“So, how did you start talking to statues?”I question in my most matter-of-fact tone.
He rolls his eyes.The debate in his mind is visible on his face.He shakes his head and adjusts his glasses, the sharp nose twitches.
“I am a history teacher.Monuments fascinate me.I did my thesis on statues and carvings of medieval Indian temples.I would stand in front and wonder what their stories were.What went through the life of their creators?”
Adorable.I want to kiss his grumpy pout.The thought pops in my mind at Aditya’s passion for his work.Hmm, I think I have found a new kink — a cute, nutty professor.
“Aditya, sir, let's take your measurements to discuss the program's specifics with you.”Sahil interrupts my thoughts from rolling down the perversion road.
I can’t jump the professor on our first official meeting.Plenty of opportunities will arise once he joins the gym.I leave them to the final discussion and walk to my office.
Later, Sahil joins me.“Mr Aditya is a great guy.”
“Mmhmm!Yeah, he is.”I take a deep sigh.Would the professor be interested in me?
“Jimmy bro, what's the matter?Where are you lost?With the cute Masterjior the statue stalker?”
Another sigh.So many ifs, buts, and ideas jostle my mind.How do I tell Sahil that they are the same person?Life in the mountains is about to become interesting.
Chapter 5
Friends are devils.
ADITYA
“Yes, you, Jatin.You are to blame for this.Go socialise.Find a gym.Who fed all those ideas into my brain?You.”
Two days back, I spilt my loneliness bucket on him.Who else would listen to me?Sir Wilfred had already played a devious hand.
‘Check your package.’I cringe at the choice of words and how my eyes lowered to the hem of Jimmy’s fitted gym shirt and stopped only at a certain point.Shit.What must he be thinking of me?At my age, I should not be perving on him.
Stop whining and blaming others when you are bubbling with excitement after he flirted back.Yup, the younger man's attention sent exhilarating tingles through my body.On my return from the gym, I checked myself in the mirror.A self-indulgent, grinning man peered at me.I should have been mature and gone somewhere else, but I acted like a teenager with a crush and signed up at the gym.
“Are you done panicking?”Jatin's calm voice irritates me, but I have no choice but to listen to him.“This would not have happened if you had heeded my warning.How often did I tell you not to speak to those goddamn stones?But no!Mr.History-shistry would rather talk to a statue than go to a bar.Now, look what you have done.You have offended Sir William.”
“Sir Wilfred,” I correct him.Thank god we are on the phone.Otherwise, the amused twitch of my lips would have fanned Jatin’s take on my hobby.
