Stand in My Shoes

70. Red Flags

It was lunchtime. Everybody had already made out to the canteen while Sooraj was still engrossed in his world of thoughts.

Sooraj mv: Am I overthinking or Is there something wrong with Stacy. Her recent behaviour is kinda intimidating. Feels like she's acting more than a friend. No..I shouldn't think like this about a girl. She's a good friend of mine.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Sooraj: Hey babe

Nila: Hello, did you have lunch.

Sooraj: Nah, was going to. Did you?

Nila: Harley brought macaroons today and I feel stuffed eating all of them. I'm not hungry.

Sooraj: It's not good to have snacks before lunch. You'll loose your appetite.

Nila: Yeah I know.

Stacy called him from behind

Stacy: Sooraj, it's lunch time. Shall we go together.

Sooraj: Yeah coming

Nila: Is it Stacy Higgins?

Sooraj: Yeah, she's calling for lunch

Nila: Hm..then you should go I'll call you later.

Sooraj: Wait, somebody's jealous it seems

Nila: No I'm not.

Sooraj: He..he I could make out from that tone in the voice.

Nila: I'm not. Why should I be? I trust you like my soul.

Sooraj (smiles): I know that.

Nila: Yeah. Go and have lunch. I'll call you later. Bye

Sooraj: Bye.

Later

Sooraj returned home from a work to find Stacy and his mom talking to eachother, sharing jokes.

Sooraj: I'm back. Hey, what are you doing here?

Stacy: I just came in to drop in your books. Did you have a shift today?

Sooraj: Yeah. When did you come?

Stacy: A while before. I should get going. See you tomorrow.

Sooraj: Yeah. Bye then

Stacy went.

Sooraj: What were you both talking about?

Rani: Nothing peculiar. About her work, family and others. She came to give your books

Sooraj: Did she ask you anything?

Rani: Well yeah, she was asking about you, your routine and your favourite dishes.

Alarm bells started tolling for Sooraj.

Sooraj: What?  Why does she want to know that? This is getting out of hand. This girl is surely upto something.

He remembered how often she tried to stand sit close to him and he tried to maintain his distance. Also once she even tried to hold his hand and said it was an accident.

Next day.

Sooraj was busy working in his laptop while Stacy came in with a hello. He tried to ignore her.

Stacy: Sooraj, guess what I have got for lunch today.

Sooraj: What?

Stacy: Veg pulao. Your mom said it's your favourite. We can have it together

Sooraj: Sorry I've got my lunch today. You have. I don't want.

Stacy had turned real mad.

Stacy: Why? Do you know how much effort I had to put in for making it. I don't know a thing about Indian food. Still I went through all the cooking videos and made it with my own hands and you're refusing it? You're mean!

Sooraj: Why did you go through all that trouble? I didn't ask you for lunch!

Stacy: What kind of response is this? You're my friend of course.

Sooraj: Then, why didn't you bring lunch for our other friends as well. Why only me?

Stacy was running out of answers and she panicked. Sooraj continued

Sooraj: Stacy, I've been noticing your behaviour towards me recently. It seems like you are trying to be overfriendly towards me. It kinda freaks me out. You should treat all your friends equally.

Her eyes saw red and she yelled at him.

Stacy: You! You are the most heartless person I've ever met. No matter how hard I tried to make you have feelings for me, you never even noticed. You have no idea how much I love and care for you as you love that short-legged bitch!

For a split second, she stopped and soon realised that she had fucked up everything. Sooraj was shocked and stared at her in disbelief.

Sooraj: What did you just say!

Stacy: Ah...I mean...

Sooraj: I trusted you. I considered you as a good friend. Still, how could you?

Stacy: Sooraj I can explain

Sooraj: Don't you know that I have a girlfriend? How dare you try to woo someone who's in a relationship! Don't you have any sense!

Stacy: Of course I'm in love with you. I love you more than anything in the world. More than Nila. Trust me Sooraj, I will love more than anything else. I won't ask you anything else. Just be mine.

Sooraj was horrified

Sooraj: Stay away from me!

He tried to  walk away and she ran behind him.

Stacy: Dont ever leave me like that. I just don't understand. Why are you love with that stupid hoe? She doesn't deserve you at all!

He turned back, fuming. Stacy was frightened.

Sooraj: What did you say about my Nila!!! Say it again!!

Stacy: I said she's a fucking hoe!

Sooraj: HOW DARE YOU!!!

He yelled at her and she stood cowered under his stern gaze.

Sooraj: If someone badmouth about my love, I won't hesitate to pull his to gue out. Just because I'm respectful towards women, doesn't mean I would tolerate such insults. You heard me!!!

Stacy: I'm sorry I..

Sooraj: Never talk to me again. Ever!!

He walked away from her, rising in anger.

................

Nila was arranging pasteries inside the glass box while the manager came in.

Nila: Good afternoon sir.

Manager: How is it going?

Nila: Good sir. We made raspberry pasteries, buttery croissants and and blueberry tarts.

Manager: Great. One more thing. You can take a week off like you've asked before. But you have to do overtime for three weeks.

Nila: Really thanks a lot sir.

Leah: So you're going to London. Any occasion.

Nila; Nothing. I just wanted to go and meet everyone. It's been so long. Moreover I want to give Sooraj a surprise. He'll be surely on cloud nine when he sees me. Can't wait to see his reaction.

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