What I Always Wanted

A Beautifulish Day In London

" Please, Sam!" Avinash practically begged on the phone.
" Avi Yaar! I have work, I can't!" She argued back, typing away on her laptop.
" It's just one day, please! I would take him myself, but I have a huge meeting today," He pleaded.
"Avi, Varun is your cousin, your responsibility! You take him around London!" she argued.
"It's been a week since he came here, and mom is yelling at me for not taking him out. Please Sammu! I helped you with so many things." Avinash continued to convince.
" Fine! Don't ever call me Sammu again!" She warned."
Thank you so much, Sam! I'll call Varun right away and tell him to be ready," He exclaimed, ending the call.
Samaira's stomach grumbled loudly as soon as she put the phone down. She went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Sadly her mom was making bhindi (okra), her least favorite dish. Even the smell of okra makes Samaira want to cry.
"Mumma, why are you making bhindi!" she whined.
" Oof, one day when you go to your husband's house, then you will miss my bhindi." her mom started again.
"Mumma! I don't have to get married to go to another house. I would rather eat bhindi for the rest of my life than get married." she said, annoyed, while her mom just rolled her eyes and continued stirring her dish.
Samaira dug through the fridge till she found a chocolate bar from the day before. Meanwhile, Vihaan was looking through his closet to find some "adult clothes," according to his brother. Avi called and informed Vihaan about his plan for the day. As Vihaan was still looking at his phone. Abhi came in and picked out a pink shirt with some grey formal pants.
"I am going to look like I am going to a meeting," Vihaan whined.
"Vihaan, you're a grown man. Please act like it." his brother responded; Vihaan rolled his eyes and changed. He lightly gelled his wavy brown hair and rushed downstairs.
" Ok, Bhai, Bye," Vihaan said as he was leaving the door. As Vihaan was driving, he got a call from Samaira. Avinash must have given her my number.
" Hello, Varun?" her voice spoke.
" Hi... How are you?" He formally asked
" Good, anyway, Mumma said that she needed to take my car to the temple or something. So can you please come to my house to pick me up?" She requested.
" Am I your driver?" he asked, laughing.
"No, even better, you're my bodyguard." She teased in return.
"Ok, madam, I will be there in 15 minutes," he replied and cut the call. He reached her house much sooner than expected, so he rang the doorbell, and Meghana opened the door.
" Vihaan? Umm... Sorry Varun, what are you doing here?" she asked; luckily, Samaira was not in the room, or they would have both gotten in lots of trouble.
" Just came to pick up Samaira, Didi," he replied, smiling.
" That idiot she didn't even tell us you were coming... Sam... SAMIRA!" Meghana called.
" WHAT!" Samaira yelled from the kitchen.
" You idiot, come over here," Meghana yelled louder as she moved so Vihaan can step inside the house.
" No! I am working. If you disturb me, I will give you two black eyes!" Samaira yelled back. Vihaan tried holding in a laugh.
" I am so sorry!" Meghana said, embarrassed.
"No need to be sorry, Didi," Vihaan said as he walked towards the living room.
Samaira was sitting on the couch with her face covered with her laptop. Her curly hair was clipped up with a clutch, with a few strands falling on her face. Her black hair contrasted with her light pink knee-length dress.
" Hi" She finally turned her head after hearing Vihaan's voice.
" Wow... You're like 10 minutes early." She said, looking at the clock.
" Ready to go?" he asked.
" Yep, let's go!" She got up, closing her laptop and freeing her hair from the clip allowing the curls to fall loose.
They both said bye to Samaira's mom and sister as they walked out. They got in the car and listened to some music. Occasionally they would say something but both of them were enjoying the Bollywood music that was playing.
" Varun Today I'll show you... LONDON CITY," she said super dramatically as they reached their first destination. Samaira and Vihaan visited the main attraction in London. Big Ben, Tower of London, and more. Nothing that Vihaan hasn't seen before. However, he was more interested in observing Samaira. Her adorable antics throughout the day we're keeping him entertained enough. Whenever they came across a dog the wide smile that spread across her face, the way she scrunches her nose when walking past a puff of smoke, or the way she furrows her eyebrows while waiting in traffic.
" Samaira, I am tired!" Vihaan complained, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
" Yaar!... There is so much more to see." Samaira whined at Vihaan or Varun's lack of enthusiasm.
" Please," he begged, putting his hands together.
" FINE! Let's go home. Mamma made bhindi." she said, rolling her eyes after the word bhindi. " Bhindi?" Vihaan asked with an expression of disgust. Samaira smiles at him; finally, someone understands her feelings towards bhindi.
" Let's eat out then!" Samaira suggested making him smile brightly.
"Ok, Madam!"
" This is the best Chinese place in London. I come here every other week with my friends," she told him, for which he smiled and nodded in response.
After 10 minutes, a waitress came to take their order.
" Hi, my name is Macy. What would you like to have today?" The waitress asked.
" I would love to have a date with you." Vihaan began flirting, which made Macy laugh while Samaira rolled her eyes and responded.
" Varun, ask something that is on the menu and stop being annoying."
