Wilted Petals

Chapter 12: He Locked Me In

I love my parents a lot. They've been some of my biggest supporters throughout my life. I mean, how can I not be grateful to the people that paid for me to become a doctor and insisted I don't take out a dime in loans? I like to think that the amount they paid throughout my 8 odd years of school is enough for a down payment on a house, but when you live in the Bay Area, that money will barely cover the cost of a cardboard box beneath an old lamp post.

Our relationship is not perfect, however. Sometimes, they just don't get me. It's natural with all parents, as that whole notion is what is defined by our teen years. But even as I'm several decades past my teen years, trying to discuss something with them is like trying to speak Finnish to a newborn and expecting them to understand.

As I'm walking to their house, I'm conveying silent prayers that they won't completely judge me for how I'm feeling. After I ring the doorbell, even somehow, I find that slightly hard to believe. It's not that they judge us completely, it's just that sometimes they look like they want to smack the shit out of us for being so stupid at certain points.

Thankfully, I can prepare my concerns for lots of judgy looks when I see the door swing open to be greeted by my mom. Surely enough, even though she's approaching her elderly years, she still gives off the aura that she was a mafia boss back in her youth. With her thin lips always pressed together, her jet black hair pulled back elegantly, and her piercing brown eyes that could cut through a diamond ring, she never fails to make people within a mile radius shit their pants.

"Hi, amma," I greet, as I see her sharp brown eyes dull at the sight of me.

Her thin lips, creased with a few wrinkles around the corners, curl into a satisfied smile when she sees me. "Jaya, kanna, come in," she instructs, as she closes the door behind me. My eyes dart around the room in an attempt to find my dad, and surely enough, he's sitting at the table. In a stark contrast to my mom, his thinning salt and pepper hair is combed as neatly as it can be, like he's got a meeting to prepare for. His sunken eyes are scrolling his phone, probably to filter out the occasional bullshit spewing on WhatsApp.

I clear my throat a little bit, and say, "Hey, appa," I greet, and his gentler brown eyes dart up to greet me.

An even bigger smile explodes on his face when he sees me. "Jaya, kanna! Okkaru, (sit down) please," he says, like I wasn't planning on doing so eventually. I gently pull out a chair that's right there so that I can listen to what my dad's doing. "How's work? Tough?"

I give a vigorous nod, while the thought of "That's kind of a stupid question," stings my mind. I mean, I'm a doctor. I don't just sleep at work and the medical problems don't work themselves out. "Well, of course. I'm an ICU heart doctor. Although I wish, it's not all sunshine and puppies and rainbows."

My dad snickers, as the realization of how much of a stupid question that was dawns upon his dusky eyes. "Fair, fair," he replies, as my mom trots over to bring the food. She brings out a spoon to serve it to us, and I look over to my mom to get it answered.

"Ananth isn't here? Usually he's here."

My mom shakes her head, as she pulls out a chair to sit in. "No, apparently he had work to do at the office. But appa and I know that's bullshit, and he's probably sitting at home, eating popcorn, and binge watching Parks and Recreation."

I erupt in a fit of snickers, as I know that description is wrong. Ananth would probably have several Coca-Cola cans next to him as he's watching so that he could use the caffeine to watch even more seasons.

"But enough about that. What about you? I know work can be bad, but what's going on outside of that? How's Jen's wedding planning with Anwar going?"

A little smile curls at my lips, as the slight excitement of the whole thing bubbles inside the depths of my stomach. Flashes of her beautiful Tunisian wedding dress and of Anwar's dapper sherwani cause the smile to stretch a little bit wider on my face. "Wedding planning is going great. Karim Uncle is pretty excited, and Salim is still raiding Anwar's fridge while this whole thing is going on."