It was a chill day in Canada as the spring season was about to end. The whole town was freaking out with all the rain that was pouring over them. Yeah, it was raining.
Justin had been in Canada for uni for nearly two months as he had relocated from Jacksonville for a study abroad program they had at their University. He was much happy as he knew his grades would never be a problem plus he had not have to worry about the Desai family.
He tried as much as he could to be happy and live life to the fullest after what went down at Jacksonville for his first semester. He never expected to lose both his families in a week. His family in India and Desai's family.
It all went down when his family decided to visit out of the blue, without any information nor a notice when he was in his twelfth week.
He was going out of a cell biology session when his cell rang. And strangely enough, it rang just a minute after his class ended and it was from home.
Yes, Justin had a phone. A Motorola was in the market at that time. Blake had bought all, Martin, Kenneth, Julian, and he, phones with Celine promised to have one when she reached 15.
"Hello!" Justin said.
"Hey! It's Alysa." The person on the other side spoke.
"I can hear you pretty well. So, if you could tell me what is going on it could be better because I'm heading to my next session right now."
"Your family is here," Alysa said in a very sad voice. That is because she knew Justin hadn't yet told his family that he was studying medicine. He was waiting for the year to end and tell them. He hid it in all his letters he wrote them frequently.
"What do you mean my family is there?!" Justin asked.
"Your father, your aunt, and her daughter, and your family lawyer."
"What the fuck?!" Justin couldn't believe that he dropped his bag and the books he was carrying.
"I didn't want to tell you this now but Sir. Blake is here and he is talking with them in his office." Alysa said in a cautious voice.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Is the daughter our age or younger?"
"She looks like Martin's age with that body," Alysa answered him.
"That's Dhamini. Can you get her on phone? Please Alysa please!"
"I don't know how to," Alysa said.
"Just do anything. Try anything, whatever that you might." Justin said in full panic.
"Dude, I got you. I'm taking coffee to them I might try to snug her out."
"Yes, do that please."
"Okay, I'll call you in five."
When Alysa hung up, he felt like his stomach walls were collapsing inside him. He was feeling like fainting, running, and everything at the same time.
Those five minutes felt like an eternity and so he decided to pick up his things and go to a quiet place to speak with her. He hoped Dhamini would follow Alysa.
As he reached the garden where students usually hang out, his cell started to ring again. He ran to a bench and answered it.
"Yes, Alysa."
"It's me, Justin." A woman's voice spoke over the speaker and it didn't take long for Justin to register that, that was his aunt.
"Aunt, you?!"
"Yes, beta. It's me."
"Namaste aunt."
"Namaste beta. How are you doing?" Shania asked.
"I'm great just stressed out with studies." He lied.
"You should be. Being a doctor isn't an easy thing, is it?!" Shania trapped him.
So, they knew already. He had rather play it safe since they knew than keep up the charade.
"Yes, it is. I have class now, I'll be home right after I finish my classes for the day."
"Don't worry, we are going nowhere for the whole week."
"Okay, aunt!"
Justin then hang up the phone and started cursing inside him. It must have been very bad since Shania was not her cheery self.
He thought as to what his father would think of him after all that he has done. How angry he was and how much he will be when he showed up later. He felt tired all over his body but he had a session to attend, so he had to put it all behind him for that moment. Either way, the water was already spilled, there was no good in turning cold feet for it. He just had to up his game and make them know what he was interested in and how he wanted his life to be.
The way the session started was the same way it ended. Quick and confusing was what Justin would have commented if he was asked about it. He went over to the parking lot to find the three boys already there.
"You took ages to get here!" Kenneth whined.
"I'm sorry. Some things crept up." Justin said in a low voice as he neared the car.
It was Martin's. He drove a 1994 Benz s500. They were all over America as it was the trending car at that time.
"Is it because of your family being here?" Julian who was quiet all the time spoke.
He must have known since he was officially dating Alysa. He forgot to ask her to keep quiet about it.
"Your family is here in America? Like really here?!" Kenneth was shocked by what he had heard.
"Thanks for making it even worse Julian but yes they are here. I wanted to say it myself, you could keep quiet until I had things sorted out in my mind." Justin said with frustration painted clearly on his face.
"I'm sorry, I never thought-"
He couldn't finish what he wanted to say as Justin cut him off. "Never mind, you don't think of anything."
"Hey, mind your words!" Martin said protectively.
"Can we go already? I don't feel well." Justin said.
"You know we could talk about it," Kenneth said comfortingly.
"Talk about what?!" Justin snapped. "That my parents who have no fucking clue that I'm studying medicine when they thought I was gonna take business are here and I should pop my ass out there and scream at them 'Hey, I'm smart and going to be a doc.' Is that what you wanna talk about?"
