Destiny of Love

Krisha

I worked in the kitchen preparing dinner while Mr. Kim enjoyed his old clip replaying in the news channel which stated that he was busy preparing for his new song for the army in his office hotel and it was a small misunderstanding that created havoc in our town.

Since we had a guest today who had a terrible day, I decided to make healthy and tasty matar paneer and rice along with raita and roasted sweet potato. While preparing dinner, my mind wandered off to the difficulties and trials the young man went through. He was really humble, even after so much fame and destruction in his life. When he told his story to me, I wanted to comfort him and tell him that everything would be fine but somehow my words got stuck in my throat. Moreover, I didn't want to show sympathy to him. I felt his words were genuine and he didn't tell me his story for sake of sympathy. Thus I changed the topic of our conversation to sweet potatoes which I forgot to roast as an evening meal and decided to make it in dinner, though it looked odd with the other dishes.

After the food was ready, I asked Mr. Kim to help me with placing the dishes on the dining table, which he gladly did.

I served us both on the plates and signed him to start eating but he didn't.

" What happened? Don't you like it?" I asked, now a little anxious.

" What is this? I hadn't had any of this except rice and sweet potatoes." He said pointing at the matar paneer and raita.

"It is an Indian dish. It is very tasty and my favorite. I hope you like it." I said with a little hope that he might like the food.

He stared at his spoon and nodded.

" and also if you don't like it, feel free to tell me. I have some noodles. I'll make it for you."

He nodded again.

I told him to mix rice with matar paneer gravy and then have it and he followed. I too followed his movement anxiously to receive the feedback.

" It's spicy." He said with a shy smile.

I filled my mouth with the spoonful of food and assessed the taste but for me it was fine. I love eating spicy food but today I didn't add very much spices.

" I eat a little spicy food, If you don't like it. It's ok. I can make noodles for you." I said while getting up from my seat but he stopped me by holding my hand.

"Don't worry. It is spicy but I like it." He smiled and signaled me to sit down.

The whole dinner time passed silently. He particularly praised roasted sweet potatoes and asked me to make it again for him before he leaves the place.

After having dinner we together cleaned the kitchen and washed utensils. After completing all our work we decided to sleep. As we made our way, I realized I have only one bedroom.

" You can sleep in the bedroom, I'll sleep here on the couch. I just need my pillow and blanket." I said to him in a low voice.

" No way! How can I let a woman sleep on the couch and enjoy myself in bed? You have a good sleep in your bedroom and I'll sleep here." He said.

I looked at his height and then at the length of the couch. I sighed and shook my head.

" You won't be able to fit here. You need to shrink into a ball to fit into the couch. Don't bother yourself." I said but he didn't agree.

Finally, an idea crawled into my brain.

" My bedroom has a double bed. Let me bring one mattress here in this room and that way we both can sleep nicely." I told my plan to him which he finally agreed.

" But I'll sleep here. You can sleep in your room ." He said.

" You are my guest, how can I let you sleep here on the floor? Don't worry about me, I like sleeping on the floor if I have my mattress, and blanket along with the pillow." I insisted.

After ten minutes of argument, I finally persuaded him to sleep in the bedroom. And so finally we headed off to sleep.

***

I never knew that the living room would be this cold until my body started shivering under the moderately thick blanket wrapped around me. I turned here and there to warm up a little bit but it was all in vain. I was feeling shy to bring a thicker blanket which I had kept above the cupboard of my bedroom. It wasn't appropriate to enter the room as it would violate his privacy. But struggling for about half an hour I decided to bring my blanket otherwise I would be turned into a snow woman by morning. I sighed and walked to the bedroom door. I first thought of knocking but then decided against it as it would disturb my guest's sleep.

I slowly opened the door and tried to find my way to the cupboard in the dark. Finally, I reached the cupboard and pulled the blanket which was resting majestically on it but that heavy blanket fell on me like lightning. Taking my head out of the blanket and after accomplishing my mission I tip-toed towards the door but his murmuring and constant flipping on the bed stopped me. Was he having a nightmare?

I turned around and my hands started finding a switch on the wall. Soon the lights turned on and I gasped.......