Infatuation.???????..Love.??????? Part 5

On the other hand, Naina couldn’t concentrate on her work, she kept on remembering her conversation with Rutesh. For Naina, Kajal was the best friend she ever had. Naina knew that Kajal meant well by taking Naina with her group. But her friends had also accepted her as one of them, and she had developed feelings for Rutesh. Who was most sober guy of the gang, but she also lived under the fear that Rutesh had feelings for Kajal. They {Rutesh & Kajal} shared a bond, so she always stepped back from him and the other friends also.

Kajal’s friendship was too valuable for her, she didn’t want to jeopardize it.

So whenever she thought that Rutesh was looking at her with "THAT" look, she avoided him like AIDS. And concentrated herself studies, she was shocked when Rutesh had accused her of not keeping in touch with them. After the call she did not discuss it with Kajal, what could she tell her? She was herself surprised by the way Rutesh had asked her.

She was deep in thoughts and so she didn’t hear Susan come in.

"Are you going to daydream the entire day, or come live with us. We are going for lunch are you coming?" Susan was staring at Naina from the door.

"huh!" Naina noticed Susan for the first time, Susan was one of her friends in the office and knew Naina well.

"I was not day dreaming, but I was thinking. So what’s up?" Naina tried to be casual but failed as she could sense Susan looking at her.

Susan started at her for some time and then said "Nothing much, it’s not unusual that you sit and work all day, but the weird thing is that you are distracted today and also day dreaming. I guess Kajal is good for you."

Naina didn’t know what to reply to that statement, Susan knew about her life almost everything but not about Rutesh. She was still thinking what and how much to tell her, and her cell phone started vibrating.

She thanked god for saving her and looked at her phone, she didn’t recognize the no. Still she answered it thinking Susan will take the hint and leave her.

"Hello" Naina answered the call.

"Why did you give the phone directly to Kajal in the morning?" A voice from the other end asked her.

"Excuse me, who is this?" Naina asked in a weak voice as she had guessed who it was but didn’t want to believe it.

She looked at door where Susan was still standing looking at her with interest in her eyes.

"Now you don’t remember me only that is good, you know what I think. I think you are avoiding me." The voice continued.

"Why wou—ld I be avoiding you Rutesh?. I just spoke to you in the morning when you called" Naina asked Rutesh nervously, she had recognized his voice from the start but didn’t want to tell him the same.

"Well well well. You already knew it was me, then why the pretense Naina. You don’t want to talk to me?"

Naina was taken aback by the way his tone dropped as if he was disappointed, Rays of hope started flying in her heart.

"It’s nothing like that Rutesh, at first I did not recognize you. But when you said Kajal, I realized it was you. And I gave the phone to Kajal in the morning as you had called to speak to her" Naina tried to soothe the disappointment she had heard in his voice.

"Naina, when will you understand that I might be interested in speaking to you also and not with Kajal. She is my friend and so are you, it doesn’t mean that I only want to speak with her or about her." Rutesh was sounding angry but he was tired of her assumption that he only spoke to Kajal. Was this girl plain blind? Couldn’t she see that he was interested in her and not in Kajal.

Here Naina was still dazed by what Rutesh had just said, was he actually saying that he wanted to speak to her.

Susan cleared her throat and Naina realized that she was still at the door still looking at her.

"Susan, you guys go ahead for lunch, I am not hungry." Naina tried the only thing which came to her mind. Susan shrugged but mouthed that she was not finished. Naina knew Susan would drown her in the questions but she left the office. So Naina was alone in the office with Rutesh on the line with her.

"Rutesh, I don’t know what to tell you. I am sorry you felt this way." Naina tried to be diplomatic but she heard Rutesh sigh. "Fine, you are feeling sorry for me then meet me in an hour at Andheri station." Rutesh declared.

"But….but…..today…I a….m in office right now." Naina stammered over the phone.

"I know you are in office, so I am giving you an hour to straighten things out in office and meet me. So come on time"

After saying this he disconnected the call, Naina was sitting with phone in her hand like dumbstruck. Her heartbeat was still too fast, what was she supposed to do? Meet him and do what? She thought of not going but then he will think that she was ignoring him. Should she call Kajal and ask but what would she tell Kajal.

Kajal would ask her, what’s the big deal in going with him. And she would be right, Rutesh was her friend, so if he was asking her come there is no reason to suspect anything else. BUT she had heard the difference in his voice and also his questions were different.

There was no compulsion for her to go, she could always tell him she stuck at office. But she knew she was being coward. There was no real reason for her to not go, as till now she had taken only 2 leaves while she was not well. So half day would be granted to her. Naina looked at the watch and thought of traffic towards the station and went to her boss to ask for the half day.

**********************************
Here Rutesh was smiling, he was at home. After taking no. from Kajal he had decided to give it some time and then he shall slowly make Naina aware that he thought of her more than a friend. But after getting the no. he could not wait any longer, the repressed feelings of his were bubbling inside to get it all out. That is why he had started call without any greeting and confused the poor girl. Now he will get ready and go, she would come definitely come.
He was done with patience, they have wasted enough time. Now either she has to accept his feelings or reject, and if her nervousness was any indication she also felt something for him. He had plans to shock her and by god he will by end of the evening.

Grinning broadly he went to dress.