26 Chapter 26

Unlike every other day, this day she didn't take off her shoes, she just wanted to hit the bed and get lots of rest, both physically and emotionally. Before she drifted off, her thoughts returned back to City M and Rohan. 'He must be sleeping right now and will wake up looking for his morning tea. Though he won't utter a word, he would expect me to serve him. Men!'

She woke up mid-afternoon, lunch was ready and Sheela was softly knocking on her door. "Baby, come and have your lunch," she said. Sneha looked at the clock hanging on the opposite wall and realized how late it was.

"I'll be right there auntie," she shouted and straightway went to the bathroom to freshen up. Sheela left on Sneha's assurance she'd be there in time but thought she'd check again to remind her if she didn't come down in fifteen minutes.

Sneha quickly brushed her teeth, took a shower and then put on some comfortable pyjamas and a t-shirt. Whatever she tried to do to not think of why she left, her thoughts always went back to Rohan anyway. Her eyes were again welling with tears but she had to go down and couldn't show papa her misery so she put on her happy face. She wore her spectacles so that her wet eyes would be harder to see. When she went down to the dining room, she noticed the lunch had been lavishly laid out. Sheela ensured that 'baby' would get to eat the best for as long as she was there. In her enthusiasm, Sheela went on to prepare three different types of vegetables along with several other types of dishes.

Sneha was flabbergasted. "Auntie, I wish I had two stomachs. How will I eat so much?"

"You have become so thin baby! You need to eat more to fill back out." She turned to Raj and said, "Sahib, you must watch whether she is eating nicely or not." She turned back to Sneha with a smile and started serving her.

Sneha laughed and said, "Okay, I will eat. Now, stop serving me."

Her misery disappeared instantly and she really started enjoying her lunch. Raj sat opposite her and asked, "How is Rohan? How come he didn't accompany you? Have you settled in your home?"

I hope the furniture fits well." He continued on, almost with a sense of fervour as he kept probing Sneha for answers. "You meticulously chose every piece. You know what Sneha; furniture is something you always loved to change over the years because of the changing fashions. You shouldn't be so finicky about it."

Sneha didn't argue and replied, "You are right papa, I should have waited."

Her sadness became evident, written all over her face which alarmed Raj. "Did Rohan like what you bought? Why are you so sad?" he asked with concern.

Sneha quickly changed the expression on her face. "Oh, he loves it! But I was just saying, yes to your notion," she blabbered.

This puzzled Raj even more and he tried to explore it further but Sneha hurriedly changed the topic. "Where's Ankur?"

"He already had his lunch; he must be watching his favourite cartoon show by now. You'll find him in the living room," Raj answered. "He misses you Sneha. I told him you were coming and he took me to your room," Raj added with a smile.

The conversation then drifted to politics, City M weather and her health.