Mia gasped, her face taking a rosy hue. She hated this reaction of hers to his proximity. Too bad, her stupid body didn’t behave this way with anyone else. She wondered if she’d ever be able to go all the way if it ever happened.
“Have you ever wanted a child?” Armaan didn’t know why he blurted out such a personal question. Disturbed at the emotions that had surfaced on her face, he’d wanted to know.
She stiffened, her face going carefully blank.
“Don’t!” Armaan caught her chin in a bruising grip. “Don’t close yourself off, Sugar. You weren’t this way. What happened to make you a shell of who you were?”
Mia started to struggle against his hold. “Life happened. I can’t talk about this now. Please!” Her voice cracked, making him step away.
Without speaking another word, he took the coffee tray from her hands and turned around. He stopped for a minute. “Whatever it is, you can always count on me. I don’t know about you, but I still consider you as my friend.” His voice was quiet.
Mia gave him a smile that held a tinge of sadness.If only you’d seen me as more than a friend,she thought to herself.
Chapter 3
It had been a week since that conversation in Mia’s kitchen. Armaan tried to ignore the gut feeling that something was wrong. She’s an adult. I need to mind my own business, he told himself repeatedly. Yet, seven days later, he couldn’t help himself any longer. Dialling her number, he impatiently waited for her to pick up the call. When she didn’t pick up his call even after he dialled her number for the seventh time, he started pacing his room. Do I call one of these guys? What do I do? Instead, he dialled the restaurant’s number. Tom picked the call at the third ring.
“Good morning, Sunny Side Up, how can I help you?”
“Tom, err...this is Armaan. Is Mia around?” He didn’t beat around the bush.
“Oh, hey! How you doin’? Mia is unwell; she is resting. She’s not gonna be in today. Do you want me to run up to her place and convey something?” His American accent was pronounced as he replied.
“No!” Armaan barked. He breathed in once and deliberately softened his voice. “I’ll take care of this. Thanks, Tom!” He cut the call and immediately picked up his wallet and car keys. Manoeuvring his Jaguar into the Saturday morning traffic, he stepped onto the accelerator.I hope she’s okay!His mind flashed through the time when he’d had the flu. She had been at his bedside 24*7, risking even her own health.
He parked the car by the side of her cafe and went in through the back entrance that directly led to her place. Ringing the doorbell, he shifted from one foot to another in impatience. After what seemed like hours, a really tired and sick looking Mia opened the door.
Armaan stopped to stare at the sight in front of him. She stood before him wearing a long t-shirt and nothing else. Her curls were open, adding on to her natural beauty. He instantly stopped staring when he noticed how pale she was. He noticed her eyes were dull. Nudging her inside, he got in and closed the door. “Whatever happened to you? You look like a truck ran over you.”
She glared at him. “Thanks! That’s so helpful.” Turning away, she started walking and stopped. He noticed the wince that escaped her.
Not caring what she’d think, he swept her in his arms and carried her into a room that he presumed was her bedroom.
“What are you doing?” Mia hissed even as she struggled to get out of his arms.
“Quiet!” He gingerly placed her on the bed and stepped back. Her face had some color. Even her eyes seem to get some sparkle. Good! He noticed her leaning back against the pillows and covering her legs with the sheet. Immediately, he sat down on the edge of her bed. “Are you feeling any better? Maybe we should go to the doctor. Actually, scratch that! My doctor can visit you.” He took out his shiny gadget and started unlocking the device.
Mia placed her small hand on his wrist. “Don’t bother.”
He looked up in confusion. “Why? You seem to be in a great deal of pain.”
She gave him a half-hearted smile. “I’m used to it.”
“But why the fuck are you putting up with this?” He looked almost distressed. “Are you terminally ill?” Armaan unconsciously moved closer, catching her arms in a firm grip.
Mia could see his grey eyes clearly from this proximity. It had always fascinated her to read his eyes. Now, it was lighter, cloudy, troubled.
“Mia!” He shook her, making her start.
She took a deep breath and answered. “No, no! At least, I don’t think it’s fatal.”
“You don’t think?” His grave expression asked her to talk faster.
“Look, I have what’s called endometriosis.”
“Endo-what?” He quickly pulled up Google, ready to start typing.
“In simple terms, my uterine lining gets thicker and would progressively thicken more as this disease develops further. Eventually, the lining in my pelvis, tubes, and other organs might also thicken.”