"Yes about that. And I happen to know a place where we could do so without creating a scene like this." Martin pitched in while pointing to the crowd that had started to stare at them when Justin snapped.
After Justin saw what Martin had said was true, he reluctantly opened the backdoor of the Benz and took a sit.
They then drove to the pizzeria where Stacy worked. They ordered a pizza while contemplating what was Justin gonna come up with when he faced them. Stacy was kind enough to send them to a quiet booth so they couldn't be disturbed when they were at it.
It didn't take long before the pizza was over and about 20 minutes were spent with them there.
"You know I can order another one," Martin said.
"Don't. Even if we spend the whole day here, I'll have to face them at some point." Justin said and like that they left the pizzeria and went home.
Justin was feeling every type of feeling when he reached home that he forgot about what they had discussed at the pizzeria.
"Glad you are here already!" Alysa said as he went over to Justin.
"Were you waiting for me at the door?!"
"Shouldn't I be after messing up with a single favor you asked of me?"
"Never mind, I know my aunt enough to not be nosy and mind her business."
"But still ... sorry," Alysa said.
"That's okay, where are they?!" Justin asked all the colors draining off of him.
"They've gone sightseeing. But we are having a barbeque in the backyard for dinner." Alysa replied to him.
"I heard about barbeque. Who's planning it?!" Celine popped her head out of the open door.
"Matron. You might help with things." Kenneth said as he pinched Celine on the cheek and made her come to view.
She was fully dressed and had her heels on.
"We're you sneaking out?!" Justin asked.
"Fudge you Kenya," Celine said passing them and going for her bicycle. "I'll be back before 5. And don't let dad know anything about this."
"If he isn't occupied with the guests, then he might be having a good time with her baby mama so, worry out." Kenneth winked at her.
They then went inside as Celine cycled her way out of the mansion. And before they knew it, it was evening already.
Justin was finishing his classwork when he heard a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
"It's messed up Justin," Julian said.
"What is it, Julian?!" He put his things aside and turned to look at Julian who was closing the door and went to have a sit with him on the bed.
"Everybody is at the barbeque except you. Your father keeps complaining that you are not the son he had raised to know. Even when I pitched in for you and said you had classwork to be submitted tomorrow, he said you know pretty well that family comes first before school or anything."
"Holy hell! What time is it?!" Justin asked.
"It's a little before 8. We start dinner at 8."
"8?!" Justin asked horror filling his face.
"Yeah, check your phone if you don't believe me," Julian told him but he didn't bother as he looked out the window and found it ass dark.
"Let's go then," Justin said but Julian sat still at the bed looking at him.
"Those are the clothes you wore for school. You need to change, there is still time for a fresh look. A meet the parents look." Julian said.
"Are we dating?!" Justin asked sarcastically.
"Even if we were, that's still not a look to meet your parents with."
"That's so unJulian," Justin admitted.
"Maybe this is Julian and you have to get used to this." Julian made the playful look before he ushered him away. "Hurry up, we have parents to meet."
Justin changed into a more American look and wore sneakers as if he was having a night out. Julian gave him a puzzled look but he brushed it off and proceeded to the door.
When they got to the backdoor, it was dark. Justin remembered that the lights used to flicker the past two days when he was there with Alysa discussing the whole Anna issue.
But as he opened the door and stepped out, the lights flickered on and they came into full light and almost 15 sets of eyes were looking at him. He felt his heart stop for certain microseconds and then picked up a rapid beating to cope with the situation. Well, you can't blame the adrenaline when you find yourself on an unexpected red carpet.
He moved with Julian behind him muttering curses and swearing for the shit moment but he had to forget all that and go where everybody was. And those twenty meters felt like a couple of kilometers. He was shaking and losing it but there was no going back.
Dhamini welcomed him with a smile. "Hey JuJu!"
"Hello, sweetness! How have you been?!" Justin greeted Dhamini and hugged her.
"You are asking me! How have you been yourself?!" Dhamini said in English and fist-bumped him at the shoulder.
"Ouch! That hurts you know!" Justin said and hugged her again as he moved to his father.
"Namaste papa!" Justin said going down to touch his feet but Raichand moved his legs and Shania's gasp was heard audibly.
"Dad, I'm greeting you," Justin said after he moved to where his feet were and tried to touch them again but he moved them again.
"I don't have a son who is like you," Raichand said calmly.
Justin rose and looked at him. "You have a son who is like me and to be honest, it's me but you never knew me."
"I guess I still don't," Raichand said.
