Chapter 4
"I have a question. Why are you wearing full sleeves shirt in this sweltering heat?" said Daya wiping his sweaty forehead when the following morning too she accompanied him wearing full sleeved shirt and jeans.
"Oh boy. That is awkward. Don't you remember Senior Inspector Daya that you almost kicked me out of your house for wearing hot pants on my very first day of my arrival?" thought Shreya.
"I am asking you something" said Daya.
"I am not feeling hot" she said.
Daya smirked. "I presumed you are simply doing it to mock me" he said.
"No, no it's not because of you!" said Shreya defensively.
"Well, if you wish" said Daya shrugging and went to the car, smiling to himself.
"I was so surprised to see you. I mean you are older than my daughter. Much older" said Daya.
Shreya laughed.
"Had you expected a whiny - just graduated girl?" she asked.
"Rhea's friend won't be older than that, right?" he said.
"Your order sir?" the waiter disrupted their conversation.
"Cappucino and choco chip cookie" Both of them said in unision.
They started at one another and laughed.
"Hmmm, our tastes are similar. That's good. We can catch up for coffee more often that is of course if you like" said Daya.
"I would love to! Hope your wife won't mind sir" said Shreya.
"Oh, she wouldn't mind! In fact she would be glad that I found a coffee love at last. Priya hates coffee and she hates this place. She finds it too chaotic. I do drag her here sometimes but I can make out from her face that she is not interested" said Daya.
"Oh" said Shreya not knowing what to say. This was the first time he had told her something about his personal life. Shreya thought he looked a bit sad.
"I am impressed with your progress. ACP sir too was all praises for you. I like the way you are catching up" said Daya.
"Thank you sir. But I think the credit goes to you. I love listening to you when you talk about the cases you solved. It really helps me to decide how to go about a particular case" said Shreya.
"I like you your grasp and passion on the subject. I won't be surprised if ACP sir tells me in a few days that he has made you permanent" said Daya.
Daya found himself drawn towards her. He often found himself thinking more and more about her and never missed an opportunity to talk to her. What would he call it? Infatuation? Attraction? He didn't know. It didn't feel wrong either. It was just an innocent attraction, he kept telling himself. He knew his limits. He wasn't obsessed. She was like a breathe of fresh air. She was equally passionate about work and they shared so many common interests that it almost felt unreal sometimes. True, she was much younger than him but she was matured enough. She was a beautiful, young woman. And what made it more exciting for him is that she too emanated similar feelings sometimes.
"Yes sir, what did you want?" asked Shreya one fine afternoon, ehen they were in the bureau.
Daya watched her, a playful smile playing on his lips.
"What happened? Why are you smiling?" she asked.
"What do you you want Shreya?" asked Daya.
"Me?" she said incredulously. "Why would I want anything?"
"It's obvious" said Daya, his smile becoming even broader.
"What?" she asked.
"You came to me. I never called you. So it's obvious that you wanted something." said Daya.
"Wha - Oh! No, it's nothing sir... I - I am sorry" she said and walked away positively blushing.
When they were together, Daya felt as if the rest of the world ceased to exist. They didn't realise when and how the innocent and work related talks started to turn personal.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked her one evening when they were sitting in their favourite coffee shop.
Shreya coughed. "Boyfriend? No... why do you ask?"
"You can tell me. I find the idea ludicrous that a young, beautiful girl like you doesn't have a boyfriend" he said.
Shreya didn't know what to say so she drank some more coffee. She was feeling really awkward in his presense.
"I am telling the truth. I don't have a boyfriend" she said.
"Anyone on your mind then? A crush, maybe?" Daya prompted.
"No... please sir I -" she broke off.
"I am sorry. I did't mean to make you feel awkward. I guess it just got a bit too personal. I was just curious, that's all" said Daya realising that he had gone too far.
"No, I am not awkward to talk about it. Not with you, no" she said.
Daya stared at her in amazement.
"You surprise me" he said after a moment. He was in awe of her frank nature.
Shreya merely smiled and said nothing.
The tension between was growing between them since each passing day. But it was music which finally made it clearer to both of them.
Music. Daya had long forgotten music. But tonight he felt to desire to play it once again. Daya had began to take guitar playing classes few months back. It helped him cheer up when he was playing low. He hadn't revealed it to Rhea or Priya. He wasn't an expert player but he had learned to play a few good songs. However he lost interest quickly and his guitar earned a permanent place in his basement which it had lay hidden all this time.
Tonight he felt like playing it again.
He dusted the dust off the guitar case and carried it carefully to his study. Rhea and Priya had gone out to Rhea's friend's place. Shreya was still at the bureau.
He wasn't sure whether he would still remember how to play. He felt nervous as well as excited as he held the fine instrument in his hands. Brushing the strings gently with his fingers, he began to play one of his favourite songs "You look wonderful tonight"
Shreya turned the key in the lock to find the house in total darkness. Assuming nobody had returned home yet, she began to make her way upstairs to her room when she heard music.
Following the sound, she peeped in through the ajar study door to find Daya with a guitar.
