And so they were finally here. New York. Aru had a few phone calls to make, but she decided to make them after they got through passports and airport stuff.
"Aru, you look exhausted," Aiden commented on his girlfriend's tiresome expression.
"What were you doing anyway?" asked Aru.
"Nothing." Aiden responded. In reality, he was watching her sleep and looking through pictures of her on Shadowfax.
"And Wifey," Aru said. "Who's picking us up?"
"My dad."
Aru froze.
Was she ready for this? No. Did she feel like she was about to have a mini panic attack? Yes.
"You'll be fine, Shah."
"Snob." Aru muttered.
"Troll." Aiden simply said back.
Aru rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna call my Mom."
Aru clicked on the contact that was named "Mom ♥ ️".
"Hi beti!" Krithika Shah's somewhat stern but soothing voice connected.
"Hi mom!" exclaimed Aru.
"Did you land?"
"Yeah, we're in New York." said Aru.
"Well that's wonderful, Aru."
Aru heard a weird crackling in the background, as if someone was looking through a pile of garbage.
"Mom, what are you doing?" She asked.
"Cleaning your room."
Alarms went off in Aru's head. "What?"
"Yes, I'm cleaning your room, and what is this poster?"
Oh no. "Mom, it's fine, I'll deal with it when I get back."
"Aru, I found 5 mugs that are stained with hot chocolate and 8 Baskin Robbins ice cream cups!" Aru sighed, her room was disastrous.
"Mom,-" "Is this the egg sandwich I made you a week ago?"
"No." Aru lied.
"I quit. Aru when you get back you are cleaning your room, do you get me?" said Krithika sternly.
"Yes mom," sighed Aru.
"Good. Now have a good time, okay?"
"I will. Love you." said Aru.
"I love you too, Aru." replied Krithika.
"Oh my gods," Aru muttred, disconnecting the call.
"Really, Shah?" Aiden asked, in his wise aunty voice.
She glared at him and opened the Pandava mind link.
"I HAVE LANDED!" Aru shouted.
"That hurt my brain." She heard Brynne say.
"I agree with Brynne," said Mini.
"Anyway, I just wanted to remind you guys that I love you soooooo much, and I could never have better sisters."
Aru could hear Brynne roll her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we love you too, Shah,"
"Aru," Aiden said.
"Yeah?" asked Aru.
"My dad's here."
"Oh," Again, anxiety bloomed inside her.
"You'll be fine, Aru," Mini chided. "And send us pictures."
"I most definitely will." Aru said, closing the mind link.
Aru and Aiden walked down the airport, to the place where Aiden's dad was supposed to be waiting.
When they eventually got to the place, Aru saw a man, and the man was tall.
He was definitely Indian with straight hair, slicked to the side. The man also had a beard with a few grey and white hairs here and there, and had a sandy complexion. Like Aiden. He was wearing dress pants and white shirt. When the man spotted them, he looked at Aiden knowingly.
"Hi, dad," Aiden said as the two got closer.
"How was the trip?" Aiden's dad (Aru had no idea what his name was) asked.
Brynne was right. Mr.Acharya's voice was deep and smooth, and it made Aru shutter.
"It was fine," said Aiden. "I would've hoped so. You look tired, Aiden."
His dad looked kind of concerned, until he turned to Aru. "This must be your friend."
"Girlfriend, dad." Aiden half politely half sharply corrected.
Aru could feel her cheeks burn, one because Aiden had made that statement, two because Aiden's dad looked her up and down questionably.
Instinctively, Aru looked down at her outfit, Yellow hoodie and black jeans. No stains. A little wrinkled, but nothing wrong.
"Your name?" Aiden's dad asked.
"Arundhati," said Aru. "Aru for short though."
"Nice to meet you." He bluntly said, turning around. "Let's go. The bachelor party is soon."
The car ride to the hotel was quiet, besides a few side conversations.
"Aiden, are you still gonna be doing photography?" Mr.Acharya asked, looking in the rear view mirror.
"Yeah." Aiden responded.
"You can skip tonight. You look really tired."
Aiden reached for Aru's hand, "It's fine. I'll do the photos tonight."
"If you insist," said Aiden's dad.
"So are you two in the same grade?"
"No. She's a year younger than me," Aiden said.
"Unfortunately." Aru muttered under her breath.
It wasn't a big deal most of the time, but Aiden always had the excuse that he was older.
"It's not that much of a big deal, Shah."
Aru glared. "Not that much of a big deal, Shah." She mimicked. "It's a large deal, and you always use the excuse of being older against me."
Aiden burst out laughing, and that made Aru laugh a bit too.
Mr.Acharya looked in the rear mirror like he'd seen the most unusual sight.
"Why are you like this, Shah?" asked Aiden when he was finished laughing.
Aru gave him a knowing smile. You love me for it though.
YOU ARE READING
TPQ (Aru Shah) One Shots
FanfictionAru Shah One Shots and everything in between **All characters belong to Aunty Rosh** - Most of these storied were pre-written
