Saviour

eleven

"Put this there" I instructed. "Everything ready in the kitchen?" I asked as I walked in. I smiled
In satisfaction when everything seemed to be in the right place.

AbRam's little friends are going to be here soon for his birthday and the place finally looked like a birthday party. "Look at you all handsome" AbRam did a little twirl for me.

"You excited?" I asked him and he eagerly nodded. He had been so excited last night it was difficult to put him to bed. My smile dropped when I remembered the events of last night.

I found that box with the dress. I still have no idea how it arrives here and who brought it. If Aryan hadn't showed up, I would've spent all night worrying.

Aryan had slept next to me the whole night. It was strange because I had never had anyone ask me to do anything like this for them but Aryan, someone I wouldn't expect, did.

When I woke up this morning, Aryan was gone from my bedroom. He left no trace of himself. I wondered for quite some time if it was only a dream and he was never there.

"You seem lost" I turned to Suhana. "What? No no I'm fine" I told her. "You sure? I've been talking to you for the past five minutes" She said. "Wait you have?" I asked.

"Yeah so where's your mind?" She asked. I know Suhana is not a fan of mine but she and I both know since Aryan made the decision for me to stay here, she can't say anything.

"Just hoping the party will go well" I lied and she knew I was lying. "Hm okay" She said softly before leaving me. I sighed in relief. I turned to the noise at the front door.

AbRam's friends had arrived and they were all busy running around. "Where's bhaiyya?" He asked Suhana. "He'll be right down I'll get him" She told him before she ran up.

"Payal..." I turned to see the chef standing with a worried look. "Oh God what?" I asked knowing something is definitely wrong. "The cake...it's not here yet" My eyes widened.

"What?!" I exclaimed in quiet whisper. I pushed the chef back into kitchen discreetly so as to not gather too much attention. "How can the cake not be here yet?!" I asked him.

"If the cake didn't arrive earlier why didn't you tell me?" I asked him. "I thought it would be here by now" He replied guiltily. I pulled back my hair in frustration as I turned away.

"Payal ma'am?" The house servant called for me. "What?" I asked in a ruder tone than I intended. "The cake delivery man is here" He told me. "Where is he?" I asked.

"Outside" He pointed. "Why would you–why not just call him inside?" I asked. "What is wrong with all of you" I really wanted everything to go perfectly and because of them nothing was running smoothly.

"Didi where's my cake?" AbRam ran into the kitchen. "It is here and ready" I told him. "You go gather your friends and we will bring your cake" I told him.

As soon as he ran out of the kitchen I told the servant to go get the cake and I walked out. I smiled when I saw Aryan playing with his baby brother and his little friends.

"Happy birthday AbRam!" My heart almost froze. I knew that voice. I grew up with that voice. It couldn't have been. "Avi bhaiyya!" AbRam shouted.

I felt like I couldn't breathe while AbRam ran past me and hugged someone behind me. "I missed you" AbRam said. "Hey Avi" Suhana walked past me and greeted him.

"Hey Aryan" The figure walked past me and I let my eyes glance at him. It was him. It was the same Avi that I grew up with. The same Avi that– "Payal?"

"Huh?" I was shook out of my thoughts by Aryan's voice. "You good?" He asked. I stared blankly at everyone. I wasn't able to say a single word.

I just stood there while they stared back at me waiting for me to say something. I looked at Avi but when I looked at him, it felt as if he didn't know who I was.

He was staring at me as if I was someone new and he had never seen me before. "Payal?" I snapped my gaze away from Avi when I felt Aryan's hands on my shoulder.

"Payal?" He repeated, a little louder this time. I finally looked at him. His eyes were filled with concern, something I had never seen before. "Y-y-yes yes yes I'm fine" I said.

"Cake!!" All of the children ran towards the cake that was finally brought to the living room. Suhana and Avi turned their attention to the children but Aryan stayed with me.

"Payal? You okay?" Aryan asked. "Yes I'm fine just a little lightheaded" I lied. "You've been working hard these days you must be tired" He told me and I just nodded.

"Why don't you go rest?" He whispered. I looked over at Avi and wanted to ask him so many questions. "Payal?" Aryan brought my attention back to him.

"Go rest" He told me. "Okay" I whispered. I glanced at Avi once again before I walked towards the stairs. I walked to my room in utter confusion.

I had so many questions. Why was Avi here? How do they know him? Is he following me? Was the dress sent by him? Why is he not acknowledging my existence?

Hours passed by and I kept tossing and turning in my bed. I looked outside my window and it was already night time. The party had finished a while ago.

I had no idea whether Avi had left or he was still roaming around in this house. I didn't think about my next step. I just jumped out of bed and exited my room.