Page 39 of Collateral Omega

Holi

“Holi wake up and eat,” Saki said.

“I’m not hungry,” Holi mumbled. He turned to the wall and slowly went back to sleep.

“I’ll leave the food here. You can eat when you’re hungry.” He faintly heard Saki walk out the room and shut the door behind her, then he heard nothing. Until later she came back again.

“Holi, you didn’t eat,” she said. “I guess you’re tired. I’ll let you sleep. Goodnight.”

Holi wasn’t sure if he said anything, but Saki did leave. She came back a few times urging him to wake up and eat. Holi just turned over and went back to sleep. He was so tired. There was nothing for him to get up for anyway. No one to live for. Tears prickled his eyes at that thought. Holi cried for a while before he went back to sleep.

“Shhhh,” Holi swatted the air.

“Don’t shush me,” Saki said. “Enough is enough, Holi. You’ve slept for forty-eight hours straight. It’s time to wake up now.”

“I don’t want to,” Holi said.

“Don’t make me pour this cold water on you,” Saki threatened.

Holi sat up so fast, he slid off the bed. He hit the floor with a thud.

“Consider that your wake-up call, or I would have used this,” she said, holding up a bucket.

“Dammit, Saki,” he complained. He rubbed his sore ass. “Leave me alone.”

“No. I’m not going to watch you starve yourself to death. Now, go get cleaned up and come to the cooking station. Your food is ready.”

“You don’t work for my family anymore. I don’t have to listen to you,” Holi said.

“No. I don’t. Be glad you have a friend who cares about you. Now go,” she said, pointing to the door.

Holi grumpily got to his feet and went to the washroom.

“Hurry up.” Holi heard Saki shout from the bedroom. Holi groaned. But he did as he was told. He quickly got cleaned up, dressed in fresh clothes, and went to find Saki in the cooking station.

“Feel better?” she asked.

“Yes,” Holi said grudgingly. “You promise me food.”

“I did, didn’t I?” she said, moving to the food warmer. “I’m glad to see you up. I was so worried about you.”

“Sorry. I was just…”

“I know how you feel. You don’t have to explain anything to me. Grieving your father is okay, Holi. Just don’t hurt yourself in the process. Here you’ll feel better once you eat something.”

“Thank you,” Holi said. He blinked away the tears that suddenly filled his eyes, Saki’s kindness hitting him hard. He quickly looked down and started to eat.

“When you’re done with your food, what do you want to do?”

“Get drunk. I don’t want to think.”

“That can be arranged,” Saki said with a bright smile.

A few hours later, Holi felt nice, warm and tingly. The spirit tasted sweet, and it hit the spot.

“Do you want more?”

Holi nodded eagerly. Saki filled his glass.

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