LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 26)

ONE MONTH LATER.

“Hey! The coffee is hot! Come and get it!” Sheila called out.

She settled down on the couch with her own coffee and paper.

Hmmm, she sighed. It was so peaceful right now. Her life was shaping up quite well right now. Upon Tam’s sincere request, she had accepted the post of head chef in Danny’s restaurant. And it was going good. The work atmosphere was great and so were the accolades.

But she was counting her chickens before they hatched. No, she thought, I will be taking it slow. She starched herself and turned the page of the paper.

“Hey Honey!”

Ryan appeared at the doorway in his shorts. Yawning and stretching as usual he fumbled around for his coffee.

“Right side of the table, blue cup.” Said Sheila without looking up.

Ryan grabbed the cup and flopped down on the couch beside Sheila.

“Hey! How did you sleep?” Questioned Sheila brushing away the hair from his face.

“Like a log.”

Sheila ruffled his hair playfully and turned her attention back to the paper.

“What the ****? You will be reading paper now?” Ryan sounded irritated.

“Ryan! I said no cursing!”

“But you aren’t talking at all!” Sulked Ryan.

“Awwww! I was just teasing you. Hey Tam had called.” Sheila said pinching Ryan’s cheeks.

“Yeah? How’s she? How’s the dude?”

“Yeah they are safe and sound. Just now landed in Mauritius.”

“Fancy place, huh?”

“Ryan!” Sheila’s tone was saturated with warning.

“What? I was just merely commenting. Should have gone someplace in India. The way they were acting as if there was a dearth of beautiful places in India.”

“Ryan! What is your problem? They liked it. They are going for their honeymoon! I don’t get it!”

“Sorry Shell. But it just got to me.” Grumbled Ryan.

“Thank god the wedding went off pretty well! Didn’t think it would!” Said Sheila shaking her head at the memory.

“Why did you think so?”

“As if you don’t know Ryan!”

“No, I don’t know Sheila!”

“Oh really! What with you making a pass at Kunal at the time of marriage, to Tam losing her ring.......”

“I never made a pass----”

“Ryan! Please! Cut it out!”

“But I meant it as a joke!” Wailed Ryan.

“Awwww! I know that. But it obviously freaked Kunal out.”

“That was the idea!” Grinned Ryan.

“Ryan! You are such a dog!” Laughed Sheila.

“I was just being a friend.”

Sheila and Ryan began rolling around with laughter.

Their friendship had deepened over the last month. Sheila had come around to accept Ryan the way he was. Together they had planned the entire marriage of Tam and Kunal. Ryan had begun dating guys. Something that he had avoided before. Now Sheila gets to approve of his boyfriend.

Sheila has converted the name of the restaurant to ‘Dinesh’s’. In the memory of Danny.

Kunal’s transfer was nearly finalized. He was shifting to London in a month. Promotion with increased salary seemed like good haul to his friends. In tow- a wife.

Tam was planning on restarting here career as a journalist out there. Danny’s parents had come up and had blessed the happy couple.

Everything had found a way. There was a way to be happy if you acknowledged the means to it. Sheila gained a friend in Ryan. Kunal and Tam found each other after 2 years of friendship. Ryan had accepted the way he was and no qualms regarding it.

“Do you think there is any chance of you being a bisexual?” Sheila asked Ryan that night as they were watching a movie at home.

“Nah.” Grinned Ryan at her.

“We will find a way right, to be there for each other in future?” Sheila asked while munching on the popcorn.

“We will find a way.” Promised Ryan.

THE END