Egbert

Sangeet

My head is plastered on Vikram's pillow my body in unreasonably warm. Irrationally hot actually. Not to mention sweaty. Seriously I feel like I'm bathing inside a rug. My eyes squint open and look down at the cause of the sauna. I'm still in the suit. I prop myself up on my elbows, facing the headboard, and move my tongue around my furry mouth.

There's a high pitched whine while my hearing comes into focus and is hit with the loudest chatter coming from downstairs. Preparations for tonight have already begun I suppose then. From the looks of the empty, upturned room I'm the last one awake, apart from the baby in the corner of the room belonging to Aunt Gracy. Several families stayed over, boys in this room, and girls in Preeti's, much to her annoyance. I'd peel off the suit in a heartbeat like Vikram has so clearly done judging by the crumpled up pile in the corner, my sweat seems to have made my movements feel like cardboard, but I 'd very much like a shower first so home it is.

On my descent downstairs the hallway is filled with people moving every which way carrying plates of turmeric, garlands, mitai and all the items necessary for the Pooja and Sangeet tonight.

Vikram catches a glimpse of me from his spot in the kitchen pressed flat against the sink to avoid the traffic, and mouths 'take me with you' in desperation. Before he can even make his way over he's steered by the shoulders into the garden for what I can assume is important business that I should definitely avoid. My house is quieter in comparison. Almost two quiet.

A shrill shriek rips through the air.

That's better. My steps towards the noise are slow at best, before I can push open the door to my father's study Sebastian seems to step out from nowhere and blocks my path. "Don't go in there."

"Why not?" I know why not. It's going to be a bloodied scene and someone is clearly dead. What I'd like to know is who it is this time.

He seems to be thinking hard about his response. I could just push him aside and barge on through, I'm planning on doing that anyway but I'm polite enough the let him speak first.

"You're just a kid Eg."

It's not so much the words that hit me, they're the aftershock, it is the look in his eyes. I've never seen anyone look at me that way, like they're sorry. Why would they, I have everything. Two parents, money, supernatural abilities that come in damn handy, not to mention the fact that I'm set to inherit a powerful dynasty. So why, of all the people in the world, would my maid look at me like I'm a puppy who's just been kicked?

"Go to your room" he tilts his chin towards the staircase, "get ready for the Sangeet and go back to your friend's house." I suppose seeing what's on the other side of that door wouldn't do me any good anyway. I'll deal with it once I come back tonight.

Vikram and I are still matching in our outfits but this time it's a good thing- blue and red, with a whole symphony of darker geometric patterns running along the kurta and sherwani. Preeti is less lucky with her outfit choice. It's a respectable blue suit with seashell patterns along the scarf. Personally I can't see what's wrong with it but according to Preets it makes her look like an old aunty. Honestly she's never happy. I, however, am glowing. From the moment we descended elegantly into the back garden we've been swamped by aforementioned aunties kissing our cute cheeks, ruffling our hair and cooing over how handsome we look. Why yes aunty Samreen, I am a sona munda. Preeti glares at the raised eyebrows and curt smiles looking her way. It feels just like Diwali.

Only the groom's side is at the Sangeet so theoretically the house shouldn't be as bloated as yesterday. Theory hasn't taken into account all of Aaditiya's university friends and his colleagues who seem to be drawing in a crowd as they enter.