IF YOU ARE GENUINELY EXCITED TO SEE HIM

RAYMOND

'' I uhm .... I'm fine " she replied again.

Judging from how her face looked I know she just finished crying .

Should I pry further?

''you were crying before I got here right ? I asked staring intently at her .

She looked at me wide eyed with shock and then replaced it with an embarrassed frown.

I chuckled .

" You definitely like feeling embarrassed" I continued .

She laughed nervously .

" Of course not ,it's just that you have a knack for making people feel embarrassed .most times it's as if you are reading my thoughts" she replied .

" I'm sorry if I made you feel uneasy " I said and she smiled throwing her hands up in the air

'' it's fine " she replied ......

I wanted to ask her why she was crying but I realized that might make her feel embarrassed again and I might also be overstepping my boundaries .

'' are you sure you are fine ? I asked

'' of course I am " she replied and I stood up .

'' I came to check on you , seeing how you are fine now ,I should get going ....and erm about Tracy , I'm sure you know she didn't mean any of what she said the other day ,I hope you two will stop fighting" I said stopping in my tracks .

She smiled .

'' Don't worry it's a girl's thing we'll be fine " she replied and I smiled too .

'' Bye then " I replied and walked out of her house .

The following week..............

KHEERA

" Welcome back to work kheera ,work has been so boring without you ! I missed you so much " Tina yelled hugging me tightly once I entered the office .

" I missed you a lot too" I replied smiling .

'' I think an office is meant for works not hugs" Mr David said .

I turned to see my boss frowning .

'' welcome back kheera " Tina whispered and rushed back to her seat ,I chuckled lightly .

'' Good morning boss " I replied him smiling .

'' Instead of the greetings I'll appreciate you working at your desk . Its a Monday morning kheera we shouldn't be doing this ." He replied and walked away with his shoulder all raised and his face squeezed together to his office .

This is why I hate work ! I hate this man !

But what do I do ?

I need to make money or I'll starve .

Arrrrghhhh....

'' welcome back once again kheera " Tina whispered again and I rolled my eyes at her .

She made me start on a bad note with Mr squeezed face , I'm sure this week is going to be a bad one ! Definitely!

Hours later ...........................

Work time was over .

I stretched yawning lazily ,I am so tired .

I picked up my bag ,it's time to go home!

Before I could take a step from my chair Tina had ran over again .

Sometimes I think this girl is fake , she's always too energetic and always too involved in people's lives .

I rolled my eyes at her .

'' what is it this time Tina ? I asked faking a smile.

'' It's your first day after your leave kheera ! Lets have some funnnn " she replied smiling brightly.

It's either she didn't notice my attitude towards her or she's pretending not to .

" I'm broke Tina ,I don't have the money to have some funnnn" I replied dragging the fun to mimick her .

'' If you'll excuse me ,I need to go home now " I continued moving to leave when she rushed to stand in front of me again .

'' come on kheera ,just tell me you don't want to hangout with me ,why bother with the lies?

You just have to put a call through to Henry and he'll sort the bills like he always do " she replied with her mouth pouted childishly making me want to slap her mouth .

I sighed gently.

Henry just finds a way to creep into my life uninvited and well what was I expecting?

My whole world revolved around him .

But not anymore !

Even if I miss him and I feel I'll go crazy if I don't get back together with him I'll never allow him back into my life ! Ever !

''I have stopped spending unnecessarily Tina ,life is more than going out to eat Pizza and getting drunk . ohhh and well we broke up " I replied and walked away before she could stop me or say anything else .

'' kheera ? I heard someone called when I got outside the company around the parking lot .

Why can't these people leave me alone ?

I turned to see Lucille .

" Hi lucille " I replied smiling

" Hey kheera welcome back to work " she replied and I nodded to thank her .

'' are you waiting for Mr Henry? She asked and I rolled my eyes gently .

Ohh good lord ! Why is everyone asking me about him today ! Why can't they just mind their freaking business!

" No " I replied in between my gritted teeth .

You stopped me idiot ! I wasn't waiting for anyone

Maybe dating someone secretly is not that much of a bad idea! I'm tired of having to explain to everyone that we are not together anymore!

We are not together anymore?

That thought stung me hard .

" Ohhh ....my husband is here will you like to ride with us ? We can drop you at your house stop " she said smiling innocently .

Ride with you and have to deal with this three is a crowd awkwardness ? No thanks !

'' no ....it's fine , I'll just be on my way ,you shouldn't keep your husband waiting

See you tomorrow lucille" I replied and walked away as fast as I could heaving a huge sigh of relief.

What is she trying to do?

Flaunt the fact that she has a man and I don't anymore? .

The man isn't even cute!

Come on kheera you are just being mean to an innocent nice woman .

Whatever!

I stood on the other side of the road waiting for a taxi ,it's so hard getting used to this kind of life , Henry always picked me after work .

On days he wouldn't be available ,he would send his driver over so I never had to ride a taxi or wait for one .

I sighed gently .

First it was my boss ,next was Tina and now lucille .

Such a way to start a week !

'' Hey beautiful " I turned to see a young man who is probably 22 or 23 talking to me .

I smiled .

For some awkward reasons I like it when younger guys hit on me ,I find them cute although I would never date someone who is younger than me .

Should I play along ?

" Hi" I replied .

'' my name is Drey what's yours? He asked .

I smiled .

" Kheera " I replied

" Nice name ! I've been staring at you for a while now and I find you attractive ,do you mind giving me your contact number? He said and I smiled .

'' I do mind ,so No." I replied

Okay enough with the playing .

His lines are too annoying .

I saw a taxi approaching and I waved at it to stop and thankfully it did .

" It was nice meeting you Drey " I replied ignoring all the other things he said .

I got into the taxi and told the driver my destination.

He looked annoyed and I smiled .

He had probably thought he had found a chick to play with because I replied him politely .

His thoughts brought Ray to mind .he is probably same age as Ray but Raymond is just so mature and manly .

The memories of how he covered me with his clothes and took me to the car ,how he consoled me while I cried that night ,his perfume ,the memories of when he fell on me and our face was few inches apart as if we wanted to kiss and the memories of how I closed my eyes and was embarrassed when he stood up abruptly spoilt everything and I frowned .

Wait ! Why am I thinking of Raymond?

I just got out of a relationship ! How can I be thinking about someone else that quickly!

And it's not just anybody ! It's my bestie's brother !

Kheera you must be insane !

Do I like him ?

No of course not!

It's not possible!

I picked my phone and typed " how do you know if you like a guy " on my search desk

''your reaction to his presence ,touch and voice are telling ! If you are genuinely excited to see him ,have a strong reaction to his physical presence and you can chat with him for hours on end , chances are that you like him " .

No I don't ,I possibly don't like him ,that's not possible .

I am not excited to see him !

My phone's light came up and I checked to see a call from him ....Ray....

My heart started pounding with excitement !

I picked up ....

" Hey " he said and I just couldn't control the excitement I'm feeling.

No I'm not excited ! I am just bored and he's available right?

'' If you are genuinely excited to see him chances are that you like him" a voice in my head reminded me of what I read .

This darn voice !