Present
After she had her brunch the calling bell rang and in walked Sasha with her eyes wide staring around the costly room. "Your Romeo seems to be loaded."
Ana scorned her friend. "He is not my Romeo and moreover I feel uncomfortable around him."
Sasha twists her lips."Too bad I wish I had someone like him to look after me and invest so much. He really cares and spends a lot on you."
Ana glared at Sasha with her hands on her waist. "If you have finished writing a conduct certificate for him, let me know the purpose of your visit."
Sasha scowled like a girl of two. "Can't a friend come and visit her friend? And then she flicked her fingers, her eyes suddenly going wider in brightness. "Let us go shopping."
Ana groaned, holding her head. "I just went yesterday. I had to buy so many things for my upcoming boutique."
Sasha looked at her shocked. "A boutique?"
Ana sighed knowing clearly well she had a lot of explanation to give to her one and only friend. "Mr Forbidden told me I was never going to work as a sex worker again. He says things like he owns me." She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "And handed me this gold card." She showed it to her friend whose eyes were like saucers popping out of their sockets. "He asked me to buy everything needed to set up a boutique starting from raw material to furniture and also wanted me to buy something for myself."
Sasha's jaw was left open puzzled. Ana expected to hear from her a load of words but thankfully she finished her thoughts in only one sentence. "It is clear the man loves you a lot."
Ana pondered how far her friend's statement could be substantiated.
He only wanted to be her friend.
They shopped till evening and Ana's legs were aching like a road roller had been run over them. She should have contemplated, Sasha's shopping was surely going to drown her to wariness.
After shopping they were seated in a restaurant when a man was giving strange looks to her. And ten minutes later to her surprise he smiled and walked to their table.
He dragged one of the chairs and extended his hand to Ana to her surprise. "I know you did not recognize me. I am Henry, your classmate. Do you remember, you used to frequently lend me your notes when I used to fall sick."
Ana knotted her eyebrows in recollection and then it struck her, "Henry Robinson. Isn't it? You used to repeatedly have asthma attacks and one day you even fainted in the class."
"Good memories you have about me." Henry rolled his eyes, fanning his face like a teen girl.
Ana husked a snicker and placed her hand in his to shake it.
Henry joshed in controlled smiles. "You have not changed even the least bit Anastasia. Thanks, finally you recognized me."
"And you did not change too, the same mischievous boy of the class." Ana landed her hand below her chin to support and gave him her undivided attention.
"By the way, this is my friend Sasha." Ana introduced her, who was curiously listening to their conversation till then.
"Glad to meet you." Henry offered his hand to her. "Today it's a treat from my side." He announced winning a 'wooh' from the girls and just then the waiter entered to hand them their menu cards.
Few minutes later….
"So, how is your Asthma now? Is it in control?" Ana asked Henry before forking the chicken into her mouth."
"I am cured of it now. Henry gave away a boyish grin." The dinner went on good with the recall of childhood bliss between the friends at the table.
The next morning….
Flopping down on the sofa with a cup of coffee, still feeling the effect of sleep, Ana jerked when her cell phone vibrated from the center table. The number wasn't one she recognized.
"Yeah? May I know who this is?" Please say it is Mr Forbidden. Her heart prayed.
"I knew I couldn't trust you to call me," a deep, melodic voice said on the other end with no introduction. Ana couldn't recognize the voice. When she was still wondering, the man at the other end spoke.
"It's Henry. We met at the restaurant yesterday? He said with deride and all the hope within her deflated.
She had forgotten all about him the moment she left the restaurant. "How did you get my number? I didn't give it to you?"
"I gave it to myself," he replied simply.
"Huh? How did you do it?" Ana could imagine him rolling his eyes.
"It's an old trick, Anastasia. When I entered my number into your phone, I rang it. So, that's how I got it. I had a feeling you wouldn't call and I didn't want to lose contact with you.” He broke the ice without the least of having an ego.
"Oh," Ana nodded in assimilation wondering how she had never heard of that trick before.
"Ana" he called her in intimacy and all seriousness which somehow she did not like.
"I really like you and I would love to see you again. Is that possible? Please, don't give me an automatic no. Think about it." He told her enthusiastically at the same time with an etch of vulnerability.
"You tricked me into getting my number. How did you know I would accept your invitation?" Ana was trying to speak seriously though a ghost of a smile was threatening to come out.
"Because you seem too sweet for that. And you are a very kind person who cannot give a negative reply to anyone so easily." He tried to reason out.
"Flattery will not work here Mr.Henry." She could not control her smile anymore. The guy had mugged up some cliche lines. Nevertheless they were still working for her. She had no plans for the day beyond conducting interviews to employ two girls as her assistants to work in the boutique and importantly she needed a diversion from the persistent thoughts of the handsome Mr Forbidden.
"How about dinner this evening?" He suggested.
"Will it be at some fancy restaurant?"
"Um, yes.” What was it with guys always trying to be impressive and being extremely romantic to her these days? Had her stars taken a turn? They better not change to be complete dick-heads in the end.
He was silent for a moment and then popped the question. "Where would you like to go and eat?"
"I want to go to some place simple and unique." There were soft chuckles heard from the other side. "I will pick you up at seven today evening."
*****
Ana kept changing the dresses from her closet. Initially she started with a simple off shoulder cream colored top with blue jeans and finally settled on a sleeveless silver blue gown just reaching below her knees.
Henry picked her on time and kept complimenting her and the dress she put on throughout the ride. He was the man any woman would swoon with that gorgeous body, attractive features and with that die hard friendly attitude.
But unfortunately nothing about him attracted her because Ana's mind and heart were occupied with the thoughts of someone else. During the course of their conversation, she learned he was an architect and designed houses and buildings. Ana was pleased as punch and requested him to do the architecture for her boutique to which he readily agreed.
Henry was single, ready to mingle with no girlfriends, marriage or kids and he was openly flirting with Ana. The waiter arrived and served them their drinks. Suddenly there was a commotion in the otherwise silent restaurant and their conversation was halted.
A team of basketball players arrived along with a group of girls. By the looks Ana could note Henry was not pleased by the sudden mayhem caused. "If you want we can leave this place and go to a silent family restaurant." He offered.
Ana had no objection to it. She preferred to stay in the same place they were as the players were not disturbing them. Her eyes drifted around the sports personnel sitting at the bar and making conversation …..
And there he was.