Priyanka stood in the foyer the moment she got inside. Her heart racing so fast that she had to hold her chest like she's counting her pulse. She has never felt this way before. What is happening? She suddenly enjoyed his presence around her and when she parted from him, it's like her world crashed down too. What is she getting herself into? It's not right for her to think or feel this way for him or anyone because, she knows who she truly is. She is a mermaid and if any man falls for her, then that means he's linage would be wiped out into her world. She can't let these humans develop feelings for her. She doesn't want to hurt anyone or cause a disaster in their hierarchy.
Producing baby mermaids in a human family is not a nice idea. No one will want such for their homes. If she was a total human too, she wouldn't accept such either. But why is she having this urge of going back to see him? Why did she liked it when he carried her in his arms and she just pretend to be mad? She can't go back to her words because it's one of the hardest thing for a mermaid. She has to go to the sea for seven days and seven nights for certain rituals to be done if she must go back to his dreams.
For now, she can't risk it. She has to gain more powers from the ocean and goddesses before she can head for such dangerous journey. But is she supposed to tell him about it? Of course not! He don't need to find out, he is a stranger and disclosing more of her entity will only cause her damage. When he talked about the deal he thought he lost, she never had a hand in it. Of a truth, she was here busy doing her own thing without having any slight of him in her mind but as of this evening when he came, everything changed. His hands constantly touching her sends chills and electricity through her marrows. His eyes and smiles were like holy water ready to baptize her in holy trinity. The guy is cute and breathtaking but still doesn't deserve a girl like her. Apart from the fact that he needs her back in track, she also thinks he's catching something for her. Flirting, always smiling, touching, caressing and always looking into her eyes whenever he talks. He is a complete epitome of handsomeness.
"Priyanka, there you are." Urumi approached her, looking relieved. "I've been searching for you the whole place. I even went to your room but you were not there, where did you go?"
"Oh, mother." She fake a smile and walked to meet her. She touched her mother's toes and touched her own heart.
"Bless you, dear." She pats her daughter's back. "Ronee, ne mujhe bataaya ki tum kuchh samay pahale kisee ke saath the. [Roni, told me you were with someone a while ago.] Who was it?"
Priyanka's eyes grew big, "Uh..." Her parents has never seen her keeping male friends talk much a guy coming to see her in the house. "Yah koee nahin tha. Darasal, main get gaard ke saath keval sankshipt baatacheet kar raha tha. [It was no one.Actually, I was only having a brief conversation with the gate guard.]" She lied.
"Maharaj?"
She nodded vigorously, forcing a smile.
Urumi felt relieved again. "Okay. Let's go inside, your father is starving." She place her arm around her shoulders as they walk in. "You know we can't eat alone when you're around, right?"
...….
Justin refused to go home that night. He rather stay and see if he'll see her in his dreams again. He drove his car out of the Abhishek compound and parked it outside the gate. Don't get it twisted, he is going to spend the night here in his car and when the morning comes, he'll personally make sure to give her a ride to school.
He turned off the engine and headlights before adjusting his seat into a relaxing position. The windows are tilted and no one can see the inside. He took off his tie, toss it to the back seat where his coat was, then, he unbutton his sleeves on the wrist and collar. Only two buttons off and his chest is bare.
Oh fucking hell. How come he missed dinner? And—shit! His phone? Inside his pockets. His parents and Max must have been calling him since.
He looked at his phone. Two missed calls from Max, ten from his mother and five from his father. He knew his mother's must be the highest. She is very worried right now and he needs to call her first. He removed his phone from silent mode before dialing his mother's number.
"Justin, you almost gave me blood pressure." Her voice tender like she's been crying for long.
"Am sorry, mom." He rubbed his forehead. "Somethings needed my attention urgently so I had to settle them."
"And what was that, that you couldn't call me or your father or Francesca or even Max?" She retorted. He could smell her anger from afar. "Your phone was ringing and you didn't pick up. I was worried and your father too. We wanted to send our men for your whereabouts but Max told us you went to do something. So I ask again, sweetie, what is that thing that you went to do?"
He shut his eyes, getting tired of her nags. How can he tell her he actually came to see Priyanka? It will only extend things more. And from there, she'll start asking where does she live? Where is she from? Is she pretty? What is her Alma matter? How old is she and blah, blah, blah.
"An urgent business meeting within the state, mom." That is the only way he could put it.
"Oh, really? Because I tracked your phone and it says you're in LA."
Oh meh, does she has to be a spy in his life all the time? She has too many curiousness when it comes to him. "Mom, I'm fine. Am a grown up man not a kid. There's no need for you to track me like am lost in some kinda jungle or forest."
She chuckled. "Sweetie, you're my only son and I will make sure you're secured, get that? So tell me, are you coming home tonight?"
"Tomorrow."
"Ugh...too bad I made your favorite. Calamari with mayo, waffles and omelette and Mango Royale cake." She sighed in dismay.
"I can still microwave them if they're preserved in the refrigerator." He yawned, ready to sleep.
"Ha. This one you're yawning, who is romancing you there? If I was there, I would have break that whore's head for laying her guilty hands on my son."
