LOVE IN A SWEET POISON

EPISODE 8

"I'll pay for the meal." I said as I stood from the table and went towards the counter.

"A man has to pay for meals darling" Aunty said looking at me.

"Why aunty? Men does everything for a woman, he protects her from society, he gives her strength, he takes her for shopping, he makes money for only one thing that is to give gifts and necessities to the woman he loves. He makes a lot of sacrifices in life too aunty. At times we woman should also reciprocate it." I Said starnly.

Aunty looked at me and behind my back.

"I have never seen such a couple in my life long service at this inn, I have seen couples hooking up, breaking up, arguing over trivial things. But you two guys are different and it gives a sense of content to look at young people who value relationship more than money and external appearance. Bless you both. Stop by the inn whenever you have chance.” Aunty took the money from me. We thanked her and left the inn.

"I could have paid." He said as we went outside the inn.

"It's for the dress you bought me and I wanted to pay. I have to get a bag and some clothes for our trip. Do you know were I can buy these cheaper?"I asked him.

Kai looked at me confused as he asked,"Cheaper?"

"Hmm Yes. What is the point in buying luxury brands when both serves the same purpose. why waste money?" I asked him.

"Ok, let's go to the market I went in the morning. There were stuffs for cheap rate." He replied.

We entered the market and old nostalgic feeling from 10 years hit me.

“It's been so long since i have been to a market. Wow I'm excited.” I said looking around the market.

“Wow. It's my first time seeing a person getting excited over a market." He laughed.

I giggled, Excitement completely filling me.

"Where should I go? What should I get?" I was juggling in the middle of the market. Don't know what to buy and where to go.

Kai sighed and held my shoulders from back and pushed me into a*****e. We entered the store.

"Hello, How can I help you?" Salesman said.

"We are looking for a travel bag and few clothes." Kai replied behalf of me.

"Here, take a look at some of the clothes in the hanger and over there you will find bags. You can help yourself, if you need some help call me." Salesman said as he showed us the clothes.

"First, let's get some clothes for you and then get a bag that fits all others. We have to get a comfortable shoe for you, some cosmetics and some und-" I cut him off

“Okay, okay got it. Let's get them soon." With that I rushed to clothes section before he finishes. This guy sure talks a lot. I was looking through the clothes. Let's keep it simple Adalia. I took out a light blue ripped jeans with a white, black and a grey t-shirt. A skirt and floral top. A knee length dress. I took out two pyjamas. I looked for Kai to get his consent. He was nowhere to be seen. "Where did he go?" I looked around the store.

"Hey crybaby, try on these." I heard him behind me. He carried a sandal and a pair of shoes with him. I tried it on, it was exact to my size and comfortable. I nodded at him.

"It's perfect. Thank you." I smiled at him.

"Great, then I'll pick a bag, get some more clothing's." He walked towards bag section.I took out a hoodie and a sweater.

I smiled. My ex-boyfriend never helpd me on any shopping. I felt good to have someone selecting clothes and shoes for me. I went to toiletries section and picked out some under garments and some shampoo and soap's. I looked at the cosmetics and randomly picked some sunscreens and other items. He was already at the counter looking at the things he bought. He looked at my choice and smiled.

"You took light weighted clothes, that's great. During trips and tray it is the best to keep our backpack light weighted." He smiled. I paid at the counter. It was a sum of 150 dollars. He looked at me amused.

"What?" I asked.

He smiled shaking his head.

"Nothing, First time seeing a women finishing shopping within 20 mins and with less amount of money."

"I dont pay much attention to fashion. I'm fine with anything as long as its comfortable on me. So, where are we going?“ I asked taking the bags.

"I'm planning on visiting a friend here, if you don't mind you can join me." He asked.

"Sure, why not?" I smiled.

"He lives with his family at the outskirts, we have to take a bus, it's about 40 minutes ride from here."

I nodded.

"Not a problem.” I smiled. We walked towards the bus stand.

"How long are you on this trip?" I asked him.

"Hmmm, long enough till I decide to return." He showed his cute smile at me.

"Wow, that's a good job you have." I said smiling.

"Here comes our bus." He said looking the bus coming towards us afar. We boarded the bus.

"I'll pay" He said. The bus was full. We found a place to stand holding on the side pole. Kai stood next me.

