Jason's POV
I want some fresh air to breathe and calm my nerves. I walked into the balcony and saw a slender figure sitting on the wooden swing in the garden. No need to guess who it is, it can only be one idiot who does this in the middle of a cold night.
She is hugging herself and rubbing her arms. Why is she still sitting there if she is feeling cold? Anger and irritation soaring through me. I grabbed a jacket and walked into the garden.
"Have you gone mad? What are you doing here so late in the cold? You will fall sick." I yelled wrapping the jacket around her shoulders.
She jumped at my voice, her expressions changed from scared to happy to annoyed in a matter of seconds. I can't help but get entertained at her antics, she is always like an open book to read. Her eyes are like windows to her soul.
"My wish, I can be wherever I want." She stated angrily, her nose flaring turning crimson. I kept looking at her in amusement.
"You can't ask me to get out of here. This isn't your room." She continued seeing me silent.
"I can technically. This is my house remember? And you are the one staying here" I cocked my eyebrow at her.
Her eyes turned moist and the corner of her lips curled downwards. I felt like an idiot after saying the words. I wish there is a filter in my mouth.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that," I told her settling beside her and placing my hand on hers.
She jerked my hand away and turned her face away from me in anger.
"I'm sorry that I'm intruding into your house and your room" she replied with tears glistening her eyes, she closed her eyes shut letting tears spill from the corner of her eyes.
I pulled her into a bear hug "Don't say that kitty, You know this is always your house. I'm just messing with you. I'm sorry." I told her earnestly.
I don't want her to cry. Well done Jason so much for cheering her up.
She didn't push me away now but nodded her head in my arms.
"Why aren't you sleeping? Aren't you feeling cold out here?" I asked her slowly pulling myself away from her.
"I'm not sleepy. And yeah it's cold but peaceful too. I like it here." She said pulling the jacket tighter around her body.
We stayed in silence for a while, she placed her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her... This was surprisingly peaceful and comfortable. The only sound is from the crickets nearby.
"Did you see who locked you in the pantry?" I asked her breaking the silence.
"No, I was checking the shelves when somebody locked me in."
"Are you sure you didn't lock yourself?" I asked still unsure. No matter how much I think that's the only possibility. There are no outsiders in the house. All the maids are working for the past 8+years none could have done that.
"What am I? A 5yr old to lock myself in??" She asked angrily, her cheeks tainted pink, eyes spitting fire and pouting cutely.
I laughed shaking my head at her."Let's go back inside." I stood up holding my hand out for her. She placed her hand in mine and we both walked inside.
We wished each other goodnight and left for our rooms.
The next morning I couldn't see Amy or Ryan out. I heard them giggling and laughing in Amy's bedroom.
I went out to meet my friends everyone was there except Jessica. I called her but she didn't pick up the phone. The weekend passed quickly with me hanging out with my friends. I came home for lunch and dinner just to see what the brats are up to but they never left their room. Martha told me they had their meals also in Amy's room.
Monday my parents reached just in time for breakfast.
"Can I go to India during the winter break?" Amy asked looking hopefully at mom and dad.
"No, what are you saying? You can't go!! How will you travel alone?" Mom replied to her.
The color faded from her face. But she soon composed herself.
"I think I can manage and I promised Uncle Raj that I will visit them. They are calling me to ask if I booked tickets."
"You should have promised after thinking," Dad replied to her this time in his cold tone.
What's the matter with them. They agreed to send her to India they even promised her Uncle that she would visit them always on holidays.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she tried to nibble her toast silently. I know how excited she is to meet her grandparents for the first time.
"Aww, I'm joking Amy!! And you are not going alone. We all are coming with you. I thought we can have a nice holiday too in India. I'm scared to send you alone. You can stay with your family and we will stay in a hotel and see places. Then we all can return together." Mom said rising from her seat. She hugged Amy rubbing her back soothingly.
"I'm sorry. I made you cry."
