Warrior - Chapter Seventy Four

 The days are going by excruciatingly slowly.

And I really mean excruciatingly slowly.

It's hard to always keep my mind distracted from... that. And the stupid voice in my head is of no fucking help either! But that doesn't mean that I don't try, because oh buddy!

I try. I really try.

There was a moment of struggle when I washed Arnav's pillow - yes, I actually washed Arnav's pillow after looking it up online. I threw mine in too so that way it didn't look weird, but geez! The entire time that process went on, all I could think of was that night. And when one of the maids returned with the laundry, all I could do was look at the shirt in horror, remembering what I had done with it! As for the pillowcase, it had quickly crossed my mind that it would be weird having just the pillowcase in the hamper, so I put the other, as well as the sheets in. So when I got those returned and cleaned, it was easier to not overthink it and just put it away.

But it's a new day! In fact, it's the day of the Singhania's tea party, so I'm hoping the memories and the voice will stay at bay. So far it's been good, I mean it hasn't popped up much in my head since I woke up this morning.

At breakfast, Shalini Singh Raizada let me know that we'd be getting our makeup done in the glam room, so epic! Mama in-law was definitely excited, that much was pretty obvious - apparently she's always dreamt of taking her daughter to tea parties like this, so you can understand why she's all happy.

She was also excited for Varsha Singh Raizada because she couldn't get Varsha's dress out of her mind, nor how gorgeous Varsha had looked in it.

I have to admit, I'm with Mama in-law on that one; Miss Plain-Jane has never looked so bomb before!

At least, for as long as I've known her.

But although Shalini Singh Raizada was excited for Varsha and her dress, Varsha Singh Raizada was not. Her eyes were slightly wide and she seemed slightly panicked.

Here we go again, huh? She's not going to wear that dress, is she? She's probably going to wear something dull instead, like she always does, isn't she?

Sigh-

Just as I inwardly let out a sigh, across from me, I see that NK Singh Raizada has let out a sigh as well. Looking at him carefully, I see that there's some annoyance in his eyes.

Question is, who's it towards?

When breakfast was over, Shalini Singh Raizada told us ladies to head on up to the glam room because the makeup artists would be here soon. Varsha Singh Raizada nodded and made her way upstairs. I would've joined her, but I wanted some more water, so I poured myself a glass and drank it.

"Madhav do you think you can convince Varsha to wear the dress," I heard Mama in-law ask.

Oh?

I looked up to see Shalini Singh Raizada looking at Madhav Singh Raizada with pleading eyes, Aryan Singh Raizada at Shalini's side. Just then NK went past them.

"You're wasting your time Pari Ma," he huffed, and he left the room, looking even more irritated.

Ah! So the annoyance earlier was towards his mother.

Madhav Singh Raizada let out a sigh, bringing my attention back to them. "You know I would try, but what's the point? Why listen to me now when she hasn't in twenty years," he smiled sadly.

Shalini Singh Raizada pinched her lips together as Aryan Singh Raizada placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"Old bat is gone, but he still fucking haunts us," Aryan Singh Raizada huffed.

"Some more than others, unfortunately," his brother replied, and he left the room.

I glanced at Madhav Singh Raizada, then looked at Mama and Papa in-law, and then set my glass down on the table and headed upstairs.

This family sure has its problems, huh?

*~*

Before I headed into the glam room, I quickly headed back to my room to get my phone. Obviously because of the party, I wouldn't be going into the office today, but the least that I can do is respond to emails.

Picking it up, I see Arnav's daily morning text.

A: Good morning Khushi 😊 hope you have fun at the Singhania's!

Oh please!

As I headed to the glam room, I texted Arnav back.

K: You do realize tea parties are boring, right? The most fun I can possibly have is see the mother-daughter duo make fools of themselves, but it's not like they'll be acting like monkeys the entire time

I don't expect a response from Arnav given the fact that it's late for him and that he's most likely asleep.

When I reached the glam room, I spotted Varsha Singh Raizada standing by the window, leaning her head against it.

Ugh, she looks like the depressed character in every fucking movie! The only thing that kills the scene is the fact that it's a bright and sunny day in June, and not a dark and rainy one to fit the depression.

Varsha Singh Raizada let out a sigh and something within me snapped. It was like as if a violin string popped off from being tightened too much.

Woman, you wanna be depressed, do it on your own time, do not kill my vibe! My vibe may not exactly be set yet, but I am trying to keep it good and strong for this circus we are planning to go to.

Sitting back in one of the glam chairs, I went on my phone. "Why so depressed aunty in-law?"

Have I ever called her this directly to her face? To the other one? Eh, who cares!

From the corner of my eye, I see that she's looking at me, her eyes slightly wide.

"Don't be so surprised," I said as I scrolled through my emails. "You look like the sad heroine of a movie. All that's missing is the rain."

She pursed her lips together. "I'm no heroine."

I glanced over at her, looking her up and down, before looking back at my phone. "Sure you are; but for whatever reason you've decided to act as an extra in your own film."

I must admit, I'm a little surprised by my own words, but not as surprised as aunty in-law over here. Fortunately, that is when Shalini Singh Raizada came in with the makeup artists, and it was glam time!

Time to look fucking snatched!

Mama in-law was the most chatty of us three, but that's just how she is. I focused on emails and what not, texting Ivy here and there as well. Aunty in-law, however, was quiet for the most part, only talking when being spoken to.

Looking through the mirror, I see that her hair is done in soft waves, her makeup still in progress.

Time to take this opportunity.

"You know aunty in-law, you should do a really nice blue eyeshadow to match your dress," I said while typing on my phone.

I didn't have to look in the mirror to know that aunty in-law was looking at my reflection with some level of shock - it's too predictable.

"She's right," mama in-law gasped besides me.

"She's wearing a royal blue dress," I said, still keeping my eyes on my phone as I continued to type.

"It's honestly stunning," mama in-law gushed, then pulled out her phone and showed the makeup artist a picture of it, because of course she had a picture of all of our dresses.

Looking up from my phone, I glanced at aunty in-law, who looked like she was about to say something, so I looked at her make-up artist through the mirror. "Make sure to get a good match."

While the makeup artist gushed and said that she had many palettes and would find the perfect shades, aunty in-law looked stunned, losing her words. Shalini Singh Raizada continued to gush, excited by it all. As for Varsha Singh Raizada, she only sputtered, unable to get any words out to be able to even reject, the makeup artist going to work with her eyeshadow.

Let's see how you get out of this one, and I inwardly smirked to myself.