Chapter-3
New Challenges
Next Morning, I call Grace when she was with her new boyfriend Peter. I put down the phone and call Joey was busy scatting and asks me to come to his place but I refused because was already tired by day’s work. I check my what’s group named ‘high school buddies’ group and no message was there. I take a deep breath and think that how life is changing day by day. We all are busy but still we manage to meet on weekends. Then suddenly Hannah posted a message
Mike proposed me and I said YES””:
Congrats!
Congrats!
Congrats Ooh! party Marlin replies and we send emojis…🥳
Every day in office my job is becoming challenging. I cannot trust anyone. But I manage to talk to Margaret, she is one year senior to me. She teaches me to behave like a professional. I tell her that boss asked me for a dinner and she suggests that I can go with him once. She explains that it is a common thing at work place. She told that once she went for dinner with him but when he finds her company boring then he never asked her again. We both laugh. Finally, I decide to go with Ethan on Friday night after office.
After two days when I inform him about Sunrise consignment and payment. He stares at me and again asks, ‘what are you doing this Sunday’? I understand his question and he asks me to meet at café “Pollen” and smiles at me.
While going in a train for home. I check all messages including my ‘high school buddies’ group and social networking accounts like Facebook, Instagram. Now a days people keep posting so many photos and reels as they have less of content to write. I look out from the train window. It is raining. I reached my station and walk hurriedly to catch the lift to go to my apartment. Mr. Davis sees me wet and asks, Nora, ‘why don’t you change your clothes and come to my house for a cup of coffee’. I really wanted to but then remember Mrs Marie words and reply, ‘thank you Mr. Davis’. I am going to take a bath and sleep as I am too tired to have a coffee. By the way where is Brownie? He is nowhere seen from last week. Last Friday, I took him to veterinary hospital because he was having stomach ache and will be back by Monday. I like your dog; he is cute and calm. My wife also liked dogs but one day she took him for evening walk and they never came back. He further says that everyone has their own fate and we can’t help it. I see how normally he tells me that this is not a big deal. How your wife died? I ask out of curiosity. He looks at me and then replies that to know this you need to drink coffee with me. No issues, some other time. Good evening, Mr. Davis I reply and enter my apartment.
After few minutes doorbell rings. I see in camera Mrs. Marie standing out. Hi Nora, can I come inside? She asks. Yaa sure! I saw you talking to Mr Davis. Don’t talk much with him because you don’t know his next move. She again warns me. Mrs Marie, he was just asking for coffee. Oh gosh! this lady pissed me off. Okay, Mrs. Marie, I can take my own decisions as you see I am grown up enough. Yes, you are but it is healthy advice. I smile at her and shows her door. She wasn’t happy with this and left while giving me a weird look. Oh gosh! I come to kitchen and call Grace to come to my place. She agrees and I go to kitchen to make pasta and garlic bread for dinner and some boiled potato recipe I learned from my aunt Darby.
After an hour Grace and I are together. We put on the music. She dances and posted in high school buddies’ group.
Nora and I having dinner and she post the pic of pasta and other eateries.
Hannah writes, I am with Mike.
Joey
good for you…
Aaron
I am also coming to eat pasta
Marlin
You clever girls’ dinner without me.
Ok let’s plan, this Saturday we all will party at Nora’s place
Hannah
Okay, Sunday I will introduce Mike
Aaron
Done.
joey
Done
Then Gloria also comes online
Wow! You are celebrating
I miss you all.
I reply
Then please come
I will
Gloria answers with smiley emoji😊
We keep the phone down and eat dinner, this new potato recipe is awesome. Nora, you are a great cook. Yes, I reply in proud tone and we both laugh. I tell her about my neighbour. Wow! Its great you are living with a murderer she exclaims. I ask her to speak slow my drawing voices can be heard as we are sharing same wall. She lowers her voice. You know aunt Marie also sometimes exaggerates little. I know him for eight months and remember that I heard screaming voice on a day when I was not sleeping. Other days I am in good sleep. I eat one spoon of pasta. Maybe she is just a bimbo. Grace laughs. I tell her about my dinner with boss Ethan on Sunday.
Hannah will not like this and you know she hates when someone interrupts her plans. No, I will have dinner with him and then reach Hannah’s place. I explain to her. I don’t think so you will be able to manage. I can try. Okay! Confirm everyone on Saturday at your place. I agree. After dinner, Grace left and I went to bed. Suddenly, my cell phone pings.
Nice dp, Senior Nora. It’s Shane.
Thanks, and good night. I put my cell phone down and switch off the light.