"It's okay. So what date did you book the tickets?" She asked smiling and sniffling her tears.
"We are going in our private jet. We can go anytime you want. But I was thinking we can go immediately after your winter break starts so that you can spend more time with your family." Saying mom walked back to her seat.
"That would be perfect." Amy smiled through her moist eyes.
"Are we going to India?" Asked Ryan.
"Yes" nodded mom to him. Did he sleep till now?
"Cool," Ryan remarked.
"I don't want to come. What will I do there?" I asked mom looking her in the eye.
"Jason, you are coming and that's final. This is a nice time for us to go and spend time as a family and you will be going away for college for the next few years. We don't get to spend much time then."
"Okay," I agreed half-heartedly.
I saw that Amy's hazel eyes are staring at me and she looked pissed. Maybe she doesn't want me to come to India.
As we were seated in the car. Amy called someone on the phone.
"Hey, Grandpa how are you?" She asked beaming with a smile.
"I'm coming to India. We are starting immediately when the break starts."
"No, I didn't book the tickets. I'm coming in the private jet owned by Brown's. "
"Of course I'm not traveling alone in a private jet Grandpa. Brown's family is also coming with me. They are planning a holiday in India."
"I think they are going to stay at the hotel."
"Okay..... okay.... bye grandpa bye goodnight" she hung up the phone.
"Guess what Grandpa is going to call your parents and invite them to stay at their house. We could stay together. You can meet Dia. We can have so much fun together. Ohh I so wish Sophie will also be able to come with us." she turned back and said to Ryan.
Great just great!
This trip is going to be so awkward!!******
The 18hour flight journey is pretty boring.One of my co passenger, Jason, made it his mission to ignore me and flirt with the air hostess and the other one, Ryan, are like a pig and then spent half of his time in the washroom puking and the other half passed out.By the time we reached Delhi, India it's almost 2 in the morning. We walked out of the airport and saw my Uncle Raj waiting for us at the Arrival Gate.He gave a warm smile to me and nodded at the guys.We walked towards the car. I and Ryan followed my Uncle and Jason who carried all the luggage."He scares me," Ryan whispers and I giggled at him. I can understand how he feels. I noticed the disapproving looks my uncle gave me whenever I'm near Jason or Ryan be it talking or fighting during his stay with us.It's an hour drive from the airport. The house is lit up with lights and a big rangoli at the front. Grandma stood by the door with an aarti in hand.
The next day grandma kept a puja(prayer) in the house and invited all the relatives. Grandma gifted me with a lehenga choli to wear. It's a beautiful powder blue lehenga with an intricate design and baby pink mono net dupatta.Dia braided my hair to lose fishtail braid and adorned it with tiny flower clips. Dia wore yellow and pink silk lehenga choli. She looked beautiful. Her brown eyes adorned with kohl and jet black hair in a half up half down with curls at the end.As I walked down, I can feel all the eyes in the living room staring at me. Grandma invited around 40members for the pooja mostly close-knit family members. I was standing awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs. I can't see any known faces. All the new faces and the way they are gawking at me is making me very uneasy.A middle-aged lady in a red silk saree and heavy gold jewelry walked over to me scanning me from top to bottom. I tried giving her a small smile despite my nervousne
I told Dia that I would like to go shopping and she suggested we could go to the Chandni Chowk market. It is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi. Aunt Seema called Sameer to come and escort us.I got ready in my floral print mustard-colored cold shoulder dress with bell sleeves and made a messy bun. The dress reached my thighs. I took my sunglasses, a mobile, hat, and wallet in my tote bag. I tossed a scarf in at the last minute. The weather in Delhi is strangely hot in the day and cold at the night.Dia wore a simple white tunic top and olive-colored pants. She tied her hair in a high pony. Arjun didn't want to come because we have a lot of walking to do. Ryan came dressed in a red polo shirt and khaki shorts."Are you two coming dressed like this?" Asked Dia looking at me and Ryan back and forth with her mouth slightly open and raised eyebrows."Yeah, what's wrong with it?" Ryan asked checking
"Amy wake up" Dia jabbed me."Let me sleep for some more time." I groaned in my sleep."We have reached home. Let's go to the room and you can sleep all you want.""Shhh go away" why are they hell-bent on waking me. I'm having the best sleep of my life."You are all over Jason and hugging him Amy. Do you want me to click pictures? You both make quite a sight. Mom would be thrilled to see it." I heard Ryan's voice.That was enough for me to wake up from my sleep. I'm leaning over Jason's shoulderhugging him and gripping his graphic tee with my hands. And his tee wet with my drool. I jerked back to create some space between us and tried to wipe the drool from his tee.Dia and Ryan are standing by the car door and giggling at us. Jason is not even looking at me. He is looking out the window with his cheeks colored, is he angry or embarrassed? I can't make it out.
