In the morning, when Elena woke up, she saw that both Bittu and Aisha had a tired face.
Aisha, who couldn't continue staying awake, slept just two hours ago, but with the sunlight coming right at her face, she had to wake up. With just two hours of sleep, she had puffy eyes and a tired look.
Bittu, who didn't sleep at all, due to his mind constantly thinking things he shouldn't, showed intense fatigue with bloodshot eyes and a drained complexion. It was as if he saw a ghost, at least that was what Elena thought.
She decided to ask, "...What happened? Why are you guys like this?"
Receiving no answer, she directed her question at Aisha as she knew Bittu won't answer, "Aisha, what happened..?"
".... It's nothing. I just didn't get enough sleep," she said, keeping her best friend in the dark about her real reason, 'to ensure he wouldn't take advantage of her innocent friend when she was gone.' She thought as she directed her gaze at Bittu.
Bittu felt the gaze but didn't turn; he was just too tired to even turn his head her way and waste his already low energy. He was simply... tired.
Elena, seeing their complexion, didn't ask further but decided to inquire with her friend later.
She washed herself and then started to cook food. Overcoming her exhaustion, she too went to wash up.
'.... Finally...'
Bittu, after seeing both of them leave the bedroom, finally decided to sleep, even if just a little.
After about an hour, Elena came back from cooking the food only to find Bittu sleeping peacefully on her bed. She came close to Bittu and looked at his face. She just kept looking at him without saying or doing anything.
If Bittu was awake right now, he would find that Elena was looking at him with the most lovable eyes possible. Elena was completely immersed in it that she failed to notice Aisha coming into the room.
Aisha was surprised to see her friend looking intensely at Bittu. She was shocked to say the least. Then, a smirk crept on her face.
She came from behind and yelled right in Elena's ears, "Meowww."
Elena jumped like a scared cat with a sharp yell, ".. Ahhhh... "
Aisha, seeing her, laughed, "hahahahaha."
Bittu, who was too tired and deep in sleep, didn't wake up from the yell and Aisha's laughter. He continued his journey in the land of dreams, not knowing the girls are back in the room.
Elena glared at Aisha for scaring her like that, but Aisha still continued her laughter.
After laughing, Aisha came over to Elena and whispered in Elena's ear, "Now, I know why you wanted him to sleep here..." She paused to see Elena blushing and then continued, "You like him right."
Elena, who was already blushing hard, had her face become red and she lowered her head to avoid eye contact with her friend.
Aisha laughed seeing her friend like this, "Now, that's the Elena I know though I didn't know you could be so bold as to invite a man over and also convince me to agree... Huh... Elena? What have you got to say about this?" She said in a teasing and low voice.
Elena's head lowered more and more as she heard her friend talk. She didn't dare to look at her right now. She was embarrassed.
Aisha, seeing her friend like this, decided not to push her further. She then had a serious face and said, "... He is a good man. I have confirmed it. You can court him."
Elena, listening to her friend, was surprised. She asked, "How did you know that?"
Aisha dodging the question said, "Cough...cough...I have my ways.... Hahaha." She said embarrassed to mention it to her friend.
"Anyway, he's good. So, go for it." She continued.
Elena was surprised but nodded her head said, "... Okay." and hugged her friend.
She thought that she had to hide it from her, but now she can go about it openly. She felt like a weight has been lifted from her heart.
She didn't know what her friend will do when she learned she liked a man as she was very strict with her selection of man and before, Bittu had only managed to convince her after much effort, but this time she got convinced easily.
'Looks like Bittu won't have to suffer like before.' Elena had this thought as she laughed, remembering things that happened in the past, while in Aisha's embrace.
After a while, the hug was broken by Aisha as she said, "I have to go now, remember I have a ride to take to the city."
Elena nodded and helped Aisha carry the bags that Aisha would bring to the capital. Elena went with Aisha to see her off, and after half an hour, she came back to the room.
Bittu was still sleeping. Elena decided to wake him up.
"Bittu.... Bittu.. Wake up... Wake uppp... ", but Bittu continued to sleep.
Elena, seeing this a little annoyed, suddenly had a mischievous smile, and she brought water and splashed it on his face.
Bittu, who was peacefully sleeping, jolted awake when the cold water splashed on his face.
"Wha... Wha... What happened??" Bittu said in panic as he took deep breath.
Elena, seeing Bittu's reaction, burst out laughing.
"Hahahahahahaha...."
Bittu, seeing Elena laugh, was mad but didn't say anything to her, just glared at her for a second.
Elena, knowing Bittu was really mad when she saw that glare, immediately started to apologize.
"Sorry.. Sorry... I am sorry. " But her face said otherwise as she was still laughing.
Bittu, seeing this, ignored her and took the towel to dry his face. Elena, seeing this, added, "I tried to wake you up, but you didn't.... So, I had to do this."
Bittu, listening to her, paused and said in an annoyed voice, "You could have called out to me a few more times. Did you really have to splash water on me?"
Elena then responded with, "Well... No,....so, I apologized right. Please forgive me." She said with puppy eyes.
Bittu, seeing this, was unable to continue being angry. I mean who could... when such a beauty is asking for sorry with such a cute face.
"... Okay, fine." He said. He then got to the door to wear his shoes.
"Where are you going..?" asked Elena in a curious tone.
"...To find a job and... " Bittu said after hesitating a bit.
"Can I come along?" Elena asked with enthusiasm.
Bittu was a bit taken aback by her response.
"Why do... you wanna tag along?" asked Bittu suspicious about her intention. He still hasn't forgotten that she knew he was a player while he knew absolutely nothing about her.
