Pluviophile

Chapter 3

Indra woke up Saturday morning, and the rain sounded as though it had finally lightened up. She looked at the clock, and it was still pretty early. 7 am. She got up and put on her black turtleneck and white jeans. She went downstairs while brushing her hair and saw that Asim was still home. In the doorway opposite of the kitchen, the living room was filled with noise: the conversations on the radio and the quiet, monotone voice of a newsman on T.V. 

Asim sat in his chair in the corner, reading a newspaper, looking up at Indra in the doorway. The green walls and brown carpet reminded her of the Bamboo Cafe down the street, so the living room was always her favorite. The furniture was coffee brown, with a glass coffee table. She sat down on the couch and asked, "I thought you had an important meeting today?" Indra put down her hairbrush. Asim folded the newspaper and held it in one hand. He was wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt and jeans. He wasn't going to work today. He responded,"The meeting got canceled, and instead the board of directors is reviewing a few of the plans for a new corporate building."

Indra nodded, glad her brother was home. "Have you had anything to eat yet?" He nodded his head, "Yes. I left some coffee for you, and there are a few waffles on the stove. You woke up quite early, so they should still be warm." Indra smiled and thanked Asim, entering the kitchen. She was quite comfortable in the tall counter stool, calmly drinking coffee and staring out the window, eating the waffles as if though they were cookies, and the small puddle of syrup on her plate was a cup of milk. After she was finished, she could hear Asim saying something. 

"What was that?"

"Your phone is ringing."

Indra went upstairs, believing that it was a telemarketer. She had forgotten all about Deene. 

The joyous little tune on her phone stopped abruptly when she answered it. 

"Hello?"

"HEY! Sounds like you're awake. Wanna hang out today?"

She felt that sinking feeling of regret return. It would be rude to say no, but she really didn't want to hang out with him. She stayed quiet for a moment, stewing in thought. 

"Indra....you there?"

"Oh-! Yes. I am. I might not be able to hang out today, I've got to..help my brother repaint the house!" She said quickly without putting any thought into her excuse.

"On a day like this? But its rai-"

"Okay bye!"

Indra hung up quickly and set her phone down. When she came downstairs, Asim was reading the newspaper. He seemed as though he was disinterested, until he asked, "So, who was that?"

Indra replied quickly and nervously, "Oh, just a telemarketer."

"Awfully long chat to be a telemarketer. Couldn't you have just rejected the call?"

Indra began to realize the flaws in her excuses. She hesitated, and before she could say anything, Asim spoke again, "It'd be nice if you had a friend. I'd worry a lot less. You should live a fun life while you're still young." Indra paused. Asim normally never interfered with Indra's life, nor had he made any suggestions as to what she should do with it. She hesitated, trapped in thought upon how to react. Asim spoke again, "Although, if a boy is interested in you, I'd prefer to know right away. He will meet with me and if I see him unfit, I'll have him sent away."

Indra laughed but soon realized that Asim's stoic silence meant that he was serious. She stifled her laughter and cleared her throat, the background noise filling the room once again. From upstairs, she could hear her phone make the short-lived call. Indra went upstairs and saw that she had a text. She opened it, and it was from Deene.