It's a fools game to play ' the ball is in my court,' thought Zara as she looked up at the grey sky coming back from the studio.
It had been a weeks since everything, since she felt dejected. Zara being a smart girl was back to her reality, working on her canvas mercilessly as sleep never came and whatever time she had she spent on her paintings as her deadline was approaching.
Even in May, Zagreb was still cold while India was burning in 38 degrees. But one thing that hadn't changed were her sleep paralysis and her dreams which had gotten wierder.
One night she dreamt of her and Aly covered in blood and the next thing she sees it wasn't Aly but her. She was staring at herself and panting in the dark and then finally smiled and looked up at the night sky.
She had rescheduled her hair appointment and as she entered the place Ms. Ivana had mentioned she was greeted by a small Shitzu.
The little thing jumped on her and Zara caught her immediately and started stroking her hair that were cliped with a pink bow.
She looked ahead to find Selena already getting her hair washed. She handed her stuff to the the stylist and headed for her seat next to her for head bath.
'Hey, i am glad you made it,'
'Sorry if you had to wait,' said Zara.
'No worries, i seem to have time today with the kids at their grandparents and well Adam is also reaching
tomorrow.' replied Selena
This got Zara's attention who's mind unintentionally drifted towards Leo who had not messaged her after that.
But Zara had not replied either.
'I thought he had gone for a day or two and was now in Germany?' said Zara trying to fish out something, though she did not know what.
'Things got very serious in London and his presence was needed.'
'I would not have it if it were some other matter, but the suituation escalated. ' said Selena.
Zara just nodded, she knew that Selena and Leo and Adam had a love triangle in the past. But the three of them seemed little affected by it. It astonished her and she wanted to know more.
'How did you meet Leo? or Did you meet him through Adam? ' asked Zara.
' I met Adam through Leo.'
'Leo and I, we dated briefly but we were childhood friend first and then i didn't see him for many years until i met him again. When I came back to London, i met Adam and that's when we fell in love and you know the rest,' said Selena carefully weighing her words.
But it felt like something was amiss as Zara knew her well, and Selena was usually a bit too candid, rather blunt with her words.
She got up and headed towards the mirror as the stylist called Mariam came to her, 'Hey, so what do want me to do to you hair.'
'Well, i am not sure.'
'I am trying to grow them and i want to keep the length but i want a new look as well,' replied Zara.
' I can give you some streaks or what about side bangs, you have a heart shaped face and they will look good.'
'Omg, you have baby hair, aww,' said Mariam as she lightly moved her hands over Zara's hairline.
'Well. let's go for side bangs.'
'I haven't had them down for a while now,' said Zara looking ahead at herself in the mirror.
It took another hour for them to get their hair done.
'Oh wow, you look great,' said Selena who herself looked beautiful with her long black thick hair.
'You think so?' asked Zara a little unsure as they headed towards the payment counter.
'That will be 40 Euros,' said the apprentice.
That's expensive thought Zara as she tapped her card.
'Ms. Ivana sure finds expensive places, i should have known better.'
'But then again the stylist did a good job and she cut with scissors and not trimmer, said Selena'
'Hmm, I love the look' said Zara as they left the salon.
Selena wanted the make some spaghetti so she was buying some noddles and so Zara went a little ahead towards the flowers square to enjoy the general splendour.
In the evening time other than going to the coast people of Zagreb usually collected around the center in the squares to catch-up over drinks standing near the bars. Zara enjoyed the society here as even if you are stranger you could feel less alone being surrounded by so many people.
She was standing near a local church when she noticed a bunch of white flowers on a little patch of grass while she waited for Selena.
She thought it would make a beautiful nosegay as she could buy flowers from the flower shops all around her but then no one will choose the lovely wildflowers. So she decide to pluck them as the gardner would anyday pluck it out from the roots.
Her phone rang and she saw a random unknown number. So she answered the phone by fixing it between neck and collarbone and leaned to pluck the bush.
'Hello,' said Zara.
'Hey,' she heard and her heart stopped.
'It's me, Leo,' he said.
She was a little taken aback and took about 10 seconds to respond.
'Hey, ' she responded a little carefully.
'I haven't heard from you,'he said.
'Neither did I,' she said plainly.
She suddenly felt mad, like really mad at him. She wanted to shout at him, Dude you kissed me and the left the country very next day without an explanation and just a text saying nothing about it. And now you have the guts to say you didn't hear from me.
'I left you a text ,' replied Leo and she could feel his chuckle through the phone.
She felt irritable and didn't know what much to say so she kept quite.
He finally spoke,'What are you doing down there?'
'Nothing just picking some flowers,' said Zara as she went back completely immersed at the task in hand. She didn't want to feel desperate about him anymore and then after few more seconds she finally realised what he had asked and that's when it hit her and she looked around her surroundings gazing at the crowd. Her call was still connected and she finally found him standing at some distance in the flower square looking directly at her. He had a plain black shirt with rolled up sleeves like last time.
He was still holding the phone to his ears and so was she while she remained squatted near the bush.
They both kept their gaze directed at each other and Leo started walking towards her and she finally asked what she had wanted to ask him, 'What were you drinking that day?'
'Whiskey,'said Leo as he stood infront of her while he disconnected his call.