think about this?” he asked me softly.

“Or do you have any problems with being friends with me?” he asked me with a raised eyebrow.

“No. No sir. I don’t have any problem in being friends with you" I replied immediately and then face palmed myself. He cornered me into this friends thing.

“Good. It’s settled then. Let’s be friends first and get to know each other and then see where it goes" he smiled at me triumphantly knowing he got me in a fix.

What’s the difference between the deal you offered and this friendship thing? Both are same.

“Yes sir"

Wow. I thought it would be a very long discussion where I would be the one controlling the conversation. But, he settled everything in just two sentences.

“The first rule of friendship: stop calling me sir"

I sat with my mouth open wondering when I lost the control in the conversation.