Unexpected Love [Completed]

Chapter 3: Surprise

I don't know when or how this started. It just did. I was sitting in mandir next to my aunt. Today was the birthday of Uncle Rahul, one of the nicest temple people I knew. I wasn't going to go to mandir because we had done puja for three days but when Dad reminded me what the occasion was I knew I had to go.

Uncle Rahul had three children: Rohan, Avi, and Vijay.

Avi was a current senior at my school and Vijay was a junior. I had Spanish and lunch with Vijay. Avi had gym with me, like last year. I refused to talk to either boy, and they to me. I don't know; I guess it was just awkward. My aunt, Shona, believed it was because they were scared of my dad, but I didn't believe that.

But everything changed.

I should be used to the unexpected by now, but this was a complete shock to my system.

Because it was Uncle Rahul's birthday, Avi and Rohan gave speeches. Vijay didn't because he was "shy", but I've seen him with his friends. He ain't shy.

Anyways that's beside the point.

Hearing Avi's speech...

The way he spoke about his father, similar to the way I revere my dad...

I mean after all, it's Uncle Rahul. I love him like a second dad. He's super nice. But still. That speech. It was fucking heart rendering. I was speechless. I was trying so hard to hide the blush and smile on my face.

You know that awestruck look you get when a guy (or girl for those males or females if you're into that) does something nice for you and you're completely surprised but touched at the same time?

That was me in that moment.

Very few families are close the way mine is nowadays. Who'd rather spend time with their aunt than with their friends? Who'd rather be super excited to see their cousins than their friends? Who wants to stay up all night confessing your heart out to your cousin rather than your best friend?

Me that's who.

It's just the way I was raised. I was never taught that I only had one sister. My cousins were my brothers and sisters no matter their age.

Sure I didn't tell them everything but their support was really important to me.

And as I was getting older they were beginning to know more about me. All the secrets. Everything.

And when Uncle Rahul's wife Aunty Sharda sang to him, I knew this was a family like mine. I mean ok my mom would never ever sing in public, nevertheless for my dad, but I mean the love the family has for each other. Their entire family was there. And the boys weren't doing puja with their parents that morning. Their cousins were. It was really cute.

So Shona told me as Aunty Sharda was singing ( Shona is Shona. I don't call her aunt. It's a long story.) "Are you going to sing for your husband like that?"

I laughed, "He better sing for me."

"Like Vijay?"

My eyes widened in shock. I didn't even know how to comprehend that. My brain went straight into ERROR mode. Like my damn calculator every time I needed it to work. Praying and meditating doesn't work on a calculator guys.

"How about Avi? He actually sings."

I turned away shaking my head. I fought a blush. Shona nudged me. I said to her, "You are terrible. You couldn't say Mahesh?"

Mahesh was one of the boys from mandir who Shona absolutely adored because he sang really well. And once upon a time I had a crush on him. Shona said, "That'd be a dream, but I see you more with Avi."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Why?"

"I just do."

I looked at Avi and I just smiled. Something was changing.

NO, not changed.

A little secret I'd hidden away in a secret corner of my heart, so hidden I hadn't even known it was there, had been blown out by a breeze into the center of my heart. It had begun expanding, wanting to overtake all of me, to consume me.

I looked at Shona. At the time I didn't even know the danger I was in until it was too late.