My Great Bollywood Romance [Completed]

Chapter 8: Free Root Canals?

Chapter 8: Free Root Canals?

Skiing was possibly the worst experience of my entire life. We spent an hour getting lessons before heading to the top of the smallest hill to ski down.

The twins were natural at it, claiming their skateboarding experience aided them. Eric was decent of course because he said he was Asian and he couldn't be bad at anything.

Saloni struggled as much as me but she was determined. Somehow, Rushil had snuck in with us with his gear, ruining all our plans of resolving his issues with Jash.

I skied for an hour before calling it quits much to my friends' protests.

"I'll wait for you at the front desk," I told Saloni.

"Why don't you talk to Jash?" she suggested. "Now's a good time since everyone's busy. Maybe you could coax something out of him."

"Doubt it, but I'll give it a shot," I told her.

I returned the rented materials and headed down to the parking lot. Our van driver wasn't in the van when I returned. I caught him smoking at a distance and decided not to bother him.

Jash was busy talking to someone on his cellphone.

I waited till he finished before knocking on the window for him to unlock the door.

He opened the door for me and I slid into the seat row in front of his. I sat twisted facing him. I would've sat next to him but given that we weren't that close, I didn't want to overstep my bounds.

"You're back early?" he asked showing his surprise. He played with his phone in his hand. "I expected at least two hours."

"Oh." I suddenly realized my mistake. "Did you need to make an important phone call? I'll go back—"

"No," he interjected. "You can stay. I'm done. It was my mom. Since I'm here, she wants me to spend a few days at my grandparents."

"You have family in India?"

He nodded. "I was five when we moved to America. My mom makes me talk to my grandparents on the weekends so we are close."

I never knew that. I thought he was born and raised in the US like Rushil, Saloni, and me.

"Where do they live?" I asked curiously.

"Some village in Punjab," he said casually. "It's not far from here. Saloni's itinerary has us going to Jaipur in a couple of days. I'll go to visit my grandparents while you guys go to Jaipur and then meet you guys back in Delhi on the last day."

I didn't know why I felt disheartened at hearing this. I had grown to enjoy his company on this trip.

"Wait a minute, what happened to this being a friends' trip?" I asked.

"Let's be honest. Ever since the twins moved to LA, Eric went to Florida, I went into dentistry, the only friends here are you, Rushil, and Saloni."

Holding his gaze, I said, "I consider you my friend despite our past differences."

Jash rolled his eyes, not saying uttering a single word.

"Why did you agree to come on this trip?" I asked him. People who jumped in and out of my life irked me. Here I thought he had changed and we could actually be friends.

I leaned forward and put my arms on the top of the seat before resting my chin on my hands.

"I thought I should catch up with my old friends and see how they're doing," he replied. "Not the best idea. Don't tell anyone yet. I'll do it myself."