by Varsha Dixit
One moment she is screwing my happiness and the other. . . He rocked on his heels and his stomach rumbled again. An idea started forming in his head. You like to live dangerously!
Sighing, Noah walled over to where Danika sat. Danika flinched. “You are still here.” She wiped her mouth trying to hide her vulnerability from Noah.
“I said things I shouldn’t have said. ”
“Its okay!” Danika kept staring at the library.
Noah said something she didn’t quite hear. Danika looked at him. “Did you say something, I didn’t-”
“I said that you will have to make amends.”
Danika stiffened. “I will not!”
Noah raised a brow.
Danika got to her feet and brought her bag in front of her. “I will not sleep with-”
Noah put his hand out. “Stop right there. That is not at all what I meant. Do you know how to cook?”
Uncertain, Danika tucked her hair behind her ear as her eyes kept flitting back to him. “What?”
“You heard me the first time!”
“A few things I can.” Danika offered, hesitating.
“Fine! Cook for me for a week.”
Danika kept staring at him blinking her eyes. She finally blurted. “Are you crazy?”
Noah did not hide his irritation. “That is not the tone you should use when are you trying to earn someone’s forgiveness.”
Danika glanced at him through the side of her eyes. “A sorry should be enough.”
“For plastering my cell phone in a public place and for the harassment I have suffered, a mere sorry can’t be suffice?”
Danika grimaced. “Fine. I’ll cook-”
“Two weeks!” Noah crossed his arms.
“But you just said one-”
Noah could not resist. “Three weeks!”
Danika opened her mouth and then closed it. She moved her jaw side to side as if she were trying to chew metal. “Fine. Two weeks.”
“Good call. I will pay you only for groceries and whatever else you need to cook.” Noah just had to say. He saw Danika pull in a few deep breaths. He thought he heard her mutter ‘how bloody rich of you’! “Did you say something?”
Danika vehemently shook her head. ‘Nope! So if I do this then this stays between us?”
“Once you finish your weeks, I will consider us even and I will not share your little stunt with anyone.” Noah said pushing his hands in his jacket pockets.
Danika exhaled and her shoulders slumped. “Fine! When do you want me to start?”
“Tomorrow!” Noah had to remind himself what Danika was capable of and not weaken because of her forlorn expression.
“I work multiple jobs so my schedule varies. My timings will be odd.”
Noah did not detect any self-pity in her tone. “That's fine. As long as there is food when I come back from work which is usually around nine in the night.”
Danika was having problems processing her thoughts. I can’t believe I’m doing this and for him. Her mouth pressed in a tight line as she glowered at the pavement and scuffed the end of her sneakers on it imagining Noah's face to be printed there. “How do I get in your house?”
“Hold on!” Noah walked to a parked motorbike and opened the compartment. He took something out and walked over to her. “Here’s the key to my house.” He stretched his hand to her, a dull bronze key lay in his palm.
“You had this planned?” Danika asked her eyes narrowed.
“No Sherlock I got two set of keys when I bought the house.”
Danika shrugged but took the keys making sure her fingers did not touch Noah. Noah noted the gesture and simply raised a brow. Danika ignored that too. Her mouth clamped.
Two people had agreed on things neither liked including each other.
“I’m letting you in my house, don't do anything more stupid than you already have.”
Danika rolled her eyes but kept her silence.
Noah opened his wallet and handed her a $100 bill. “For groceries.”
“Are you allergic to anything?” She took the bill and placed it carefully in her wallet. Noah saw her expend some effort in zipping the frayed edges shut.
“To liars and thieves.” Noah said with a sly grin.
“Obviously not dramatics!” Danika bit her lip. “I have to go.” She turned back in the direction of the library.
“Planning to use the restroom there?” Noah goaded her.
Danika hesitated as if to say something else but then changed her mind and walked away.
Noah watched her slim figure all the way till she disappeared inside the library, not understanding why he felt much like an ogre.
