Bittu reached the old man's house around 9 in the morning, having grabbed a quick bite at a nearby restaurant on his way. To his surprise, the house was locked, leaving him puzzled.
"Looks like the old man had to go somewhere else, or maybe he had an emergency," Bittu mused to himself.
Deciding to seek answers, he approached a nearby cloth store.
The cloth shop boasts a vibrant and inviting exterior adorned with colorful tapestries and traditional patterns. The storefront features intricate carvings reminiscent of Western and Southern architecture, blending seamlessly with contemporary design. A harmonious fusion of cultural elements welcomes passersby, enticing them to explore the rich tapestry within.
"Hello," Bittu greeted the man at the store, who responded with a friendly smile.
"Yes, young man?" the store owner replied.
"Can you tell me where Mr. Kaminari went?" Bittu inquired, pointing towards the old man's house.
"Oh, you're here to see him," the store owner noted with recognition. "Mr. Kaminari did mention that someone would come looking for him. That seems to be you."
Bittu, perplexed by the reaction, confirmed, "Um, yes."
"Mr. Kaminari won't be back for about two to three hours," the store owner informed with a pause. "But..."
Bittu prompted, "But?"
"He did mention he might arrive earlier. So, you can wait for him if you want," the store owner said with a mysterious smile, hinting at something undisclosed.
Bittu thought as he looked around. Bittu decided to wait till the old man returned. Since he had agreed to the job and to work from today onwards, Bittu would wait till the old man arrives, maybe he would be lucky, and the old man would arrive earlier.
Bittu stood there for a while, waiting.
The shop guy felt bad seeing him standing and provided him a chair to sit on until he waits.
Bittu sat on the chair, waiting for the old man.
While sitting on the chair though, he thought about how he should approach Elena after what happened. I mean....it would be pretty awkward when he returns to her place after all that... right?
Bittu having, not had contact with a lot of females apart from family members couldn't think of a way to make things right. He was stumbled, he thought of various things but nothing seems decent enough to give it to her considering the situation.
Just like that Bittu, in his thoughts didn't notice the time pass.
It was about four hours later when, in the slightly noisy surroundings, a low growl resonated—the unmistakable sound of a hungry stomach, only then Bittu came out of his thoughts.
One would think this was a very long period for Bittu to think about just one topic but considering Bittu being a beginner in this thing and knowing nothing about Elena's preference, moreover, having to wait at a place without looking around the market made it so that Bittu had to think and think only... which obviously gave no results.
"... Umm, what's your name....uncle?" asked Bittu to the store guy, unsure if he should call him an uncle as he looked neither old enough to be uncle or young enough to be called a brother.
"... Haha.... You can call me Siddarth," said the store guy as he laughed seeing Bittu's choice of words to call him. Only, he knew why he laughed at that.
"Okay, then. Siddarth, I am gonna grab some food, do you want something?" asked Bittu remembering his kindness earlier.
"....Nah..., I am good. You enjoy," said Siddarth with a smile.
"Okay, then.," Bittu said as he left.
Just as Bittu left, from deep inside the store a voice came.
".... Come in...," said an old voice. Surprising the voice was of the same old man as to who Bittu was waiting for.
Siddarth didn't say anything and got inside.
Upon entering, the interior unfolds as a cultural haven, specifically echoing a Western and Southern ambiance. The walls are adorned with traditional handwoven textiles, and garments are tastefully displayed, creating an immersive experience.
Inside, the shop transforms into a gathering place with cozy seating arrangements. A low wooden table, adorned with traditional motifs, serves as a centerpiece for conversations and shared moments.
Soft instrumental music plays in the background, creating a serene atmosphere. Colorful lanterns and string lights drape from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the space.
Sitting on a mat before a small table was the old man, drinking tea.
Siddarth came inside sat on the mat, on the other side of the small table.
".... Master...," called Siddarth. If Bittu was here, he would be shocked to hear that, but if Elena were here, she wouldn't, why? because she was also a student of the old man.
".... What do you...think?," asked the old man while continuing to enjoy his tea.
".... From my observation till now, he shows that he has some potential but," spoke Siddarth with a constant pace but at the last part, he was unsure if he should continue.
".... Speak...your mind," said the old man while still enjoying his tea.
Siddarth nodded and continued with a serious voice, "....it's not enough. Not enough to be with little sister Elena. We should test him more. Maybe till the end of the day."
"..... Hmmm...."
".....Let's first see, how long....he can stay.....patient first," said the old man after giving it some thought.
Siddarth didn't say anything further; he stood up, bowed with both hands making a namaste and came out to the exterior.
After fifteen minutes, Bittu came back with two roasted corn in his hand.
He offered it to Siddarth, " Here, this is for you."
Siddarth was surprised to see this and asked, ".... You brought it for me?" seeing Bittu nod, he continued," I told you, I have no appetite though."
"... Well, I brought it for you as thanks for the chair or else my legs would have probably given out already. So, take it," Bittu said with a genuine smile.
Siddarth looked at Bittu for a while then suddenly laughed, ".....Hahaha, you are quite a nice guy and since you insist, I will take it."
Bittu, after giving out one of the roasted corn to Siddarth, sat on his seat once again and started to think about the same question, this time while eating corn from time to time.
Just like that, time passed as the moon rose in the night sky while the sun set, with Bittu in his thoughts and Siddarth looking at Bittu.
