Page 19 of No Other Love

The room was a neutral cream in color, with one accent wall painted a stunning cerulean blue with a few bulbs and another free-standing lamp like the one in the patio-verandah. The windows were kept wide open and sunlight flooded in. And the bed was the most comfortable thing I’d ever slept on.

‘Viku, tell me?’ The female demanded.

‘I’m not going to discuss my wife with you, Ma,’ Vikrant said quietly.

So quietly, I had to strain to catch the words.

I pressed a hand to my heart, it beat wildly.What was Vikrant doing?

Why was he defending me now, when we were all but over? Worse, why was my stupid heart happy at the thought of him doing so?

Vikrant’s mother sniffed audibly. ‘But I was just trying to…’

‘Don’t, Ma.’ Vikrant spoke with a brusqueness in his tone I had never heard before. It sounded colder when he spoke likethat in his native tongue. ‘Just don’t. Can you check on lunch? I’ll wake Anika up.’

I flopped back down on the bed and turned my back to the door, just as Vikrant opened it. I even tried to regulate my breathing back to a circadian rhythm, but it wasn’t easy.

I forced myself to lie still as I heard his rubber thongs strike against the terracotta floor and come to a stop next to the bed. Then, Vikrant touched me lightly on the shoulder.

‘Ani,’ he said softly. ‘Wake up. It’s almost lunch time.’

I fluttered my lashes open and blinked sleepily at him. ‘Hey,’ I smiled softly.

He smiled back and brushed a stray hair off my cheek. ‘Hey, sleepyhead. It’s lunch time. With all your favorites. Aamti rice with fried okra and fish curry and solkadi.’ He named all the spicy, fragrant dishes I adored, especially the slightly soursolkadi, a watery stew made from local spices I had consumed by the gallon last time I was here.

I swallowed against the hunger pangs playing cricket in my stomach. ‘Yummy. I haven’t had any food since I sat on that bus.’

‘I know.’ His hand lingered on my shoulder. ‘You get terribly sick on buses.’

Memories, a million of them, coupled with feelings rose like a tidal wave between us.

And I had the physical urge to drag him down to bed and show him how much I missed him. It didn’t even have to mean anything, and I so wanted to feel alive…just for a moment.

I sat up and dislodged his hand from my body. ‘I’ll be down in a few minutes. Your parents are here?’ I asked the question playing with the edges of the bed sheet on my lap.

‘Yes, they arrived a few minutes ago.’

‘Oh. Why didn’t you wake me up then? I could have welcomed them with you.’ I raised accusing eyes at him.

Vikrant shrugged. ‘You needed to sleep more.’ He stepped back from the bed. ‘Get freshened up and come down when you’re ready. Uncle Ramesh and Smita Aunty are also joining us for lunch.’ He smiled. ‘So, you have a buffer.’

‘Thank you,’ I said quickly before common sense made me say something sarcastic. ‘I appreciate the gesture.’

He just looked at me a second more and then left the room.

***

I stared at his departing back in bewilderment. This was all playing out so differently from what I’d imagined in my head.

For one, Vikrant wasn’t the golden son anymore if that awkward conversation with his mother was any indication.

For another, I still couldn’t understand why his folks weren’t staying with him when that was the reason he’d given, for wanting to move back home.

My parents are growing old, Ani. And I’m their only son. They’ve done a lot for me. Sacrificed too much. What kind of son would I be if I didn’t take care of them now, when I can afford to? Please understand where I’m coming from.

Thinking about this changed Vikrant was giving me a headache so I resolved to not think too much.

I slipped out of bed, spied my bag under the bed. I picked out the clothes I’d decided to wear for the day. A simple geometric pattern tunic and leggings.

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