"Well, you might now, because there is no going back."
"Can you go away and let me stay in peace?! I don't want to lose my courtesies as what had happened to you." Raichand said and turned back to the table to make everybody who didn't understand him look at Justin.
"He said he doesn't want to see him." Dhamini translated for the sake of their hosts.
"What is that English? Where had you learn it?!" Shania asked her daughter.
"I paid attention at school. And for god's sake, I'm in university let me enjoy it." Dhamini said and made Justin laugh.
He made a very big mistake by laughing when he was beside his father. Raichand turned to look at him with a deathly glare.
"I'm sorry Mr. Desai, I won't be joining you for this dinner because someone isn't appeased for my presence," Justin said looking at Blake.
"Who did you lie to?! Me or him?!" Raichand asked in English and made everyone shocked.
"Huh?!"
"Who?!" Raichand asked again looking at Justin without blinking or turning to any other side.
"Both. Both of you." Justin said.
"Why Justin?! I thought we made it clear when we wrote you last!" Blake said.
"If you could see them when I rejected going to the local University they chose for me, you would pretty much understand what made me do that. I had to get away from them to have my ways. I couldn't under their roof."
"If you wanted to have your way, you would have just said the word. Just the word."
"And what?! Would you have listened?! Would you have said 'okay it's fine just do what you like '? Tell me, dad!" Justin snapped at his father and made him stand up to make it equal to him being standing, it felt like he was towering over him.
"Even if we couldn't, you would have played your part." Raichand shot back.
"Talking about playing one's part, did you play yours?! Did you, dad?!" Justin asked.
"I know I have never been the better father to my son but what you did isn't right either. And if you wanted to have your way with things, then now you have it because you are no longer under our roof."
"You don't mean it, uncle, right?!" Dhamini asked in terror.
"He never speaks twice. At least, that's a thing I know about my father. And never going back on their words, of my clan." Justin said and turned to look at Kenneth who was on the verge of crying.
"I think this is it. I don't want to spoil it anymore. I'll be back late after everybody is asleep. And it will be the same for the whole week." He said to Kenneth and Blake who sat beside each other and started to go.
"There is no need because early tomorrow we are going back," Raichand said from where he was.
"I've had this enough! You are making the same mistake that your father did, Raichand. You can't do this!" Shania said.
"Maybe this time it isn't me who is making it. Ego is making it." Raichand said and turned to look at Justin. "Even if you think we're just another hump you have to jump on your way out, you will need us to open that door for you."
Justin without another word stormed off and he heard Dhamini running over to him when he was taking his coat to go out.
"Wait up! Justin! Wait!" Dhamini called while running.
"Dhamini, what are you doing?! Go back!" Justin told her.
"Mom allowed me. Let's hit America!" She said enthusiastically.
They then spent their night out and had dinner together. It was the most beautiful night he had ever imagined. And to make it more wonderful, Dhamini didn't even mention what happened and let the moment carry them over it. She just told him how she had managed to convince them to tag along since there was a college trip to Goa back at Grass Brown.
That was the last day he saw his family and the same day he lost both his families.
He couldn't live well afterward, not when he had admitted that he had lied to both parts which had been by his side.
He had to finish his semester staying at the hostel which was provided by his scholarship. He could stay at Blake's but it kept biting him in the ass every time he saw Blake. And to make it more uncomfortable, Kenneth and Julian kept intervening in his personal space by forcing him to do ridiculous things to keep himself sane.
Because he had finished his job which Blake needed him to do, no more strings were attaching him to them. He had even made Alysa and Anna talk it out so, all that was left was to focus on his studies.
He moved out and finished his semester staying at the hostel. Matron, Scar, Rick, Ethan, and Alysa would visit him frequently. Their visits weren't disturbing ones but seeing them still caring for him and take him as still a part of the family made Justin feel bad about it, and so when he heard from Stacy that Anna had registered herself for the study abroad program and she was in Toronto studying, he decided that he will go to Toronto as well.
Anna never wanted to speak with Alysa because she took part in the accident that Kenneth's parents had met with. But being tricked by the love notes that the anonymous Justin wrote her, she had no other way out than going to the place they had to meet.
She was met with Alysa instead of the person she expected. When she wanted to back out, it was too late as Kenneth and Julian were there as well. She had to remain there and clear the misunderstanding by telling her part of the story.
She was the one who helped Julian remove the wires from Kenneth's parents' car not knowing that it would cause an accident. Julian wanted those wires to mess up with his lights in the room and he would have returned them right after he finished, but he wasn't lucky as they had left when he was returning them.
