New Ways

THIRTY-FIVE

Amery

The puja was undeniably an interesting experience for me. From lighting my first diya to start the ritual to reciting the puja mantra together with the Sharma family to performing the last step of the ritual which was the aarti where a puja thali, which was a metal plate containing unbroken rice grains, coconut, betel leaves, incense sticks and silver or gold coins with images of holy Hindu symbols as well as a few pieces of Indian sweets, was moved in a circular motion by Sigrid as all of us sang songs of worship to the goddess.

After the ritual was finally completed, I was ushered by Sigrid and her family to the dining table, where we had a mouthwatering feast. There were a lot of Indian dishes, from biryani to chicken tikkas to even pizzas!

"I can't help my white person appetite," Betty Sharma joked in her British accent.

"But the tandoori pizza is perfect!" I admitted, reaching for another slice as I took the last bite of the one in my hand. At the corner of my eye I saw Sigrid snickering away.

Seth groaned and slumped in his seat across me and Sigrid. "I can't do this anymore. I'm so full. There needs to be room for some beer."

"I agree with Seth. Though your cooking is wonderful, darling," Sunil planted a kiss on his wife's forehead before pushing himself up from his seat. "Time for cards and beer! Amery, you're on my team. Sigrid, you're with your brother."

"What? But I'm not done eating!" The girl protested, her mouth chewing on a piece of chicken tikka.

"You can always bring your food with you," Seth suggested, wiggling his eyebrows at his sister. "Besides, I need an awesome backup. You know how dad's like during festive games."

Sigrid rolled her eyes but got up from her seat anyway. "As if I have a choice."

Seth was right about their father. He was a ruthless player and gave no chances whatsoever to his opponents, keeping them cursing at their own luck and mine for being on Sunil's team. The two siblings eventually got bored of losing to their father and the latter decided it was time for him to stop bullying his kids for the day. Betty offered me some more food, but I was still full from the dinner an hour ago so she told me I could just go into the kitchen and take them if I got hungry in the middle of the night. Both she and Sunil had told me to stay the night and hang out with Seth and Sigrid since it was Saturday the next day. I agreed only after Sigrid nodded at me in approval.

Soon after that, Sigrid's parents started yawning and they retreated to their bedroom after saying goodnight to us. I was left with Sigrid and her brother in the living room, watching some action-packed Hindi movie where the lead actor was fighting on a battlefield in some kind of war. I rolled up my sleeves and rested my head on Sigrid's right shoulder.

"Wanna change out of that already?" She asked, smiling down at me.

"Something comfy wouldn't hurt," I winked.

Seth shifted on the sofa and cleared his throat. "If you think I'm gonna cockblock the two of you, you're wrong y'know. Just don't make too much noise or mum and dad are going to wake up."

"Do you hear that, Am?" Sigrid pointed to her brother. "My brother is giving us the green light to have sex in our house, in my room. Do you not think this lovely opportunity deserves to be seized right away?"

I smacked her arm down and rose from the sofa. "You perv. I want to sleep. Now show me your room."

As soon as I changed into Sigrid's pajamas, I slid into her bed and under the blanket. The girl was already comfortably tucked in, the lamps also turned off too. I wrapped my arms around her waist then gasped and pulled away automatically when I felt that she was only covered in underwear.

"What, can't a girl sleep in her underwear?" Sigrid turned to face me, a smirk cracking at the corner of her lips.

I felt one forming across my lips too, before I took off my pajamas and straddled her hips, obviously aware that my bare chest was directly in Sigrid's view. "Of course she can. Though it's better sleeping without anything on at all."

"You perv," Sigrid grinned. "I want to sleep."

"You will. Soundly. Only after I'm done."

"Or else?"

"Or else I will tell your parents you took advantage of me while I was in your bed," I crashed my body and my lips onto hers. I've learnt new ways to keep this girl close to me. But sometimes old ways are as effective too.

THE END