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. ( a small flame lit by using camphor in a plate, people usually move it 3times clockwise and then anti-clockwise) she puts kumkum(sacred powder) on my forehead and then on Jason and Ryan's forehead.
As I stepped into the house, she gave the plate to a male maid, she hugs me right away and started sobbing remembering Mama which brought tears to my eyes.
"Stop crying Lakshmi, the kid just arrived and you are already making her cry." Grandpa chided grandma.
Grandma pulled away and then I noticed how old and fragile she looked. I can't help but wipe her tears and give her a kiss on the cheek which in return made her smile.
Grandpa looked jolly, he joked around about changing grandma because this one always cries and makes everyone emotional. He tried to lighten the mood with his jokes. He was so cute.
I never spent time with my paternal grandparents as they both are dead. I always felt jealous of the brown brothers whenever their Grandpa visited.
Next, I'm in a bone-crushing hug from Dia. "Thank you for bringing him." She whispered in my ear so that no one can hear. I put a fake angry face at her but laughed immediately. "He is all yours," I whispered back winking at her.
"This is Jason, Peter, and Kristina's elder son and this is Ryan their second son and my best friend." Saying I side hugged Ryan in front of them and grinned like a fool.
I noticed all their expressions change a little and Dia tries to convey something to me using her eyes which I can't understand. I gave her a questioning look but she just shakes her head in denial while mouthing 'hopeless' to me.
Aunt Seema asked me how I was doing. Arjun Dia's younger brother keeps asking for the chocolates that I promised him and only sat down quietly after Ryan opened the bag with gifts and gave him his chocolates along with all the other gifts which included a bracelet for Seema aunty, a dress for Dia, and action figures for Arjun, couples jackets for my grandparents and cologne set for Uncle.
"Why did you get so many gifts again Amelia? You shouldn't waste money. You already sent a lot with Raj." grandpa said giving me a disapproving look.
"Oh no, I didn't. Kristina picked out all these gifts. She wanted to give these herself but she couldn't be here at this time. Maybe they can manage to come for a week if the issue with shareholders settles down." I told him
"No, we can't accept all these costly gifts from them," Grandma said with a worried face.
"Mom wanted to give them to you. Please don't deny it. She would feel very happy if you accept these." Jason spoke surprising everyone.
Okay not everyone but he surprised me... So he can speak in the sugar-coated way.
"We shouldn't say no when they are giving with so much love. It may hurt their feelings," saying Aunt Seema took all the gifts inside.
"Let's go inside, I want to show you my room. You will be sharing a room with me if you are okay with it? Or else I could shift to Arjun's room." Dia asked me in doubt.
"No, I'm totally fine," I said to her.
The male servant Ramu, kept the bags in our respective rooms. I can't help but laugh looking at Ryan's face when he came to know that he is sharing a room with Jason. The guest room opposite Dia's is given to Jason and Ryan.
"I don't want to share a room with Jason. " Ryan says in a hushed tone while walking behind me on the stair.
"I think this is a wonderful opportunity to bond with your brother. Don't you think so?" I asked him laughing wickedly at him.
If I know one thing about this set of brothers, then it's how they avoid each other. They never spend time together not even fighting like me and Jason.
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I changed to my comfortable tank top and shorts before getting into bed. We are sharing a king-size bed which is big enough for both of us.
I can't sleep because of jet lag and Dia is too thrilled to have me in her room, I'm shocked to know she never had any sleepovers with her friends. A few of her friends visited her home daytime but never for sleepovers and she never went to any of her friend's places.
She is shocked to hear that I spent all my life with Ryan and Sophie, mostly Ryan he is like a twin to me always stuck together.
We kept talking till the sun came up and then finished our morning duties and walked down to see Ryan sitting and laughing with my grandparents, while Jason busy with his cellphone.
Grandpa asked me if we want to go sightseeing but I said maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow as I feel tired today. I want to spend time with them at home. The day passed by chatting with everyone. Uncle went for some meetings and Aunt Seema spends most of her time in the kitchen or her room.
Kristina messaged me if I'm free to call. I called her back instead of messaging.
"Hey, sweetie. How are you? How is the bonding going?" She asked me.
"Hey Kristina, I'm good and how are you? I'm having a good time here."
"How are the boys behaving? I hope Jason is not troubling you? Is he rude to them?" She asked worriedly.
"No, he is not troubling me because he is avoiding me now. I don't know for whatever goddamn reason. And you know what people are already in love with Ryan, he is already the favourite Brown and Jason is surprisingly quiet doing his own business in his room."
"Hahaha, I hope they will be the same without causing any trouble."
Aunt Seema came to me and asked me to give her my phone as she wants to talk to Kristina.
She thanked her for the gifts and asks her to fly here as soon as possible to spend time with us.
After talking with Kristina for a while I got back to the others. I am playing a monopoly with Ryan, Dia, and Arjun. The day passed fast with Jason stepping out of his room only twice for lunch and dinner.
"Jason, please stay and play games with the others. Don't feel shy you can be free with us, feel like home." Aunt Seema asked him after lunch.
"No, actually I have an assignment to finish. I will join later." Jason escaped back to his room.
My grandparents and Aunt already got the impression that Jason is polite, shy studious, and reserved, but in reality, he is anything but those, he is bratty, careless, insane, and pure DEVIL reincarnation.
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
Jason's POVI looked at the fragile girl who lied unconscious next to me in the car with her head on my shoulder. She was clutching my tee tight in her hands as her life depended on it. Tears dried out on her cheeks.But, still, her body jerked in sleep now and then. My hold tightening around her every time she trembled in sleep.The ride back was awfully quiet, everyone lost in their miseries. I'm just trying to keep my anger in check so I won't lash out at Dia or break Ryan's bones. Harsh stopped the car by the gate. I lifted her in my arms not wanting to wake her up."I will go and wake my mom and grandparents." Said Dia walking inside."Dia stop. Let's not disturb them now. It's midnight. We will tell them in the morning." Truthfully, I don't want them to disturb Amy. She just went to sleep and she may start crying again after waking up.Dia nodded at