The One I Cannot Have

Chapter 2: Stranger… No, please

I kept on eating silently while he watched me with anger. After I was done, I rushed back to my room and locked myself in before he could say anything. I couldn't do anything, trying to get out of the place while he is around is a waste of energy. I have the whole night by myself to think of how to get out of this place.

Gary didn't knock on my door anytime soon. I searched my whole room to see if anything, anything I could find that would help me to get some help and let me out of here. I knew Gary isn't going to stay with me here day after day. He must be leaving by morning or shift me somewhere I can never guess.

After failing to find anything helpful in my room I laid on my bed thinking how 24 hours ago I was with someone I truly loved, how things looked so perfect out of a movie. I already started missing him.

I actually started remembering the time that led me to this situation today. So, the flashback begins…

The story starts when it was a cold winter evening, a couple of years ago. I was already doing quite an average job in my company and still staying in the same small crappy apartment I got when I ran away from my home to hide in the city. Yes, I ran away to disappear from the reach of my family, I had my reasons.

It was the weekend and I was sitting alone in a warm restaurant. I used to take myself out for dinner once a week because that was the only form of entertainment I could afford for myself. That day when I was about to leave after eating, I heard a loud noise from the restaurant kitchen. It was so loud, everyone's attention got to the 2 people we saw punching each at their face and pushing to the wall. All the waiter, managers ran to them to stop them from fighting, I couldn't hear anything properly, there was a huge crowd around them and I saw that a chance to leave the restaurant without paying and I took it. After All these foods are luxury for me, if I get a chance to leave without paying, why not?

I slowly walked out of the place without being noticed and started walking with the busy people on the street. I badly wanted to change my jacket as I didn't want to be recognized if someone came behind in search of me. I put on my scarf, took the metro and once I reached my destined station I was relieved knowing I won't get followed now. I loosened my jacket’s zip because I started to sweat a little. I was just about to leave the station when I was stopped by a bearded guy in black jacket in front of the gate.

“Madam, you forgot to pay for the food,” he said in a low voice. I knew I was finally caught. I hated the embarrassment.

“Excuse me?” I still said acting like I didn't know anything. Of course, I wasn't just going to admit what I purposely did.

“You left the restaurant at the park point without paying for your vegan mac' n cheese and veg nuggets.” He said on my face and when I looked at his face properly it was one of the guys I saw fighting in the restaurant kitchen.

“I am sorry if I am mistaken. Or maybe it was my mistake. I forgot to pay? Did I?” I was constantly lying just to skip the embarrassment.

“Yeah. You left without paying.”

“I am so sorry, gentleman. I have this memory issue. I am just too stressed out because of my work. I forgot to pay. I am sorry. What was the bill? I should definitely pay now. In cash or you take UPI?” I replied, acting like nothing happened intentionally.

“I would love to get paid on your bed” at first, I thought I heard someone else, then I clarified.

“Excuse me?”

“I would like to sleep with you” he said again, and it was loud and clear. I started feeling unsafe. It's still people around here but what if this p*****t follows me to my apartment?

“Do you think we are living in any cheesy p**n video? I would have s*x with you just because I forgot to pay for some basic food? And who the hell are you? I will go back to the restaurant and pay myself”, I said it to his face.

“It was my restaurant, actually. I own it” he replied as I started to walk away.

“And you were fighting with the staff of your own restaurant? Do I look like a kid to you?”

“Yeah, I asked my chef to make the same food as you ordered, and they said they ran out of that particular cheese. I lost my mind, and we had a little argument” he said, refusing to let me walk away. At that point, I knew either he was f*****g around with me or he was completely drunk. I wasn't going to entertain a stranger in the city.

I pulled out a new 500 rupees note from my bag, pushed it in his hand and said, “Keep the change and leave me alone.” I overtook him, pushing him away.

“I don't need your money, pretty. I have a lot of these green papers” he started walking with me. I started walking fast.

“I don't owe you anything, leave me f*****g alone, don't follow me” I said loudly, walking in a different direction. There was no way I was leading him to my place.

“Let's have s*x, and I will leave you alone,” he said again.

“No way” I said, and started to walk towards a*****e to get some help. Suddenly, I saw a hand on my mouth and he pulled me to a corner. I was hell scared. We were literally in the middle of a busy place in the city, and he had the audacity to pull me away.

“Easy, easy. I am not going to hurt you. Why don't you listen to me girl?” He said, releasing me.

“Listen to you? I have no interest in sleeping with you. Why don't you leave me alone? I will call people if you don't stop following me.” I was damn scared at that moment.

“See, I didn't mean to scare you, I just wanted to have a conversation.”

“I don't want any conversation over s*x”

“You can try me at least. We can talk before if you want” he said, as if he was regretting something.

“This is definitely not how you approach a girl, or anyone. Your body language is threatening me”, I said, and started walking away.

“I will meet you soon” I heard him say from behind. I didn't want to have any further conversation with him, I just wanted to go as far as I could from him. I could feel he wasn't following me. I didn't look back, it didn't feel right.

“Can I know your name at least?” He kept on talking. I didn't look back.

“I'm Gary, by the way…. Nice to meet you…. We will have s*x soon” he kept on saying from far away, and I kept sprinting. I could feel my heart beating faster, I felt the need to stop for a moment, and take a breath, but I couldn't. I was trembling and losing my breath, but I kept on running without turning back.