Warrior - Chapter Fifteen

By the time I reach home, the house is pretty quiet, which most likely means that everyone is in bed. I make my way straight up to my room and lock the door behind me. I walk into my closet and step out of my heels, then place them aside. My shawl and clutch are placed on my vanity and I look up at my reflection.

Tonight wasn't what I had expected at all. I thought it would've just been small talk, dinner, and a business proposition - that's it. Instead... it became so deep... the night was long... it was definitely revealing, so to say... just not what I had in mind.

I sit down before my vanity and take off my earrings, then set them aside. Reaching over for my micellar water and cotton pads, I work on removing my makeup. As I do, I remember the endings of tonight with Arnav Singh Raizada.

After everything that had been said, our food had almost been forgotten. But I felt bad about wasting, plus we had barely eaten, so we finished up our dinner, the rest of the night being pretty quiet. For desert, we both ordered tiramisu, and it was absolutely divine! With the night complete, Arnav paid the bill - though I offered to split, but he insisted anyways. Once that was done, we headed to the lobby and waited for valet to get our cars.

"I had a wonderful time," Arnav said.

"Really? I mean after what I said and all?"

"Yes," he smiled, "I really did."

I nodded, when something came to mind. "Your mother obviously knows we're here - do you think she'll tackle you with questions?"

"Knowing her? I know she'll tackle me as soon as I walk through the doors," he chuckled.

"She's that excited, huh?"

"More than you know," he smiled sincerely.

I can't help but to scoff slightly with a smile. "I never would've thought that anyone from the aunty category could ever like a girl like me - not with this bold mouth."

"Hmm, but that's the very reason why she does."

"It's so out of the norm."

"I guess," he smiled.

I look at him for a moment. "So do you think she'll push for our union? For our marriage?"

"No; don't you remember what she told you?"

I look at him in confusion, but then Shalini Singh Raizada's words quickly come to mind.

"Please meet him once, at least. Then you can tell me your final decision."

"Meet you once and then decide," I murmured.

Arnav nods, his eyes on me.

"So she'll be waiting to hear from me, basically."

"Yes, and most likely anxiously..."

Oh, I have no doubt.

"...but I'll be waiting eagerly."

My wide eyes dart to his sincere ones. That small, polite smile graces his face, and before I can question him, the valet appears with my car.

"Um, I guess... good night then," I said softly for some unknown reason.

I didn't know if I should shake hands with him or something, but Arnav holds his left hand out, so I place mine in his. I expected him to shake it, but instead, he brought my hands up to his lips and he placed a gentle kiss over my knuckles. I take in a sharp breath, not having expected it at all.

"Good night," he said softly, and he released my hand.

It takes me a second to compose myself, and then I head off to my car, and head home.

I look down at my left hand and hold it up, as if expecting to see something. But my hand was just as it was, no marks, no nothing.

A horrible image flashes through my mind and I squeeze my eyes shut, my hand balling up into a fist. I start to take in even breaths, calming myself before opening my eyes and looking at my reflection. I half expected to picture my bruises again, but nothing was there... which was odd. I stand up and remove my dress, letting it puddle to the floor, and still, I see nothing. The memory of Arnav kissing my hand comes to mind and I lift it up once more. Oddly enough, I'm only realizing now that his lips were closer to that of my ring finger.

I hold my left hand with my right and look at my reflection in wonder. To experience a gentle touch should be something normal, and yet, I'm mind blown. 

"How can something so simple as a touch, be so different?"

*~*

By the time I get down to breakfast, everyone is already seated. We wish each other a good morning and I take my seat at the table, and waffles are placed before me.

"You got in pretty late last night," Payal frowned at me.

"Oh I'm sorry, mom."

She scowls at me in return and I grin at her as I stuff my face with these amazing waffles.

"Well, she's not wrong," Amma said.

"Sorry about that, you know how these meetings can be."

"That's true," Babuji said, and he takes a sip of his coffee.

Thankfully, the others let it be, letting the topic end right there.

"Hey Di, do you wanna get manicures today? My fingers look ugh," Payal scow5ls with disgust.

"Sure, I could use a new set," I said, glancing at my nails.

They're not that bad, but it wouldn't hurt to get them done.

"Pedicures too?"

"You've got yourself a deal."

She squeals with delight and claps. "I'll go get ready right now," and dashes off.

