Warrior - Chapter Seventeen

Warning: themes of sexual trauma are covered in this chapter - reader's discretion is advised

~

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting is exactly the kind of distraction I needed.

Payal and I are huddled together on the counter, enjoying the cupcakes that are all nice and cool.

"You know, she won't end up needing those cupcake stands if you two keep it up," Amma frowns as she comes in.

Us two sisters glance at each other then shrug, making Monica - who's still working by the oven - laugh.

"Sorry Monica, looks like these two will never grow," Amma sighed.

"No problem ma'am," Monica smiled. "But it's nice to see my cupcakes be so appreciated."

Payal moans in appreciation as she stuffs her face, and holds her hand up to gesture perfect.

"Bangin'," I groaned, and I scoop up some of the buttercream off of the cupcake and into my mouth.

Amma rolls her eyes with a huff while Monica beams with delight. Amma starts to lecture us, but I'm quickly distracted by a text notification. Picking it up, I see that it's from Arnav Singh Raizada, however, it's a video.

Huh... well that wasn't something I expected.

Getting up, I excuse myself, claiming it to be work stuff, and head to the study, of course taking my cupcake. When I'm far away enough from the kitchen, I play the video, keeping the volume low, and am instantly confused when I see an unfamiliar face.

Who the heck is this guy?

There's a mischievous grin on his face, though he looks like he's trying to hold it back, and he moves around, then holds the phone up. In the back, I see Arnav Singh Raizada with wireless headphones on, doing deadlifts. He's completely unaware of what's happening, focused on his workout.

Well... hot dayum!

I mean I'm not going to fucking deny it! I am only human.

The person starts moving a little closer to him, and I guess Arnav catches him from the corner of his eyes cause his head whips around.

"What the fuck are you doing with my phone," he yelled.

The guy starts running away and laughs, and I hear Arnav yelling from behind, but the video ends abruptly.

I can't help but to laugh, and when I reach the study, another text from him arrives.

A: Sorry about that, NK is an idiot 🙄

Ah... so that was the younger cousin.

K: Not a problem LOL though now I'm feeling some type of way after devouring so many chocolate cupcakes

A: That sounds really good rn 🤤

K: Ummm weren't you just doing deadlifts? LOL

A: Yeah 😅 but rewarding myself with one cupcake ought to be fine??

K: Hmm I guess so

K: No longer in the mood for cannolis 😏

A: LOL knowing my mother, she's most likely finished stress-eating them

Stress-eating?

Well, given what Arnav said earlier, I'd bet a hundred bucks that she was stress-eating over what my decision would be.

Another text arrives from Arnav.

A: Hopefully I'll find a bakery that's still open and has chocolate cupcakes available LOL

I glance at the clock; it's a little past 7.

K: You might

A: Hopefully LOL

A: And again, sorry about NK, the kid will never grow

K: It's totally fine, though I'm curious why he did it

A: According to him, he was trying to impress you on my behalf 😅😳

I burst out laughing and respond.

K: What a bold kid, tell him I said that LOL

A: He bowed and said thank you

K: 😂😂😂

A: He's definitely getting punched 😒

K: Aww spare him, just think about the cupcake

A: 🤤🤤🤤

"Who are you texting?"

My head springs up and I see Payal at the door, her arms crossed as she tilted her head with a frown.

"Since when do I report to you, squirt," I smirked.

"You were laughing."

"Okay."

Her frown deepens as she continues to look at me, and then sighs.

"Can't be anyone like that, the only people you text are family and Ivy. It's not like it can be a guy or something," she shrugged, and turns away. "Whatever."

I watch her as she leaves, then glance down at my phone before I look back up.

Oh baby sis, if you only knew.

*~*

Later that night, after dinner is complete, I snuggle myself into bed. I grab my phone to silence it, when I see another text from Arnav, this time with a photo attached. Curious, I open it up to see a picture of a lone chocolate cupcake sitting in a box.

I can't help the crook in the corner of my lips.

K: Looks good, but nothing like the ones Monica (one of our chefs) makes

A: Word?

K: For sure, you'll have never tasted anything else that's so delectable 🤤

A: I'll be the judge of that once I try it 😌

I stare at the text for a minute. I remember to earlier when he mentioned bringing the cannolis to me to try. Now here he is again, implying to see me again cause how else would he get a taste of Monica's cupcakes? Hope is what he had said - that he had it. But my past experiences tell me that hope is nothing more than a dangerous thing.

My phone lights up and I see another text from Arnav.

