No Time for Love (chapter 3)

Megna wakes up the next day a bit shocked to find herself in Raj's bed alone. She spots a white robe draped atop a chair next to the bed, with matching fluffy slippers at the base.

She puts them on and begins to survey the spacious room. She can see hints of sunlight slipping in through the blinds. There is a desk with no computer and another chair off to the side. That’s where she finds her clothes, neatly folded. Quite the change from how they were scattered on the living room floor last night.

The desk has a mountain of books on it. There are also 3 watches and a few bracelets, all gold.

The door is closed, so she opens his closet. Can’t let that opportunity go to waste. On the right-hand side, all his athletic wear. On the left, all of his shirts and suits. Everything is organized by color.

She opens the door quietly and jumps quickly into the adjoining bathroom. It’s also pristine, just as she remembered it from the night before. The lights on top of the mirror are bright, all six of them in working order.
You can really see everything, which is great…except perhaps right at this moment. Megna knows rationally that she’s quite attractive, but when you've been looking at yourself in the mirror your whole life, all you see are the things that aren't right, not the things that are. She splashes water on her face and dries it off with a hand towel appropriately hanging next to the sink.

Before leaving, she opens up all three of the mirrors to inspect the contents. Who knows what red flags you can find in a medicine cabinet? Fortunately, she can’t find anything too alarming. She exits the bathroom and walks toward the sun-lit living room and adjoining kitchen. Raj is hard at work cooking.

"Wow, that's how you look waking up?" he asks.
"Good or bad?"
"Stunning."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Good. Breakfast?"

"You cook?"
"I cook breakfast."
"What are my options?"
"Ah great question, your options are an omelet with toast or just toast."
"Hmmm…tough choice. Omelet with toast please."

Megna studies Raj’s movements, his energetic yet precise pace. He fires up an extravagant coffee-making device to make them both oat milk lattes. He prepares a plate for both of them and sets the table. They sit.

She takes a bite.

"Wow! Not bad Raj, not bad."
"Thank you, thank you. Look, honey, we're married already!"
"I know right, but you take the kids for the day, mommy's hungover."
"Oh I know, mommy was a little whore last night."
"Only for daddy."

"You are full of surprises, you know that?"
"I know! I'm constantly surprising myself! But how exactly am I surprising you?"
"Well, you come across as this strong independent woman who's all marriage this and kids that, and then I see you last night and you're just..."
"A hoe?"
"No! Normal. Like, you’re fun, like, you're not some conservative old-school Indian chick. You're like a modern hot Indian woman."
"You say such nice things to me, Raj, never stop doing that."
"I won't."

"But you will."

"I won't."

Megna enjoys breakfast immensely, but once she’s done eating it’s time for action.

"I should get going, I've taken enough of your time."
"Wait, what? Did I do something?"
"C'mon Raj, we did the thing. We had our time in the sun, now it's time for this little birdie to fly back to her coop."

She gets up from the table and starts walking toward her folded clothes in the bedroom.

"So is that your thing, you just leave?" he says. She turns around, somehow both calmly and sharply. Nailed it.
"Why would I stay?"
"Why wouldn't you?"
"Because you've gotten what you wanted out of me. So now I go."
"I want more."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"Well then, I guess you're just going to have to ask me out like a regular modern Indian man."

Megna goes into the room and changes. She can't help but smile the whole time. She takes one of her earrings and leaves it on his bedside table. Maybe not the most creative move, but certainly effective.

"Where are my shoes?"
"Of course, I put them in the closet."

He fetches them. She sits and puts them on at the sofa by the door.

"Do you actually read all the books in there or is that just to impress chicks?"
"I've read them all."
"You have to say that."
"I do."

She stands, puts on her coat, and grabs her bag. She fights back every urge to kiss Raj goodbye. It’s his job to make the first move.

"I'll call you," he says.
"I look forward to it."

He doesn't even move one muscle for the kiss as she heads out the door. Perfect. What’s the rush?