The sight caught her totally offguard. Daya sir could play guitar? That was a pleasant surprise! She stayed well hidden behind the door listening to him play for a few minutes but then she could not contain herself any longer.
"I didn't know you could play so well, sir" she said.
Daya was startled due to her sudden arrival but recovered quickly.
He smiled. "That's one of my secrets"
"How many more secrets am I about to discover?" she asked.
"Only time will tell" he said.
"You said to me that day that I surprise you but actually it's the other way round" said Shreya softly.
Daya laughed.
"Play more." said Shreya.
"You sure? I am not that good. And I am out of practice" he said.
"It didn't look like you were out of practice" said Shreya.
"Were you listening at the door?" he asked.
"Yes. I am sorry. I couldn't help myself" she confessed, looking embarassed.
She sat down in a chair beside him.
"Don't apologize" he said. "Anyway which song do you would you like me to play?"
"Woman in love" she whispered staring at him unblinkingly.
"Yes... it's good song. You are lucky that I know how to play it" he said and when he began to play, she was lost in the soulful rhythm reverberating around the room.
As if in a trance, he moved his face closer to her. She didn't object. She stayed rooted in her place, her heart had almost stopped breathing.
He was close. He was very close.
And then she was suddenly snapped back to reality by the sound of high pitched laughter.
Daya too looked shaken, having snapped out of the wonderful reverie. He could recognise the voices. They were of Rhea and Priya. They were home. His heart was pounding. If they had arrived a minute later... he shuddered to think what would have been the outcome.
He looked at Shreya whose face was flushed. She was fidgeting with her fingers looking nervous. When she saw Daya looking her way, she hastily got up from her chair and made her way towards the bookshelf which was farthest from him.
Right on the cue, the study door burst open and Rhea and Priya burst inside.
Rhea's expression changed from astonishment to shock. "Dad?! You can play guitar? I didn't even know!" Rhea shouted.
"No actually I -"
"Mom, did you know?" asked Rhea sounding delighted.
Shreya looked at Priya whose expression was unreadable.
But it was her answer which made Shreya feel astounded.
"No" said Priya. "Never heard it from him"
"Look Priya -" Daya began but Priya turned on her heel, and walked out of the room.
Rhea was too excited to notice her mother's abrupt departure. "Wow dad!" she exclaimed. "Did you listen to him play, Shreya?"
"What? Oh... uh bit... I was browing some of his books actually." said Shreya disconcertingly.
"Dad, can you play some more please?" said Rhea.
"Later Rhea... I need to speak to your mother" said Daya.
"No dad, you can talk to her later. One song dad, please" Rhea pleaded.
"Excuse me" said Shreya and she left the room hurriedly. She found Priya sitting in the living room, staring absent mindedly into the void.
Shreya tiptoed towards the staircase when Priya's voice made her stop. "Don't you think it's strange?"
Shreya wasn't sure whether Priya was speaking to her. Though there was nobody else in the room apart from both of them, Priya seemed to be talking more to herself.
"Sorry?" said Shreya.
"It's really strange" Priya repeated.
"What's strange?" said Shreya.
"Daya plays guitar and his own wife and daughter don't know about it" said Priya. "He doesn't tell me anything. I don't know why"
Shreya didn't know what to say. These was a way too personal, wasn't it? Why was Priya telling her all this?
"I know he is a very reserved person. But keeping secrets from one's own family is a bad habit, don't you agree?" she asked.
"Uh..." said Shreya uncertainly. What was she to say?
"Does he talk to you?" Priya asked her.
"W - what?" Shreya asked, her heart pounding hard.
Why was she asking her? Did s - she notice?
Shreya closed her eyes in horror. They had been almost been on the verge of crossing all limits some time ago... was - was it possible that Priya had noticed... no... it's can't be...
"Shreya?" Priya called again.
"Er... why would he tell me?" said Shreya.
"You happen to be with him most of the times. You work together. Does he open up in the office? Does he talk? How does he behave with his colleages?" Priya asked, with a sort of desperation in her voice. It felt as if she was craving to learn more about her husband.
This was getting out of bounds now. Shreya could stand it no more. "I am sorry m'aam" she said and rushed upstairs taking two steps at a time.
Once in her room, she locked the door and flopped on her bed.
Shreya felt really sorry for Priya. She couldn'r understand what the problem was. One thing was clear however that there were certainly some marital problems between Daya and Priya. Then she remembered that moment when Daya and she had been too close. Shreya hated herself that she had given in to her sinful desries. She should have refused... But she needed answers. Why did he want to kiss her? Why didn't she object to his advances? She was sure if Priya and Rhea wouldn't have interupted them, they would have kissed...
"Oh god" she murmured guiltily. "Forgive me lord. I have sinned. Thet have done me a favour by allowing me to stay with them. I cannot betray Rhea and her family. Please forgive me" she said to herself and lay down on her bed. She didn't bother going down for dinner that night.
Sneak peek into the next chapter - Shreya is determined to stay away from Daya but fails to curb the growing attraction towards him. Once again they find themselves too close on the occasion of Daya and Priya's anniversary party. Will they give in to their desires?