Glancing one last time at the library, Noah rode off his bike in the direction of the hospital.
Danika logged into her email her thoughts were all over the place. Some thoughts made her awkward and some gave her horrible anxiety but there was one thought that made her dark eyes shine and lips curve happily. He has to eat what I make.
Chapter 25
Next day, by the time Noah came home it was close to 9:30 in the night. The first thing that hit him was the smell of food in the dark house. Switching on the lights, he went straight to the kitchen and saw a few covered dishes on the brown, cream and gold quartz counter. He grabbed a yellow sticky note on one of the covers. 'Couscous with veggies, grilled Salmon and Caesar salad. Check the fridge.' He read the neat cursive writing.
Noah walked over to the fridge and peeped in. Eggs, milk, yoghurt, fresh fruits and cold cuts were arranged neatly. Holding the fridge door, he glanced around. Everything was peaceful, the kitchen was clean, no dishes left in the sink. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back. Somehow even though there was no one else in the house apart from him there was warmth and a feeling of coziness in his usually cold and dark house. She might have poisoned the food! The thought caused Noah to open his eyes. Grinning at his morbid imagination, Noah went over to the sink to wash his hands.
He took out beer from the fridge and warmed his food. He carried the food to the adjoining living room that housed an eighty-inch TV and couch. Putting on ESPN he sat down on the couch and took a first bite. It was delicious. The fish was soft and flaky nearly melting in his mouth, the couscous was perfectly cooked and the veggies weren’t over cooked.
When Noah went back in the kitchen for seconds, he noticed the money and receipts kept on the side. He walked to it when he noticed a familiar slight scent, lavender mixed with something tangy. He took a deep whiff. This is her perfume, her fragrance.
When Noah walked back to the living room, he noticed some minor changes, which he hadn’t noticed earlier.
The books that he had left scattered over the side of the room on the floor were stacked neatly in two piles. Boxes in the other corner that were earlier placed in no order where pushed back neatly to one side of the room. Magically coasters had appeared on the coffee table next to the couch.
Noah settled back on the couch. He took a swig from the beer bottle and this time he made it a point to place the bottle on the coaster. He also wiped the water ring the bottle had left on the table.
Chapter 26
Next afternoon
Danika let herself in the quiet house. She still wasn’t used to the starkness of the interior. “This is so empty!”
When Mrs. Schneider had lived here the house was full of furniture - from the foyer to deck in the back, there were plenty of furniture, rug and plants. Mrs. Schneider would always have the TV or the radio on for she did not like silence.
However, today the house was as quiet as a coffin and equally dark. Awful! Danika went to open the curtains and blinds all across the living room and then walked to the kitchen.
Putting her bag on the counter, Danika emptied the dishwasher. She spied a yellow sticky note on the fridge. Curious, Danika walked over to read it.
Pulling it off she had to hold it at several angles to try and decipher the chicken scrawl. 'Hank o!’ No that can't be righ
t. She held the paper closer. 'Thank you.’ She read it several times to make sure it was ‘thank you‘.
What horrible handwriting! Thank god prescriptions are sent online now. There was more chicken scrawl for her to decipher so Danika kept reading. 'Sinner Eds hoop!’
What? Danika carried the post closer to the kitchen window. She again attempted to read the scribble. Dinner was good!
“Whatever!” Snorting, Danika tossed the post-it in the trashcan under the sink. He is forcing me to do this. “I don’t want your darn praise.”
A quick glance at her watch confirmed that she had less than an hour to cook before she had to show up at her next job. Cursing Noah heartily, Danika started prepping food.
**-----**
That evening Noah came home by 7:00 pm. The moment he opened the door, tempting aromas assailed him. I could get used to this!
Switching on the lights, he wandered into the kitchen. With two procedures and several staff meetings, he had barely had any time to use the restroom so eating breakfast or lunch was out of question. All he had managed to eat the whole day was an apple that had been sitting in his desk drawer for over a week.
