Accepting Reality

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Getting even in more ways than one

I so love this.

I revel in the fact that I have pranked both, Sunni and Tara.

These bozo’s thought I didn’t have it in me.

Please, I live for creating mysterious mishaps.

Who do you think accidently put garlic paste in their brother’s tea just as he was going on a date?

Let’s just say, his date didn’t mind much. I mean, she did marry him after all.

I love Sahia; she is so kind and beautiful. I just think her taste of men is really off. I mean who would willingly marry my ass of a brother? Apparently her, I’m pretty sure sometimes she regrets it too.

I wave goodbye at them, while walking away I end up hearing this:

“ASH, IM GOING TO KILL YOUR ASS! YOU BETTER WATCH IT!” shouted Tara extremely pissed off.

“Ash, please, my new husband is going to be worried sick, he says he misses me” whined Sunni.

I wave, “goodbye ladies” I said smirking.

Please, they deserved it. They were no help whatsoever. Sunni said, get this and I quote, “move to another seat”. Are you fucking serious? That was the solution I was waiting for? Nope, I had to get even, so I did. Probably going to pay for it later, especially if Tara is behind it. That girl sure knows how to keep and grudge and get even. Two thing combined is a disaster waiting to happen, that’s why I am staying over Farah’s tonight. I already got it covered. I wanted to take safety precautions. I’m ridiculous I know that isn’t the only reason; I needed a change of scenery, even if it is just the window at Farah’s apartment.

These days, it doesn’t seem like enough. I find myself questioning things I never did before, it just isn’t working anymore. And I don’t know how to fix it either. Maybe it will go away, like most things in my life.

I’m sitting in the same seat as the other day in English, yet, that ass isn’t anywhere near me. I had everything planned beforehand too, how dreadful, I always know when I come prepared it throws itself at my face. I’m better off winging it with my awkwardness than coming prepared. When class ends, I wait outside the door to talk to him if he comes out. But no luck, he’s not in there. He either saw me beforehand and hightailed it out before I saw him or he’s not here. It better not be the 2nd option. I mean, you miss one day and you’re screwed royally. But what do I care?

Okay, I admit. I care. It’s been a couple days, since I’ve seen him. Okay, it’s been 3 days. And me being me, I care about grades, so I make people around me care about grades. I may have not been Queen Bee in High School but I was known for my fast running and my OCD regarding grades making me the prime tutor. By the time I got home to the apartment today I almost begged Sunni to tell me his address. But she willingly gave it to me without asking questions. I would be surprised but I was on a mission. Mission get-Karthik-back-on-track-in- English-class. I really need to work on my mission names. They are way too long to say.

I hop on the bus, so, he’s staying with Sid ehh? No wonder Sunni wasn’t worried in the slightest, she’s probably seen him every day since she goes over Sid’s all the time. Man, she could have at least told me what’s going on. I mean, sure I didn’t like Karthik all that much and threatened to dump Sunni’s Ruby Woo Mac lipstick in the trash for saying his name ever again but…I have a right to know right? From enemy to enemy?  For enemy purposes.

As I get nearer to Sid’s, I begin to feel weird about going. What was my reason for barging in? I distinctly remember having a plan of action. All that’s out the window now. I wait outside the door of their apartment, hell.  I knock on the door of Sid’s apartment hoping for Sid to open it but no, Karthik opens it instead.

I stand there shell shocked, he doesn’t look so good. He looks really  sick. “Was there a reason for your visit” Karthik asks with a raspy voice. I gulp. “Yeah, is uhh Sid uhh here?” I ask. Karthik shakes his head and goes to close the door. “Wait!” I shout. He jerks upright, “yeah?” He asks. “Can I come in?” I ask carefully. He leaves the door open and goes in, I take that as an invitation in.

Although I’ve been in Sid’s apartment dozens of times, it’s never felt like this, full of tension and soothing at the same time. Although I am tense, I feel quite sooth. Karthik seems pretty comfy on the couch so I sit on the floor next to him since Sid hardly has any furniture. “No, come up here, you’re so short I can’t see you Squeaks” he says indication the spot next to him.

I sit next to him and can feel the warmth coming off his body from the cold. We sit there in silence for a while watching the show he has on, I not knowing what to say. How can I explain my visit? My reason for being here in the first place? I’ll have to make something up. “I like how you haven’t commented on me calling you Squeaks yet” Karthik says breaking the silence.  “I mean, aren’t most girls offended by things like that?” Karthik asks fully interested looking me straight in the face.  I look down at my hands in my lap and answer “Uhh well I haven’t really thought about it I guess.” “That’s interesting” Karthik says his face passive as before. “How come you weren’t mad when I insulted you when we first met?” I ask Karthik curiously. “Well, I was but then I looked down at the floor to control my anger and I saw your ‘outfit’ it instantly made me un-angry I guess.” Karthik admits truthfully. “Oh” I say. “Nice to know my outfit choice extinguishes anger instantly” I add, joking.

I look up through my lashes to find Karthik gazing at me, cracking a smile.  Seeing his smile, makes me smile. Even sick, that boy does wonders to a girl. We end up asking each other all sorts of questions, joking and laughing along the way. I notice how when he’s not smirking and being cocky, he makes me feel more drawn to him. Nice to know underneath that there is someone more tolerable to be around.  By the time its time for me to go home I ask him “So, these past couple days you’ve been sick?” He responds with “yeah I got the bug, apparently its spreading since its ‘spring fever’ or so what you call it”. “Ahh, you need me to do anything? Maybe make some soup or bring a blanket?” I ask, wanting to help out. “Nah, its fine, I’m good” Karthik says smiling. “No, I want to help, please Karthik I want to help” I said. “Oh alright, I could use some soup, there’s some on the stove, can you heat it up for me? He says. “Alright Thanks” I said and flash him a smile.

I went into the kitchen and noticed the can of soup. He’s eating canned soup? That doesn’t help or taste good. I decide, I know what I must do.

When I come out with some piping hot soup and crackers, and set it on the table in front of him. Karthik gives me a look before I say “Eat up”. He looks like he’s about to respond but I put up one finger and he knows well enough not to push it. e He

          When Karthik finished the soup and crackers, he lets out a huge belch. Disgusting but hey it’s human nature. Besides I grew up around two older brothers. I learned early on, boys can be very gross when they want too. He looks up at me and says “That was the best soup I’ve ever had. You didn’t have to work hard and go make it you know? The canned stuff was fine too” He said. “Nah, you shouldn’t eat canned soup anyways, it tastes bad and it’s bad for your health.” I say shuddering. I absolutely hate canned food. I have like a phobia of them, they disgust me.

          Well, when I put the dishes in the sink. I grab my bag and hand him his missing English assignments. I proceed toward the door and Karthik makes a noise in the back of his throat. I turn around immediately worried. He ushers me to be closer and I get closer. He gets up and walks to meet me in the middle and hugs me. “Thank you so much, for everything” he whispers in my ear and the only thing i can do is nod which to that he says “I can’t hear a nod.” I can tell he’s smiling while saying that. All I can get out to say is a “hmm”.