Not yours Mr.

Again...

She woke up with a pounding headache.She was already late.She woke up,prepared breakfast and then left for café.It was an unusually bright morning she felt as if her heart was going to explode.Why did she even try to recall all those days,her grandmother was the one who made her life otherwise her mother never cared  much.Her maternal responsibilities were limited to sending money only.Money that was never enough.She remembered Nanna (grandmother) worked really hard,this was what she was taught from early childhood “earn your own bread” and this is what she was still following.

Café was rather empty today.She sat in one of the corners.She would often look at the people passing by it gave her a sense of satisfaction,she felt she was not alone.She saw a Maybach parking outside.She felt unusual about it.The café was one among few small cafes to grab a coffee or cookies.The customers were usual school kids or freshers mostly.From the Maybach came out a man wearing those same shades.She rushed to the counter.The man asked for an Espresso,paid for it and left.she looked outside the glass door and was relaxed to see no one there.

While returning from the café she thought to visit the book store.Jonathan smiled seeing her.

“Oh Amy,I thought you would never come.”

“Nothing like that Jonathan ,I had a very busy week.Don’t know why people are drowning their lives in caffeine”

“ha ha ha.Never thought that Miss Optimist could sound so low.”

Rest of the evening they just talked.Amy liked this guy.Not in a romantic way but he seemed quite content with his life.She liked the way he was,a welcome distraction from boredom.He could talk about anything without hesitation.But he talked a lot and she felt irritated after a while.

“Jonathan,it is late,I will take my leave.”

“But you just came”

“I’ll meet you the day after tomorrow.”With this promise she left.

On her way to home,she saw the same Maybach.She hurried to peek into it.But the driver seemed to be in a hurry.What was so unusual about this.Chicago wasn’t a small place.Luxury cars and awstrikingly rich people were not unusual but something was strange this time.Something she could not wrap her head around.

She entered her apartment.Cooked some dinner and sat idly on the carpet.

She brought with herself a copy of Jane Eyre.She wished to immerse herself into the novel.Rich people,what could be the problems they faced,she had learnt5 to believe that money was not everything in life.But it was something one couldnot do without.How much satisfying it would be to think of the day when she wouldn’t have to worry about her bills.Wouldn’t have to think twice before buying something.

Hmmm Money,as a kid she thought she would make enough money to last for a lifetime.As she grew up this charm faded.Now Money was only a medium to achieve her goals yrt she wanted to make enough of it.

She had heard from her Nanna that her mother was a pretty lady.So pretty that a rich brat lost his senses lusting after her,he impregnated her and left.

Her mother who didn’t wish to waste her youth after a kid, left soon after her birth.Nanna said that her mother was away for a job and she was the one sending money every month.As a kid she would wish to meet her mother and hug her tight.She wanted to ask her whether she missed her.She wanted to tell her that she didn’t need to work so hard.But all in vain.As she grew up all these talks disappeared into thin air.The only guardian she knew was her Nanna,always looking after her,providing for her.When Nanna died she was just a graduate.She was left alone.She never cared.

Few guys approached her seeking an ideal wife but she never thought she was cut out for this.All she wanted from her life was a chance to complete her Masters and a decent paying job.That would be all.

For few days she felt Jonathan had been behaving differently.This was the reason she didn’t want to visit him.There was something disturbing in him.The kind of warmth she seeked from her friends was missing in him.She liked him because of his jovial nature but she found him being possessive about her.

Next morning she reached the café exactly on time.She found Mr. Davidson looking for her.

“Good Morning,Amy”

“Good Morning sir”

“How many times do I need to remind you that you should call me David.This ‘Sir’ makes me feel distant”

“Okay”

“By the way I wanted to ask you out for coffee this weekend”

“Sorry David,I already have plans”

She smiled to herself 10 times in a row.She has refused his offer,but this man doesn’t seem to care.There was this creepy feeling she had whenever he was around.Relying on her intuition was something she had mastered over time.

Her Grandmother would often tell her that how a woman should never go for something her sub conscious condemned.

Again she saw the Maybach but this time instead of the man who usually came to pick coffee,came another

.She looked at him as if she had seen him before.His eyes were a perfect shade of blue.Coming to the counter he stared at her for few moments.She was dumbfounded was he the same man she saw across the glass door,the very first day.

After a few moments he ordered an Espresso.The whole time she was taking and preparing his order she felt as if she would melt under his gaze.Handling his order and collecting the amount she tried hard to avoid any eye contact.It was only after he left,she could feel at ease with herself.She was not a teenager and it was really awkward to feel this flutter in her stomach.

The rest of the afternoon went by and she wished to forget it.Only if it was that easy.Those eyes kept haunting her at night.She had never felt herself that weak.