They apologized to each other and said that it could stay between them since Kenneth decided to forgive them. They also convinced Anna that everything was cool and she could return home. Little did they know, she was planning for a possible getaway to get as far from them as she could.
And right she did. She went to Toronto on that study program their uni had.
Justin had to follow her there though he didn't know exactly why. And right after his first semester ended, he moved to Toronto as well. And that's how he ended up in Toronto University.
¶
On one of the days when Justin was going from the cafeteria of the North Campus where he lived to the main block, he accidentally bumped into Anna. He was glad that he had found her at last. It felt wonderful and made him so happy that he couldn't suppress his happiness.
After about five minutes of staring at each other, Justin got hold of the situation and spoke first. "Ooh my god! Am sorry."
"Sorry...sorry! Really! are you serious?" Anna replied in anger.
"What else do you expect me to say to show you that I am apologizing for the mistake?" Justin frowned.
"Are you dumb or something?! Pick up my things!" Anna said astonished.
"Me?! But they are your things and not mine, or by any means do we share them?" Justin confidently replied.
"Ooh Yuck! What are you thing, huh? OK, tell me who dropped them?" Exclaimed Anna.
"You, yourself maybe. No, they slipped from your hands, ... sweet hands I can say." Justin smiled.
"Ooh gosh! Who made them slip, no, why they slipped?" Anna asked with her hands on her head getting frustrated each second.
"Ooh that, I bumped into you, my lady." Justin winked.
Anna was left frozen, and soon she composed herself and said "What?! Are you trying to flirt with me?! Noo! I won't agree with that. You just pick up my things or else I will scream so loud that ..."
When he heard her saying that she wanted to scream, he cut her midway "Ooh fine, here they are. I heard you saying about ice cream so we have a date, right?"
And just like that, they got closer instantly and became friends. And in no time, they were lovers already. Time had passed fast that they couldn't realize they were graduating.
They had to go back to Florida for their graduation because they were Jacksonville students. And since Kenneth and Julian were graduating that year as well, so, there was no escaping them.
They had planned everything out and how they would play their cards. They didn't want to blow up whatever that was going to be just because they were afraid of facing the family.
And Justin thought everything would go perfectly as planned but the revelation that Anna used to go out with Kenneth before she escaped, made him think of all of it again.
If he could have known what had happened between the two, he would have made it less romantic. But he didn't, and the damage was already done. And to be honest, he wasn't regretting it even for a single second.
They landed in Florida at about 5 PM. They then went to the hotel they'd booked for their four-day stay in Jacksonville.
His account was reading a little more than 180,000 dollars, so his life was still in his hands. He confronted Anna about Alysa and they were going to call her.
At exactly 7, the three of them were at a restaurant just beside the uni entrance. Alysa was happy to finally meet her sister after she disappeared last time.
"Where had you found her?! I thought I would never see her again." Alysa said to Justin.
"It wasn't hard to find her. I found her whereabouts from Stacy." Justin said.
"Stacy!" Both girls said in amazement.
"You know Stacy?!" Anna asked Alysa.
"Yes, she is Martin's girlfriend," Alysa replied.
"Stacy is Martin's.. wait! Remind me which Stacy we are talking about!" Anna said.
"Stacy Moon," Justin said.
"That bitch! She helped me plan all of it and then she sold me!" Anna said angrily.
"She sold you?! You must be joking! We have her at the house every day and she never speaks of it." Alysa said in pure amazement.
"She doesn't?!" Anna was astonished by what Alysa had said.
"She literally sold you to me but pledged to never tell anyone after me," Justin said.
"Even her boyfriend?!" Anna was shocked.
"Yup, that was the deal," Justin said then added. "And she kept her word."
"But how could you make her do that?! That's crazy you know!" Alysa said.
"Well, it wasn't easy. That girl is something else. If you have your secret, she is a reliable person."
Justin's POV
I was searching back and forth on anything that would lead to Anna. Anything, any clue maybe, but I got none.
And then one among the days, my roommate Harry Scott who I had introduced to Stacy, said to me that study abroad program was an opportunity to experience different traditions and this and that.
I told him I wasn't interested but he got persistent that I should check it out because Stacy was the girl at the help desk.
I brushed it off for that moment but when I kept thinking of it, I found out something was fishy about it. Stacy had never studied abroad and she had no interest in anything concerning abroad unless she had done something and wanted to cover it up for that time.
I kind of made that out from Martin when he would tell me crazy things that Stacy did to cover up for something she did, whether it was a mistake she did or a secret she wanted to keep.
And knowing Stacy, it was pretty clear it wasn't a mistake. So, there must be something she was hiding. I had no other choice than go to their stand and find out the truth.
