Distant Stars

three

Unedited

On the same night

Isabel felt a wave of discomfort wash over her as she lay in the dim light of the room she shared with Prachi. The .
"Ugh, this was a bad idea," she muttered to herself, sitting up in bed and glancing over at Prachi, who was fast asleep, oblivious to Isabel's distress. The last thing she wanted was to wake her friend; Prachi had been so excited to share her culture's cuisine, and she didn't want to rain on that joy.

Gathering her resolve, Isabel slipped out of bed and quietly padded toward the kitchen. The house was dark and still as she fumbled for the light switch, squinting against the sudden brightness. She rummaged through the cupboards, hoping to find something that could soothe her upset stomach.

It was then that Sameer entered the kitchen, his brow creased with concern as he saw Isabel hovering near the cabinet.

"Hey, Isabel, are you okay?" he asked, his voice low to avoid waking Prachi.

Startled, Isabel turned to him, clutching a box of crackers as if they were a life preserver. "Oh, hi. I, um, just wasn't feeling great after dinner. I thought maybe... some crackers might help?"

Sameer frowned slightly, and his eyes softened. "You know, spicy food can be tricky if you're not used to it. Here, let me help." He opened a cupboard and pulled down all the ingredients he needed. Then he boiled the water , added the freshly grated ginger, releasing its pungent aroma. Next, he carefully dropped in the black peppercorns, cloves, and a long cinnamon stick. Isabel was watching him very carefully without uttering a word

As the kadha simmered, he added a little spoon of honey in it.

"What's that?" Isabel asked warily, eyeing the dark, viscous substance.

"It's kadha," Sameer explained, pouring some into a small cup. "It's a traditional Indian drink that's supposed to be good for digestion and helps with stomach troubles. Trust me; it'll work wonders."

Isabel hesitated but then nodded, believing in the kindness in his voice. "Okay, I'll try it."

He handed her the cup, and she took a sip. The taste was strong but not unpleasant. "Wow, that's... interesting," she replied, trying to mask the intensity of the flavors.

Sameer chuckled softly. "Yeah, it can take some getting used to. But it'll help, I promise."

"Thank you, Sameer. I didn't want to bother anyone," Isabel said, her voice dropping as she looked at the floor, feeling self-conscious.

"You're not bothering me at all," he reassured her. "Everyone deserves a little help when they're feeling unwell. Plus, Prachi would have insisted on giving you something if she knew you were struggling."

Isabel nodded, grateful for his kindness. After a moment, she ventured, "Do you always have kadha on hand?"

"Only when I expect guests who might not be able to handle my mom's cooking," he replied with a wink. Isabel laughed, feeling the tension in her stomach ease a little.

"Is it typical for Indian families to have remedies like this?" she asked, curious.

"Very much so. We like to have solutions for everything, especially food-related mishaps. It's a part of our culture, I guess," he said with a shrug.

"I appreciate you looking out for me," she smiled, the weight of her awkwardness lifting slightly. "It's just... different from what I'm used to."

"Different is good," Sameer replied. "It expands our horizons, even if it makes us feel a little queasy sometimes."

Isabel took another sip of kadha, feeling more at ease. "I'll have to remember that for the next dinner. Maybe I can bring a dish from back home? You know, balance things out a bit."

"I'd love that!" Sameer said, genuine enthusiasm lighting up his face. "Just promise me no dish that's too bland."

"Deal," Isabel said with a grin, the discomfort in her stomach slowly fading away as an unexpected bond formed in the kitchen.

They both stood there for a moment, the quiet of the night wrapping around them, and for the first time, Isabel didn't feel so alone in her cultural adjustment.

After a couple of minutes, as the effects of the kadha began to take hold, Isabel felt a little disoriented. "I think I need to sit down..." she muttered, swaying slightly.

Sameer noticed and stepped forward, lightly placing a hand on her arm. "Hey, you okay? Maybe I should walk you back to your room."

She nodded, grateful. "Thanks, I think I'd like that."

As they made their way back, Isabel relied on him for support, feeling the warmth of his presence beside her. "You're really sweet, you know that?" she said softly, glancing up at his face.

"Just doing what friends do. Besides, it's not every day I get to play the knight in shining armor," he smirked lightly, his tone teasing but being sincere.

When they reached the room, she turned to him, a mix of gratitude and something more. "I really appreciate you, Sameer."

"Anytime, Isabel," he said, his voice is a little more serious now. "Just take it easy, okay?"

********

Next day

Prachi stood in front of the mirror, her fingers deftly working through her hair, when she heard a gentle knock on the door. It was Sunita Aunty, the housemaid, bringing in two steaming cups of tea. One was the rich, fragrant Indian chai she adored, and the other was a vibrant green matcha.

"What's this?" Prachi asked, glancing at the matcha with mild curiosity.

"Sameer baba told me to bring it for Isabel," Sunita replied, setting down the cups. "She's been a bit unwell lately. Indian food isn't sitting right with her."

Prachi frowned, a sense of confusion washing over her. There was something she felt she was missing, a detail just out of reach. But before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Sunita slipped out of the room.

Moments later, Isabel emerged from the shower, the scent of her floral body wash mingling with the aroma of the teas. Prachi couldn't resist teasing her. "Look who's being pampered with matcha! Is Sameer bhai your personal assistant now?"

Isabel chuckled, and both of them settled on the bed and prachi passed her the matcha ,but her smile quickly faded as she recalled the previous night. "It's sweet of him, really. I was feeling nauseous, my stomach was aching..." She paused, memories flooding back. "He made me this herbal kada. You know, it's strange how some strangers can be so caring while the people you love you the most don't even notice."

Prachi's heart ached with empathy as she watched her friend's expression shift. Isabel was haunted by memories of her ex, a bittersweet recollection that she couldn't shake off.

"Why didn't you wake me up when you were feeling sick?" Prachi exclaimed, her concern flaring. "You could've told Sameer bhaiya, but not your best friend?"

"I didn't want to disturb you, especially after long flight and all," Isabel replied softly, a shadow of guilt crossing her features.

Prachi shook her head, stepping closer. "Isabel, we're in this together. If you ever need anything, you just have to ask. Don't forget that."

As Isabel nodded, Prachi's thoughts drifted back to Sameer's unexpected kindness. It wasn't that he was uncaring, but to see him extend such warmth towards Isabel stirred something within her. Prachi had always viewed him as her protective older brother, a steady presence in their lives, but there was a sweetness in his interaction with Isabel that intrigued her.

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Thank you for reading!!!