Dawn

Chapter 11 - Envy

Envy

[noun]

desire, longing, a deadly sin

Aryan was miserable. 

It wasn't just that he was at this goddamn idiotic mess of a party. 

It wasn't that he'd had to constantly refuse offers to play with the red, pink and white gulaal with fools who looked like they'd rolled around in paint. 

It wasn't even that he'd been dragged around by his mother and thrust in a corner when he proved to be bad company. 

He was miserable because Imlie seemed to be fine.

Yes, there she was, playing her damn holi, looking near angelic in her white kurta and colorful dupatta, not a single care in the world.

She moved her open hair over one shoulder, revealing the deep cut back. His eyes widened, then narrowed. He had to physically tamp down the urge to go stand behind her, just to block people's view. When did she change her wardrobe? And why? She looked perfectly fine before, he thought. 

And why was it that she seemed to make friends everywhere she went? He frowned as another boy approached her for a dance which she declined. Good.

"Why did there need to be couples dancing at a Holi party?"

"Because it's a Holentine party. Part Valentine. For God's sake Aryan do something about that grimace on your face," Narmada scolded him. "You look like you've eaten something bad."

"You've been around Imlie too long, Ma. You're starting to sound like her."

"Are you two fighting?" Narmada turned and asked point blank.

Aryan slanted a look at his mother. "Why? Did Imlie say something?"

"No. It's you. You've been unbearable these last two weeks. Your mood swings are tiring me out. I didn't even have this much trouble when Arpi got her periods."

"Ma!" protested both her children, for different reasons.

Narmada stifled a grin. Maybe Imlie was rubbing off on her after all.

"On that note, I'm going to find a friend," Arpita declared. "Aru, keep an eye on Imlie ok? She doesn't know anyone here."

"Doesn't seem that way," he muttered, scowling as yet another admirer joined her ever growing group of friends. They'd been here for an hour and Imlie had found herself a bunch of people to hang out with. It irked him that she didn't consider asking him.

You haven't been exactly friendly, lately, a little voice niggled in the back of his head.

Aryan had deliberately stepped back from her. 

His conversation with Meethi on the heels of the burst of attraction he'd felt for Imlie at the pool, prompted him to retreat from her company. Afraid that Meethi had been right - that the lines between role-play and reality were blurring, he'd spent the last two weeks burying himself in every possible project he could find. 

He didn't want to be that person who took advantage of someone  he was supposed to be helping. He couldn't do that to Imlie.

All good intentions aside, trying to follow through with that had been most frustrating for him. He'd been irritated with little things, snapping at everyone. People at work had taken to turning back when they saw him, sometimes choosing to walk the long way in order to avoid him. 

He'd reduced a journalist to tears over a spelling error today. He sighed. He was going to have to find a way to apologize for that. Maybe give the guy an extra day off.