My Lantern

CHAPTER XI

Good thing there’s an already-made one of these and the stores are still open, I just got home but I got to go back to Jai’s to give him a grand romantic gesture. I shook my head with the thought. This is really stupid in a funny way. I know he’s dying but why do I feel like everything is just the way as he doesn’t have his Methosolioma, well maybe he have this after all this time… I wonder when he was diagnosed with it. I’m really gonna ask aunt Vishra one of these days.

The cashier handed me the bag and my change.

“Is it Diwali already?”

I smiled “Not really, I just need to give a grand romantic gesture.”

Then she smiled.

I went to the bus stop, my foot ached as I sat down. I did so much effort, Jai better like it or else I’m really gonna shove the oxygen tank and make him inflate along and float.

I reached their house at 10:21, I called aunt Vishra and hoped she’s still awake, fortunately, she was, she’s in Jai’s room, exchanging his wet clothe. I silently giggled as I pictured Jai’s face while his mom changed his clothes.

I told him that I had a surprise for me, I ask her to open his window, Jai’s windows are wide so this is a good idea after all. My heart pounds in anticipation, gripping the lantern in my hand.

I didn’t asked aunt to get Jai on a wheel chair for him to get a better view but she did anyway, I can sense Jai’s annoyance from down here, I giggled. Sorry, Jai.

As I saw them from the balcony, I started litting up the wax and inflates the lantern slowly, my heart pained as I did, remembering the first time I did this… WE did this.

  The sky lantern lifts up ward and as it did, I burned another one, I saw the lantern on Jai’s eye, he was filled with awe, and as if it was a dream caught in paper bag, I saw a warm smile on his face as he watched the lanterns joined the twinkling stars, my heart ached sweetly from the sight of his smile, and the sign of new hope.

He looked down at me, his smile disappeared. I gave him a ‘saw you there’ look, he tilt his head on the opposite side, as if signalling aunt that he wants to go inside, aunt gave me a smile as he pushed Jai’s wheelchair inside.

That was close enough from making him jump up and down, I’m fairly satisfied. I turned my back and saw a man standing in front of me, I jumped in surprise.

“Jesus, Paul! You scared the hair strands out of me!”

He was laughing this time, “it wasn’t my intention to scare you, I just thought you needed help, but I see you’re an expert in that, I should’ve known, you’re from India. Did you make those?”

I rubbed my neck, “Err, I just bought it, I don’t exactly know how to do it.”

“Oh, I could help you.”

“Really? Do you know how to do it?”

“Yeah, Arjun taught me.”

My brows twitched, “Arjun?”

“Yeah, Arjun Singh. I doubt you knew him, he barely comes here.”

“Does Arjun comes here?” I’m dazed.

“He does, not very often though, you knew him?”

I shrugged, “Not exactly… so you’re up any time? I just need to buy some materials.” I asked, changing the subject, Arjun might have enlightened me with his “know-it-all” revelations but I still hated him, I still got pride left in me after all.

“Yes, any time…”

He walked with me towards the gate, he told me then that aunt Vishra asked him to send me home. Paul is three years older than me, and he’s close to family, the Kapoors never treated him as a helper. I know Paul loves them too, he was here since he got kicked out in the orphanage for being too mischievous, but uncle Niranjan welcomed him with open arm, Paul didn’t changed though but that made him a funny guy. I laugh at his jokes as he sends me home. He told me about his girlfriend who broke with him after knowing that he only works as a helper, I feel sorry for him.