'Why study abroad program?!' I asked her when I reached her post.
She was taken aback by my question and so she asked me to repeat it.
'Why study abroad program?!' I repeated what I had said to her.
'Don't you find it as a great opportunity for me to have a different experience added to my CV?! It will help me get a job easily.'
'You don't need that experience.' I said to her.
'Who are you to say? If you are here to talk shit, then you'd better get the fuck off.' She was getting protective, angry, and suspicious.
From that time, I knew that something was wrong and so I had to press more but not at that time.
'For the start, you have Martin who can get you a job wherever you wish to work. But I'm not here for that. I am interested in the program and I would like to know more about it.' I tricked her so I could get the real reason behind it.
'I'm not a gold-digger nor am I a bitch. I have to use my strength to create my future. I don't need a rich famous man to get me through the hardships of life.' She said while picking up a brochure and gave it to me. 'We have a short class at 4 to explain it. If you miss today, you can try tomorrow or any other day at the same time but the last day is this Friday.'
'I respect you for that. I know you are a hard-working girl but I need a private class. Today at 8, will that work for you.' I persuaded her but she didn't want to hear anything from me.
'I don't do private classes. But there is someone who might be willing to do so.'
'I want you.' I had to make it clear what I wanted.
'I have an appointment today, I can't.' She said casually and stared at me in the eye.
'I know you hate that restaurant. Just do this for me and you'll schedule your appointment for tomorrow and I'll arrange everything.' I had to tell her the truth to make her realize that she had at least two reasons to let Martin down for that day.
Martin was a jerk. You can't take a girl to the same restaurant for more than 10 dates and order the same meal every time you are there.
She accepted and told him that she couldn't because something came up last minute. He said she shouldn't be worried and it was fine, they could always go another time and that's when Stacy said she had made it up for him but it was a surprise.
At 8, I went over to her apartment and found her and her friend, Ellie talking about castles and something like that. I remembered to bring with me, chocolates and two cups of coffee.
'How did you know that Martin always takes me to the same restaurant and I like Choco and coffee when I study?' She asked after we had settled down.
'Maybe I am a good observer whenever I come across you. And I know what girls like the most.'
'Okay, so let's get started.' She said as she started to spread out the materials on the floor where we were seated.
'Before we start, I need you to be honest with me in this.' I said looking at her without diverting my vision.
'What do you mean?!' She was shocked at how I got.
'I need to know if there is anything you know about Anna and her disappearance.' I said with a gentle voice.
'Is this what brought you here?!' Again she was getting anxious and protective. She wasn't that good at keeping secrets, I made a mental note to give her a few tips after I know the truth.
"Were you really doing that??!" Alysa asked me.
"Yes, I was. How else was I gonna find out if I didn't pressure her?"
I had to tell her what I was thinking and that was she was concerned with Anna being nowhere to be seen. But I let it slide for a minute before I told her to continue.
We talked about the program a bit before I asked her.
'You seem experienced with this. When had you start doing this?!'
'Since the start of this semester. And I am the expert here so I must be all-knowing.' She replied with a peal of laughter.
'Expert! Have you ever sent anyone abroad with this program?!'
'I sure have. I had twelve students this month itself.' She replied with a grin and that cocky smile of hers. That one of 'Don't underestimate me, bitch'.
'When was the first time you sent someone abroad?' I pressed more.
'Is this an interrogation?!' She was getting suspicious but she didn't get what I was up to and so I still had my chances of getting an answer out of her.
'I need to know how good you are for me and my plans. If you are not the right choice, I have to find another person.' I said it to strike her ego. And her being egocentric, she snapped.
'One person the first month I started, and 8 more the next month before these twelve.' She said.
'A progress. Is that one person Anna?!'
'Justin, get out.'
'Actually, I already know that it was her. I need you to send me where she is.'
'Justin I said to get out before I do something you will regret.' Stacy was panicking at that moment. I had to play it cool or else I got nothing.
'Don't you find it weird that I know about a lot of things concerning you, your relationship, and many things! I promise you if you tell me nobody will know.'
'As if I could trust you!'
'Well, you have to. Because I know you kissed Harry on Valentine's day and I haven't said anything to Martin. And speaking of Martin, how are you gonna come up with a surprise that he will like if I'm not here to help you.' And like that, I got to know where was Anna and how she would play it safe whenever somebody speaks of her.
End of Justin's POV.
"That's reasonable, but why would Anna never want to meet me again is still a mystery," Alysa said looking at her sister.
"I'm sorry Alysa, I just..." Anna was cut off when she heard Julian behind them.
"Glad you are here! How can you go without saying where you- Anna! Justin?!"