Metamorphic Switch

34. Wonderfully fortuitous Encounters

Pratima

I came to the room and slept immediately. I didn't change my clothes or washed my face. I knew there was chocolate on the corner of my lips and my face was a tear-stained mess.

When I got up in the morning I saw Praneet sleeping beside me. He looked like a delicious cookie waiting to be devoured. As much as I hated him last night, I loved him right now.

If I moved my finger three inches, I could touch him. He moved in sleep and I turned immediately. I could not be caught worshipping him so, I got up quietly and moved to the washroom. Observing my face in the mirror, I realised, Praneet deserved someone who looked better. I was just about average and he will never love me. Thoughts I never encouraged were my own today.

He was a jerk, I was a cheat.
He had reasons and my reason? I was just desperate to experience the life of a princess. If he was calling me greedy then he wasn't completely wrong.

"Stop staring yourself in the mirror, you aren't that pretty." I was astonished to hear his voice.

"How dare you come inside? I could be doing anything." I was conscious.

"Then lock the door next time." Praneet splashed water on his face.

Didn't I lock the door?
Stupid me.
I was so busy admiring Praneet's glorious morning face that I probably forgot. I was looking at him unconsciously and he sprinkled water on my face to bring me out of my thoughts, his thoughts.

I moved out of the bathroom so that he could use it. I didn't want to fight. He will only insult me.

He already started with, 'you aren't that pretty'.

I know. I explained that to myself and took my clothes and moved to the other room of our suite.

I was shocked to see a girl sleeping on the huge couch. She was the same girl Praneet was with, last night.
Did they do on the couch? How could Praneet do it?
He could. He did.
I quickly took a hot water shower that might calm me and leave the room quickly.

When I came out, Praneet and the girl were talking. I ignored them and walked to the room where my luggage was.

I had all negative feelings brooding inside me. Jealousy, hatred, betrayal, fury, to name a few.

"It's not how you think." Praneet instantly came inside and explained. What a creative line.

"Hmm," was all I could say or preferred to say.

The girl stepped inside and in a very charming tone said, "Yeah, it's not like how you think. I am just his... Let's say, fling."

"Oh! Just stop it." Praneet reprimanded the girl and she left after giving a flying kiss to him.
What was this new angle now?

"She was not a fling okay. I met her for a business meeting on behalf of Dada Saab yesterday. Eventually, I realised Dada Saab was just testing us. If you feel jealous of her being around me that would mean, there is something between us. Your running away from the hotel proved his point. The girl said she had no where to go in the night and therefore stayed here." Praneet explained everything without asking.

I didn't have the right to demand any explanations nor was he bound to give any. Still, he chose to clarify.

"Hmm," I did not want to say anything that would result in arguments. I knew my temper escalated easily.

"So that is how you will answer now? Hmm?" Praneet was agitated with my short replies I could see.

Giving up on thinking about the outcome, I told him calmly, "If I speak, we will fight. If I don't, still we fight. Honestly, I am tired of fighting and arguing. I get it, you think I am an opportunist and I am not justifying anything. But, I am also not going to hear any more accusations. Since you are 'smarter' between the two of us, why don't you decide what should we do?"