I can't help but to chuckle, and focus on finishing my waffles, then head on upstairs to get ready. I opt for a white tee and jeans, then wear a pink cardigan over it. I put my hair up in a ponytail, put on some light makeup, then go to reach for my phone - only I don't see it.

Uh, where's my phone-? Right!

Remembering that I didn't take my phone out of my clutch last night, I open it up and take it out, then grab my bag and head out.

"Payal, let's go," I call out, and check my phone to see an unread text that was sent to me last night.

A: I had a great time tonight 🙂

She comes dashing out of her room, all set to go, snapping my attention away from the text. We head downstairs and out, and I spot Harry outside, so I ask him to bring out the BMW.

"Oh! Can I drive," Payal beams.

"Is it your car?"

"No, but I'm the best sister in the whole world."

"Would the best sister in the whole world happen to have gotten her license yet?"

"I have a permit."

Harry pulls up with the car.

"I didn't think so," and I pat her head before getting into the driver's seat.

"Well I will," Payal whined as she sits in the passenger seat and puts her seatbelt on.

"When you do, we'll talk. Until then, no."

"But the more I drive, the more practice I get."

"You won't be practicing in sports cars," and I pull off.

Payal groans with annoyance, rolling her eyes. "Fine!"

The drive into town is pretty quick and we arrive to HoneyBees, the nicest nail salon around. Parking is quick to find, and when we get inside, the staff recognizes us immediately and greets us. Payal and I quickly decide on what we're gonna do, Payal opting for a pink shade while I decide to do red, and then we're taken inside. Since we wanted to get massages as well, we get that done first, and it feels as if a huge load of stress was taken off of my back. Especially after the episode I had before, this was very much needed. And yet, not only am I feeling relaxed, but memories of every time I've seen Arnav Singh Raizada - from the first time I saw him at my house, up until last night - flashes in my mind.

What in the world? 

With our massages complete, we get our manicures done, and my hands feel amazing after the hand massage I receive. However, a strange, lingering feeling appears on my left hand, where Arnav had kissed me.

What the fuck is wrong with me? Stop it!

With our manicures done, we're taken over to get our pedicures done. Again, as I'm trying to relax and enjoy the exfoliation going on at my feet, Arnav comes across my mind once more. Last night replays in my mind, despite me trying to stop it and control it. But the memories played anyway, and I'm beginning to wonder if any of the massages I received was actually worth it.

When all of our services are done, I give my card over to get charged, and when that's all done, Payal and I head on out. It's around lunchtime, so we go on over to a quaint little restaurant and order some food. Payal decides to go with a panini while I decide to get a salad.

"Being a little healthy today, huh," Payal teased.

"Not exactly; I'm still feeling a little full after the waffles."

Payal goes on to try and tease me, when suddenly she stops. "Oh my gosh Di!"

"What," I ask as I place a forkful of my salad in my mouth.

"Don't move, but Shalini Singh Raizada is here with two other women."

Oh word?

"She's... wait, I recognize them... yeah, she's with her two other sister in-laws, Maira and Varsha Singh Raizada."

Now this is interesting.

Picking my phone up, I opened the camera to the front-facing one. I held it up, pretending to take a selfie, and managed to find the three senior Raizada women. 

"Never thought we'd be bumping into them," Payal scoffed lightly, and she took a bite of one of her side potato wedges.

"Technically, we haven't bumped into anyone," I said, putting my phone back down. "They're just eating at the same place as us and they just so happen to not have seen us."

"But if they do?"

If they do? "We'll worry about that then."

"Imagine if Amma was here with us," she scoffed. "She totally would have- oh shit," and she quickly covers her mouth with her hands.

I look at her oddly, but she quickly moves her hands away and pretends to look normal, looking down at her food.

"Definitely do not turn around now... but Arnav's here."

What-! Arnav Singh Raizada is here?

"Hold on," and she picks up her phone. "Pose for me so I can pretend that I'm taking pictures of you."

"What-"

"Just do it Di!"

I roll my eyes with a huff, then dab my mouth clean with my napkin before I pose. Payal holds up her phone, pretending to take pictures of me, but I know she's recording what's going on.

"Looks like they're leaving," she murmured, her head turning with her gaze.

A few moments later, she stops recording and hands me her phone.

