Still Living With Liza Koshy {Book 2}

.Vulnerable.

"3...2... 1... ding-dong" a rumble of shuffling and what I assume is running erupts shortly after Liza signifies that we have arrived,

My already quickened heartbeat accelerates as I hear the footsteps and noise getting closer and closer to the door.

In.. out, Aurélie, in.. out.

"WELCOME!!!" a chorus of voices echo, distracting me from my breathing exercise.

I barely have any time to take in all these new faces before I'm dragged into the homely-looking house by a few short, round women and placed in the center of a crowd of smiling, over-dressed, clearly well-fed, Indian people. "Oh she's so pretty!"

I freeze as I watch the small mob getting closer and closer to me. Poking and prodding, touching and tugging, complimenting and exclaiming.

I don't feel safe. I feel really vulnerable. The blur of strange faces, the unending chatter, the eyes trained on me, I just want to shrink into nothingness.

I look around for Liza but she's busy greeting relatives and exchanging sweaty hugs and sloppy kisses.

"Say something, my lovely granddaughter! Let's hear you speak." A thin, bright-eyed, woman whom I assume to be Liza's mother says.

"Hi.." I manage to croak out.

"You guys! Give her some space, please." I hear a familiar voice say. Phew, Liza hasn't abandoned me completely.

She heads over to me, puts her arm around me, and leads me to a fancy-looking room filled with seats and a large dining table. As soon as we walk into the room, I'm hit by a wave of sweet-smelling pastries and fresh food, reminding  me for a quick second that I've had nothing to eat for over 7 hours.

The crowd of family begins to disperse as people head over to sit at the table, in preparation to dine.

I prop myself down in the only available seat left. 9 people away from Ms. Elizabeth Koshy. Great.

" oo-Rey- li dear, would you like to switch seats with me so you can be next to Liza? I understand how nervous you must feel." An old man with a thick Indian accent offers.

"Y-yes, please." I choke out, before swapping seats with this kind-hearted old fellow.

As soon as everyone is settled, a plate filled with all sorts of basic, American foods is placed in front of me.

Oh, I thought Indian food was much more different from food in other places.

As if reading my mind, the lady that called me her granddaughter earlier on states," We understood that you would be new to India so we just made some basic dishes that we were sure you would be used to eating."

I respond with a small smile.

After a few minutes of chewing and swallowing, the old man that I swapped seats with  stands up and declares that we should all introduce ourselves.

"I'm Paramjeet, Liza's father."

Next, the old lady stands up. "Manjeet, mother to Liza." "Best chef in town," she adds with a wink.

"Hi! I'm Monique! Liza's little cousin!" An adorable little boy says with the brightest smile plastered on his face.

"Aaliyah, Monique's mom."

"Tanu, Aaliyah's sister."

"Hey, I'm James... uh..Tanu's boyfriend. I'm not Indian. Je viens de Belgium, et je connais que tu es français." Hé says with a smile.

"Oui! Je suis! Je suis très heureux que j'ai trouvé quelqu'un qui parle français ici!"

After this there's a series of Abi's, Pragya's, Sedart's, Roshni's, cousins, grandparents, uncles, aunts, great uncles, until it's finally my turn.

"Um.. I'm Aurélie, Liza's adoptive daughter."

Um.. so. Idk if this is short or long all ik is thst I have work to do so bye.