Her Destiny

Four

Ekta and Kartik kept calling me continuously, and I couldn’t pick them up. I sent Ekta a text ‘ I am busy now. I will call you later, ok bye.’ I got back to work. I didn’t talk to anyone whole time because Richa’s visit gathered unnecessary attention. Thanks to rose, When I was talking with Richa outside the cafe. Rose clearly instructed everyone in the staff not to ask anything from me related to Richa’s sudden visit. But still, from the time I enter back to the cafe, I can feel everyone curious eyes on me. Questioning me and making their own stories and assumptions. Like a few minutes ago, I was helping Rose in cleaning the tables. I heard the gossip group of our cafe saying that Richa was the fiancee of my ex, who came here to show off about her getting married. And many more stupid stories about me being the villain of the story. Come on girls be creative, at least create some stories which must be different and should make some sense. I ignored their stories and focused on my work. It's two now, one more hour left then I am done for the day.

Will I was trying my best to ignore, but these girls were not at rest. They continued gossiping out loud whenever they cross me so that I would be able to hear their shits. Rose continuously tried to shut them up, but they have turned deaf already. I told Rose to let them go, cause Richa did enough drama for today and I don’t want more. She listened to me this time, but just another minute when they started again. Rose got red with anger and gave them an earful, which they asked.

After getting the lecture, the girls went back to their jobs without saying anything.

“ I said you they need a talking, the more stay silent, the more they will get encouraged, did you get it.” Rose says, crossing her arms and with a bossy tone.

“ Yes, madam. ” I say nodding like a child. She smiled back and looked at her wristwatch.

“ Look, it is three already. So let's get change. I need to take you somewhere.” She said and pushed me in changing room.

She didn’t allow me to question. She just pushed me inside the changing room. After I get change, we came to the parking area. Ekta and Kartik were standing near there car deeply engrossed in their talk, which seems pretty serious seeing their expressions.

“ Hey Ekta, Hey Kartik,  How are you?”  Rose called them out by waving her hands.

Ekta and Kartik both turned our side when Rose called them. Ekta looked directly in my eyes and marched towards me angrily. Woah I guess I didn’t take her call, so she is angry at me. Kartik followed her hurriedly. Ekta came towards me and held both my arms and started shaking back and forth while shouting at me with a red face.

“ Were you so busy that you couldn’t take my call. For you, I came here in between my working hours, Just because you didn’t take my call. Neither you replied to any of my texts. What is wrong with you girl, Did you meet anyone in the cafe. For god sake, Answer me.” Ekta let out all this in one breath. She looked frightened and was sweating. Kartik tried to calm Ekta by slowing rubbing her arms.

“Ekta give her time to reply, okay. Calm down girl.” Kartik spoke softly to her and took her back to the car and made her sit inside at the driver seat door open and we followed them like lost puppies.

“ Ekta….” I started but get quiet seeing Ekta grim face. Kartik put his hand on my shoulder and patted slowly signally me to continue.

“ I am sorry, Ekta for not picking your calls. It was a hectic day in the cafe. That’s why I texted you both. Didn’t you guys receive the text?” 

“ I got your text Navya, and I told her also. But she is not listening to anything. You know how I managed her till now. She wanted to meet you in the morning only. That’s why she started calling and texting you.” Kartik said giving a glare to Ekta, which got waste actually because Ekta is glaring me continuously.

“ Wait, are you guys worried about Richa’s today visit in the cafe.” Rose enquired looking between me, Ekta and Kartik. For a second, Kartik looked startled, but again he turned back to normal. Ekta stood up directly from her seat and started throwing questions.

“What? Richa came to the cafe today. For what? Did she said anything?” she asked me with an anxious look.

God, what I will do now. Already she is so stressed out now Rose informed her about Richa’s visit also.

“I don’t know how she came to know about the cafe or  her motive for this sudden visit after a year.” I said with a hope to calm her down. But now she looked more afraid. Kartik noticed her behaviour, so he interrupted us.

“ I think we should go to Navya’s place there we can talk about this.” He said, looking at Ekta to which she just nodded. Kartik went to his driver seat, and Ekta sat beside him. Rose and I sat in the back seat. During the whole journey, no one uttered a single word. When we reached home, we all sat in our dining room. Then I explained whatever happened in the cafe. Rose supported me in between while I was explaining everything. Kartik kept nodding in between while I was explaining, Ekta maintained silent. I wondered what was bothering her so much.

“ Ekta and Kartik now will you please explain. What is going on, why you guys are so tense.”I spoke, Rose clutched my palm tightly all this will as support.

Kartik and Ekta looked at each other and seemed a bit hesitated. Then Kartik started.

“ I will ask you some questions, and you will reply to them with yes or no. Got it, just yes or no.” I nodded in response. He took a deep breath and started asking.

“ Did you meet anyone else except Richa today?” He asked, looking deeply in my eyes, trying to figure out whether I am answering correctly or not.

“No.” Both Kartik and Ekta looked a bit relieved.

“Did you met Siddhartha today?” I was stunned by there question. How can I met him he is in Canada, and we are here in the UK. 

“ Navya, yes or no.” Kartik repeated. Now all three of them were looking at me intentionally waiting for my answer.

“NO.”

Ekta took a deep breath and released it loudly. She looked fine now, she and Kartik whispered something to each other, which was not audible to us. Rose looked at me with a questioning look. To which I just shrugged my shoulders.

“Now, both of you care to explain.  What exactly is happening here?” Rose questioned them, Which I was also trying to figure out. Now both of them kept silent, which flamed my anger this time.

When I kept telling her to stay calm, she was shouting all over me. Now when I am saying her to speak something. She is quiet and is not looking at my eyes. Kartik saw me getting angry by there response.

“ I saw Siddhartha today near your café at a wedding shop.” Kartik spoke, I just nodded so that he can continue.

“ So I told Ekta about this, she got worried then started calling and texting you.” He told then Ekta started explaining how she got all worried. That if by any chance, I met him or anyone related to him. How she wanted to come to me at that moment when she heard all this, but Kartik stopped her. She started complaining about Kartik and started punching him that if he hadn’t stopped her then, this Richa’s incident wouldn’t have happened.

After all this, we all calmed down. Then there was a knock in the door.

“ I will take it.” Kartik said and went to the door and opened it.

A courier boy stood there with a huge box in his hand and said.

“ Is this Miss Navya’s house.” The boy asked Kartik he nodded.

“Here is her parcel. Please sign it.” I went towards him signed the paper and took the parcel from him. Kartik closed the door and came towards me.

“ Did you ordered something.” Rose spoke.

“No.” I said Kartik took the parcel from me and started inspecting it.

“It's from Richa, and it's for you.” Kartik spoke, surprising all of us. Why in the world would Richa send me anything?