章節 21: Call from the alliance

She was sleeping peacefully until a buzz of her phone disturbed her sleep. It was 3:37pm in afternoon, she usually keeps her phone at silent all the time. While sleeping she keeps her phone at the table near the sofa.

She got up to see who was calling her, it was an unknown number, she picked it up and "Hello".

"Am I speaking to Kruthika?", the voice said.

"Yes you are. May I know who's this calling?", Kruthika asked who was still in sleepy mood.

"Yeah I'm Rishi. Actually our parents set this alliance and your mother gave this number of yours", the voice replied.

"Oh. Yeah she informed about it. So at what time can we meet? Let me decide it. I'll send the the location to your number. Is 6pm okay for you?", Kruthika asked as she didn't have time and interest to have conversation with him and shared the location of the near by coffee shop.

"Okay, but how will we recognise each other?", Rishi asked.

"You can send your pic to this number and I'll recognise you", said Kruthika who was willing to hang up the call and continue her sleep.

"But how will I find you?", asked Rishi.

"You have my number right call me when you have difficulty to find me", answered Kruthika not losing her temper.

"Even you have my number, then why do you need my photo then?", Rishi asked, who was now trying to flirt with her.

"Okay. Do as you are pleased? But please let me have some sleep", Kruthika asked him in a pleading voice.

"Oh sorry for disturbing your sleep. And I'll send you my photo", Rishi said and ended the call.

Kruthika looked at the clock it was only 10 minutes left for her alarm to ring, she decided to not sleep and got freshed up. Meeting Rishi would leave her timetable disturbed, she didn't knew how long it might take to convence Rishi so she taught of preparing dinner now itself.

She prepared dinner, she kept the rotis in hot box, sabji on dining table and left a note for them saying that she would be late from the classes. She dressed for her yoga class. She thought of skipping her music class but she didn't like to skip her yoga classes twice a week when she was there in London.

She went to the park, taught kids yoga revising the previous class lessons and teaching them new asanas, she winded the class. She again went to the house changed her clothes. She was now wearing a stripped jumpsuit, tied her hairs in a pony tail and applied lip balm and mascara as light makeup, she carried her black side bag again to accompany her.

As she dressed herself to meet Rishi and came downstairs, Abhikshith and Sachin came with loud laughter and talks, they saw her dressed up and assumed she might be going to somewhere outside rather than her music class since she was not carrying her violin doing with her.

"Oh. You look pretty. Where are you going?", Sachin asked her, as he sat on the sofa.

"Thank you. Am I looking Okay!", Kruthika asked as she did infront of him.

Amidst Abhikshith was just looking at her which he later realised that he was starring at her and said,"You look perfect".

"Okay! Leave it. How was your day? Did you get the job of being an assistant photographer in set", Kruthika asked

"Oh yeah! It was a great day. I really loved working with such amazing and wonderful people in studio. And ofcourse all the credits goes to Abhikshith. Thanks man for giving such an opportunity", Sachin said in joy.

"Don't mention", Abhikshith said sitting saintly on other sofa.

"It's nice to hear this. Okay I'm already late. I've to go", Kruthika said as she stepped towards the door and was wearing her footwears.

"But... where are you going?", Sachin asked as he went behind her.

"I'll tell you once I'm home. Bye and wish me luck", said Kruthika as went she closed the gate.

"All the best", Sachin said and waved his hand at her. "Crazy girl, she never says what she's doing. She'll only say is when it's over".

"Oh. Why is it so?", Abhikshith asked him as he did behind him.

"She never explains anything. I atleast share my feelings with her not only her but with everyone in this house. She never shares her pain with us, she only listens to our sorrows and says nothing"

"She never judges anyone until she knows that person completely. She's different from others. I always wonder how she does so many things in one single day without being tired. I'm always tried soon after my work. Even she respects elders in the way", Sachin said just looking at the road where she disappeared.

"Yeah. She is indeed different from others", said Abhikshith who never saw her that pretty.

Meanwhile....

Kruthika went to the coffee shop which was at walkable distance from the house, she looked at the photo which Rishi sent her. She called Rishi to inform that she was coming and to enquire where he was.

"Rishi. It's me Kruthika", said Kruthika she was a bit tense about how he would receive it when she would reject him later she cooled herself not to think about future and to focus on present.

"Yeah. I'm here in coffee shop dressed in black shirt and jeans. Where are you?", Rishi asked her.

Kruthika could see a person talking in his phone dressed in black shirt but couldn't see which pant he wore, she went near him,"Can you now see a woman wearing stripped jumpsuit?", she asked.

Rishi disconnected the call, stood up and gave a handshake to Kruthika.