"His mom seemed pretty distracted," she frowned.

Twenty bucks on a guess why - though that wouldn't be a fair bet to Payal since she was out of the loop.

The video plays on her phone and I see Arnav standing by his mother and aunts, talking to them. Arnav is in a plain white tee and dark jeans, a watch somewhat noticeable on his left wrist, disturbing the flow of art. They soon get up, and his aunts go ahead first, Arnav and Shalini walking behind them. At one point, Arnav wraps his arm around his mother and I see her hold him as well, her head leaning against his arm. The ladies all get into a shiny, jet black car, which I quickly recognize to be the Lamborghini Urus. While his aunts head into the backseats, Shalini goes around to the passenger's seat, while Arnav gets into the driver's, and soon he pulls off.

I hand Payal her phone back and she watches the video.

"I wonder why they were here in the first place."

"Is a reason all that necessary? Maybe they just wanted a lunch date."

"Maybe... but I don't know. Did you see the way Arnav held his mom and she held him?"

I tilted my head with a frown. "Don't you think you're looking too into things?"

"Eh... I don't know," and she puts her phone down. 

We get back to eating our food, when Payal breaks the silence.

"That day, when you fought with mom... you mentioned how Shalini Singh Raizada wants for you to marry her son."

I pause for a moment, then nod as I place another forkful of salad in my mouth.

"You said that she admired you, but she wanted for you to decide things, even though she really wants for you to marry Arnav."

"That's right."

"So... the ball is in your court. It has been in your court."

Smart girl. "All dusty and dirty, yes."

"Have you thought about it? If you're going to toss it back or just let it sit there for a dog to find?"

I looked at Payal for a moment, watching her pick at an avocado chunk that had fallen out of her sandwich.

"What do you think I should do," I finally ask.

"Honest?"

"Honest."

"I think you should toss it back."

"And why is that?"

"Because I think they're good people - genuine people. I thought about Gomez's comment about how Shalini is like a phoenix, just like you, and it made me think.... If there's anyone who could potentially understand you, then it's her. Given that she said she admires you, it makes even more sense. And since Arnav's her son... he should be able to understand you too."

I pick up my glass of water. "Unlike the other women that's been in his life?"

"Mm, when it comes to that, nothing's ever been confirmed. There's been gossip columns that have tried to connect him to other women he's been around, but none of them seemed legit nor confirmed. But of course he can just choose to keep his life personal, that's his right."

Little does baby sis know that the man - allegedly - has never dated anyone and is a virgin.

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"You don't."

I'll stick to allegedly for now.

"But yes, I think you should toss the ball back."

"Hmm...."

We finish up our lunch, make our payment, then head back to the car. As we get in the car and I'm about to put on my seatbelt, across the street, I noticed a shiny, jet black Lamborghini Urus double parked.

"Oh shit," I hear Payal murmur besides me.

The window to the driver's seat is down, but no one is inside. I look to see what it's parked in front of and realize it's a bakery.

"I wonder- oh crap, Di!"

I watch as Arnav Singh Raizada comes out of the store, holding a box in his hands. He opens the door to the passenger's seat and places the box down, then makes his way around to the driver's seat. He settles in, shuts the door behind, and when he reaches over for his seatbelt, he spots me.

"Shit," Payal squealed, and she hunched down.

But I don't care, keeping my eyes on him. His small, polite smile graces his face, and I find myself giving a small smile as well. His eyes are still on me, but he ends up looking away, picking up his phone and placing it it by his ear. It's a quick conversation, his mouth moving a little, though I have no idea what he says, and he hangs up. He turns back to me and gives a small, apologetic smile, and I understand that he has to go, so I give a small nod. Arnav puts his seatbelt on, gives me one last look, then pulls away, looking at me one last time as he drives by, before he's gone. I watch his departing car in my side mirror, getting smaller and smaller.

"Um... what was that," Payal asked, and I watch his car disappear as he turns the corner.

"What was what," I respond, and I put on my seatbelt and start the car.

"That. The two of you were totally looking each other down."

I don't say anything, and instead I pull into traffic and head home.

"Uh, Di, he went the other way."

"So?"

"So can't we follow him?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Oh well, can't blame me for trying," she shrugged. "But seriously, what was that?"

I glance at her before looking back at the road. "I don't know."

Honestly, I don't know.