Chapter 4

As a year went by, Shardul a.k.a Mr Flowers feelings for Sanvika grew. Even his sister could see it. Suchil rather liked Sanvika.

“Tell her how you feel.” Suchil prompted Shardul.

“She is so young…”

“So, who told you to like someone young? You liked the young girl, right? So have the guts to admit it. And you guys are just 6 years apart.” Shardul still looked nervous. “Look you are 31 now. Time to get married. And San is such a gem. Don’t lose her.”

But of course, these siblings did not know anything about Sanvika’s past, or about her parents. That she was from one of the richest families in the country. For them, she was just San. The girl who singlehandedly manages the restaurant at such a young age. She never lost smile. She was always so pleasant and so fun to be with.

Sanvika took the role of the waitress at the restaurant while the two chefs cooked. The two chefs were a comic duo. They had a love-hate relationship. Always bickering. Like Tom and Jerry. But it was fun for San to watch them.

“Tariq Bhai…” One evening San was on the counter, the restaurant almost about to close. “Can you make those onion pakoras for me…”

“Going to drink, San?”

“Yes. I feel like drinking tonight. Today… I should.”

“Why? Is today something special?” Tariq asked cleaning the kitchen counter.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Hm… Today is… someone’s birthday.”

“San’s birthday?”

“Not mine.”

“Then?”

“Somebody…”

Tariq looked at her for a while and then silently went to make The onion pakoras. Astrid came out of the storeroom. “San’s drinking?” She asked seeing Tariq cut onions. Tariq nodded. Astrid looked at San who was looking at the night sky.

“I wonder where San’s parents are,” Tariq said in English.

“San ran away from home.”

“Still… Why won’t they search for her?”

“How would I know.”

“Do you even care?  San is like a sister to us.”

“Do you ever wonder why ‘I’ left home… and came to a different country?”

“Ah… I have never thought of that. Since I don’t care.”

Astrid frowned.

When Astrid was drinking Shardul joined her. She was not drunk yet. “Mr Flower.” She said.

“Why are you drinking alone?”

She just smiled.

“You could have called me.”

“I wanted to be alone today…”

Shardul noticed a sadness in her eyes. “What is it, San?’ he sat closer and asked in a gentle voice.

“Today is my Mother’s birthday.” She wiped the tear that came to her eyes.

Shardul went silent. “You miss your mom?” He asked after a while.

Sanvika nodded. Shardul felt bad for her. “Eh… I know this is the wrong time to say this but… if you need a family, I can be one.” Sanvika looked up at him. “Marry me, San.”

Sanvika blinked. It was unexpected for her. She sat up. “What did you say?”

“I like you.”

She blinked more. “As in like me like me?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“But… Mr Flower likes… dead girl…”

“You told me to let go of her. I did…”

Sanvika settled back down. Settled head on the table, looking down.

“You don’t have to give me an answer now. I know it’s too sudden for you. And wrong timing and all. But I felt I needed to say this today. So, you can take time to think about it…”

Sanvika looked up. “Mr Flower.”

“Hm?”

“I am sorry. I can’t…”

Shardul’s heart broke. He could not speak for a second. He did not expect this immediate rejection.

“It’s not because of Mr Flower.” Sanvika continued. “I don’t want to get married. Ever…”

“Why?”

“Just… And Mr Flower is just Mr Flower. I don’t feel that way.”

Shardul avoided her eyes to hide the fact that he may cry. He got up. “Okay…”

“Don’t feel bad, na, Mr Flower.”

“I don’t feel bad. It’s just… It’s okay… I can’t insist if you don’t feel anything… But… well. Goodnight.” He turned around to leave. Sanvika did feel bad. Shardul stopped at the door and looked back at her. “Eh… Can I ask something more?”

“Yeah?”

“There isn’t anyone else that you love or like, right?”

There was a momentary pause and Sanvika hesitated. Then she said. “Of course not.”

Shardul nodded and left.

And after that, Shardul never expressed his feelings or but he did not let go of them either. But now, Sanvika could sense his feelings for her. On the way, he talked to her. How he walked her to the market and back at night. How he took care of her.

If it was anyone, they would have melted.

But Sanvika did not.

And things were going like this peacefully until one morning Sanvika opened the door to find Vivaan.