My Tormentor Is My Lover

Hot And Sour

Rose

As the phone rang. I remembered that I hadn't used it since the day he left me. After using it to call him for the whole f*****g day and not getting any response, I had abandoned it in some corner of the apartment. And Monica’s next words confirmed it. “Oh, I found your phone under the love seat. And it was switched off so I charged it. And, there are many messages from Natasha, she was trying to reach you. I didn't know what to say to her so I haven't picked up any of her calls, yet.”

I smiled as much as I can, at the mention of my best friend. “Its okay, Monica. Thank you. I’ll talk to her. I don't want her to worry. She's probably enjoying her honeymoon, right now.”

Monica looked at me, she obviously knew about my inner turmoil but being a good friend she didn’t say anything about it. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“No.” I grabbed her hand, as I forced out the words, “I don’t want you to go. I don't want to be alone.”

I watched as her eyes welled up and she quickly turned away from me. “Let me get you your phone.” She stepped away from me as she went to the sofa by the wall to rummage inside the bag, which was there on the corner of the sofa, for my phone.

A moment later, she was back with my phone still ringing in her hand. “Thank you,” I croaked out and cleared my throat before answering the call. “Hello!” I cringed at my own voice as I tried to sound cheery but failed miserably.

“Rose!! Rose, where have you been? Are you okay? And, why the hell wasn't you answering my calls and texts?” Natasha forced her questions one after another.

“If you’ll give me a chance to explain then I will.” I said into the phone as my hand grabbed Monica’s. “I am fine. My phone was just… broken.” A tear slipped past my eyelid as I said that word.

“Oh, Rose. I was dying to tell you that how lucky I was to have you as my best friend and thank Ryan from me and Nick for the wedding gift. We can’t thank you enough.” Her words scratched on the tender walls of my heart as she said that. Hearing his name almost made the small amount of food I had just consumed to come out and make an appearance.

“Yeah,” I said, inhaling deeply to control my emotions. “It’s nothing. I am happy that you’re happy.”

“I am so damn happy, Rose. I can’t tell you, how much I love Nick. He's so tender and loving that now we have married—”

I couldn’t take it. I thrust my phone in Monica’s direction, who put the phone to her ear and obviously heard whatever Natasha was saying about her married life. Monica’s eyes found mine and I realised that how kind she was, that she was hurting for me too. “Natasha..” Monica interrupted and said, “Yeah, its Monica. Actually, we were out for the drinks. She’ll talk to you later. Enjoy your honeymoon.”

As soon as she hung up the phone, I blurted out. “I am a horrible friend!”

“No, Rose. No, you’re not.”

“Yes. I am. I was jealous of her. I couldn’t listen to her talk about her married life.” I sobbed into my hands as I said that, unable to face her. Because I knew she too would think me a horrible person.

“Oh, Rose. It’s okay. It’s okay, baby.” Monica hugged me tight as she said, “You are just hurt. It’ll pass.”

“Will it?” I asked her with hope in my voice.

“Yes.” She nodded back. But I heard her loud and clear she wasn’t sure, and I knew that it was impossible for it to pass.

But I nodded back and wiped my cheeks, suddenly feeling exhausted like I hadn’t slept for a long period of time. And, I said so to her, “I am tired.” I closed my eyes as I slumped back on the bed.

“No. No. You have to eat some more, first.” Monica held my shoulders, stopping me from laying down.

“Ok, mom.” I replied as she held up the chips for me to eat. “I am feeling like an invalid. Let me eat myself.” I took the packet from her and didn’t realise till it was finished that I was really hungry.

I picked up the muffin to eat when Monica interrupted me and said, “Just eat this, you need some veggies inside you and after that you can have that sweet treat.” She opened the other brown bag which was still on the night stand, unopened.

As the aroma from the bag drafted to me, my eyes filled with unshed tears. Hot and sour soup. “Rose?” I looked up from where my gaze was focused on the plastic bowl she took out, to my friend’s concerned eyes.

“He once fed me this while I was suffering through the migraine.” I said, my lower lip wobbling as I remembered that day.

“Oh, Rose. I’m so sorry.” Monica quickly put the bag back on the stool as she hugged me tightly.

I didn't know why I was behaving like this, I was not this person. And, I didn't understand when I became this weak and pathetic. I wiped the tears and laid down on the bed, suddenly more than exhausted and more than done with this conversation. I wanted to just close my eyes and pretend that nothing of this was real. “I am going to sleep.”

“But, Rose, you haven't eaten—”

“It's okay. I am not hungry much. I'll eat when I wake up next.” I murmured before slipping into oblivion.

The next time I woke up, I heard the murmurs of Michael and the doctor. “Here's the prescription, the last week and consumption of this much of alcohol has made her weak. The medicines mostly consist of vitamins and as such. And, it'll be advised that there should be someone to look after her for the next few days.”

“Sure, doctor. Thanks, I’ll take care of it.” I heard Michael replying to the doctor.

“Make an appointment with Mrs. Sharma for after three weeks.” The doctor said, before the door closed behind her.

I opened my eyes fully this time to see Michael coming towards the bed. “How you doing, precious?”

I sat up, a bit uncomfortably, as I replied, “Fine, I think. Or mostly.” I grimaced as a sudden wave of nausea attacked my senses, and my stomach grumbled loudly.

“Hungry?” There was a bit of an amusement in his voice as he asked that. “Let's get you out of here, then we can find a perfect place for you to eat.”

I nodded eagerly, wanting to get out of this bed and this hospital. But when I setup in the hospital bed, I realised I was not wearing my clothes, only a thin hospital gown covered me and I had no idea where my clothes were. “Uh, Michael?”

“Hmm??” he questioned, his attention on his mobile phone as he furiously typed on his screen.

“Do you know where my clothes are?” I asked a little embarrassed to have his attention on me in my current predicament.

His gaze snapped to me from his phone. “Oh, yeah… Monica brought a bag for you...” He looked beside the sofa and came up with a small handbag. “Here, it has your things. Monica packed it for you.”

 I smiled at him in response, it was really sweet of these two to be here and help me. “Thank you,” I said as I tentatively slid out of the bed, once on my feet, I started to briskly walk to the bathroom not wanting to remain here in his presence with only this slip of a gown on me. But, I only got two steps before the world started to blur in front of my eyes and the floor tilted under my feet.

“Woah… Rose!!” I heard Michael’s exclamation as his hands came around me and he helped me to sit back on the edge of the bed. “I think you should wait, Monica would be here soon.”

I nodded, unable to do anything more.

SO, FINALLY ITS HERE...

I HOPE YOU ALL ARE HAPPY... BECAUSE, I'M REALLY HAPPY AND READY TO READ YOUR COMMENTS, AND WISH SOME LUCK TO OUR ROSE, SHE NEEDS IT!

And, Do you remember Hot And Sour??