"Yeah, they are my cousins. Umm... My brother is just by the fire, in blue and white striped shirt. His name is Mason. The one in pink overalls is my cousin sister Joe and the guy next to her is her husband, Matthew. The one in a yellow floral dress is Draya and the girl next to her is Nat as in Natasha, both of them are my cousins. I've other cousins too but they are not present here", I said clenching my teeth.
"You", my auntie said pointing towards me and then she looked at Raidan and continued "forget about your cousins. Son, how old are you?" "I'm 23 years old",he said politely, placing one of his hands over his chest with a half bow. "23, good good. So, you are 2 years older than her", my uncle said. "Yes, it seems that way", he replied, again very politely. Only if he had talked with any interviewer in this way..... I'm sure if he did, that interviewer would think that his life has been blessed.
"What do you do?" my baba asked. "I'm still a student . But I do run a small business", he replied with a polite smile. "Business? What type of business?" finally my father asked. "Umm... " he hesitated at first before replying "it's a business related to technology, and hospitality industry", "Elaborate please", my Chachima said. "Come on, guys... You all can discuss these when you meet. These are not those things that can be discussed over call", I interfered seeing the hesitate look on his face. "Yeah she is right. You guys can see what I do after you guys come here", Raidan said siding me. "That's also true" my family said in unison. "Tell me about you family son. What do they do?", my grandma said.
He looked really hesitant to reply
"Well, they are not in this world", he looked unreadable while saying that.Opps! I almost forgot that he is an orphan, of course he'll hesitate. Damn!! "Out of this world?? They are dead?" my grandma said with pitiful eyes. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes almost as if asking me to help him out. If it was someone else I would have been able to help him out. But it's my grandma and I can't say anything to cut her. "Umm... They are not dead. They are just out of the world", he said hesitately. They all looked at him with confusion written all over their faces. "He means to say, his parents are astronauts. And that's why they are not in this world", I lied. A big lie. I don't know how I'm going to cover it up.
The fireworks show ended in half an hour. Honestly I like to see fireworks because I believe that fireworks are the perfect example of, "A thing of beauty is joy forever". Eventhough fireworks last for a little time but the joy that it spreads, it's incredible.
Even though the fireworks have stopped but none of us have spoken anything since we've hung up the call. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lie about your parents. It's just it felt like you wanted me to help you out", I said running a hand through my hair. "It's alright", he replied, coldly.
"Well, don't think that I lied because my family won't approve of you after knowing that you are an orphan. Being orphan is good", I blabbered. And after I realized what I had said might be considered as rubbing salt in his wounds, I slapped my mouth. I should have just kept quiet. "Lam it's alright...!! Really alright. And don't worry I didn't think of anything", he said assuring me.
"Raidan....." I stared at him for a while without saying anything. He also looked at me because I had called his name, he was expecting me to say something. But then he spoke up as I didn't say anything,"Um... Your family has an unique gathering spot", he said teasing me. My cheeks burned up in heat when I realized that I had been looking at him shamelessly. "Oh. ..umm... That's our sideyard. You saw how big my family is.... So, it gets hard to have a gathering inside any room. And our sideyard is really spacious. Which is why we arrange our family gathering in the sideyard", I gulped down the whole glass of water after finishing my sentence.
Damn, it's cold!! And I'm wearing too little considering this cold. Gosh no no no, it's coming and it's here, "Aichoo....." another one "Aichoo...!!" I've temperature allergy. And as its reaction I suffer from sneezing fits when it's too hot or too cold. I felt warm behind my back when I was rubbing my nose. As I looked around, his coat was over my shoulder. He sat down again and said, "Look at you!!! You are wearing so little...!! Are you even aware of that it's 1 degree celsius outside?" I shook my head. "I was generally dressed for my class not for a date". I felt my cheeks heating up again as I mentioned the word 'Date'.
"Anyway just keep the coat on", he said in a defeated voice, avoiding eye contact. "Ok!!" I also avoided eye contact. Even though we are gonna get married but the word date still make our cheeks burn up.
It's around 9 pm now, we are walking over the Tower Bridge. Right now I feel like one of my long cherished dreams came true. Well I'm from South Asia and it never snowed in the part where I lived in. And that's why I always dreamed myself standing under snowfall in the street of London. But right now I'm walking on the Tower Bridge under snowfall with an incredible handsome man beside me and his coat around my shoulder. The only thing that can make it more romantic and perfect is probably having his hand in mine. But I'll take my time and enjoy this beautiful moment.
"The temperature has gone down", he said resting his back on the left side pillar of the bridge. "That's a must. Otherwise how are you going to explain the snowfall?" I said with a smile. He nodded.
"In the world
There is nothing like
The sound of falling snow-----
The only noise
I've ever known
That makes the clocks move slow;", I stared at the falling snow and I didn't even realize when I ended up saying these lines. I had read this poem on internet few years ago and I don't even know why I suddenly thought of it.
"The only sound
That sweeps away
The din of city streets;
And wraps around,
In soft embrace,
'Most everyone it meets;" he said reminding me of the lines I couldn't remember. It's surprising to see him recite this poem. I didn't think it was a well known poem. But I didn't say anything to him. I only stared at him with a smile. "Last parts together?" he said looking me. I nodded and then we both recited rest of the parts together.
"A sound that's not
A sound at all ----
A quiet, soft and dear,
That comforts all
The sleepy souls
Who sit, and watch, and hear."
"You knew this poem? How?" I asked out of curiosity. "White noise, right? I guess I had read it somewhere", he said with a shrug. "Aren't you cold?" I asked him. "No", he looked at his watch. That's right, he needs to leave now. But I don't want to let him go. I don't want this beautiful moment to be over so soon.
"Raidan can I ask you something?" I said looking at his eyes. "Sure. Anything you want". "Do you think it'll be weird if I ask you to take me along with you to Harvard this time?" He thought for a while before answering. "It should not be", he said sounding unsure. "Then can I come along with you?"