Orphic

Episode 12

Zoya's pov

"Achoo!" I sneezed again as baba forwarded the spoon full of tasteless soup.

"Who told you to get drentched in the first winter rain?" He asked shaking his head in pure displeasure.

"That nephew of yours left me on the road. I didn't want to get d.. huh.... drentched" I started but a sneeze interupted me and didn't even happen. False sneeze alarm.

"Then why do you get on his nerves that much?" He asked placing the forced empty soup bowl away. Am I the only one who hates soup or do they make it tasteless?

"Me? I? I don't get on his nerves he just doesn't have patience in him" I said unbelievably. Is he for real? Every single time he sides with him. Every single time. Urgh....

"You know he's a serious guy. He doesn't like this childish behavior of yours. Stop playing around you're going to be twenty one in three days." there he goes again telling me to grow up. Isn't me growing up this much and towering over my cousins enough growing up?

"Hmph... Baba you're always taking his side. I'm hurt" I pouted crossing my arms over my chest slumping my shoulder like child.

"Stop being dramatic" he said sitting beside me and tugging me under his protective arm. This place right here is heaven. Me, my baba and this beautiful winter.

"I'm being dramatic? Baba?! I could've gotten kidnapped! I could've die—.. I mean met an accident" I felt his arm tightening around me making me bite my tongue. I screwed up.

"Shutup! Nothing's happening to you" he said sternly. This big mouth of mine is going to get me grounded some day. 

"I'm sorry. I know nothing's happening to me" I said shrugging as if I didn't make a stupid joke that just pissed my dad off.

"Teach that Einstein a lesson. I'm the one who got sick because of him" I said trying to stop him from frowning anymore. Why in the fucking hell do I have to slip every time?

"I'm sorry for the joke"

"What's done is done. Now you've learnt not to irritate him" he said rubbing my arm and nodding at my apology.

"No I haven't. I will never!" I exclaimed pulling away from him making him roll his eyes at me.

"When will you act your age?" He shook his head sighing.

"Only a miracle can make me mature" I said rolling my eyes and looking away.

"Ok fine I'll not irritate him now. Happy? For now" I said after a while of silence.

"Satisfied" he nodded and talked about anything and everything. He shared how this one lady at work is pissing me off.

"She won't back down and she's getting too comfortable for my liking. I'm literally so close to firing her. If it wouldn't have been for her being good at her work I would've done that long ago." He groaned clutching his hair. It's sometimes funny seeing him act like this but I don't mind at all.

Baba left after trying to calm my fever down by forcing me to take my medicines. So what had happened was I fell sick and caught a cold. Einstein had gotten an ear full of lectures from Tayi Ammi making him to complain to baba about me.

It's been a few days to that day and I haven't been able to even open my eyes at this point but today was fine. I could feel my head getting stable, nose was still puffy or blocked or whatever. That man didn't once come to ask after me. Like hello Mr genius I'm sick because of you.

My eyes fell on the black file place on my side table. I was too lazy to get up but curiosity has me almost crawling off my bed and getting it.

I made myself comfortable on my bed among all the pillows and blankets. The natural light from the grey sky illuminated my room to some extent the rest was covered by the light bulbs.