Page 10 of Red Flags and Rishtas
‘So tell us something about your work, Aadar?’ My dad took the reins in his hands after my mom nudged him to break the silence.
The tension in the living room eased a little as Aadar began talking about his role as a marketing manager at a popular liquor brand. I was only half-listening, busy as I was trying to think of how to get out of this situation quickly.
‘Does that mean you can get us free alcohol?’ Dad laughed at his own dad joke, and the others joined in.
Feeling some of the intensity drain from my shoulders, I got up from the sofa to place my glass of water on the table. Aadar copied my movement, and our eyes locked as we hung there for a moment, holding on to our glasses. The room went silent. I had no doubt that everyone, or at least our parents, was holding their breath, mistaking this little moment for the first sign of attraction.
‘Beta, why don’t you and Aadar talk in private? Get to know each other a little?’ his mom asked me, placing a hand on my shoulder as I resumed my place next to her.
The adults, minus Karan, nodded in unison. He was the only person less than pleased with this idea. His entertainment was leaving, and he’d have to endure the rest of this afternoon by himself. I led Aadar out of our three-bedroom apartment and into the little garden my mother so dearly loved.
The sun was shining brightly above our heads, and the lack of a breeze made the afternoon particularly stuffy. I hopped up on the wooden slab that separated our garden from ourneighbour’s. Aadar came to stand in front of me, his hands stuffed firmly in his pockets.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ I demanded, getting right to it.
A look of confusion crossed his face as he asked, ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean,’ I said, pausing to inhale dramatically, ‘why didn’t you cancel the damn thing?’
He let out a dry, humourless laugh. ‘Why didn’t you?’
I stared at him, irritated by his ignorance of the unfair power dynamics at play in arranged marriages. If I could have bowed out of this meeting, I would’ve opted to do it long before the events of this morning. But if he wasn’t going to acknowledge it, I was certainly in no mood to let him feel like he had the upper hand in this situation.
‘I’m sorry, my bad. I thought you’d have the balls to do it,’ I said innocently.
‘And come across as the douchebag who cancels two hours prior? No thanks,’ he shot back.
‘Wow,’ I mouthed, shaking my head incredulously.
He opened his mouth, ready with a retort, but then closed it without delivering it. I crossed my legs on the high platform, aware that my mother would throw a fit if she saw me sitting like that in this traditional outfit.
I watched Aadar walk the width of my tiny garden, made tinier by his pacing. Little pearls of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead. I noticed for the first time that he had thick, curly hair, unlike Karan’s straight and smooth locks. He kept his hair cropped fairly short, refusing to let his curls add the much-needed boyish charm to his intense personality. I wanted to reach out and tug on a strand, just to see how long it would be when uncurled.
‘So how are we doing this? Are you rejecting me or will I have the pleasure?’ I asked, clearing my throat.
‘That’s a no-brainer. I’m definitely turning you down,’ he said, his tone harsh.
‘Um, do you have some kind of a problem with me?’ I asked, vexed by his rudeness.
I didn’t want to be here either, but I wasn’t acting like a grade-A asshole, was I? What was the big deal anyway? The worst was over. If we could just get through this afternoon, we could go our separate ways without ever having to see each other again.
‘My problem? How about the fact that you slept with my brother? Like last night!’ he threw his hands up in the air.
‘So you have an issue with every girl your little bro has been with?’ I asked, raising my eyebrows.
‘I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting one of them. With my entire family. As a prospect for my own marriage,’ he said through gritted teeth.
I shrugged, as if to sayfair point,then said, ‘I didn’t, though.’
‘Didn’t what?’ he asked.
‘Have sex with your brother.’
He stepped closer to me, his expression a mixture of curiosity and exasperation.
‘You’re telling me you spent the entire night in his room and didn’t even try to sleep with him?’
‘Oh, believe me, I tried.’
