Westport Academy

Chapter 2- Samosa and Chai

Chapter 2- Samosa and Chai

Two weeks passed since Rani Singh had disappeared from her nightshift, and no one could find out what happened to her. Rani's cousin, Ganasi Patel worked at the Academy and was the one to report her missing, sitting in her classroom before the first bell would ring in the students, three triangle pastries known as samosa sat in her clear container, and a mug of chai resting in her hand. The fifty year old woman in a dark blue sari and black hair tied up into a bun sighed heavily, a photoframe of her much younger cousin rested on her desk. The police had been notified, and placed out an missing poster. No one knew anything. Ganasi wished she had been closer to her cousin, reached out more, and the sadness in her dark brown eyes swelled with water, praying to the gods above she could have that chance again. As she took a sip of her warm chai, glancing up the teacher noticed an tall blond staring at her from the open door.

"Brianna Stark?" Ganasi questioned glancing up at her. She was told this child had a mental breakdown and disappeared, her parents apparently took her to some vacation island, now she had returned on this day.

"H-Hi," Brianna stuttered, her bright blue eyes widened and her lips appeared to tremble, the umber brown skinned woman sat back on her green swivel chair, placing down her mug.

"Can I help you?" Ganasi spoke in a gentle tone, clasping her hands together feeling concerned for the student, the blond hair was out of place, she didn't have any makeup on and wore less expensive clothing. Just a normal white shirt, light teal cotton jacket and long brown slacks, this was not the look of a rich girl.

"Would you like some?" Ganasi spoke up in her southern Indian accent, lightly gesturing to the container. "It's all homemade, added with a dollop of love."

Brianna stared gnawing at her bottom lip, her facial expression crumpled like she would break, playing with the string of her jacket, glancing towards the food.

"Probably has.. A lot of fat and oil," Brianna stuttered, there was something Ganasi couldn't quite pinpoint about her eyes. Guilt? Something had happened to her.

"Why do rich women always worry so much, a little won't hurt you," Ganasi assured her. "In India, I am the skinny one," she joked hoping to entice the woman to come towards her. Ganasi calmly picked up the puffy pastry, and took a gentle bite, the filling of chicken, small vegetables, and potatoes, the smell of spices filled the classroom, and she saw Brianna inhale deeply, her nostrils lightly flaring, her eyes closed before she shook her head.

"I suppose one wouldn't hurt, it's the least I can do," Brianna's voice shook, Ganasi tilted her head and kept an warm inviting smile on her round face, so many referenced her like the mother figure, a kindhearted and yet powerful woman that could spark earthly abilities to her enemies. A Mother Nature if you will. A single plant sat in a black pot swaying in the direction of the teacher, responding to her powers.

"What do you ever mean?" Ganasi questioned, watching the student close the door behind her then walk closer to her. "How's that squad you hang out with? Archie and Sweety was it?" Ganasi gently spoke again, she knew the two had been seen in school and they were rather acting normal. Normal as one could be being a rich teen snob.

Brianna continued to move like a mouse fiddling with it's tiny hands, coming to sit on a small chair across the desk, Ganasi gently nudged the container towards her, seeing Brianna stare at her. The teacher wasn't surprised, in spite of the South Asian teachers currently employed at this job, and the academy's diversity, many of the Australians students still looked at Indian food as if it was too foreign for them. Ganasi believed it was an act however, the way Brianna almost salivated at the samosa, gently picking it up and biting at the corner of the pastry.