Warrior - Chapter Thirteen

Everyone pretty much stayed quiet today. Amma kept to her own things, Babuji went to the office, and Payal stayed focused on her studies. I spent the day in the study, working from home. The day went by just fine, nice and peaceful. With work complete, I made my way to my room and flopped back in bed.

Not having slept well last night and that run in the morning, has got me suddenly feeling so exhausted. I was about to pull back the covers and take a nap, when there was a knock at my door.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing Payal. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, then stood there.

"What's up baby sis?"

"Nothing," she says softly. "Except that you're a bitch."

I let out a sigh. "I deserved that."

She looked up at me, annoyed. "You didn't have to say it like that you know! You could've handled it better! Calmer! Instead, everyone's upset now because of you!"

Unfortunately, Payal never handled family fights well.

"I'm sorry," I say sincerely.

"There's no point in apologizing to me," she huffed, crossing her arms and looking away.

"Don't I?"

"No! ...well, maybe. You did take away precious study time from me. I've got two in one day, every moment counts!"

And there's baby sis, back to normal. "You're right, that's true. I'm sorry my actions cut into your study time."

"You better be! ...um, where did you go this morning?"

"For a run," I say casually.

"You run," she snorted.

"Occasionally," I say, trying not to take any offense.

Besides, it's not like Payal knew the real reasons behind it.

"So what's that supposed to be? Once today, again in two weeks, and then seven months later?"

I shrugged. "Could be."

I mean it's the truth in a way.

"Isn't the key to a workout is to keep it consistent?"

"I think I do just fine. Now get back to studying squirt, I'm gonna take a nap, I'm exhausted."

"That what you get for running five years apart," she laughs, then opens the door. "Think you'll wake up for dinner?"

I get under the covers and instantly feel tired. "Not a chance."

"Okay," and she reaches behind the knob so that the door locks. "Nighty night," and she leaves, shutting the door behind.

I snuggled up beneath my comforter, slightly forming into a ball, and let sleep take over me.

*~*

There's a weird buzzing sound, and it's irritating me like fucking crazy!

I groan out in annoyance, thinking a bug has managed to get into my room, but after waving around a little and feeling nothing, I open my eyes with a scowl.

I fucking hate all these bugs that start to show up as the weather gets better.

I hear the buzzing again, but as my brain comes around, I realize that it's not a bug, but my phone vibrating. Reaching over to my bedside table, I pick it up to see four missed calls from Arnav Singh Raizada.

Wait, he's calling me?

But Arnav had said he would text me, so why...? But he called several times just now, so.... I guess I'll call back.

I dial him back and place my phone at my ear as I get up and go into my closet. If anything, like if someone passes by, there's no chance they'll hear anything from here.

It rings several times, which is weird given that he called me just minutes ago. Just as I'm about to hang up, the call goes through.

"Uh, Khushi? Hi!"

Something about his voice is uneasy, which is weird. And then I hear some weird noises in the back and what sounds like shushing.

Uh, what the fuck is going on?

"Hi," I finally respond. "You called?"

"Um, yeah! ...to talk about Saturday night."

I hear someone hiss date in the background, and then weird noise comes through from the other end.

What the fuck was that?

"Uh... okay, sure," I say.

"Cool! So, uh, you wouldn't happen to have anything specific in mind... would you?"

"No, not really. I'm fine with anything actually."

"Okay.... So then I was thinking... dinner at Lilia's at 8?"

A weird whispery noise comes from the back and then a thwak!

Okay, seriously, what the fuck is going on?

"Chote," I hear Shalini's voice calling from the background, "did you- what are you two doing here? Let him talk to her in peace!"

Groaning and complaints follow suit, but Shalini says she'll hear nothing about it, and then things go quiet.

"Uh...?"

I hear a small groan. "Sorry about that."

"About what?"

"My younger cousins heard how you reached out and have been pestering me since then," he laughs nervously.

His cousins? ...oh right! The other two junior Raizada boys probably? After all, they all live together.

"Let me guess, the weird noises in the background and the date was one of them?"

"You heard that, did you," and he chuckles once more.

"I did," I smirk lightly.

"I'll have to get them for them that. And for calling you so many times."

Huh? "They called me?"

"Well, I was the first one to call, but you didn't pick up. But those two wouldn't believe me and they stole my phone to try themselves."

I couldn't help but to laugh. "How old are these guys?"

"Akash is 23 and NK is 20."

"I thought you were about to say they were teenagers."

Arnav chuckled in return. "Yeah, well these idiots refuse to grow up."

The both of us chuckled lightly, and then things got quiet.

"So... dinner at 8 this Saturday?"

I'm actually doing this. "I'll be there."

"Great! So, uh, shall I pick you up?"

Amma quickly comes to mind. "No!"

Silence comes from the other side of the phone.

"Uh, I mean... um-"

"This has to do with the fact that you don't want your family to know about things..."

Shalini told him?

"...isn't it?"

I take in a deep breath and let it out. "Yes."

Arnav doesn't say anything.

"I was hoping to talk about this when I see you."

"Sure, we can do that."

Good. "Great.... So, uh, I guess I'll see you on Saturday."

"See you on Saturday."

"Bye."

"Bye."

The both of us hang up and I put my phone down.

Saturday at 8 at Lilia's....

I recognize the name; it's an Italian place in the main part of town. I've been meaning to check it out, but unfortunately haven't been able to.

"Well," I sighed to myself, "it looks like I'll be trying it out with Arnav Singh Raizada."

I turn to my wardrobes and look through the dresses I have. As I browsed around, I couldn't help but to think of the phone call. 

It was strange at first, that's for sure. I mean the fact that his cousins were all over him like that... why? Just because his mom wants for him to marry me?

A memory suddenly flashes in my mind. It was two years ago, right before I married him. Things were still going underway with the prepping and Amma had asked me to call his sister in-law to find out when she was coming since she wanted to see me, and Amma would have food prepared. However when I called her, he picked up, since she was busy doing something. Payal managed to overhear and she took the phone from me and started joking around, teasing and what not.

I snap back to reality and my grip on a dress tightens.

I can't keep letting these memories haunt me anymore. I can't.