"Well,...I have nothing
to do. So I thought you could take me with you." Elena said while playing with her hair.
But Bittu's answer shocked her, "No..."
"Whyy????" Elena asked with huge surprise. She was baffled as to why he rejected her. Any sane man would immediately accept this request from any woman, moreover, a woman as beautiful as her.
Maybe, young Elena didn't know how beautiful she was because of her past, but she knew it. So, how could she accept being rejected.
"Well, I don't wanna go with you. What if you pulled something off when we are in a desolate place like you did at the riverbank. So, a big No." Bittu said with no change in his expression.
Elena finally getting the issue immediately responded. "Don't worry, I won't do anything like that... at all. Furthermore, I could even help you with finding a job; you know I have known some people here." She said with a smug expression.
Bittu was doubtful, "Really?!"
Elena said, "Of course. So, take me with you, okay." Bittu after thinking for a while agreed.
"Okay... "
Elena immediately rushed inside the room and came out with changed clothes. She was wearing a blue jeans and a white top.
Bittu was surprised to see her become ready this quickly because girls take a hell lot of time to do all shorts of things to themselves to make themselves ready( more preety).
" You done... already? " Bittu asked still doubtful.
"Yes, let's go.", she said as she took hold of Bittu's hand and started to move forward.
But, Bittu had other plans. He shook her hand off while looking at her in disbelief.
" What are you doing?!"
" What...? ", Elena was confused as to what Bittu was talking about.
Bittu seeing her confused explained, "... Why did you hold my hand? "
"Ohh,....sorry. Aisha and I always used to go out while holding hands so, I did it out of habit." Elena said as she told him that it was a misunderstanding.
"It's fine... Just don't do it again in the future. ", Bittu said acknowledging her answer.
They started to move out of the hotel.
Elena was currently in thoughts.
'I didn't believe him, when he used to say that he wouldn't even touch a woman unless absolutely necessary untill her, I was always disdainful of his boasting but it seems to be true.'
From her thoughts it seems like she was testing him just now and it was not an accident.
' Let's see what are the truth and what are the lies you used to tell me. ' Elena thought with a mischievous smile.
They walked for a while and after seeing different shops Bittu would ask them for a vacancy but there seems to be none.
This continued for an hour. Bittu returned from asking the nth shop.
" Why are all the shops full? " Bittu asked Elena fully annoyed. Elena who was currently eating an ice cream didn't listen to him and asked, " Did you say something? "
Bittu who was very annoyed and frustrated was even more annoyed seeing her enjoying an ice cream.
" Didn't you say you would help he find a job? "
"Mmm....Yes,....I did. ", Elena responded while eating the ice cream.
" Then, why don't you help me?" asked Bittu.
"... I was waiting for you to ask. " Elena said Elena as she finished her ice cream.
Bittu was speechless hearing her answer.
"Come with me. We won't find a job in this areas.", Bittu was angry hearing that from her, he asked her with a slightly angry voice, "... Why didn't you tell me this in the beginning? "
Elena looking at Bittu said without a change in her voice, "...Did I have to... I don't know. Anyway, I am telling you now. So, follow me."
After saying this she started to move forward while laughing silently.
"Hahahahah....Ohh... My...god..its so fun teasing him..."
She was having so much fun looking at his annoyed, angry and frustrated face that she even brought an ice cream to enjoy it with.
"Hahaha"
She couldn't control her laugher and laughed out loud.
Bittu was taken aback by her sudden laugher and asked.
".....Why are you laughing? "
"Hahaha... It's nothing... nothing.... ", Elena said as she continued laughing.
A couple of minutes later, they arrive near a house.
The house was of a merchant where Elena used to work at in her early days in the game. She called out to the owner, " Mr. Kaminari." in a loud voice twice.
A while later an old man with a lean and slightly curved body came out of the house.
"Who's there? ", asked the old man with his harsh and old voice.
" It's me, Elena, Mr. Kaminari. "
"Ohh... It's you...little girl. Did you not take a leave to go to the city?" asked the old man in a curious and worried tone.
"Mr. Kaminari. I will go to the city next week. I am actually here for my...friend!", Elena said with a hint of uncertainty at the end of the sentence.
Mr. Kaminari then looked at Bittu from head to toe, checking him out. Bittu felt uncomfortable from his gaze but didn't sway his gaze and looked at the old man straight.
After a while, the old man spoke, "... You are a promising young man. "
" Would you....like to....work for me? ", asked the old man while looking at Bittu, waiting for his answer.
Bittu looking at the old man did not agree immediately but asked, " Mr, Kaminari. What would the job be?"
The old man was surprised to hear this question. He shifted his gaze towards Elena only to she her smiling. The old man understood that Bittu was still in the dark and didn't really know who he was.
He shook his head and then looked at Bittu intensely as he said, " What are you good at? "
Bittu was confused as to why the old man looked at Elena when he said that but didn't ask and answered, " Well, I am good with farm work, with collecting fruits and vegetable, feeding animals–" Bittu was about to say further when the old man stopped him.
"Wait.....Wait....That much is good. You can come tomorrow right here and I will lead you to your work place."
Bittu understood that in village this is how the selection of employees goes so he didnt ask further and nodded to the old man and said, " Mr. Kaminari. I will arrive here in the morning."
The old man didn't say anything else and got inside the house.
"See, it was so easy for me to get you a job.", Elena said with the same smug look as earlier.
"Yeah, I got it.", Bittu said as he walked away from the old man's house though, he failed to notice the old man looking at him from the window with a amused smile on his face.
As they both walked together, Elena was currently in a dilemma. But Bittu asked something that made her happy.
" Can I stay over for a day more?! "