Checklist Wife

Mom's betrayal

Sia lifted her heavy suitcase onto the luggage trolley, and the trolley rolled to the side, making her huff in impatience; she had a long flight and was hanging at the last thread of patience. Good thing that she was sorted out for the house keys; she didn't know what she could've done if she were to wait for those keys. She made a note to thank her uncle for leaving the keys for her.  

"Do you need any help?" the lobby receptionist smiled as he offered to load the trolley. "Um! sure."  Sia held the trolley from rolling over as he packed her two heavy suitcases and the cabin bag. 

As they waited for the lift to fly up to the 22nd floor, "Thanks for helping me out." she smiled.

He nodded, pushing the trolley behind her as she walked briskly to her unit to let him in. "Ah! you are Vish's family?" The receptionist remarked with a frown.

"He is my uncle; ill be staying with him from now on." The frown on the receptionist deepened.

She said, sweeping her gaze at the suite; it was a well-lit 2-bed apartment, open concept kitchen, cozy living room with a 55' flat screen,  immaculately clean. A small passage to her right revealed two doors on each side and one at the end. On her right, she saw a sticky note stuck to the door.

"Welcome to Canada; I'll see you when I'm back from work. I've furnished this room with necessities; I hope you enjoy your stay." 

"I'll take it from here. Thanks for helping me out." She smiled and rolled her luggage into the room. There is a small double bed at the center of the room, draped in solid purple bed sheets, a nightstand with a lamp, and a closet with some hangers ready to use.  She heaved a sigh and fell onto the bed, watching the unobstructed view of the city. She loved the fact that it was floor-to-ceiling glass. She smiled at the sticky note in her hand. His letters were legible but resembled that of a kid's handwriting. 

After a quick shower, she left a message to her mom that she had reached safely and hadn't met her uncle yet. She decided to take a short nap and cook dinner to thank him.

Vish had a long, tiring day; he picked up take-out from the canteen and headed to his humble abode, which now he is unwillingly sharing with a middle-aged woman. If not for his mother's insistence, he would never be willing to share his personal space.  He was going through various plans during his commute to make the stranger leave sooner.

He heaved a sigh and smiled as he unlocked the door.  The aroma of spices soon lightened up his mood. He can let her stay for a couple of days if she can cook, can't he? He thought as his mouth watered at the taste of the food. The soft hum of the songs, with the clatter of dishes, made it feel homely. 

Hearing the door, Sia hurried to greet her uncle. "Hello, Ji." She folded her arms in Namastey to greet him. Vish stared at her, mouth agape, clearly not a middle-aged woman. "Who the hell are you?" both shouted in unison.

"Mom, why did you have to lie to me?" Sia was freaking out on her phone; her so-called uncle was a young man the same as her age. "Honey, I was afraid for your safety; it's not like I can come over if you have any difficulties; you are at the other end of the world now. Vish is my friend's son. I'll be relieved knowing that you are in safe hands if he is with you." Sia grunted angrily at her mother.

"Mom, you can't do this to me." Vish was frustrated; he tugged at his crown, holding his bubbling anger. "Chote, She is my best friend's daughter, she was so worried about sending her, and I couldn't help but think of this way to help her ease her worries."  

"But you have increased my worries now." He growled. Sia knocked on the door, "Can we talk?" 

"I'm sorry for imposing on you; give me a week, ill find another place and move out," she said confidently, though she was plagued by thoughts of how she was going to do that, she is new to the country, starting her job, landing procedures, house hunt all in a week. She cannot blame anyone else other than her betrayer of a mother for her predicament.