A Beautiful Mess

Chapter 9

Diwali was a day away and Gam was home.

 The moment I saw her sitting on the bed with her toothy smile I ran and squished her into my arms, that feeling was blissful. Though we were taking her home we had to appoint a nurse for her, she couldn't walk because of the hip bone fracture, and according to the doctors and everyone Josh and I were too young to take care of all this alone, so along came the nurse.

 Josh was teary-eyed when he saw Gam and hugged us. Like one small family, we remained still for some time when Gam made a choking sound.

"Now take me from here, cry babies I'm not going just yet."

Josh stayed back with Gam, while I went ahead to make the house, moreover her bedroom comfortable and tidied up a little bit. Zarine came over to help me and so did Danish. Lekha was on a holiday with her parents she insisted on staying but we literally pushed her on that trip with the promise of updating her with every minute detail. Zarine and I tidied up Gams room, while Dan was in the Hall making space for Gam and her wheelchair. Furniture pieces and dining table were shifted along with the few unnecessary pieces which held vases without any flowers.

The doorbell rung I quickly went outside with the puja thali (plate) in my hand.

Josh rolled his eyes when he saw me coming with the thali and aarti. (A Hindu Ritual in which a light wick is offered to God)

I ignored and did a little aarti ritual. Then they entered and the house regained its vibe. We sat and chatted and Gam made jokes about her injuries. Geeta made some lumpy porridge for Gam and she was shooed off to sleep. Before going to her room Gam turned to us and said,

"Lighten up kids, look at your long faces snap out of it, I'm home and it's all good so come on, brighten up this place, my Kalsi loves Diwali and so do I."

We smiled and then she snapped at Geeta, "Come on now don't spoil the moment drag me in!!"

In spite of being dead beat, we decided to set the atmosphere and make it more festive.

"So let's just order lunch first," Zarine said

"Of course," Josh teased. And we ate pizzas. Heavenly cheesy pizzas. We were stuffed and laid on the couch right next to each other Zar, Dan, Josh and I in that order. Josh suddenly stood up and clapped.

"Come on, let's lighten this place up." and he offered me his hand.

Zar and Dan just stared at us in disbelief, we were never friends and this was a new level altogether.

Zar finally spoke, "so you guys are talking like normal people, like friends I meant?

I looked at her like she had suddenly transformed into a chimp."

"Yes, No." I and Josh yelled.

"No, Yes." we said again.

We looked at each other and laughed, "Maybe".

*******

Fairy lights had been put up at both Gams and my apartment, houses were cleaned and kitchens were stocked with sweets and Diwali snacks which obviously we ordered because we were a tad bit late in preparing them on our own. In the evening we lit diyas on our doorsteps and I made rangoli. Savitri our re - hired help made lavish Diwali dinner. Gam wore her new red salwar suit and looked absolutely ravishing for a person in a wheelchair. I finished making rangoli and had colors splattered all over my clothes and face.

"Kals go and change baba, and come back a little more human-like." Gam teased.

"Yeah yeah , going hot wheels." I teased right back.

I was about to enter my house when I heard Gam yelling at Josh, how could I miss this.

"Josh its Diwali you cannot dress like a hippie, go and wear something traditional."

"But Maa I dun have anything Indian," Josh said exasperatedly.

"And honestly I look dumb in kurtas." he said.

Gam made a face and sighed.

"Oho Maa come on don't make that face, I'll go and find something," he begged. Gam smiled at her victory.

"I can help you with that D'costa." I said giving him my devilish smile.

"Of course a chimp ought to own a Kurta." he retorted.

"My dad has tonnes, some he hasn't even worn, come along," I said singing it.

He huffed and followed me.

"Come ASAP Gam yelled behind us, we have a puja to perform."

"Yes!!" we both yelled unanimously.

We went into my Dad's room and I started hunting for an ugly Kurta which would make Josh look dumber than he really is. I looked at all the new clothes I shopped for Dad to surprise him on his visit but anyway. I threw an ugly yellow Kurta at him as prank; he inspected it and made a dirty face.

"Really? This?" He said.

I nodded.

"Oh get aside you monkey, let me have a look." and he pushed me aside.

"Ow, Asshole!" I barked.

"Ahaa! So this is what you've been hiding, Haan." he smiled viciously.

He held up the new bag I had bought for Dad and started looking through.

"Fine wear whatever you want to, won't make you look less buffoonish."

"Get lost, I look way better than you chimp, don't you look at yourself in the mirror," he remarked.

I rolled my eyes and went in my room to change and this time things were personal I had to prove I wasn't a chimp.

********

I changed and for the first time, I did work on myself. I applied a little touch of makeup and lots of kohl in my eyes, my lips were shiny and fruity pink. Not the hot Katy Perry pink but a cute nude pink. I suck at describing my appearance but I think I did look different and I felt beautiful. My bangles, huge earrings, and anklets tinkled and clinked as I walked next door. The door was closed, how stupid, didn't he know I was coming. I sighed and knocked. It took forever to open up I tried to fix my Lehenga while he walked like an old lady to open the door. Cool air brushed my hair as the door opened up. White pants came into my view and my eyes traveled up slowly, he had worn my favorite blue Kurta, electric blue. His hair was as usual ruffled and just the way it should be. He looked wow; my breath hitched in my throat and if it weren't for him standing in front of me I would have sat down to just take in that moment. I needed air. Our eyes met and he had a look on his face. You know the look. The look which made me feel like Laney Boggs from She's All That; the part where she descends the stairs in that red dress and Freddie has this awestruck look on his face, 'yes that face.'

I looked down at myself I was probably sparkling with all the silver embroidery and diamonds on my nude-colored lehenga.

I raised my eyebrows at him in a questioning manner. He still had that dumbstruck look on his face. I simply nodded my head and went past him with my tinkling and jingling.

*******