I went to the living room wearing my tank top and jeans with long black and white striped shrug. Ryan and Jason already waiting in the living room. Dia walked moments later."I called Sameer to come to pick us. Harsh is coming to the movie theatre directly." Dia said walking down the stairs and brushing her hair."I'm here Dia, let's go." Said Sameer walking to the living room.He grabbed the car keys and we all followed him out. I could see Jason staring at me but I chose to ignore him.We reached the top floor of the mall, people are scattered over the lounge waiting for the movie to start. We sauntered over to Harsh."Hey, I booked the extra ticket as you said. Who is coming ?" Harsh asked Dia."Sameer is coming, we can't let him wait for us to finish the movie," Dia replied to him."Sameer? Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?" Harsh said with a frown on his face."Yeah but he is the one driving us around and dad
Dia's phone rang. She went to the balcony to take the call. She came back after a few minutes."Today is Sameer's birthday. He invited us to a party. Do you want to go?" She asked me while sitting on the bed.I kept the book I'm reading on the table near me. "Yeah, we have to go right? It's Sameer's birthday." I said using my duh tone."Dad wouldn't allow us to go to the party." She sighed."Why?" I asked her.What's wrong with going to a Birthday party? And of course, it's Sameer's birthday right."Partying is not allowed. My curfew is 6 pm. And the party is at 9. So there is no way they will allow us to go." She told with a sullen look."Uncle is not here and we could ask grandpa," I told her. They like Sameer so I don't think it would be an issue."They won't allow us, Amy, this is not the USA. They say it's not safe for girls. Bu
"Sameer I'm warning you for the last time. Leave my hand and let me go." I gritted my teeth at him."Oh, you don't have a problem with Jason or Ryan touching you and hugging you. Why are you acting like a naive innocent girl? I think you already lost your virginity and slept with a few. It's common in your culture. It won't do any harm to you if allow me too." He tried to hug me tight at this point and I slapped his face hard with my other hand, so hard that it stung my hand."Bitch" he shouted at me, he grabbed my hair in his hand, tugging them and moving my head backward. He leaned down to kiss my neck. I felt hot tears running down my cheeks. I felt so helpless.I used all my strength and pushed him hard and ran towards the door but he is faster than me, he slapped me right on my cheek and pushed me back to the bed, the push had such an impact that my head bumped into the wall.The blood gushing from my forehead is the least of my worry now. He r
Jason's POV "Mom I agreed to come to India only because you told me, we all could go together. But now that you and Dad are not coming. I don't see any more reason for me to go." I whined at Mom. I made this trip with my friends and had to back out of it because of my mom's request but now that they aren't coming! I dont want to go. "We are coming after a week Jason and you have to go, no more discussions. " "Maybe I could come with you and Dad. What will I do there? I don't know anyone there. I have made some plans with my friends. I don't want to miss out." "I want you to go to look after Amy and Ryan. She is meeting her family for the first time. What if something goes wrong. The fact that they tried to take her custody still worries me. Please." She said holding my hand's tears forming in her green eyes. "If there is an issue with our company. I