We have embarked on the story of Rohini and Vikram, and a super talkative grumpy parakeet – Keezo. To read the previous part of the story, click here.
~~~~~~~~~~
Rohini got her guard up, and reluctantly she nodded. “I certainly enjoy your company, Rohini, and I love to spend time with you. Honestly, you are like an enigma to me, calm, intelligent, and understanding. I would really like us to be friends” he stated looking directly at her.
She was stunned for a few moments, there was nothing wrong with what he was asking, probably she was over her head and expecting some unintentional bomb to drop on her.
Taking a deep breath, “That’s a nice proposition, I could come in handy when you have to vent out your frustration, as you know I won’t have much to supply back.”
He laughed out loud, “Seriously, that’s twice in a day, Ms. Kaushik. Stop before I rename you as Mrs. Funnybones herself.”
“As I said, I really enjoyed meeting you. In fact, I won’t lie, Rohini, when I first saw you, it was an immediate attraction. You are a beautiful woman and certainly hot, if you ask any decent man, but it is your overall appeal, your aura that attracts me more. I am at the stage of my life where getting a woman to warm my bed isn’t tough, but finding good company is.”
Redness crept over her face listening to Vikram’s straightforward words, she doesn’t have many friends, in fact, her only friend is kind of her business partner from the training academy.
He continued, “If we had been in a different situation, I would have persuaded you for much more than just friendship, but I am not an idiot, I know where to draw a line. And trust me when I say this, I can be very persuasive.”
She couldn’t hold her smile at that statement, she knew what is he referring to, and sure didn’t doubt his pursuing skills too.
“You are an interesting person, Mr. Sethi. I will ponder over your proposition,” she replied with a sweet smile.
A few days have passed when she received notification of the wildlife officer’s visit for inspection. She was debating on informing Vikram or not when her phone rang. It was Vikram.
“Hi, you must have received a date for the inspection in an email?” he questioned directly.
“Umm… yeah, I received it a few moments ago” she answered.
“Okay, I will be there when they arrive for inspection, I don’t want to leave you handling this alone, as they can find sixty thousand ways to fuck this up.”
“Sure, the date is 5 days from now, it’s a Friday,” she informed him.
“Do you want me to bring Krisha with me?” he questioned her.
She took a long breath and replied, “That won’t be necessary, our sessions are over last week. She doesn’t need my guidance anymore, but you and her parents support her to follow her dreams.”
“Yep, we had a long discussion on this topic the other night at her home, will tell you when I meet you on Friday.”
“Okay”
Rohini and Vikram are settling well into their ‘newly budding’ friendship, there are certain boundaries that they respect, and have settled into meeting chatting, or talking occasionally as new friends. Rohini is still reluctant to open or initiate a conversation, but Vikram understands and doesn’t push her too much for that.
On the day of the inspection, Rohini let the officers meet and check Keezo, they asked for the required documents and fastened a small ring on the bird’s foot. Keezo found the new addition fascinating and immediately started gnawing at it.
“Madam, your bird is intelligent. These species birds are very talkative, does he talk too?” queried an officer.
Vikram and Rohini both laughed at the question, “Please don’t ask him to speak officer, he will not stop once started,” Vikram replied before Rohini could provide an answer.
Rohini has fed Keezo before, so that he stays quiet and content in his slumber, but the new ring has brought a fresh energy into the bird. She was keeping her fingers crossed for him not to start calling her ‘HOT MAAL’ in front of these strangers.
To her sheer luck, Keezo was consumed by the ring around his foot. He keeps getting back to it with his beak or sometimes using the other foot. Rohini shot a short video of his antics and sent it to Raunak. Vikram handled the wildlife officers and Rohini went to the kitchen to make some coffee.
Vikram came back after sending off the officers, she offered him a cup of coffee. They sat in silence watching Keezo hanging upside down from a swing trying to get rid of his footring.
“He was a charming boy today, giving no ‘special adjectives’ to you and even receiving the strangers amicably,” stated Vikram.
“I was worried he might start one of his tirades in front of them, but thank god he didn’t utter a word,” Rohini replied.
“Hahahah! That would be scandalous… but again it is true,” he said with a wink.
Rohini let that pass quietly. She was thinking about Keezo’s behavior, he is always quiet when Vikram is around. He loved getting his back rubbed by him, in fact, once Vikram removed him from the cage Keezo was calmly sitting on his leg or shoulder. Rohini couldn’t do that even trying multiple times in the past 5 years.
Only Raunak and Vikram were able to get this close to Keezo, otherwise, anyone who tries, leaves with a slash or cut on a finger.
“Are you planning to visit the academy this week?” Vikram asked breaking her thoughts.
“Not this week, Kaushal will be back tomorrow, he will be staying for a week,” she informed.
“So?” Vikram questioned her.
“What do you mean by, ‘so,’ he is coming home after two months, hence, I have to be here for him.” Her tone came a little higher than intended.
Vikram looked at her with a scowl, “So that means, Kaushal will be at home 24/7 with you leaving his work and meetings for an entire week?”
His question was simple and Rohini realized this conversation was taking a different turn.
“I know Kaushal, as a matter of fact, my brother has worked with his company for a year or two. He is a dedicated professional and a workaholic, your current disposition explains that too.”
Rohini was turning in her seat listening to Vikram, mixed emotions running inside her. She knows he is telling the truth, but as a closed person, she feels his words, ‘invasive.’
“All I am saying is your work is important too, you don’t ‘have to be at home’ just because he is here. You can always plan your schedule according to his work meetings,” he explained further.
She could not comprehend her emotions, usually, it is her level heading Raunak with such unsolicited but needed advice. Being on the receiving end for once felt good.
“Look, I do not want to sound intrusive, but that is what friends do – they tell you when you are not thinking right. It is your decision after all, but do not appease others at the cost of your own happiness.”
Friends, a beautiful connection that she was missing in her life, Vikram and her friendship is not a conventional one, it is an ‘adult friendship’ where you meet people and connect instantly. That connection could be based on attraction, association, acquaintance, or anything else, but it’s a connection nevertheless.
Rohini may not be an open book and Vikram has commitment issues, but together they fill a void in each other’s life. No expectations, nothing to lose or compromise this is the beginning of a great friendship for life.
The End.
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024
Disclaimer – This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice –
@Dipika Singh Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dipika Singh (Gleefulblogger) with the right and specific direction to the original content.
5 Comments
I just finished reading your series of ten stories, and I wanted to express how deeply impressed I am. Your storytelling is incredibly engaging, and each narrative captivated in its own unique way.
I am so glad you like it, Thank you for your unwavering support always. Means a lot to me.
The end of the story left me with a smile! A very engaging tale. Loved it!
I am so glad you like it darling. Means a lot
You are a fantastic writer Dipika! I thoroughly enjoyed your conflicted series!