Never Married in Mumbai

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Throughout the day, I kept thinking about what Raj would say.

Inaabangan ko kung anong magiging desisyon niya kung makikipagkita ba siya kina Cely at Devin sa states. Kung ako si Raj, hindi ko na alam kung anong uunahin ko. He was dealing something with his father and now he was about to meet his cousin. Alam kong ako lang ang nagdagdag ng problema sa kanya sa pakikipagkita sa pinsan niya, pero kung ano man ang mangyari sa huli ay sana maayos.

Kung ano rin ang mangyari sa aming dalawa fake marriage na 'to ay maayos. Kung tutuusin, pwede ko namang iwanan si Raj, pero dahil gusto ko siyang tulungan sa bagay na 'to matapos niya akong tulungan sa paghahanap ng trabaho ay ito lang ang kaya kong gawin.

Nang matapos ang shift ko sa work ay hinintay ko na lamang si Raj sa lobby para sabay kaming umuwi. Usually, sinusundo pa niya ako sa desk ko mismo, pero ngayon ay may tinatapos lang daw siyang ginagawa. Kung ano man 'yon ay hindi ko na inabala pang tanungin. 

Mga twenty minutes din ang hinintay ko bago ako kinita ni Raj sa lobby. Sabay na naman kaming lumabas papuntang parking lot. Agad din naman akong sumakay sa sasakyan at inayos ang pagkakasuot ng seatbelt ko. Inaabangan ko pa rin naman kung anong sasabihin ni Raj sa akin, pero tahimik pa rin ito.

Nang makauwi kami sa bahay ay dire-diretsyo lang kami papasok ng bahay. Tatawagin na lang daw ako ni Areesha kapag ready na ang dinner. Tumungo ako sa kwarto ko at nagpalit na lamang ng damit. Nababahala naman ako na baka isinawalang bahala na niya 'yon. If he decided not to do what Cely and Devin asked ay wala naman akong magagawa. I can't force him to do what he doesn't like.

Malaki na siya para malaman kung anong dapat gawin.

Sinubukan ko namang tawagan si Priti at nagulat naman ako nang agad niyang sinagot ang tawag ko. Nabigla pa ako nang bumungad si Priti sa akin na may facial mask. She was laying down on her bed. Mukhang may siesta kaagad siya.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Why does it seem like something bad is happening, huh?"

Napahugot naman ako nang malalim na hininga. 

"Okay, tell me what's going on."

Napabitaw naman ako nang malalim na hininga. "Okay, but this isn't about me. This is about Raj. . ."

"Oh, your husband?" Ngisi pa nito. "Okay, what's the deal with your husband, huh? Is he hurting you?"

"No?! That's not the point of why I'm calling you right now," I explained. "It's something that has nothing to do with me. At all, okay? So, please hear me out because I feel like my head's going to explode at any minute. . ."

"Just get on with it, Kash. You're making me nervous about it."

"Cely and Devin wanted to meet us in Vegas," diretsyo ko ng sabi sa kanya. "Okay. That's the point of why I called you. I knew I had a little trouble while we were in Chennai. Raj doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and move forward with the issue. I tried moving forward, but I felt like I was in the position to do something so when Cely talked to us earlier and asked if we could go to Vegas just so we could clear out the issue between them as cousins, I think I could sleep at night after that."

Napabitaw naman ng buntonhininga si Kash. "Why would you put yourself in that situation in the first place, huh?"

"Ah. . . He's my husband so I want all the best for him." Hindi man totoo ang una kong sinabi, pero gusto kong makakawala si Raj sa kung anong problemang hinaharap niya ngayon dito sa Mumbai. "The problem now is he would make the decision whether we would go to Vegas or not."

"How will you go to Vegas?"

"They said they have a plane to fly us there," sagot ko. "I'm not sure how can I talk this to my boss at work if ever we would go there. I'm just nervous, Priti. I hope whatever Raj decides it was good for him."

"He still hasn't decided yet?" Umiling naman ako sa tanong niya. "No, he hasn't and I was waiting for him to say anything about it. When we left work earlier, he was talking to me but never talked about going to Vegas. I felt like he just abandoned the idea and moved on with our life here."

"Give him time to think about it."

"I can't," aniko. "I have to tell Cely and Devin today what decision we came up with. Raj told me he would decide at the end of the day, but he hasn't told me anything about it. I'm just worried."

"Girl, you should let this go for now," sabi pa ni Priti na parang gusto nang tapusin ang pag-uusap naming dalawa. "You're stressing out and you're putting some stress into me. Look at me, I'm having a good time. Breathe, Kash. You should just respect your husband's decision and let it all flow. . ."

"I guess, you're right. . ."

"Okay! It's time for me to end this call, Kash. Call me if there's an update! I just have to keep myself relaxed for a bit as I'm planning to do something soon. . . See you! Bye!"

"Bye, Priti. . ."

As soon as our call ended, binitawan ko ang phone ko at napahilata na lamang ako sa kama. Tama rin naman si Priti. I have to stop meddling with Raj's life even though I cared so much for him—even though he put me in this hard situation. I can't stop caring for him. This is the only way I know I can help him and I would apologize to him if I overstepped once again.

I get my phone and messaged Cely. Kinakabahan pa ako habang itinatype ko ang mensahe ko para sa kanya. Nag-aalinlangan pa ako, pero pikit mata ko ring sinend sa kanya ang message ko. It was done so I hope it won't back fire to me.

Me: Hi Cely! Raj made a decision. We will go to Vegas.

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