Ab Thak Chuke Hai Ye Kadam
Chal Ghar Chalen Mere Humdum
Hongein Juda Na Jab Tak Hai Dum
Chal Ghar Chale Mere Humdum
(Language-Hindi, Arjit Singh)
A T H A L I A
Damn lucky! Theiona, just eating and sleeping, eating and sleeping, eating and sleeping against Cade's warm chest. That's what she's done through the whole flight, and right now she is still playing with his hair.
We arrived in Jaipur around seven in the evening; the sun was almost set, and soon it became dark. I've never been to Jaipur before; I used to live in Uttarakhand. This is my first time here. Aunt Mae (Melina) handed me a black saree before we landed and told me to wear it because everyone there stays in traditional attire and wears heavy jewelry. She didn't want me to feel out of place. Well, it doesn't matter because I know the family is quite royal and quite wealthy.
Once Lewis took me to their family reunion-type party; the women were not so bad but not so kind either. Typical Indian ladies with backbiting. Cade has been gulping down his emotions every five minutes, peeping at my bare waist. He is staring at it like it's his unsolved physics equation.
There is barely some light in the car, but I can feel his eyes getting wider every time I bend down or move. Such a lustful person he is.
"The family is staying at the old mansion on the outskirts of town. I believe no one has any problem staying there." Lewis asked, giving us a look. Ronan raised his head as if he is in a math class, "Do we have internet available there?"
"Yes," he replied, then turned to me, "Are you alright with this, Alia?" and gave me a pitiful look. Am I alright staying with those arrogant aunts who spilled water on me last time? I guess I am.
"Of course, sir." Even if I'm not, I can't deny his orders. But this family is actually a living Indian serial drama. (Sath Nibhana Sathiya music playing in the background)
The wind was chilly; the month of March is pleasant here. Not so cold, not so hot. Theiona was feeling sleepy again, so I cuddled her close to my chest, so neither of us could feel the cold. She pleasantly buried her head in the blanket, playing with my pendant. I shifted closer to Cade, and he brought his left hand around mine, pulling me close and kissed my hair.
Lewis smiled watching us. Did he just smile while seeing me with a boy like this? Great development, Mr. Hanniel. At least his strict fatherly side is gone by now.
"We will reach there soon," he informed. "And Cade, make sure to take care of Alia and Theiona. I'll be quite busy. They are your responsibility because Athalia has never been to Jaipur, and it's an unknown place for her."
It seems this old man can leave me alone for catching dangerous people and working, but he can't in an unknown city.Cade sighed and placed his head on mine. I never want to wake up from here; it's so peaceful.
"We're here," and within 5 minutes, a voice broke my comfort zone. I held Theiona, getting out of the car, and she opened her eyes. Now, she'll become scared finding herself around many people.
All family members were there at the main entrance-the old Dada and Dadi along with three ladies in heavy sarees and their husbands, with their children. Gosh! This is a typical royal Indian family. I felt out of place in just one second coming here.
"Oh my my, when did this happen?" screamed the lady in a shiny blue saree (basically the badi bua of the family) pointing at my Theiona, which almost scared her. She hid her face in my chest, and I heard her little sobs. Shit! When she cries like this, I too feel like crying.
"Don't say anything before listening, Baisa (older sister)! She is the daughter of a friend we are taking care of," Lewis roared after noticing Theiona is crying. The lady took steps back laughing nervously. "I thought Kabir bewitched us before his marriage, you know things like this usually happen during the marriage season."
Melodramatic Aunts! I rolled my eyes calming my little girl. "My son would never do such a thing Mira baisa. I have raised him well." Kabir's mother said holding his both cheeks. "Can we go inside now? If you are done with your drama." Cade asked.
"Oh, I forgot, my Cade came back after such a long time." Mira threw her arm to give Cade a hug, however, he didn't let her. "Put everyone's luggage in their room and Alia's in the guest room," she waved at the servants.
"Keep Alia's luggage in my room; we are staying in the same room," Cade instructed them, taking blessings from his grandparents by touching their feet. "Why?" the woman in the green saree (Kavya Bua) asked. "Do you have any problem, Dadu?" Cade asked the old man in front of him, and he shook his head with a pleasant smile. Then Cade shrugged his shoulders at Kavya.
"It's getting dark; let's go inside and freshen up before dinner," said the old lady, dragging Cade along with her. "I have cooked so many things for my favorite grandson."
"At least let me rest a bit, Dadi." Cade protested, but she dragged him along. The courtyard had pillars adorned with flower patterns, creating delicate shadows on the moonlit marble floor. At its center, there was an impressive fountain that sent ripples through a reflecting pool-a shining reminder of the prosperity that once filled these walls.
All around the courtyard, there was a covered walkway with intricate lattice screens that filtered the sunlight. Colorful bougainvillea vines spilled from the screens, filling the air with a sweet scent.
"She is so cute," a young girl around my age complimented Theiona. "By the way, I'm Avani, Mira Baisa's daughter." I gave a smile to Avani.
"I'm Athalia; you can call me Alia if that suits your tongue." She repeated the word Alia then snapped, "You're the one my mother threw water at in the family party, right?"
These people still remember; how embarrassing. "Yeah," I chuckled in awkwardness. "Don't take her seriously; she is like this, my apologies from her side," said Avani. I think not everyone is harsh here, maybe I can make some friends. "Can I hold her?" Avani asked, trying to hold Theiona, but unfortunately, she was not in the mood to go anywhere except to me. So she refused, hiding herself in my embrace.
