Chapter 43

**Bella-Rose POV**

Did he just call me dumb again? Or am I over imagining here?

[mail from Bella to James]

To: james.aonal@gmail.com
From: iamfifbel@gmail.com

Subject: de-pressurize my brain

James,

It's hard to say no to loved ones. Anyways, enough about my woes. Your only task is to talk to me and you are doing a splendid job of making me think about sad thoughts. You will get demoted if you keep this up.
Talk to me. Tell me something about you. Your biggest embarrassing moment.

Bella.

[end of the mail]

[mail from James to Bella]

To: iamfifibel@gmail.com
From: james.aonal@gmail.com

Subject: Re: de-pressurize my brain

Bella,

If your brain wants to go in this route then it's better to stick to the previous topic. Why am I being pressured for you to depressurize?

"you are doing a splendid job of making me think about sad thoughts"<- just for this though I'm telling you my most embarrassing moment. Not a single word must be uttered about this.

It was a decade ago. I was in a meeting when one of my colleagues started to suppress his laugh. Soon after, all the members joined in. I never realized then but later I found out from my secretary that my pants had been ripped.

Not one word Bella. I warn you. And stop your silly laugh. I can hear it from here.

P.s- your list reeks of role play. Tell me no if it's a lie. I dare you.

James.

[end of the mail]

I laughed imagining him in front of all those people. Poor guy. His ego must have taken a dent after that scene. Though, all it must have taken was a glare from him to silence those people.

A little detail niggled in my mind. A decade ago! And he is in office then too. Unease crept inside me. What do I know about him? He could be an old man who likes to pretend.

He could be married with dozens or so kids. He could be... before I gave myself heartburn, I typed the mail. Though my tone was jovial, I was inwardly hoping he takes the hint and eases my discomfort.

[mail from Bella to James]

To: james.aonal@gmail.com
From: iamfifbel@gmail.com

Subject: age

Dear grandpa,

A decade ago, I was still in my braces. It didn't bother me till now to ask, but seriously how old are you?

What with all the commands you give, I can rule out my doubt about you being a man at all! Are you one of those old guys with fake teeth? Are you a middle-aged married man who is bored with life and children and looking for some fun?

Don't shush me with another of your famous dialogues. I have a right to know after all the teasing I endured.

Please...it's important.

Bella.

[end of the mail]

[mail from James to Bella]

To: iamfifibel@gmail.com
From: james.aonal@gmail.com

Subject: Re: age.

Grandpa<- seriously?

FYI, I'm a 35-year-old healthy young man who is in possession of all of his teeth. If you want I can give you my dentist's number for confirmation.

And thank you for the consideration you gave to my manhood.

James.

[end of the mail]

35. It's a big number when it is written beside my 23. A dozen years of a difference. It's hard to interpret my feelings regarding this in my current state. I quickly shoved them to the back of my mind to analyze it later.

[mail from Bella to James]

To: james.aonal@gmail.com
From: iamfifbel@gmail.com

Subject: dating

You never answered whether you are dating someone or not. Just for the statistics, are you currently involved with anyone?

Bella.

[end of the mail]

[mail from James to Bella]

To: iamfifibel@gmail.com
From: james.aonal@gmail.com

Subject: Re: dating

Bella,

What if I say no? What would your statistics say then?

James.

[end of the mail]

"No"! Does that mean he is single? Before I started hyperventilating with excitement, I turned towards the window once again and took a peek.

A doctor is standing at the car window and it appears as if he is waiting for the person inside to say something.

Suddenly, as the first fingers of dawn came slowly, followed by the change in the sky color, the car door opened. My heart started increasing its pitter-patter. A silhouette of a man appeared first, which cleared as the sky brightened.

I blinked to moisten my dried-up eyes. I felt like all the air had evacuated the room. I couldn't catch my breath fast enough. I couldn't see the face from this angle as he stood talking to the doctor in front of him. But I can make out his height, width, girth, his thick hair (dark brown), and a small glimpse at a square jawline.

I wet my parched-up throat. I never saw a man with such a build. He can easily win any weight lifting competition. He is so huge. More than 6' feet with impressive broad shoulders, and the muscles that flex when he ran his fingers through his hair. Sigh. The doctor looks puny in front of him. How can this giant be interested in me, a dwarf?

