Opposites attract

CHAPTER 3(ASHIKA)

Here he is, standing right in front of me with that stupid smirk of his. I can't believe that I will have to deal with this smirk for the next two weeks but I had no option. When yakshita told me she wants me to teach Neil dance my first reaction was disgust. But after thinking about it for a while, I came to a conclusion that it's not such a bad idea. 

Since yakshita knows how much I hate her brother, she also knows that this is going to be a big favour from my side. Maybe after this I would be able to build up enough courage to tell her about my break up. 

Neil comes and sit beside yakshita an says something in her ear."Ashu, do you have a song in your mind for Neil's performance", says my best friend pulling out her laptop.I give out a sigh and the doorbell rings at the same time. After a few moments I hear Yakshita's mother's voice greeting sahika and kali.

"Great now everybody is here so we can actually get to the song selection", says yakshi. 

It's been 2 hours since my friends came into the room and finally after continuous discussions and quarrels, we have finally got our song list ready. I was getting ready to leave for my house when I was the stopped by the silky voice of Neil. 

"Ashu wait, you haven't told me at what time do I need to come to your house for practice tomorrow"

"Oh no Mr. freebe you aren't coming to my house, not tomorrow and not ever in my life."

"Ok, then can you please tell me the time at which you will come here."

"I won't be coming tomorrow, we can start from day after tomorrow, I will text you the time."

"Don't you think you will need my number for that purpose?"

"No I don't, I will just text yakshi and then she can let you know."

"Ashu please don't make this more difficult than this has to be."

"My name is ashika."

"Okay, ashika please take my number and make the process easy."

I agree to him, not because I feel defeated but because I want to get home as soon as possible so that I can continue working on my new presentation and I know that this conversation can go on for a long time, longer than I can tolerate, so we exchange numbers an then I head home.

 I reach home an open my laptop to start working on my presentation. I open chrome and start the research for my presentation, just then an advertisement appears on my screen. The advertisement was of a clothing brand and the model was wearing a white shirt. 

The sight immediately reminds me of what happened earlier today at the coffee house. While going to yakshi's house I had decided that I will apologise to Neil about his shirt an also thank him for telling me about yakshi, but after reaching there an seeing Neil in that apron, I completely forgot about it.

That apron, the plain yellow apron on his bare chest I don't think, I will ever be able to get over that sight. His broad shoulders were flexing so perfectly against the not so broad straps of that apron. It was not the first time I had seen someone shirtless. In fact he was not even actually shirtless and I could only see his shoulders but the way they looked I could only imagine how good his chest would be.

 I am sure it took me more than a few minutes to peel my eyes off him.I push the thought and sight out of my head and pick up my phone to text Neil.

Me: I forgot to apologize about your shirt.I was hoping him to be offline so that I get to skip the conversation. But like every time all my prayers go unanswered.

Mr. freebe: You already apologize back at the coffee shop.

Me: I forgot about that.Mr. freebe: I don't think so. In fact I think you were just looking for an excuse to text me.

Me: My god Neil, how can someone be so self-obsessed.

Mr. Freebe: I learned from the best; I mean you. Now please tell me the real reason behind this message.

Me: That is the real reason.

Mr. freebe: I want the truth, Ashu.

Me: Ashika, my name is Ashika.

Mr. freebe: Okay so if I call you ashika will you tell me the real reason.

Me: Maybe...but you will have to swear that you will never call me Ashu even again.

Mr. freebe: Okay done, now tell me.

Me: Actually I wanted to thank you for saying that yakshita was crying.

Mr. freebe: And??

Me: And I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell her that I went to meet her after you told me the same.

Mr. freebe: I won't, I want you tell her the reason yourself.

Me: What reason??

Mr. freebe: the reason for ignoring her calls.

Me: She knows the reason; I don't like to waste my time in all this practicing and stuff while I can finish a whole lot of work in that time.

Mr. freebe: Both of us know, this is not the actual reason but as I said I want to you tell them yourself.

He is right, I am hiding the real reason, the reason is obviously my ex-boyfriend and my break up. But I would have to tell her someday, before her wedding. What did I do wrong to deserve to land in this kind of a situation.

Me: U think too highly of yourself for someone who has been unemployed for three years.

Mr. freebe: It's not called unemployment if it was me who decided to stay home. And unlike you some people do have do have a social life.

Me: At least I have a thick bank account to back my social life.

Mr. freebe: Money can't fix everything. You are 27, its high time you understand that.

Me: You are not my dad so stop acting like him and focus on yourself instead of me.

Mr. freebe: The speed in which your mood changes is not good. Just a few seconds ago you were thanking me and now are back to being grumpy.

Me: Good thing you are not my friend and don't have to deal with mood often.

Mr. freebe: Yaa right. 

I don't know what to reply so I just ignore that text. We used to be friends, we used to hang out together and laugh at each other's joke instead of making scowls like now, we even used to flirt. Actually he used to flirt I used to blush; it was the only reaction I could pull off.

 But everything changed the day I overheard him making jokes about my work 5 years ago when he came home for festivals.

"You know what I think? I think she is a greedy ass person who cares about nobody except herself and money."

Those words have never left my memory and I don't think they ever will. He has no idea I overheard him that day. Just like he has no idea why I am so 'greedy' his words not mine. I know he was concerned about the fight I had with yakshi and didn't want to his sister hurt but he still had no right to call me such things especially when yakshi had forgiven me.

 It was like he wasn't happy that we had overcome our issues and decided to support each other.That day I started hating him for more than one reason. 

Firstly for calling me greedy and more importantly for trying to increase differences between me and my best friend when we were already going through a lot because of all the time we couldn't spend together thanks to my new crazy work schedule and newly launched firm with just around 5 employees including me.

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