A: It's getting late and I'm sure you're tired. Good night 🙂

K: Good night 🙂

I put my phone down on my nightstand, then stare up at the ceiling. When sleep overtakes me, I have no idea, but I fade away.

*~*

"Get over here you bitch!"

No!

I don't know where I am, but it's dark and I run. The more I hear his voice, the faster I run. But no matter how long I run, I seem to be getting nowhere! There's darkness in front of me, so I'm running aimlessly, with no idea of what could be in front of me. But anything is better than his voice I hear from behind me, and yet nothing appears.

Someone help me, please!

"Get over here, Khushi!"

No! Somebody help me, please!!!

I glance back to see if he is catching up to me, but I end up bumping into something. Quickly looking up, I realize I've bumped not into something, but someone.

Arnav?

"Get over here you bitch!"

I look back around to see a dark figure with glaring, beady red eyes stare back at me. It charges at me and I turn away in fear, but Arnav takes me into his arms and keeps me in his protective hold, one hand caressing my head while the other wraps around my waist.

You're safe.

My eyes spring open as I sit up with a gasp, breathing heavily. I run my hands through my hair, removing them from my sticky neck. Reaching over to my nightstand, I find a hair tie and put my hair up, then grab the glass of water that's sitting on my nightstand as well. I chug it down, then place it back, and fan myself. I'm burning hot, but it doesn't help me one bit. So I get out of bed and strip out of my sticky clothes, then head to the shower.

As soon as the water hits my body, I feel relieved. Not entirely, but enough. The images of the dream replay in my head, but what keeps recirculating in my mind, is Arnav.

I never expected him of all people to ever show up, definitely not in this nightmare. And yet, as soon as he did, things weren't all that scary anymore. He held me, he protected me - protected me from that monster.

A shudder runs down my body, but instantly seizes when I remember the way Arnav had held me. Suddenly, that lingering feeling comes back to my left hand, and I hold it up. I remember the way he had kissed it, and for some reason, it felt like as if he had just done it again and the feeling shot all throughout my body. I felt it at the back of my head, as well as around my waist - the places he was holding me to protect me.

I place my hands over these areas, the images flashing before my mind once more. Despite me touching my head and my waist, I don't feel it. Instead, I feel that lingering feeling.

I bring my hands back down to my side. "Protection."

*~*

When I get downstairs, I find everyone else already at the table. We greet each other good morning and I sit down and take my seat. Amma looks me over and frowns.

"You're not going to the office today," she asks, noticing the oversized t-shirt and sweats.

"No," I respond, pouring cereal and milk into my bowl. "I have other things to do."

"Well if you're home, wanna go roller skating today," Payal asked. "I have two weeks of spring break that has to be enjoyed properly since I'm not away on a tropical beach like everyone else."

I roll my eyes. "We'll see."

"What do you mean we'll see? It's not like you're doing anything important," she frowns.

I simply look at her for a moment, then reach into my pocket to pull my phone out. As I unlock my phone, Gomez comes in and places down my coffee.

"Thank you, Gomez," and I put my phone to my ear, it dialing and ringing away.

Almost instantly, it connects through. "Hello?"

"Good morning, this is Khushi."

"Good morning, Khushi! How are you?"

"I have an answer for you, Mrs. Raizada."

Everyone else around the room stills and looks up at me. Amma looks like her eyes are about to pop out and fall into her chai.

"Yes," I hear Shalini Singh Raizada respond, anxiousness in her voice.

"I agree."

I hear Payal gasp besides me and Amma looks like she's about to fall over.

"W-what," Shalini gasps.

"I've made my decision. The answer is yes."

Shalini yelps with joy just as my mother does, and she comes rushing to my side.

"Are you serious," Amma gasps.

I nod and she attacks me with a hug, tears streaming down her cheeks. Payal takes my hand in hers and gives it a squeeze as she smiles at me. Even Babuji comes over and hugs me and Amma.

"Oh, Khushi, I'm so happy to hear this," Shalini exclaims. "So, so happy, I can't wait to tell everyone the news! It's okay if I call your mother now, yes?"

Fortunately for me, I managed to sneak and get a hold of Amma's phone and fix Shalini's number. "Yes."

"Perfect! I'll call her as soon as I can. Ah! I'm so excited, thank you so much Khushi! I'll talk to you soon, dove," and she hangs up.

I put my phone down and stand up, and Amma hugs me once more, still crying.

"I knew things would get better, I just knew it would," she murmured.

I hugged her back, comforting her.

"Looks like my spring break is going to be eventful after all," Payal beamed.

Yeah squirt... looks like it is.