Unwritten Chords

Chapter 6: This is me.

Anya's POV

I reached home,the door shut behind me with a soft click. Aunt Rhea was home I guess, cuz I could smell the familiar scent of sandalwood essence sticks as I made my way inside the house. It was nostalgic, this felt like back in India, when my mom used to worship the Indian idols every evening...My aunt sure knows how to stay rooted and I love it.

I took a seat on the dinner table, watching aunt rhea pray to the idols of Radha Krishna. Her eyes closed. The peace on her face was enough to calm down the chaos in my mind from the whole day.

I don't know why but this-Indian culture,aesthetics,devotion of people,their faith,love and pureness made me stick to my roots,I love where I come from. It's like a part of, I come as a whole.

I miss mom...

Aunt Rhea finally turned around, keeping the essence sticks which were in her hands in the silver holder which was placed in the home temple(it's a small dedicated place for idols In Indian houses. They are kept in these small temples, A holy decorated place according to the Indian rituals and culture)

"Oh you startled me!" Aunt Rhea blurted keeping her hand on her chest,clearly surprised.

I gave her a sheepish look, "hehe...I'm back."

"I can see that," she said in mock annoyance as she walked around the kitchen collecting Ingredients to cook dinner, "freshen up" she started "aur bhagwan ki pooja kar lena.." she added (and don't forget to pray to the god).

I got up "Haan" (yes) I replied and made my way upstairs to my room. It's been almost 2 weeks since I came here, In the US. I freshned up,wearing a cozy oversized hoodie and cotton shorts..My gaze fell on the tiny idol of ganesha I had kept in a small white elegant home temple on a white IKEA side table.

My nanni gave it to me when I cried as it was the last day of Ganesh festival. (nanni-mother's mother)

But I was 6...I'll let that slide.

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Sharing our days with uncle and aunt at the dinner table,I was finally lounging on my bed..I didn't tell the Amy chaos though. It wasn't worth stirring up more drama. I got up again as my sleep schedule had other plans. I opened my closet to pick an outfit for tomorrow. As I flipped through the cloths, my gaze fell on a kurti.

Should I wear it tomorrow?

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The morning sunlight beam streamed through the window and on the mirror in front of which I stood, adjusting my oxidised jhumkas which played with the sunlight, gleaming and dancing. Finally adding a small black bindi between my brows, I was ready for university. The peachy pink short kurti which had a v-neck and sleeves which reached my forearms went well with my light almost faded blue wide legged jeans. It was a soft piece with floral patterns- nothing to flashy but still undeniably Indian.

I slipped on a couple of oxidised bangles on one of my wrist. My reflection smiled at me through the mirror. Ready or not, this is me today.

I hope I won't grab any extra attention.
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As I made my way towards my locker, strolling in the main hallway,I could feel the weight of eyes on me, the click of my sandals on the polished surface echoed louder than i expected or maybe it was just me overly conscious and aware of my surroundings. Some didn't care, Some heads turned,glances evolved into outright stares. The usual hum and chatter changed into a different rhythm, I could here soft murmurs,snippets of compliments and gossips-

"Is that a...kurti?"
"Wow,that's... different"
"Bold move for a newbie.."
"Looks...kinda mesmerizing,though."

I could hear it all- The judgement as well as the wonders and hints of admiration.

"Woahh..she's hot", I heard a boy saying whom I saw from my peripheral vision while passing by.

He's hotter than me.

Was this just a 2000s Bollywood moment for me?

Stop acting like you are 13 Anya!

A group of basketball players standing by their lockers paused mid-laugh to glance my way. Tyler's eyes widened slightly as he nudged Adrian, who barely looked up from his phone but spared me a briefest flicker of attention. I wanted to roll my eyes as I remembered how he had almost killed me with his bike and didn't even apologize!

Stay calm. He did give you his notes...but it was professor James's order. So it's not done!

Hazel, waiting for me near my locker, spotted me at a small distance "OMG! Look at you! Indian Barbie!" She exclaimed walking towards me excitedly.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide faint smile on my lips "it's just a kurti".

"Just a kurti?!" She exclaimed eyeing me from my head to toe her arms crossed over in a dramatic pose, finally hugging me after breaking her mocked character. "Girl,you are turning heads like they're under some spell. Half of these people don't even know what hit them.",she said in my ear finally pulling back from the hug. I chuckled at her words.

"Don't look back- the basketball players are stealing glances..are they gossiping?? Should we go near?!" She spoke in a hushed tone as if we were undercover spies.

I couldn't help but giggle at hazel's excitement "stop making it obvious hazel!" I hushed in mock annoyance and she grinned, looping her arm into mine and we walked towards my locker.

I opened the white metal locker and grabbed my things, multitasking with hazel's obsession with the scene I had created unknowingly. We talked and smiled. I shut the locker close and finally we made our way inside the classroom. It was English literature.