Best Friends and Cousins? (An Indian Love Story)

Chapter 22

"Don't bother about that, Neha. Just make sure your classes and related work is not disrupted by this work," she gestures towards my canvas. I shake my head in assurance and she leaves me alone, with my canvas, paints and brushes.

I get back to work, making sure to work quick enough to be done by the time Nikhil comes to pick me up on his way back home. I pull my hair back into a bun after I realise it is falling onto my canvas and getting painted on. Great! I have to wash my hair again today. Amazing.

Nikhil walks in at that moment, taking a seat on the other side of the table. "What are you working on?"

"A commissioned painting. They actually paid me to make a painting for them. How crazy is that?"

"It's not really crazy considering your skills. Plus, you know how to sell them. To be honest, I'm surprised it tool them this long." I chuck a piece of my kneaded eraser at his face. He grins as the bit hits him square in the nose.

"Let's go, I've got something planned for us. If you are up for it." I raise my eyebrows at his back. "Before you even ask, no, I'm not gonna tell you what it is."

"But I didn't even say anything!"

"You don't have to. Do you want to cone or not? I can reschedule it if you want," he says, turning to face me and leaning against the booth wall.

"If you paid for something then I am not going to let that go to waste. Not rescheduling. Unless you don't wanna help me pack up."

"Right."

....................

"I thought you said you paid for something?"

"I did," Nikhil says as he pulls into our drive.

"Then why are we home?"

"'Cause I planned something for us." Nikhil gets out of the car.

"I thought you said we could reschedule it...if it were at home why would you reschedule it," I inquire, getting out of the car myself.

"'Cause it is something that can be rescheduled." He hold his hand out.

"Can I ever get a straight answer from you?" I take it.

"You're one to ask, love." He kisses the top of my head.

We step into a silent and dark house. "You bought blackout curtains? For what joy?"

"Just 'cause I wanted to. We can take them down and put them uo whenever you want to. They weren't even that expensive," he exclaims, leading me to our room.

The room is dark and bathed in a soft candlelight coming from my favourite kind of scented candles - Lemons and Roses.

"Nikhil, what is all this?"

"You don't have to do this, but will you put this on for me?" I am handed a package and pushed into the bathroom.

Opening it, I realise it is some sort of a robe. Not very revealing, but I can tell it's not for daily use. When I put it on and walk back out, the bed has some sort of a mat on it and Nikhil is nowhere to be found. Just as I pick up one of the new bottles on the nightstand, I hear the door open and shut.

"I think you've understood what this is, have you? Do you still want to do this?"

"Only if I get to repay the favour," I say, resting my hands on his that are wrapped around my waist. I lie down on the mat on my front and let the muscley arms knead the tension out of my neck, back and legs.

...................

"Neha, baby, wake up."

"What? Done already? I an so sorry I fell asleep," I mimble, sitting up on my knees. Nikhil laughs.