“Oh! Okay…I suppose I could join you then.”
Neil chuckled, shaking his head in mock exasperation.
“What?” Tanya immediately turned defensive. She knew he was definitely laughing at her now.
“Nothing. C’mon!”
“No, it’s okay. Spill it out. I have been noticing your judgmental glances ever since we started working together.” Tanya’s full lips pursed in annoyance.
Neil looked at Tanya’s porcelain skin, her slightly rounded cheeks, and her full, pink lips. “Do you really want to know?”
She sensed his deep stare, a flush rising from her neck. “Yes.” Tanya further tightened her lips, making Neil almost wish he could soften it.
“Okay. Remember, you asked for it.” Neil cautioned, before replying, “You can never make a man notice you if you always follow him around like a puppy.”
“What?” Tanya choked out in disbelief and fury.
“Your attempts to make Ritwik notice you. That’s what I’m talking about.” Neil shrugged, totally unconcerned with her indignation.
“You did not say that, Mr. Grover. You are crossing lines and that is rude, not to mention dangerous.”
“Hey, you were the one who asked. I did not voice my opinion all this while.”
Tanya flushed in anger this time. Her eyes turned serious and stricken. “What rights do you have to judge me anyway? You don’t know anything about Ritwik or me.”
“Perhaps! But I do know when a man is not noticing the woman even after her pathetic attempts to please him.”
Tanya paled at his harsh view.Is that what I do? Am I pathetic?Suddenly, Tanya remembered years of being devoted to Ritwik and him not even noticing her attempts to get close. Tanya’s grey eyes shone with tears. She turned away before Neil could see her tears.
“Hey,” Suddenly, Neil realized he’d unintentionally hurt Tanya in his motto to speak the truth. “Eh…I didn’t mean to upset you. Although, you may want to start doing things differently if you ever want to get Ritwik’s attention.”
Tanya stiffened at his continued insensitivity. “Will you just stop talking? I didn’t ask for your opinion now. You can keep them to yourself going forward. Just…just leave me alone.” Tanya didn’t know why she was so touché all of a sudden. Neil had been nothing but civil to her so far.
“Okay. You are, however, free to join us for dinner.” With that parting statement, Neil quickly left the office.
Tanya then packed her bag before she moved to her car that was parked in the basement. Even as she started the car, she saw Nitin calling her again. With a sigh, Tanya answered her friend’s call.
A few hours later, Tanya got into her white denims and black shirt after a quick shower. Hurriedly she slipped her dainty feet into her favorite lemon-yellow Steve Madden sandals, and got into the waiting cab. Despite the moderate traffic, she reached Neil’s apartment in half an hour. As she got down, she couldn’t help but notice the plush apartment, admiring the tall building and the huge lawn in front. With a smile, she went up to the fifteenth floor where she knew Neil lived.
Throughout dinner, Ritwik treated her just like any other guy friend of his. As if that wasn’t enough, she’d been conscious of Neil’s presence the entire time. To his credit, Neil’s expression had remained neutral, almost careful. Not that she was looking, she told herself. The dinner went on smooth, before Neil walked up to his room, allowing the younger folks to have some fun.
After thinking for the hundredth time that evening, Tanya thought it was now or never. She wanted to first ask Ritwik out before she confessed her feelings to him. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke, “Ritz, what are you doing tomorrow night? I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Huh?” For a minute, Ritwik appeared disoriented. He had been discussing sports with Nitin. At her question, both of them stopped speaking to stare at her.
“Tomorrow? Dinner?” Tanya prompted.
“Can I take a raincheck, TinTin? I have a date with this girl I have been wanting to go out with. Finally, it’s happening!”
Tanya paled before she swallowed, barely managing to move her lips to form a smile.
‘Hey, are you okay?” Ritwik immediately noticed her pallor and put his arms around her shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Tanya pushed back her glasses, refusing to look at either of them.
“Know what? If it’s that important I will cancel my date with the hot chick. Anything for my girl.” Ritwik tugged at her with a grin.
Tanya swallowed once more and shook her head mutely. “No! It’s nothing. You go ahead; we will catch up some other time.” Her grey eyes met Nitin’s above Ritwik’s shoulder. The usually laid-back Nitin was serious for once, silently enquiring if everything was okay with her. Unable to answer his unspoken question, Tanya simply moved her gaze away.
