Arylie (Imlie & Aryan)

Chapter Five

'I asked if you wanted a stomach massage, it helps with cramps.' I quickly say.

She looked at me shocked, like I grew two heads. 'I thought I heard you say something else like...'

'Like what?' I probed further.

'Nothing, never mind I must be hearing things. Thank you but I'd ask Arpita to help me with it.'

'What if I want to do it? Won't you let me? Besides, Arpita is busy.'

'Okay, but you must rub my head occasionally. I miss my mum so much and she always does this for me during this time of the month.' She requested.

I nodded and sat beside her on the bed. This is the second time I'm in close proximity with her after that one time we danced together at her ex-husband's wedding.

I could feel the air thicken and I think she felt it too. I quickly snapped out of it and asked. 'Can I'

She pulled her top up a bit to reveal her belly and I gulped. It looked so perfect with her belly ring and waist chain. 'Do you trust me?' It's been a long time since I saw a woman's bare belly and coupled with the fact I was attracted to her was driving me crazy. I smacked myself mentally to focus and I looked away.

''I do Aryan, you are my friend, best friend.' She uttered.

'I'm not your friend.' I said placing my hands gently on her belly and it felt so warm. I felt her shiver from my touch. I started to rub it in a circular motion when she started laughing. She found it ticklish and I couldn't stop myself from grinning.

'Did you just smile Aryan? I need to add this to my achievements. I think we should feature it in Bhaskar Times, let me think of a perfect headline.' She raved. 'ABP smiling, something big is going to happen to me tonight.'

'Do you always have cramps?' I said with a frown wanting to change the topic, I was still rubbing her belly.

'He is back with that glower in his eyes again.' She grumbled pouting her lips and I looked away immediately. I had to resist the urge of wanting to taste her.

'Yes but ...'

'But what? You didn't even tell me,' I chimed in not allowing her to finish her sentence. I couldn't bear to see her in pain.

'Aryan, I'm fine. I'm not dying and did you expect me to come to you and say, I'm having cramps and allow me to finish talking. I do have cramps but not this severe.'

'What happened today then?'

'I guess I had too many sugary things this month and I had an ice cream yesterday.'

'How many days are your cycle?' I inquired.

'Why do you care? Stop behaving like my mother and since you asked so nicely, I'm going to tell you, it's every 26 days.'

I made a mental note to myself to watch a YouTube video on how to calculate a period cycle. I scoffed and asked, do you feel better now?

'Yes, thank you. I'm so excited for tonight,' she let out a delightful glee.

'You are even more excited than the celebrant herself.' I say, turning to find her glaring at me.

'I just want to see how you city people celebrate your birthday, you know in the village we celebrate ours with our mums waking us up early in the morning then we are wished a happy birthday and we take blessings from our elders.'

'We would be given new clothes, then we would all visit the temple. A small pooja would be conducted and the pooja parasadam (offering) would be distributed. We then go home and a special breakfast would be made for us, usually our favourite. Mine is roti and curry. I miss my mother and pagdandiya.' She explained.