Justin laughed softly. "Come on, momsi. There's no one here with me. I already told you before that am different now. Look well and you'll see the new me. Besides, I still haven't seen a woman for months now."
"Aww, so sad. Now your hormones are resting, huh? Good habit. Keep it up."
He unbuckle his belt so he could feel comfortable. "Am just trying, mother. Lately, I don't know what's happening to me. I suddenly don't have urge for other women. And when they try to come to me….. I'm not just interested."
"Ah," He imagine her eyes grew big. "Justin, you're falling in love, my dear."
His brows creased, "Falling in love? Mom, that's an understatement because I don't have a girlfriend."
"Of course it's gonna be like that first, my son. That's how it started before I met your father."
His eyes rolled as she continues. There she goes again. Involving her love life in their discussion. Before you know it, she'll start lecturing him on how to date.
"Your dad was my first crush. He confessed the same to me too. Sometimes when I look at you, I see your father's younger version. He was a charming man till date."
"And he held you with his charms." He chuckled, fidgeting with his car key.
"Ah, yes he did, dear." She sighed in satisfaction.
Justin paused for a while. He has something to ask but didn't know how to put it. "Mom? Can I ask you something?"
"Oh, honey. Don't be silly, am your mother, go on and ask whatever you want."
He took a deep breath to clear his conscience first. Then he said, "You feel active when there's this one person next to you but when this person is out of sight for a minute, you feel like you're useless. What does it implies?"
"This is a simple mathematics, Justin. If the person is a boy, then I don't really know about that but if the person is a girl…..it means you're in the realm of love, my son. Why did you ask?"
He shook his head, dismissing it. "It's nothing. A friend of mine was having this symptoms about a girl he usually sees in his dream, and one day they came in contact face to face. She won't let him come close to her, touch her hair or even the hem of her dress. She acts like she's some kinda saint or something. And it makes my friend think he's the only one liking her and she doesn't."
Nice way to divert the story of your life, Justin.
Adela chuckled. "Two things, Justin. One, she's a virgin." His brow rose. "And two, that's his lifetime partner. If your friend really meant his love for her, then let him fight with everything he got to make sure she is his. You know, your father and I once had a love battle where he had to fight for our love. He dealt with all the guys that crosses my path especially when his secretary tried to assault me."
Justin sat up, frowning. "What?" The thought of his nerdy secretary, Clifford, forcing himself on Priyanka made him pissed. "Dad didn't kill him?"
"Honey, that's harsh." She sighed. "How could you say so? The guy was drunk and stupid. It wasn't his basic thing to do on a normal day, yet your father gave him the beating of his life." She laughed, flashing back at the good old days. "I wish I could turn back time. Love really reigned in our youthful days."
"Am happy you guys are still together. Very soon, you'll be celebrating your wedding anniversary."
"Yes, darling. Our 35th wedding anniversary." She beamed. "You know, I always add in my prayers that you in particular will find a woman you'll love and give your whole heart to."
"It is always me, specially, huh?" He groaned.
"Yes, dear. You have to give it a try, believe me, you'll enjoy the ride. Can't you see your sister? She's always happy. She comes home early and go out on a date with her boyfriend. But you?" She clicked her tongue. "You work yourself out in the office everyday and spent time in the bar drinking your soul away. Son, that's not love. You're not helping yourself. You're destroying the man in you. You really need to wake up and see the future for yourself. Moreover, you're not getting younger by each passing of the day."
He facepalm, trying to defend himself. "Am trying, mom. I know am not a kid anymore. I understand if you want me to settle down but you and dad still need to give me a little time."
"Time waits for nobody, Justin. You completed '30' few weeks ago. Age increases in life and not decreases. I'm not pressuring you for my selfish interest because I want grandbabies. I just want you to be happy like I and your father. Just imagine you have someone you'd run home to. You won't be a workaholic in the office anymore." She sighed. "Oh, your father just came in now. Call me before you board off in the morning, okay?"
"Okay, mom. Love you."
"Love you too, son."
After he hung up, he crashed on his seat, reminiscing what his mother just told him. Come to think of it, she was right. He really needs to settle down sooner. His playtime was already over and now is the time he should focus in life and reality. Majority of his friends are already having affairs with someone. They're slowly logging out of the bachelor's list.
Take a look at Tristan who he fought with weeks ago. He is now a complete changed man. He can't believe that was the same playboy he used to know. And Harry? That one has a babe he is attached to lately. He recently found out when he kept seeing her in his house often. And Max? He won't stop pestering his secretary, Claudia. Every time, he gives her free ride to her place after work. Only heaven knows what those two are up to lately.
And him? Let's just forget about his own part of the story. He is trying to be serious, yet, nothing is working. He doesn't know how these things work and his friends would be the last people he would ask for help. The only female friend he has for the first time in his life is Priyanka and he hasn't dreamt of making deeper friendship with her yet. Looking at her own side of view, he doesn't think she likes him as a friend anyway. Maybe she has an Indian boyfriend and she doesn't want to mess things up by creating a tight relationship with an American guy.
All these things in his head made him feel sleepy. He checked his phone time. It was very late. He set an alarm of 5am. He won't hesitate going on a run in the morning. He has to sleep now so he can wake up early to meet with his female friend.