Amy tried hard to concentrate on the novel but all those efforts went in vain.It seemed as if the stars conspired to torture her.

Next afternoon,the  same Maybach stopped in front of the café.The same man came out of it wearing shades,her eyes searched for the man with whose eyes she was intrigued.While going back this man handed her a small chit which she took hesistantly.When the man left she read the chit it said “meet me outside this café at 5 pm today”

Amy felt scared.In her whole life she had been shy and introvert now this sudden invitation……………

She was not sure about the intentions that the maker of this chit had.She kept thinking of him all the afternoon.The café closed at around 4 pm in the evening.She was battling her own emotions by now.

Should she wait and see aur should she run away……

The clock struck 5 and she couldn’t decide anything.She thought of going back to her apartment when she saw the same Maybach approaching her.

Her heartbeat peaked for amoment.The Maybach stopped and the man with shades came out of it.He opened the passenger door and then came the moment she dreaded the most.The man came out. She was awestruck by his grandeur of personality.He came to her,looked her into her eyes and extended his hand.

“Hi, I am Daniel Walt”

She shyly shook his hands.

“Hi,I am Amy Robins”

The time seemed to stop then and there.

Daniel looked at her and a sly smile crept on his lips.Amy was shaking like a leaf.Does this woman even know who he is?

All of a sudden Amy stuttered

“Mr. Walt,I have to leave.I have some important business to attend.Bye.”

Saying this she almost ran away. Daniel smiled again “such an innocent creature” this woman had piqued his interest.

Returning to her apartment Amy thanked her stars that she did not faint before him.She could not breathe properly.This was so unusual.Definitely Daniel was a superfine species of a man she could not understand why she behaved like this.

She was shy but polite,leaving someone without a proper goodbye wasn’t something she expected from herself.Yet here she was,breathing heavily as if she just completed a marathon.

She looked at her face in the mirror.Her pale complexion had turned red.

She decided she will never meet him again.

The next morning she was getting ready for work when she heard few kids almost shouting in the neighbourhood.She came outside. Few kids were talking about a big car that they saw on the streets.She was not that much into gossip plus she was asusual late.She left for her work.

In the evening she went to meet Jonathan as promised.Though, he had been acting rather creepy for a couple of days she did not want to lose a friend that too without a proper reason.

“Hi John,”

“Hey Amy,I thought you forgot about our meeting.”

“Naah,I was the one who proposed it.Anyways if you are free we could go outside for a stroll.”

“yeah,sure.”

They walked outside.Jonathan was in his usual element chattering.She was not listening to him.After her meeting with Daniel she seemed to have lost track of time.

In her life she had met a number of men who were good looking but this time it was different.

“you know Amy,I have been thinking of talking to you for a few days.”

“anything important”

She frowned.Looking at her,Jonathan seemed flustered for a moment.

“leave it,we can talk about it after sometime”

She did not ask him again.She was already going through a rollercoaster of feelings.

The evening was beautiful.weekend vibes could be felt everywhere.

They started discussing about the novel she borrowed from him.

“Hey Amy,Did you read that”

“Nah.I was busy.I plan to finish it soon.”

Rest of the evening was spent like this only.She didn’t talk much.

Returning to her apartment she was singular about finishing this novel.she started reading it.This time she succeeded in concentrating her mind.By the end of an hour she was tired.She switched off the lights and went to bed.

Daniel was looking at her with amusement.She was talking to him.He was listening with full attention.She saw the Maybach at a distance.

“Now you will go” she said complaining to him.

“I have somrthing important come up.I promise I will  meet you soon.” With this his fingers gently caressed her cheek…….

Amy woke up,What was this.Few hours back she felt so content that she had managed to ignore his face creeping in her mind and yet again he was in her dream.

She tried to sleep again but to no avail.She kept tossing and turning on her bed.Sleep seemed to be miles away from her eyes.

Next morning after waking up,she decided to go for a run.It was a Sunday and she didn’t have work.She jogged for an hour or so then came back to prepare her breakfast.Her eyes were heavy because of lack of sleep and her mind seemed to disobey all orderd to relax.She ate in silence.

She was flipping through channels on her TV set.when an idea came up to her mind.What if this Daniel was some seasoned criminal,His car spoke tonnes for his wealth plus she couldn’t understand why a man would like to meet her

Though nothing had happened since the day she met him.She had her own fears.She had lived a very simple life s far with small ups and downs,She she planned to keep it so.She was quickly reminded of the various faces Jonathan was making while talking to her yesterday.This man was a complete entertainer.He would tell her about his aunt who was really miser,then he would start some story about his neighbour’s illicit relationships and how his wife liked to shout and tell everyone about the escapades.Man,this nguy knows how to cheer her up.

She was really nervous when he started to say that that he had something to tell her.She valued their friendship over anything else.