Page 6 of Twisted Bonds

“Mihir,” he replied.

Her frown melted. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Mihir. Wait for me at the university bus stop at nine.”

At his surprised look, she smiled. “Dress warm because we’ll be spending the day together in San Francisco.”

Before he could say anything, she waved at him and ran back towards the temple.

Mihir was shocked and intrigued. He had no idea why Chitra wanted to take him to San Francisco.

Whatever the reason was, he was more than willing to spend the day together with Chitra.

CHAPTER 3

“Slow down, Chitra!”

Chitra was at the soup kitchen after having finished her early morning shift. She hurriedly removed her apron and put on her jacket.

“Sorry, Mrs. Daisy,” Chitra told the matronly woman who was her supervisor. “I am meeting someone at nine.”

The older woman’s eyes peaked with interest. “Your boyfriend?”

Chitra laughed. “No. He’s a new student at the university. He has recently come from India, and I’m taking him to San Francisco city to convince him that it’s a great place to live.”

The older woman shook her head. “You are going to tire yourself out, girl! You are only eighteen years old. You should be partying like girls your age. But you work in three jobs and volunteer at the temple. And now, you have taken up another job as a tour guide on Sundays?”

Chitra laughed. She didn’t want to tell Mrs. Daisy it wasn’t a new job. “I’m fine, Mrs. Daisy. And I enjoy spending the day in the city.”

The older woman sighed. “All right. Have fun, I guess.”

“I will. Have a great Sunday, Mrs. Daisy!”

Waving goodbye to everyone, Chitra hurried out of the old building where she worked in the mornings from Monday to Saturday. Sunday was usually her day off, but she had taken up someone else’s shift on request due to a family emergency.

Pulling her slightly worn jacket closer, she broke into a run to reach the university bus stop.

She only hoped the new student would show up.

***

Mihir arrived at the university bus stop fifteen minutes early.

While he waited, a part of him still wondered if he had dreamed of meeting a girl named Chitra at a temple the previous day.

How does she know I am a new student?

Why does she want to spend the day with me?

He spent several hours trying to find answers to his questions. He also briefly wondered if she was a student at the university and heard of the rumors that he belonged to a royal family. But he immediately dismissed the thought because she had paid for his meal, and she seemed genuinely generous and helpful.

Whatever her reasons, he was more than willing to spend the day with her.

“Mihir!” a feminine voice called.

Mihir turned and saw Chitra hurrying towards him from the other side. She was breathless by the time she stopped and stood in front of him.

“Thank God you came!” she said with a smile. “I thought you wouldn’t.”

As soon as she smiled, his heart began beating faster inside his chest. She appeared different as she was dressed differently from the previous day. Instead of traditional clothes, she was wearing casual, western clothing with a long overcoat. But her face and radiant smile remained the same.

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