Noah saw the sticky note stuck on the fridge. He recognized the cursive writing. 'Salad with kale and cranberries, pasta with chicken and veggies. I need more money. Please print your next note.’ Noah grinned at the last sentence. He could imagine Danika's expression when his handwriting must have frustrated her. She must have cursed me!
Whistling, Noah sat down to enjoy his dinner. It was still warm. She must have just left. This conversation would have been more interesting face to face.
Noah stopped chewing at the sudden thought. Bull! The less I see of her the better.
After dinner, Noah rinsed and placed the cutlery in the dishwasher. He put the left overs in the fridge. He wiped the counter and he stuck Danika’s note in the kitchen drawer where he kept his bills and other important mail.
Chapter 27
Next day 4:00 pm
Danika entered Noah's house and went straight into the kitchen. Exercising extreme effort, she ignored the yellow note stuck on the fridge.
Danika emptied the dishwasher even as her eyes kept going back to the note pasted on the door of the fridge. “Oh for goodness’ sake!” She wiped her hands and grabbed it. A smug feeling shot in her! Noah had made efforts to write better. 'Dinner was good, a bit on the blander side though. I have left money in the drawer next to the fridge. If you prefer typed notes let me know. Thanks.’
Danika growled. “Bland my foot. What does he mean typed notes? Jerk!” His criticism stung her. Danika crumpled the note like she were doing that to a certain part of Noah and then threw the crumpled paper with some feeling in the trashcan.
An hour later, Danika was done cooking and she walked out of Noah's house leaving it as quiet and dark as it was before. New sticky notes fluttered on the fridge.
**------**
That night Noah entered his house and went straight to the kitchen and not just in anticipation of the food alone. Aha! Two of them!
Grinning, he plucked the yellow bits of paper from the fridge. He had purposely baited Danika with his smart alec comment of ‘typed notes’ and Noah was looking forward to reading her reply. He was positive there would be a reply.
“Salad, Chicken Curry and Rice. Thank you for printing your notes. Thank you for the money.” Noah felt disappointed. Danika had not written a single mean word to him.
Noah read the other note too and felt more puzzled. The second note said, “There is some ice cream in the freezer. Enjoy.”
Noah opened the freezer and looked at the two pints of ice cream and wondered. Why would she mention ice-cream?
Noah decided to go for a run before he ate. After a run and a shower he was in mood for the home cooked meal that waited for him on the kitchen counter.
The curry smelled fragrant and flavorful as he warmed it. His stomach rumbled. Serving himself a generous portion of the Basmati rice and curry, he walked over to his favorite eating spot – the couch.
Noah took a large bite of the chicken curry and he almost dropped his plate. His mouth felt like it was on fire. He dashed to the kitchen sink and spit out the food.
Noah rinsed his mouth several times to dial down the scorching aftertaste of the spices. That night Noah ended eating his smug grin, salad, rice and ice cream.
Afterwards he trashed the entire curry but placed the rice in the fridge and Danika’s notes in the drawer.
Chapter 28
What was that? Noah opened his one eye. He was rather sleepy to open both. For a few seconds he just lay on his bed trying to gauge whether he was awake or dreaming. He glanced at the watch on the nightstand. The glowing dial read 4:32 am.
After few seconds of listening, Noah raised his head. The soft continuous sounds that had woken him were real and coming from downstairs. It sounded like a faucet was running somewhere on the ground floor. What the hell?
Irritated, Noah pushed the covers back and got out of his warm bed. Rubbing his eyes, Noah flexed his shoulders forcing some heat back in his body. He opened the door and walked towards the stairs. He paused seeing the light on in the kitchen. Soft clinks came from there. Someone is inside the house! Brilliant.
Noah remembered he had read somewhere that most break-ins occurred in the wee hours of the morning.
Making as little noise as possible, Noah went down the stairs. Even the slightest of creaks in the old wood made him grimace and pause. The sounds from downstairs continued uninterrupted. What is the burglar washing? Noah rubbed his eyes and kept going down quietly.