After all this time; a day of struggle, Bittu finally came to a decision as to what he should bring along with him when meeting her tonight at the same time he noticed that it was already late in the evening.
He stood up and walked towards Siddarth and asked, "... Umm, will Mr. Kaminari not come today?"
Siddarth with some confusion said, " Heshould have arrived way earlier; I don't
know what happened."
Bittu after thinking for a while said," Could you check, Perhaps, he gave you a call or a message."
" That could be the case. Okay, let me see.," said Siddarth as he took out an old phone.
"Yes, he did leave me a message saying that he couldn't come today due to a problem on the way and will only arrive tomorrow.," said Siddarth with a surprised and worried face.
".... Is he okay?," asked Bittu with some concern.
" It should be fine. Probably it's the same problem as always; with his engine," said Siddarth as he shook his head and sighed.
"Ohh... Okay. Then I will come by tomorrow, okay."
" Alright.," said Siddarth with a smile.
Bittu, waving his hand at him, left the place.
Once inside, he sat at the same place and spoke with praise, " Master, he is very good. To be able to stay patient without an ounce of wrath because of the waste of a full day's worth of time for a player. It is amazing. He has quite a lot of potential."
".... Well.... He indeed shows potential.," said the old man with a content smile that her disciple has chosen a good man.
".... Hmmm.... Do the same tomorrow too.... Let's test his limits," said the old man with a curious smile.
"..... That's a good idea, Master. I will do just that," Siddarth said as he too was curious about the guy his little sister has chosen.
Meanwhile, Bittu was currently at a flower shop nearby the hotel. That's right, Bittu decided to do the basic and decided to bring her some flowers.
At many occasions, Bittu has seen that Girls like flowers and rose is the most common one they like.... at least according to what he knew so, not knowing what Elena would like he decided to bring her a rose and if she liked it he could bring more for her.
Bittu after paying for the rose, walked for a while and arrived in front of Elena's room.
He was nervous and unsure if he should knock on the door now or not.
After what felt like an eternity, Bittu knocked on the door but.... On the first knock the door opened on its own.
".... The door is not locked?! ", Bittu thought in confusion.
He walked inside and closed the door, opened his shoes and went inside.
He arrived in the bedroom only to find that, Elena was currently sleeping with her dress disheveled and her eyes swollen and tear marks on her cheeks.
Currently, she and her beautiful face were a mess.
Looking at her, in this situation, Bittu felt bad and when he remembered what she said to him before he left, his heart felt a sharp pain. He felt guilt crept in his heart looking at her condition.
While looking at her, only one thought came into his mind and he acted on that.
He put the rose on the bed and went to the receptionist at the front of the hotel and asked her to send two sets of food to their room; room 202 at around 8 and returned to the room.
He then slowly got into the bed without waking her up.
After being comfortable, he slowly lifted her head and put it on his shoulder in a comfortable way, and he then caught her other hand and put it on his chest.
After doing all that, he checked to see if he had woken her up but he didn't. He then slowly slid close to her and brought her close to him, putting her in his embrace.
If Elena was awake right now, she would notice that this was how they had slept last night, the only difference was, Bittu was not running away from her this time.
Bittu, while putting her in his embrace, noticed the tear marks. He looked around for a tissue to clean her face.
After a while, he did find it but it was a distance away. Bittu not wanting to disturb Elena, used his hand to bring it closer though in the process, he moved a little far from Elena which evoked an unwilling sound from her mouth.
"... Humnnn...."
She moved her body closer to Bittu wanting to melt in his embrace, though till that time Bittu managed to get the tissue.
Bittu looked at Elena for a while then proceeded to clean the tear marks.
After cleaning them, he looked at her for a while longer. Bittu then put his head at rest on the pillow and looked at the moon outside the window.
While looking at the moon Bittu was thinking about the time it has been since he met this woman.
It was the second day which still had some time left to it but in just this little a time period, Bittu was in a bed willingly putting her in his embrace. Bittu couldn't believe that this would happen once he arrived in this village and he would do so willingly.
If someone has told this to him in the outside world or even in the capital, he wouldn't have believed them and considered them foolish but that is what was happening right now.
Just like that one hour passed.
Bittu was still in his thoughts when he felt Elena move.
He looked at her. Elena has just opened her eyes when she saw she was in someone's embrace, she was shocked and was filled with anger.
She looked up to see who had the audacity to sneak into her bed and sleep beside her moreover pull her into an embrace. She not for a single second thought that the said person could be Bittu, why? because he left when she wanted to do much more than just this and she thought that she herself had to talk it out with him on last night's amd this morning matter.
But,
But, when her eyes laid on the man who was beside her. Her face that was red with anger, was still red, just this time because of a different reason. It was because she was blushing hard.
She with a nervously and shyly said in a low voice, " Bittu...! What are you....doing here? "
Bittu was amused seeing her reaction and said in a teasing voice, "....What do you think...I am doing ? " as he used his left hand that she was using as a pillow to grab her hand.
Elena blushed harder when she heard this and lowered her head and put it at rest on his shoulder omce again.
Bittu was shocked though, because he didn't know he was capable of teasing too. He said that because in the heat of the moment his mind automatically generated it and his mouth said it just as fast.
Elena stayed in his embrace for a while when the door bell of the room rang.