Once Upon a Time in London

Chapter 42

There is a morning I cannot forget.

A seemingly random morning sometime before Tina's sangeet, when I could not sit still due to the nerves of our performance.

I flit about the bedroom in my silk nightdress, rubbing my temple to ease some stress. I had tossed and turned the whole night, finally giving up on sleep once the sky started to lighten.

I gulped down a glass of water to calm my racing heart, it felt as if it would fall to the depths of my stomach.

When I couldn't stand it anymore, I snatched the shawl hanging on the back of my dressing chair and sprinted down the stairs, the shawl swung awkwardly around one arm. I needed to go out in the fresh garden air before this feeling of suffocation overtook me.

I pushed on the glass door, only slowing down to a comfortable walking pace once I am out in the open gardens. And for a moment I forget all about the performance, basking in the solidarity an early morning provided. No one flitting about the gardens, no smell of food or drinks being poured, no music, no laughter, no one around but me and the birds chirping their melodious songs-"

"What are you doing here?" a voice called out from behind me, breaking me from my reverie.

Well so much for being alone.

"Rahul" I raise an eyebrow up in annoyance as I cross my arms over my chest when I turn around to face him.

He tilts his head to the side, a smug look on his face, he imitates my actions and crosses his own arms over his chest, it is only then that I realise how casually he's dressed. My face begins to heat up as I take in his messy hair, pajamas and a loose white shirt, almost half unbuttoned. It seems as if he'd just woken up.

I roll my eyes, "I should be the one asking you that, you gave me such a fright."

He narrows his eyes slightly as his grin widens, "You're one to talk, I thought I ran into a ghost" he says, jutting his chin in the direction of my clothes.

I look down at my clothes and my face immediately heats up, I came out in the white silk nightdress I was wearing, I fan my face with my hand, "Says the one who's at the brink of being half naked" I mutter, wrapping the lilac stoll around me self-consciously.

Rahul smirks as he leans his head down until his eyes are eye level with mine, "Why, you'd rather I take the shirt off altogether?"

I grit my teeth, look at him twisting my words, "What, no. You of all people should know I'm not like one of your high school groupies, you could be all naked and I wouldn't care" I lift my head up defiantly.

My eyes widen as I realise what I just said, "Wait, I mean-"

It's too late, Rahul is already snickering, covering his mouth with his left hand as he stares at me.

"Ugh whatever" my face is red, I stomp my foot as I begin walking towards the lake, willing my feet to take me anywhere but away from Rahul at this moment.

I can hear Rahul laughing somewhere behind me, "Ahh I can't, please" he keeps laughing.

I turn to glare at him, he's clutching his stomach now, "Wait no, I'll stop" he keeps laughing, "Sharma wait."

I quicken up my pace, more than happy to put a good distance between the two of us, I'd rather the earth swallow me up right now.

He finally catches up to me, grabbing my wrist, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, wait up."

I side eye him as I unhook my hand from his and cross my arms haughtily again, "What do you want, laughing at me not amusing anymore?"

He's somewhat calmed down now, "As if Sharma, you always manage to entertain me" he smirks.