Sai

Sai (Chapter-2)

"Are you kidding me baby! You are really not going to find him?" Ira says sobering up after laughing like a loon upon hearing the tale of my 'resurrection and rejection'.

"Was I speaking in Spanish just now? What part of "he rejected me" says I should go and find him?" I say exasperated.

First, I am still reeling from what happened yesterday. Second, I can't' seem to get his smile out of my bloody mind. It was at most a seven-minute convo for fuck's sake. I shouldn't be going over every word I exchanged with him again and again like a holy chant. Rejections happen right? And people move on...True it has never happened to me but that's only because I have never, and I mean ever lost my mind in front of a guy like I did yesterday. Remember, book boyfriends and dildos...

"But Sai this is the first time you have ever had such visceral reaction to someone. You refuse to go on dates and the only creatures you swoon upon are either from your romance novels or scary reptiles like crocodiles."

"Will you please let it go Ira, it happened once, it can happen again with someone who will care alright? I am not going to stalk someone like a creep."

"I wish I was there to watch this epic scene unfold" Ira says cracking up again.

I start laughing too, realizing she gets it.

"If someone can't' recognize your worth then they can go fuck themselves" Ira says bumping her shoulder to mine.

"On another note, Ma called. She wants us to go home for the weekend. She got worried when she couldn't contact you while you were away on your expedition. Lucky, you still remembered my number after losing your phone. She would have sent a search party for you, not to mention the panic-attack that would ensue" Ira smiles.

"I know. I called her yesterday and had an earful. I said yes to the weekend plan. I will anyways be staying home or at lab these three to four months."

When Ma and Papa died in a car accident four years back, I was devastated. I had just started my post-grad just then. I had no relatives for emotional support because it had always been Ma, papa and me, all other relatives didn't' give a fuck about us just because Ma had a past which they frowned upon. Only Ira and Mrs. Xavier were there for me. Mrs. Xavier was always good to me but after the death of my parents she took it upon herself to be a mother to me. She insists I spend the weekends with them. She is the one who calls regularly to check upon me and rushes to our apartment even if I get a minor cold. She takes care of me as much as she does Ira. I love her.

"Sai honey, I was so worried about you" Mrs. Xavier says hugging me and Ira together. Ira raises an eyebrow at me behind her back. Just yesterday Mrs. Xavier was yelling at me over the phone. But that's how Indian parents are. For them, scolding your child when you are worried about them is equivalent to caring about them. I smile at Ira and shrug.

"Ma, she is fine." Ira says rolling her eyes at her.

"You shut up young lady! You refused to give me the number you were contacting her on. It's because of you I am rapidly losing hair!"

"It was someone else's number ma and you and I both know you would have tortured the poor soul by blowing up their phone ten times a day. Also, you are losing hair because you get conned by every new hair product advertisement!"

I barely control my laughter at the highly entertaining exchange and choose to go to the kitchen for some water. "It smells delicious in here Masi" I call out to Mrs. Xavier using the endearment Masi which means "mother's sister" or "just like mother".

"I cooked butter chicken and naan." Mrs. Xavier says excitedly, ending her standoff with Ira and coming towards the kitchen. Ira blows me a kiss in relief, and I smile shaking my head. "I know you love it Sai" Mrs. Xavier says bringing my attention back to her.

"I do. Thankyou Masi." I hug her.

"Now, you girls go to your room and freshen up" Mrs. Xavier says releasing me. "I will set the table."

When Ira and I come down, Mrs. Xavier tells us to sit and pray. Thanking God before eating has always been a ritual of Xavier household. I do it more out of respect for Mrs. Xavier than anything else.

I am not an atheist. I just don't' connect to God through idols or prayers. Being in the middle of the ocean and meditating makes me feel closer to the higher energy in the universe. That's how papa used to do it and that's how I love doing it.

After finishing with our prayers, we fill our plates with food and Mrs. Xavier starts asking us about what we have been up to.

"I, for one am focusing on work and wooing girls after hours because that's my leaning these days." Ira says making Mrs. Xavier choke on her food and go into a fit of coughing.

"I need to sew your mouth" Mrs. Xavier mutters recovering after I offer her some water. "I am still struggling to accept your sexuality; you would better not spring your sexual innuendos on me so suddenly."

"I am making you used to it Ma..."

"Shut up!" and then Mrs. Xavier starts calling for higher powers to give her strength. I am covering my mouth to prevent Mrs. Xavier from seeing how hard I am controlling my laughter.

Ira gives me an impish look and says, "Although Sai did have an awakening of sorts Ma."

I kick her hard under the table and she squeals.

"Ow!!, What the hell Sai?"

"What Ira?" I ask her innocently under Mrs. Xavier's watchful gaze.

"What awakening honey?" Mrs. Xavier asks, turning her attention to me.

Yeah...I won't be having a best friend starting tomorrow. I direct a glare at Ira which clearly says she is being murdered in her sleep. What does the idiot do...flips me off with a smirk. Bitch.

I turn towards Mrs. Xavier who is looking at me so compassionately, thinking I am also planning on coming out to her.

"You know I will always support you right?"

"I... it's nothing Masi, it just dawned upon me that you take care of me so much and I don't' thank you enough. So, I brought you a little something from my latest assignment."

I take out a box from my pajama pocket and hand it to her. Her eyes fill with tears upon seeing the Lambi earrings I bought her. "I had them handcrafted from original shell, it's not much but I thought they will look beautiful on you..."

"Oh honey, you didn't' have to." She comes around the table and hugs me. I genuinely feel happy that she liked them.

I was planning on giving them to her later but because of the idiot who is gaping at us with her mouth open, I had to give them to her now. It's worth it. I flip Ira off behind Mrs. Xavier's back and smile.

"Will you put them on me Sai?" Mrs. Xavier asks.

"Of course, Masi." I put the earrings on Mrs. Xavier.

"You look gorgeous Ma!" Ira says smiling.

I nod. Mrs. Xavier blushes.

"You girls spoil me" she chuckles.

"Ira, if you are interested in girls also then you should have snagged Sai. She is such a sweetheart." Mrs. Xavier says, looking fondly upon me.

"Ma, you call Sai your daughter and that makes her my sister. Now, you are hinting that I date her. I didn't' know you were a fan of incest! Way to go Ma!!"

I burst out laughing and Mrs. Xavier on the other hand picks up a spatula and runs behind Ira who runs into the kitchen.

"By the way, I am taking you girls to a new restaurant tomorrow for lunch. It's not big but the food is to die for. It's not far from here, you will like it" Mrs. Xavier says from her spot on the sofa, late in the night, while I and Ira do the dishes.

"Okay!!" We both shout in unison.