Chapter four

ANUSHIYA VISHWANATH

I was sitting on my bed in my room alone, pillow on my lap and laptop on a pillow, watching Netflix's series as my hand feed me popcorn to my mouth. The sun was frying people's skin outside but I was safe here sitting inside my room which had an air conditioner, I was thankful for my appa(dad) which he'd brought this for us in instalment.

To be honest I was all alone in my whole house. My parents and my little sister went to the airport to receive one of my appa's close friends and his family.

First, he'd a plan of going with amma(mom) but my little sister was like... an extrovert she likes going out and seeing things and making friends so she insisted to go with them. But at first, he didn't let her because if she goes with them I would be all alone in this house. And it wasn't safe to leave their elder girl alone. But when she kept her face crying and asked me, "Will you be safe if I went out with amma and appa? Or you wanna go with us?" I told appa that I would be safe and take Jo with them. When I finally said that she started grinning and hugged me and with a second they were all gone.

I know one thing for sure that I wasn't like her not like any other woman. I was different.

That was the reason behind me sitting on my bed and watching Netflix.

After hours of watching that colour screen, my eyes started pain so I flicked close to the laptop, placed it aside, and hopped out of bed, finally. And made my way to the kitchen and opened the fridge there was nothing but some Tupperware containers full of leftovers and a couple of cold water bottles. I took a water bottle and closed the door with a thud.

When I was about to sit in our dining room with a bottle in my hand our calling bell rings. I placed the bottle in front of the table and went to answer the door.

"Anu, we're home." my little sister as her hand in the air. Behind her our amma(mom) and appa(dad) were standing, smiling at me.

"Welcome home," I said and I meant it.

"You know what?" Jo asked.

"I saw airplane took over." She showed her teeth as she said. "That was too noisy, my ear was still hurting I want to put some ice cubes in my ear."

"What?" We all shouted and she gave me a sigh look.

"Just kidding," We all shook our head in relief.

"Where are they?" I asked amma once we sat on our sofa in the living room. I sat beside appa and Jo sat beside amma.

"Yeah, we stopped by their house and his amma insisted us to eat lunch with them," Amma said to me. So they went to their house. "Can I make you something?" she asked.

"No."

"Maggie in two minutes?" she said because she was sorry for me.

"No, I'm sure I was going out anyway. I'll take care of it." I assured her which was a lie.

"Going out?" They all asked at once, surprised. Yes, whenever I say "Going out" they never forget to give their surprise expression because I don't go out very often.

I can't just ignore them.

"Yes, with Arjun."

I called Arjun when I got back to my room which I share with my little sister. He answered me quickly as I expected.

"Hey, are you free right now? What about catching lunch together?" I asked him. He didn't answer at first. There were some background noises like bike engines roaring which had always irritated me.

"In 10?" he shouted through the phone so that I could hear without any background noises.

He was there at my house in 10 as he said with his roaring motorcycle in his hand.

I shouted "In 3." From my balcony as I searched for my phone which I threw after talking to Arjun.

I was wearing blue pencil-tipped jeans and a white short kurta with sky blue shawl around my neck as I let my messy hair-free.

When I finally readied I descended the stairs in a hurry. Keeping in mind that Arjun was already waiting for me.

"Is he already here?" amma asked.

"Yep," I said to her as I kissed her on the cheeks and hurried to the front door.

"Have a nice day," she gave an awkward voice which I didn't care.

When I was about to open the door and step outside I turned around as I heard a voice behind me.

"May I join with you guys?" Jo asked.

"Why not? But you didn't eat at that granny's house?" I asked her.

"I did but when you said going out it must be beachside, right?" she asked little embarrassed though.

Arjun was becoming impatient as I was being late every second. He started honking which was strong and sounded angry.

I knew she like food, especially beach-side tent foods.

"Come on." I waved her in as I run-walked to Arjun where he was standing. He was wearing khaki pants and a white shirt.

We rode to the beach as Jo sat in the middle of us.

On the time Arjun went to park his motorcycle I and Jo went to search for food to eat. It wasn't lunchtime it was 3 pm in, evening. So the tent shops were just started opening.

"It looks like it may take time for them to settle down so shall we go for a walk?" I asked both of them.

They nodded.

We three walked on the side of the beach, shoes on our hands as the waves licked our foot which felt cold and satisfying. The air-kissed me on my bare face as showing that in some shop they were frying fish and ready to eat.

I let my eyes search for it and found the nearby shop.

"There it is!" I shouted and without glancing back at them I walked to that shop and ordered one plate of rice and fish fry for myself.

Then Jo and Arjun ordered the same as I ordered.

"You left us," Jo yelled.

"You know your sister can live without water which most people don't but she can't live without food." He said mocking me.

Jo laughed and got some people's attention as they passed us.

"I didn't eat lunch," I said politely.

When I said that the shopkeeper, a woman in her early eighties tut-tut me. "Here we go," She said as passed our orders. She gave Arjun and Jo first as I waited for mine. They got their plate full of rice and curry on the top as the fish fry on the side which made my mouth water. "And this is for you who skipped the lunch." She said as she passed me my plate.

When I took it and looked at it there must be something wrong with my plate.

"This isn't my order," I told that old woman who was smiling at me because for Jo and Arjun they got what they'd ordered but for me, she put an extra piece of fish fry.

When Arjun and Jo gave me the shocked look when they saw my plate and a little jealous too

"I know, dear. But this is for you. You're a growing child so you've to eat well." She said as she combed my hair with her hand which makes me remember my grandma, I wish she'd have here with me, she'd also like her combing my hair and making me eat too much. I miss her.

We took our plate on our hand and walked towards the park just across from the beach and finished our late lunch for me, for them that was their second-round in lunch.

As I said I don't like going out but today I couldn't refuse my stomach's screaming for food. So I didn't have any other options but go out and eat.

While after finishing and washing our hands we went back to the sand side of the beach sat on the well cleaned and empty spot. We three sat according to our age as I sat beside Arjun who was elder than I and Jo sat beside me who was younger than me as we were lost in the beauty of that glorious sky as sea reflects the color of the sky in that waving sea.

My life was going smoothly. No tension. No worry. No, bother. Only peace and do or go whatever and whenever I want, like staying in or going out with Jo and Arjun. I don't have any friends but Arjun, Jo, and my parents.

And forgot to mention most importantly Arjun's little brother.