Chapter 4:
528 Words
Ravana and Ben reach the mansion. It's evening already. The whole mansion looks dark. Ben slowly walks into the darkness. Ravana switches the lights on.
"It's been a long time since I switched on here's lights." She laughs.
Ben looks at Ravana. He sits on the sofa awkwardly. Ravana sits with him too and says,
“Make yourself at home. There’s no one else so no need to feel awkward.”
Ben thinks how she is enough to make him awkward. He smiles at Ravana and starts to see the mansion.
“Why don't you get a smaller apartment? Doesn’t it feel lonely here?”
Ravana laughs and walks towards the wine parlor.
“I always wanted to live in a big house. With a lot of children and…” She says while taking a glass of wine.
She stops and looks at the wine glass. The red wine looks like blood.
“You want some?” She asks.
Ben shakes his head.
“Got me a mansion because it was easier to get than a family…” Ravana walks towards him saying.
Ben keeps looking at her. Ben looks around the mansion again.
“Have you ever tried falling in love? Getting married? It's not that tough when you try…” Ben says.
Ravana looks at Ben without blinking. Ben looks at her and starts to feel awkward.
“W-why are you staring like that?” Ben hesitates.
“Have you ever fallen in love?” Ravana gives a sarcastic smile.
Ben's eyes become bigger. He looks the other way.
“No…” Ben says softly.
“Ever got married?”
“No…”
“Ever tried any of those?”
“Not yet…”
Ravana starts to laugh. She puts her wine glass down. And walks towards Ben. Ben starts to feel embarrassed and awkward. Ravana stops in front of him and puts a hand on the sofa beside his head. She leans forward and faces Ben. His face starts to get warm. Ravana is way too close to him.
“Tell me these again when you try any one of them... I will listen to your advice then…” Ravana whispers.
"Yes, ma'am." Ben nods awkwardly.
Ravana's warm breaths are touching Ben's face. Ravana notices Ben's ears turning red and pulls herself up. She starts to laugh loudly and walks up.
“I am going to sleep now.”
She waves her hand and leaves. Ben sees her leaving. He signs loudly and slaps his cheeks with both hands.
"What's wrong with me!" he signs loudly again.
Ravana looks in the mirror. She feels old. She feels too old for him, she thinks. She signs and goes to bed. She curls up her legs and lies down in bed. She thinks that Ben is here in the same house as him but in different rooms. Just a room away but it feels so far away. Impossible to meet this distance. Suddenly she jumps out of her bed and rushes out. She opens the door and finds Ben standing outside.
They both look at each other, surprised.
“I was about to knock…” Ben says.
- Writer
