A Spirit With Dignity !!

I was mesmerized by the flecks of blue in his eyes, and couldn't stop staring. I didn't know what would have happened if Zara hadn't interrupted.

"Babe, hurry up, its 6:30 already, I am going back to get ready. See you in half an hour!"

"Yeah, see you then."

"Is she gone?" He tilted his head out of the wall and brought it back again, and I tried not to gasp.

"Yes, she is gone," he confirmed.

"OK, now you need to go too. I have to get ready."

"Ok, you get dressed, I will roam around."

I stopped him when he was about to leave.

"Hey, you won't walk on in on her or anyone else in the bathroom or any funny stuff like that, right?" I asked for sake of my best friend but this made him furious.

"Amrita, I am almost dead but I am still a man with dignity. I don't do cheap stuff that other guys do."

"Sorry, sorry," I squeaked.

"It's ok, now get ready and if you need me just give me a shout." and he left.

'Wow! I just hurt the feelings of a ghost. And what did he mean by being almost dead?' I thought to myself as I undressed for a shower.

After a long bath, I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped out to find him exactly where he had stood yesterday.

"You like the view?" I asked while I shuffled through my wardrobe for clothes but he didn't turn.

He looked lost in thought. Without even turning he announced in a husky voice, "You get dressed; I'll wait outside. Let me know when you are ready."

I had an unrelenting feeling that he was crying. I went to the window and looked at what he had been looking, trying to understand what upset him. But I couldn't figure it out, and concentrated on getting dressed in my usual formals. I called out to him when I was done. He took one look at me and smiled.

"You look lovely," he commented, giving me a close inspection.

I tried not to blush.

"Thanks. Of course, these suit me better than my hospital clothes."

"True. So ready to leave?" His tone was abruptly flat again and I wondered about his mood swings.

"Breakfast?" He asked.

"Ah no. I generally take it in the office cafeteria," I replied, collecting my stuff.

"That's strange! My mother would kill me if I left home without breakfast. Not that she is ever on the table to share it with me, but still…"

His family anecdotes fascinated me.

"Well, mine too, but she is not here, so…" I shrugged and left to knock on Zara's door.