Chapter 11 Invitation To Home

Clare: I watched him changing his clothes into his night dress. He doesn't bothers changing front of me. After all why should he? I saw him naked half of the day. I stared at him with concentration while he changed. "So Clare, how many average holidays you get?" He broke The silence - We get one month reserved holiday every year, that's the off season during June- July. And one day in between when ship reaches the shore, the ship stays for one day on the land when we are free then the next day we all have to report on time. - That's average once in a week - Yes - so in that one day break, where do you live? - we book small hotels. I alone can't afford to book my personal room 2-3 times a month so we 3 or 4 girls stay in one room dividing the rent. - You can come and stay in my house - really? Invite me - I am inviting you - what I will do what your house? - What you do at hotels? - we Book for night only before that we roam in the market place, hardly buying anything - come to my house I will show you my place and won't even take rent from you. - I will see - this is keeping me hanging - I can't choose now, we met yesterday how can you invite me to your house this soon? - Just like I invited you to my bed He winked - Aren't they different? - no I give a neutral expression As he leaned himself on the sofa, I asked him "what would you like to have in your dinner?" - I'm not hungry yet - It's getting night, when do you normally sleep at home? - Sometimes I wake up early sometimes I work late hours, to 2-3 - That's really late - when is your sleeping time? - Around 12, when we complete delivering everyone's food and collecting back used dishes. - And waking Time? - 6:00 a.m. is must for reporting - Not even complete 6 hours per day - Yes - Do you take your afternoon nap everyday? - No, everyday is not possible but sometime, yes We paused for a while then he asked, "shall I order my food on telephone or you can bring?" - I think You should say on the phone, it already happened sometimes when our staff took food in the name of passenger and ate themselves " that's rare " he laughed "do they get their punishment?" - some got fired and some had to pay an amount as a fine and they were forgiven. - how many times use told food in the name of passengers? - I never stole food in the name of passengers, I just pick them secretly without getting noticed. - so you are a talented thief. You never got caught? - Sometimes yes, but most of the time it was our friends who never complained about me to the managers. - what if they get caught letting you run away with food - Their job will be on risk - they leave you even after they know it can cause trouble to them? - Definitely I had to give some reasons. Just like today I give the excuse of my periods. And then I came to know Dani already took food on name of my periods twice a time this month - why the heck you needed to steal food today? Every meal today you ate with me. - actually Dani wanted to have some celebrations so he went to get some food - Is today something ? what kind of celebration? - Not for me, but for her it was my losing virginity celebration - you weren't a virgin right? - Hmm, I wasn't - She is your best friend right? , why doesn't she knows? Why you didn't tell her? You are telling me after all - yes she is my best friend, if I tell her that I wasn't a virgin she will ask me about the person, which I don't want to tell. But you will not ask anything or you will not be curious to know. My voice changed when I was talking, he noticed - Why? - it's personal. I don't want to share. I don't want to bring anything from my past on my present - Fair enough. - thanks for understanding He smiled There was silence for a moment, both of us didn't said anything " I want to have my dinner now, I am calling the kitchen" he broke the silence - Okay, I will go to get your food - our food, don't forget you are eating with me these days on the ship. Don't think of eating from somewhere else. - After all you are paying, isn't it your food? - whoever eats the food, food is theirs - okay I get it He got up, walked toward the telephone, dial the kitchen. I watched him "Hello" " I'm calling for my dinner" " I want rice, mushroom soup, tofu, carrot dish and dark chocolate soy ice creams for two" "Yes" "You too" He kept down the phone " I should go now, or they will put my name on late comers" I said getting up as he kept the phone and looked at me. " Let them, I know you are not a late cummer" I smiled shyly. " Come soon" he said. I nodded and then left. When I reached the kitchen I met Johnny. "Hello" I greeted "Hey" he greeted back - how you doing with your drinks? - All look good, how about you? - Having a great time working for one passenger and getting full of leisure time - you went to the party in the evening? - Yes since it was evening and Michael was not going to order anything then, I thought of going to the party, watch people and see if anyone need my help. - Ohh. I saw you with a man, was that Michael? - You were there? - yes I was told to get on the party and watch people. - I was talking with the family before if they need any snacks for drinks. Then I noticed Michael so I went to him. - I guess you two got a little friendly Okay I know what is coming, I should ignore this conversation and run away as soon as possible - yes we talk friendly. We are supposed to, right? - yes getting friendly with passengers and make them buy our services and products. - Yes We Smiled - I am sorry but you have to excuse me, I have to reach his room with his dinner. - what he ordered through you? - no, when I was delivering snacks he said he will order food during this hour, so I am going to check the kitchen if his food is ready or not. - ohh, I see - I have to go and check - Yes, sure - catch you later I passed Johnny, collected Michael's food and started walking towards his room I knocked his door, he opened within a minute "I'm back" I said with a bright smile. "Welcome back" I placed the dishes on the table, served the food and then we both sit on our chair to eat. This time I toom little by little food on My plate as much I can eat without stuffing food inside my mouth. I tasted food one by one as usual it is tasty and delicious. "So what you used to eat while you were on your own before earning high enough?" I asked him while eating - in breakfast bread and butter sometimes omelette. Hardly sometimes fruits. On lunch only pasta or only rice with something cheap. N dinner sometimes chicken most of the time cheap pasta. - I feel bad - I survived that time and now I am here. I am happy. I smiled After eating I cleaned the table, gathered all the used dishes together. " I wish you could sleep with me" he said "Then you wouldn't be able to sleep properly" I giggled "That's different" " Get some good sleep" "You too" "Good night" "Bonne nuit" I gave a confusion look as he said that couple of words "It's goodnight in French" he revealed "I have no knowledge in French language" "Actually I like the goodnight in French" "Ohh, I see. Bone nut then" He smiled "it's Bonne nuit" "Yes that one " I giggled and left, he closed the door from behind. When I reached my room Dani was already there. "Hello sweetheart" she greeted me "Hello" I greeted back - today you haven't eaten with us for once. - Michael is a Vegan and he wants me to try vegan dishes as long as I am providing my services on the ship. - So these days on ship you are not going to eat with us, you are going to ignore eating with me? She said frankly - I am not ignoring you darling. I always come back to you to tell what happened. He want me to eat with him so I just ate today. - and you are going to eat for the rest of the journey. - yes manage these days somehow. - anyhow - and yes, he invited me to his house I said to her and she looked shocked - I can't believe this Clare, it has been just a day and he invited you to his home. Where it is Australia or New Zealand? - New Zealand he is returning home - And you said yes? - Yes, I said with shy -I am telling you he already felt for you and now he is is asking you to visit his house to meet his parents. Oh girl you are amazing, you just made a billionaire fall for you in a day. - And I told you these billionaires must have hundred of girls to serve them and I'm probably one of them. - Does he ask everyone to visit his house? - He can, I don't know. I just met him yesterday. - Clare, You will never understand. What you are letting go without understanding. - Better than over expecting and Getting disappointed. I said smiling and she gave me a disappointed look. After gossiping about the day and laughing at each other for sometime we felt sleepy. She went to sleep on her bed. I took my book from the table I was currently reading by A.J Finn "The woman in the window" I haven't read any page yesterday so decided I am gonna cover that tonight. After reading almost 30 pages of the thriller, I felt sleepy and when to sleep.