"Don't worry, within few stops most of the people will get down. we will get seats soon." He said with a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine." I smiled back. The bus stopped. Few people who were standing at our back rushed to get down. I got pushed to the front at the sudden movement. I slowly grabbed the pole with my two hands and leaned myself on it giving more space to the people getting down. Kai moved to my side and stood behind me. One hand on the pole I'm holding and another one on the hanging holder. His scent completely surrounding me. I understood his intention and smiled to myself. I understood it's a small gentle man's gesture but it felt so good and I felt protected. I felt there is a shoulder I could lean on and this shoulder would always save me from dread. There was few inches' gap between us. I slowly leaned back wanting to feel him. I stopped myself astonished at my own thoughts. Adalia what the hell are you thinking. When did you become a p*****t. It was the same when you were on the train with him, in the room and now in the bus. If I spend some more time with him, he will make me a complete p*****t. Control Adalia. You can do it. Don't think about him. You have to spend few more days with him and with these kinds of thoughts it would become difficult to be around him. Suddenly the bus stopped and I was not holding the pole tightly which made me stumble back. Two hand grabbed my shoulder to stop me from falling. I turned to look at Kai.

"Be careful." A middle aged man said as he smiled.

"Oh, Sorry and Thank you" I thanked the middle age man and looked around for Kai. Kai grabbed two seats and signaled me to sit next to him. I glared at him and sat at the empty seat front of him next to a grandma. I could hear him chuckling at the back. Bastard he saw. Rest of the journey was quite. I kept staring outside. The bus slowly started to move along a mountain path. Grandma next to me started snoring. I looked at her, head dropped from sleep.

I held her head and slowly leaned it against my shoulders. She comfortably settled her head on my shoulders and drifted to sleep. I smiled, looking at her sleeping like a child. It felt good to have someone lean over your shoulder sleeping it brought a kind of warmth. I looked out, the sky slowly getting cloudy. It felt it will rain sooner or later. I sighed, I love rainy days. It brought sweet memories of him. At the start of our relationship we used to walk under a single transparent umbrella. We used to go out for a coffee when it rains. After the rain we walk through the park inhaling the smell of fresh air and soil. We never talk much. It's always silence that engulfed us. And we were very much comfortable under that silence. I believed we would last long. We would spend rest of our life understanding each other under this silence.

"Ahmm." I heard someone cleared his throat. I immediately recognized his voice. I turned around to look at him.

"What?" I mouthed.

He tapped the seat next to him. I signaled the grandma sleeping on my shoulders.

He rolled his eyes. The bus started to slow down indicating the next stop. The grandma slowly opened her eyes looking around.

"My stop arrived. Thank you so much dear. I must have been heavy." She said to me .

“No, No grandma it's alright. You were not at all heavy.” I lied.

I stood up and sat next to Kai and grandma took her walking stick and slowly got down.

"Yah, are we going in the right path? I know you already warned me about his house in the outskirts, but is it still far? I can barely see houses anymore" I said to him.

"Yah?? I believe I introduced myself." He said while frowning.

"Yeah, Yeah. So Mr. Kai. Could you please tell me how much time we need to get there?" I asked mockingly.

"We have to get down at the third stop from here." He replied .

I chuckled. I was surprised how i could be myself around him. Talking, teasing, making fun of each other. I never had such moments with anyone other than my father. He made me comfortable around him. I smiled knowing how he is changing me. I could feel i'm slowly returning to being myself after a long time. Once i started taking care of my family business. I always had to show my strong side and its always been business talks. But now it is totally different and I feel really happy as I could be myself trusting that he would not judge me and accept me for who i am.

"What does he do? I asked him.

"My friend?"

I nodded. "Well, he is a farmer."

" Wow." I said completely astonished by his answer.

"What? Is it you first time seeing a farmer?" He asked mockingly.

"Well it would be my first time seeing a farmer very young" I chuckled.

He looked at me amusingly.

"And what if I say, he is already married and has two kids?"

"Really? How is this even possible?" I asked being shocked.

He looked at me really confused, his eyes showing millions of questions as he asked,"Why is it not possible, anyways a person has to get married and have kids."

"Well. You are right. It's his decision but still I find it amusing and it feels so content. An young man taking care of his family whereas young people I saw are into drugs and alcohols. I am jealous of his wife" I sighed.

"So, you like men who gets married soon and take care of his family." He asked me.

"It was my dream To get married and have kids soon. But life turned out the most unexpected way." I whispered. I looked at him, His eye's studying mine.. It held warmth, tenderness and It felt intimate.I lowered my eyes.

"Stop hiding from me wildcat..." He whispered sending shivers through my spine. "We are getting down at the next stop." He said.