4. Shermi has no sleep

CHAPTER 4

Shermi has no sleep

It was 9pm. There was full moon. Shermi was in her room next to the balcony. She was looking at the photo of her husband-to-be. A small smile appeared in her face. “Not bad. He is sweet.”

Suddenly she saw the face of Avinash in the photo.

Avinash said, “Am I good?”

Shermi was shocked. She touched the photo. Again she saw Deepak in it. She laughed. “Ah Ha! Just an imagination.”

She closed her eyes for a while. Again she looked at the photo. Again Avinash’s face appeared in the photo.

Avinash said, “You will meet me again tomorrow, won’t you?”

Shermi closed her eyes. “He has done something to my mind.”

She got up and put off the light to go to sleep. But she was not able to sleep. Again she got up and went to the balcony. She looked towards Avinash’s room. No light.

“I wonder why he had not come back even though it is so late. Maybe he has night duty today. Software engineer, he said. I can’t forget him.”

Shermi went back inside and lay on the bed. She rolled on the bed unable to sleep. Again she got up and sat on the bed. “Something has happened to me.”

Shermi got up anxiously. Already it was daytime. It was 6:30am. She went to the balcony. Avinash was not there. “Maybe he had finished his exercises and has gone into the room.”

She saw that his window was open. “Maybe he is still asleep. After all he came home late last night.”

Shermi went to take bath.

At that time, Avinash came out to the balcony and did exercises. He looked towards Shermi’s room but she was not there. Then he went into his room.

After bath, Shermi came out of the room into the balcony. She looked towards Avinash’s room. He was fully dressed up. Seeing her, he came out and waved to her with a smile. Seeing him, she got sensation of pleasure all over her body. She too waved to him and smiled. His cell rang and he went into the room.

Shermi got ready quickly and went down the stairs to the hall.

Madhavi was surprised to see her come down so early. “It is still 8:30am. You were already dressed up.”

Shermi said, “Yes, mommy. Today, I have class at 9 am itself. I have to go now.”

Madhavi got angry. “Why didn’t you tell me before? I would have prepared your Tiffin early for you.”

Shermi took her vanity bag. “No problem mommy. I will eat at the canteen.”

She wore her slipper and went out.

Madhavi thought, “What computer class! Now her marriage talks are going on.”

Shermi went out of the gate. She looked towards Avinash’s house. “Motorbike is still there. He must be still in his room.”

Slowly she moved down the road towards the bus stop.