"She is shy with new people," I told Avani. Theiona gave me that 'Feed-me' look again. I tried to search for Cade, but he was out of sight; I think it's time to seek for some help.
"Can you show me the way to Cade's room?" I requested Avani, she ask me to follow her. "How do you know Bhai?" She asked as we were walking through the polished marble cooridore. "We kind of live together." Is the best answer I can came up with.
"Are you his Girlfriend?"
"No" I am not his girlfriend, I can never be.
"Why you are staying in his room with him?, I mean it's not his usual nature. He never let us touch his things or go in his privacy." she throwed the theoretical questions at me, I became speechless.
"Why don't you ask this to your Bhai, Avani?" I replied and she let out a soft laugh fixing her chunii, "Do you think I dare to ask him?"
"We've reached." A lavish bed takes center stage, enveloped in flowing curtains that evoke a sense of regal privacy. The room boasts a picturesque balcony, and through an intricately designed window. Balancing tradition with modernity, a discreetly placed television harmonizes with air conditioning for comfort.
"My room is the next one, just in case you need something. You should go and freshen up before dinner," Avani suggested, pointing at the bathroom. Hopefully, the luggage was already here, but I needed to feed Theiona first. "Can you be with this baby till I freshen up?" I asked, passing her Theiona's milk bottle. She didn't mind; she wanted to play with her, and neither did Theiona mind.
I went to bathe with the emerald green saree that Aunty Milena had given me. She gave three sarees, and I think I have to make done with these only.
After having a quick warm shower, I used the hairdryer but didn't completely dry my hair. I put on raspberry-tinted lipstick and applied it as a light blush too. The blouse with this saree had thin straps and lace to tie. "Hey Avani, can you help me tie the Dori of my blouse?"
"Yeah, I'll tie it," she replied. I peeked through the bathroom to check if there was someone else in the room, but there was none, so I stepped outside. "I'm really not that much into sarees," I told her when she was tying the lace.
"But you look beautiful in them," she said. Just after that, Cade entered the room, with some lipstick marks on his cheek. There's no point in becoming jealous because I know it must've been done by his dadi who was treating him like a five-year-old.
"You should lock the door before changing clothes." Feeling his presence, Avani was left in shock because my body was not properly covered in the saree. But it was not as if he was seeing me like this for the first time; it's normal for us. Avani was confused because I didn't cover up even after noticing him. He licked his bottom lip, passing me his 'I'm-turned-on' smirk.
"Fetch me a pair of trousers and a t-shirt from the bag while I bathe, please chéire." He requested and went inside the bathroom. "Why didn't you cover up?" Avani asked as she finished tying my blouse lace. I fixed the loose end of my saree, draping it over my left shoulder, letting it fall to hand, and pouted, "Because he has seen me like that."
Avani frowned, digging out the meaning of my words. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Cade shouted from inside the bathroom, "Avani Kavya Bua was searching for you with a slipper in her hand. Good luck with that!" And she rushed outside the room.
I cleaned Theiona with a wet cloth and dressed her in a pink sleepsuit, which has a bunny ears type hoodie, and gave her, her favorite stuffed toy. Thea and I both picked up this small pink bunny toy when she was 2 months old, and since then, she never leaves it.
"Can you hand me my clothes?" Cade shouted, but when I did, he pulled me inside the bathroom, taking his chances to slam me against the door, sinking his teeth into my neck. I knew he'd do something like that.
"Cade, leave me!" He backed off, making a sad pout. Did Mr. Rude just pout? I threw his clothes to him and shut the door, getting out.
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽
"Don't know what Lewis saw in this street girl," Kavya Bua taunted, pushing me aside.
I don't mind; holding my anger in me is a talent you can't complain about. I grew up in an Indian middle-class family. Drinking the wine of pain without anyone noticing is our habit.
I pour the coffee for me and Cade in the cup but am met by an exhausted and stressed Lewis. He entered the kitchen as if he had run all the way here, sweat dripping from his head and dread in his eyes. His lips trembled when he said, "We've an emergency, a dangerous one."
"If it's really that important to go, then let me come with you, Lia." Cade pleaded again while I was changing my clothes into the formal uniform. "I need someone with Theiona, Cade, someone I can trust, and someone with whom she stays calm."
He looked at the little one, finally understanding my situation. "Then take me with you." Nathan was standing at the front door. "You can't just give me orders to sit my ass down here, Athalia." He argued. I had just dismissed the team today; I can't take them with me because I don't want this operation on G.U.A.R.D records.
"Nathan, I'm your senior, and it's my order. Now shut up and enjoy your vacations." I gritted my teeth, and he got scared. Scared of Athalia? No! Scared of his actual boss? Yes.
I kissed Theiona's head for the last time before putting her to sleep. Thea was right; it really gets harder to leave when she is awake. Lewis was waiting for me downstairs with his P.A. I couldn't stay here any longer. I picked up my bag, but before I could leave, Cade pulled me into his embrace. It's unfortunate that I can't die here. I don't even know if I would come back here or not.
He kissed my lips and said, "I don't care about the world, chéire, but you. If I lost you too, I swear I'd bring down war to this land. Just be safe, Athalia. Just be safe."
I didn't know why he said that, but it felt good. It felt like I had someone longing for my return, praying for life, someone I could call my home.
"I would take you shopping when you come back. So ,you don't have to repeat these three sarees." I smiled at his words. Of course, I would make it back here, to go out for shopping with him.