Egbert

:)

There are no parents home and it is dark outside. That can only mean they're out having the time of their life and won't be back until morning. I guess I'm spared any awkward or sadistic encounters for another night. I could immerse myself in television and catch up on my TV shows but I don't feel like I could concentrate on them. So I lie back on the bed and stare up the white ceiling, blue in the absence of my nightlight. Aaditiya's engagement isn't that big of thing to depress me, is it? No. But I feel like I shouldn't be here right now. I shouldn't be in this room. I should be in the living room, sitting opposite the Dosla's scrutinising them alongside Preeti. It is what it is I guess. Besides they seem happy enough together. Hans was right. Bleurgh, even thinking that gives me nausea.I'm left to wallow in guilt and sadness. Guilt for believing Aadit needed saving and sadness at... well pick something I have a lot to be sad about. Not for long. I hear a car pull into the garage and head downstairs when I hear the door opening. Luckily it's the maid returning from the grocery store and not my mother or father. He opens the cupboard and starts strategically placing cans away only stopping to stare at me conspiratorially. "Someone looks deep in thought." 

There's no way he can tell just by looking at my face. If my own parents can't even do that then how can he? A part of me really wants to tell him everything. His advice on worrying was really good and I'm curious to know what he would say about Scarlett. Unfortunately logic wins the day. It's too dangerous for him to know when his brain is my mother's playground. The doorbell is buzzing incessantly which means my favourite Indian, after Amitabh Bachan, has arrived to give me the gossip. Only it's not my favourite Indian.

 It's his sister. Preeti hugs herself as she stands on my porch, sniffing. I'm filled with an overwhelming desire to both hug her and wrinkle my nose in disgust at the boogers she's fighting. I split the difference and take her into my arms, wrinkling my nose atop her head where she can't see me. "Hey asshole," she mumbles into my chest. I manoeuvre us over the threshold and into the house, nudging the door shut with my foot.

"What happened? Let me guess, acting like a possessed fly didn't stop the wedding but did get you into an argument with Aadit."She draws away, marching into the kitchen and swinging the recently closed fridge open. There are at least several blood related items in there from what I can see, but thankfully she just grabs a carton of milk. The maid has sense enough to provide her with a glass, earning him a nod of gratitude and they both raise an eyebrow at me for two very different reasons. Preeti doesn't know that we have a staff. She's only been to the house thrice before and each time with Vikram.

"You have a... brother?" Preeti asks, putting her emotions of hold for a second as she asks.The maid just laughs while I answer back "no, it's the maid."

"Butler," he corrects. Butler. That's the word. I can't believe I forgot that.Seemingly placated Preeti nods; resuming her frustration. How could she think he was my brother? She knows I'm an only child. She's even met my mother but luckily my father had the good sense to alter that meeting from Preeti's mind lest the authorities should get involved. Unfortunately it's engraved in mine. She nods and then dives into the story. "Not just Aadit, everyone got mad at me. Ma screamed at me for doing the family's besti" the Hindi word for embarrassment. "And you should have seen dad," she heaves as her eyes turn watery, "he didn't say a word as she yelled, just wouldn't look me in the eye. I swear he's a coward. He always has been. Never does a thing. He's going to let Aadit ruin his life for the sake of our reputation" her choke signifies the breaking of the dam. Tears stream down her face, uncomfortable the maid silently leaves the room and I place my hand on hers. But she yanks her own away quicker. Suddenly her rage is channelled towards me now. She yells at me, "Why the hell would you just abandon me like that? You left me to fend for myself Eg."