Lockdown

Blossom

PARI POV

I guess, I was happy. Truly happy. It had been what, only 5 days since he came into my life? And he already knew more about me than my entire friend circle knew about me. Maybe, God did send him there to help me out...

It was the second day I found myself sleeping over my bed peacefully with him nowhere around me or creeping around me either. I was just happy and felt even more secure in my house after that incident. That's why, I had the longest and the most satisfying bath that morning and for maybe the second time since he came I was awake before him. But this time, I decided to do something good for him. Besides, Suhani had said something about her brother loving Appams for breakfast... And he had been so good to me over the past few days. I could do that much...

So, I got to cooking when I got a call from my papa. Now, this time, I didn't get upset. He had called me the last day and even after the small little fight that I had with him over the call but... I wasn't able to pick up. Although this time when he decided to give me a video call the first thing in the morning, I sucked it all up, smiled, put my headphones over my ears and decided to pick it up for once.

" Did the sun rise from the West today!?" Was the first thing that old man had to shout when I picked up the call
" Haha. Papa, very funny,"
" How is my night owl princess awake so early?!"
" Bas..." I looked him at looking at me with a deep look and sighed, " I fell asleep early last night," I told him and he smiled softly while I continued making the chutney and kept my phone down. Headphones were wireless so that wasn't an issue. As such.
" Arre wah. What are you making this early then?"
" Appam. My roommate likes them... I just thought that I'd try,"
" That boy?!" And his reaction was also very classy. He shouted in anger the moment the mention of my roommate came up because, well... He hated it whenever guys approached me. I mean, you could say that he was one reason why I didn't have that long and big of a relationship even in college.
" Yes. That boy. Why? You have an issue. Papa. I am 25-"
" Does not mean that I am ready to marry you off to anyone like this!"
" But he is not anyone na! He's Sohit! That rich CEO who owns Juggle! I told you na! Pramod," but the smile I had over my face really came off when I heard that voice. Of course she was there and of course she was eavesdropping. Obviously she was the one who told him to call me. Otherwise when does he even have time out of his work?
" I'm toh thinking. I'll start Prachi's marriage talks with his mother. I mean they are such good people na. His mother called me that day-"
" Papa. Tell her to get out of the frame right now," it's like my own mother hated my existence. But I got it. Who would even want to acknowledge my existence when she had another perfect child who would do everything she ever wanted her to do.
" Pari-"
" No. I picked the call only to talk to my Papa and what else can you even say other than "Prachi is small Pari" " Let her get this one thing and I'll get you something better the next time" I'm tired of hearing it. Ok? So just, forget it. I don't even want to have this talk and I am in a really good mood. Don't spoil it," I guess that I came a little strongly at them because both of them were looking at me with worry and sorry plastered all over their heads. But I'll say only one thing. I'm the way I am because of them. I don't care if they have to suffer it all because, I've suffered in my life too. And I know what suffer means. I'm not just saying something dumb like not given expensive purse. It was real suffering but it wasn't like they would get it. They grew up in non-abusive, well educated, well off families. My parents would never understand it.
" Are you done now? Im going off. Just seeing your face is enough to irritate me at this point," and I just cut the call at that. That's it. That call had really disturbed me enough for me to jump out of my skin that day but I guess that never happened because I heard the door open to that idiot's room and I heard a huge yawn coming from there too. It almost made me laugh even when I heard him trip over something and groan in pain. But then, I found him in the kitchen, staring at me with wide eyes and disbelief over his face.
" Someone woke up early... What's for breakfast?!" And he was definitely excited too. Maybe he got a little too excited when I told him that I was trying his mother's recipe for Appams and as he devoured them one by one right in front of me, I knew that he liked them. Although he did tell me
" It's not the exact. I mean, Amma's are on a different level altogether," but I was content. For the first time, my Appams came out much better than just edible. They came out good even!
I guess that smiling look over his face made my day.

But then I received that dreaded phone call from my best friend...
" Bro! I've been trying to reach you for days!"
" Huh?! I'm sorry. I just didn't open my phone," more like I had purposefully not touched my phone to ignore all calls and texts from everyone over the past, maybe, 2 days?
" Pch! Pari! This is Code Red!"
" What?! Piyush has diarrhea again?"
" NO! Not that this time. It's the reunion... IT'S TOMORROW! And you kinda have to be there online. People are betting on if you are dead or have gone missing by now! Pari! They'll declare you dead if you don't turn up!"