He picked up an iron poker from the fireplace in the living room and made his way toward the kitchen.
Noah raised his hands above his head holding the poker in a striking position as he rounded the corner and emerged in the kitchen. “What the hell?”
Danika gave a startled squeak. She dropped the colander she was holding, in the sink. A sharp clang rang out. Danika grabbed the metallic strainer and righted it before the chopped veggies spilled in the sink.
“Do you know what time it is?” Noah brought the poker down.
Danika shut off the faucet. “I told you I keep odd times.” Her voice was gruff. She attempted to keep her gaze on anywhere but Noah. He stood there bare chested and bare feet in a pair of pale blue pajamas that made his smooth skin look darker and more exotic. His chest was all muscled, taut and peppered with dark hair. Curly black hair lightly covered his torso and disappeared in a thin line over his navel and inside the pajamas.
“You are done looking?” Noah asked doing some of his own ‘looking’.
Danika in her snug jeans, rust colored blouse, with kohl lined eyes and glossy lips was not an unpleasant slight. Her eyes were big in her face and the rush of color in her cheeks added to her quiet beauty.
Danika turned away from Noah. “You can go back to sleep. Sorry if I scared you!” She emphasized on the word ‘scared’. Noah did not miss the emphasis.
He sauntered in the kitchen closer to the sink and was satisfied when Danika put down the colander in the sink and hurried over to the other side of the kitchen pretending to take something out of the fridge.
“Why are you here so early. Its still night Dani.” Noah put the poker down.
Danika felt something sizzle in her at the way Noah addressed her by her nickname ‘Dani’.
Noah sat down on a kitchen stool and he crossed his arms over his chest for some warmth. His muscles bunched out and Danika cleared her throat unsure of how to react. Growing up in a household full of men who thought that flab was the new fit, she was used to bellies flopping over belts.
Her ex-husband had a built like a straw. But Noah was all sculpted shoulders, muscled arms and washboard abs. Danika blinked. Remember the accident. Remember how he is blackmailing you to work for him?
Noah watched Danika’s emotions pass as she rolled over a bell pepper in her hand. He was positive the bell pepper was not the
only thing on her mind. She seemed distracted. “You don’t talk in the wee hours of the morning?”
“I thought it was still night.” Danika retorted and turned away from Noah as she took out a cutting board to slice the vegetable.
“I asked why you are here-”
“Today there is inventory at the retail store I work. I’m scheduled from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm there. This is the only time I could think of to come here and cook.”
Noah watched Danika’s shoulders and forearm move quickly and gracefully as she julienned the vegetable. “Did you come from your house or you crashed at your brother’s place.”
Danika paused then resumed cutting. “You should go back to sleep. I’ll be quieter.”
Noah clicked his tongue. He felt dismissed. “Why won’t you tell me-”
Danika kept presenting him with her back. “Because its not your business.”
Danika turned around but refused to look at Noah. Now I need the darn colander! Making a conscious effort she walked around the kitchen island in a manner to keep maximum distance between her and Noah. His gaze fixed on her was unnerving her.
Noah watched Danika with barely contained patience.
Behind her, Danika heard Noah’s breath come out in soft swishing sounds as he yawned. Stubborn man! She reached for the colander in the sink and looked out of the ivory colored lattice window above the sink, straight in the window of her brother's house where the light was on.
Danika dropped the colander for the second time. “Shoot!” She ducked down.
“What happened?” Noah turned looking down at Danika the lines in his forehead declaring his confusion. “Why are you crouching on the floor?”
“Nothing! Nothing.” Danika acted as if she were searching for something. She paused and glanced at Noah, hesitant. “Do you see anyone in the kitchen?”
Noah glanced around. “What? You see dead people now?”
Danika resisted the urge to do him bodily harm. She gestured above her head. “Do you see anyone in the kitchen of my brother's house? The light is on.”