" Ok fine! What do you think is best on the menu, my lady?" He asked, looking at Macy. Samira, busy looking at the menu, replied,
" The chicken—"
" I wasn't talking to you, I said my lady, not a teenage boy." Vihaan cut her off. She got up and walked out of the restaurant.
How dare he! I took him around the whole town and was being very kind to him, and he treated me like shit in the restaurant! I even took off from work for him!
Samaira could see Varun/ Vihaan walking towards me from the corner of my eye, so she kept walking.
Until...She saw him... The man that changed everything... Gaurav...He was talking to someone on the phone, but unfortunately, he saw her. Samaira's body wanted to run, but her legs were stuck to the concrete. The tears coming out of her eyes had no end. A hand landed on her shoulders and pulled her towards them. The hand belonged to Vihaan. She didn't know why she felt comfortable around him, but she pulled him closer and cried.
" Hey! Please don't cry! I am sorry I was just trying to annoy you. Please don't cry yaar!" he tried consoling. While Vihaan was holding, her Gaurav moved towards them.
" Samaira?" Gaurav asked as she was in Vihaan's arms. Samaira didn't move her eye from the ground and pulled Vihaan closer. She grabbed his hand and began walking in the opposite direction towards the car as fast as she could. Gaurav called her name, but she couldn't care less. Vihaan allowed her to pull him, but he turned back one last time to look at the strange man before they sat in the car, and he immediately knew he had to start driving. He drove until they reached her house without saying anything. As she was opening to door to leave, even though it was pitch dark, she could see the confusion in his eyes.
" Sorry for creating such a scene. I owe you an explanation," Samaira said and closed the car door again and sat back down.
" Samaira, you don't owe me anything. You don't need to tell me if you aren't comfortable." He replies, showing the cutest smile.
" I want to, and I am comfortable," she replied, and he just nodded, taking that as her cue to begin she started.
" When I was 15, Ma and Papa had a party at our house. I invited Avinash and Kiran, but they both couldn't make it. So the only person my age at the party was Gaurav. Gaurav's dad and Papa were colleagues, so he would come to our house pretty often. Gaurav and I hung out in my room while the adults were downstairs talking. We were watching tv, talking, and just chilling in general. He would often touch me, which made me uncomfortable, but I didn't want to say anything. Suddenly, he pinned me to the wall and was forcefully kissing me. I pushed him off with all my strength and tried leaving, but he slapped me across the face. Thankfully Mumma knocked on the door, calling us down for dinner, and I avoided him until they left. A few weeks later, I told Ma about everything that happened. I thought she would support and help me, but instead, she said to keep quiet. She scolded ME for not being careful enough. She told me that for the sake of our family to not tell ANYONE, even Didi and Papa. " Samaira took a deep breath attempting to stop the tearing threatening from falling.
" The pain didn't go away. I felt so alone... I had to continue seeing him until I went to college. I went into a deep depression, but my parents thought I was dramatic. I ended up going to the doctor and got diagnosed with depression. I took medicine without Mom, Dad, and Didi knowing. Finally, after all these years, I feel somewhat happy, and I had to see that asshole again!" she explained her story as a hot tear ran down her face.
" Samaira, you're the bravest girl I know... I am very glad I met you!" Vihaan smiled and said. When she looked into his eyes for the first time in a while, she felt safe and secured. She gave him a small smile and got out of the car. Vihaan also got out to walk to the door with her. She rang the door, and Meghana immediately opened the door.
" Hi, Didi!" Samaira put on her fake smile again at her sister, which she returned with a frown.
" Where have you been? You told Ma that you will be home by 9 pm. It's 11!" Meghana yelled at her like always.
" Ma knew I was going to London. We had food, so we started late." Samaira said, annoyed.
" She is lying! She hasn't eaten anything since we left." Vihaan complained like a 5-year-old. Samaira gave him the stink eye, which he ignored.
" What! You know it's not healthy! Come inside, let me get your food... Varun, you come too!" Meghana yelled and then commanded.
" No, I should go home, or I will get in trouble as well. I will come some other time," Vihaan explained and gave a million-dollar smile again.
" Bye, Varun!" Samaira hugged him tightly, he took a step back taken by surprise.
" Bye," He hugged her back, waved to Meghana, and left. Samaira walked inside towards the kitchen when Meghana held her hand, stopping her from going into the kitchen.
" What's up with you and Varun?" She asked smirking.
" Nothing" Samaira just rolled her eyes.  " Really? Then why did you hug him?" She asked, still smirking. I so badly want to wipe that stupid smirk off her face.
" Because he is my friend and I wanted to! Do you have a problem with that!" She asked, annoyed.
" How come you don't hug Avinash or Kiran?" Meghana asked again.
" Didi, He is my friend, and I can do whatever I want! If you keep asking stupid questions like this, I won't have dinner." Samaira threatened, which made her shut up.
She had Maggie that Meghana made for her, which is like the only thing her sister knows how to make. They both went upstairs to sleep. Samaira laid in bed and, within minutes, drifted into sleep. After such a tiring day, the only relationship she wants to be in is with her bed...