Not to forget that hair. It's so thick that I'm dying to feel them. I may never get tired of running my fingers through it. And I hesitated about his age? What was I thinking? That's why I couldn't find a boyfriend before. Maybe James is right. I'm fusing my brain wires with overthought.

I stood on my tiptoes and tried to look below his waist. Just a glimpse to indulge in my fantasies. I made an irritating sound as I did my utmost to get a peek. Alas, the car is hiding it. Stupid car!

I turned to drag a chair to the window when my attention was caught by what the nurse was calling. Oh my god, Nana! How can I forget such an important thing, that too standing inside the hospital!

"Yes, I'm her family. She is my Nana. Sorry, I didn't hear you. How is she? Did the surgery-", I trailed off, unable to voice out the rest.

"She is absolutely fine. The surgery is a success. We just shifted her into ICU. She is taking rest and will be out of it for a while", the nurse informed me.

"Oh, thank god! Thank you, sister,", I said my eyes brimming with happy tears.

"Don't thank me. It all happened because of Dr. Blains. He is the one who did the surgery on your Nana"

"Who?", I asked her, not recognizing the name of the doctor. He is not the one who informed dad and Mathew about Nana.

"Dr. Blains. He is not from this hospital. He is one of the top doctors in his field. People wait for months before they could get an appointment for his consultation. He rarely does surgeries that are not pre-booked. Your Nana is really lucky to have him as her doctor. There, he is Dr. Blains", she pointed to a medium height man who was coming out of the elevator.

He is the same man James was talking to. That means... I quickly turned towards the window to ... only look at an empty spot. He left. A wave of disappointment crashed inside me.

While I initially saw these mails as merely a passing fancy that would quickly expire, after this night I started looking at it as more. We defied the odds and maintained our relevance through mails, connecting in the baser way-our soul.

I regret not meeting him now. If only I had been braver. He did all this for me and I couldn't even meet to thank him.

Before my thoughts could carry away, I thanked the nurse once again and swiftly typed the message about Nana's condition to the rest of the family.

After a while, Scott and Mathew came back to relieve me. After two days of this abnormal visit to the hospital, Nana became conscious enough to speak through.

We all bulldozed her with angry speeches and then love for not confiding anything about her health.
Dad, Scott, Mathew, and I hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"I understand your mind is on the bakery but I'm doing all the chores, and your hospital bill has already been paid through, so stop worrying and complete your convalescence", I informed her to ease her mind as I let her go.

However, when Mom followed me our jaws dropped. We all stood stunned surrounding Nana's bed as Mom who couldn't speak two whole sentences without insulting her started smothering her with love.

"Oh Georgia, look how thin you are. They are not feeding you properly. Don't worry. I will secretly bring the food you like", mom started to fuss over Nana. For once, Nana remained speechless.

"Look, Georgia, you are already looking better. It's just a couple more days and you will be healthy as a horse", Mom said as she held Nana's hand.

"Horse?", Nana questioned, undecided whether Mom was insulting her or helping her. Mom undeterred made a shush sound and continued on.

"Promise me Georgia, you will stay with us until you recover. Mathew can also join us. William will like the company, won't you William?", Nana looked confused. She must be blaming her medicines for creating these hallucinations. Only it's her new reality. Poor Nana.

The protest was swift. But it came from dad that to a mere "But-" before Mom threw a glare.

"That's it. I'm not hearing another word. You will stay with us and that's final. I can't...I can't bear to see anything happen to you Georgia", mom wiped her tears as she cried clutching Nana's hand.

My tough as nails Nana finally raised the white flag before mom's tears. She will later realize what she agreed to. For now, I presume she is still in la-la land.

I raised my eyebrows at the queasy display of affection and whispered to dad, "how did this miracle happen? Did you feed something to mom before bringing it here?"

"What are you talking about? If I know what it is don't you think I might have tried it a long time ago?" dad whispered back, looking uneasy. He must be picturing future world war 3 that's going to take place in his home. Poor dad, he is in for it now.