I pulled out my phone and called Arjun.
‘Hello?’ Even though it was past midnight, he sounded wide awake.
‘I need help with something.’
21
Marigold Petals
Ananya
A boat drifted closer to the ghats at an unhurried pace. Two men sat in it, chatting with each other. The sun dipped closer to the horizon, painting the blue sky in hues of pink and orange. Marigold petals floated in the water.
I flung a curved stone into the Ganga. It skipped four times before sinking in.
It had been nine days and twenty-two hours since the breakup. I’d been home for about four and a half of them. Every morning, I’d wake burdened by the past and fall asleep worn thin. The guilt of my actions ate away at me so much that I felt empty from the inside.
I tried to muster up the energy to act normal around my family, but it was futile. They saw through me within hours of my arrival. Maa and Bhabhi tried to ask me what was wrong, but I didn’t say anything. Icouldn’t.
I attended the Assi Ghataartiswith Papa in the mornings, spent most of the day in bed and evenings on the steps of the ghat. Today, Maa sent Bhaiyya and me to get some groceries. I didn’t have it in me to go into the crowded market and risk running intopeople I knew, so I asked Bhaiyya to do the shopping himself.
I didn’t know what it was, maybe he’d gotten older or he knew I was upset about something, but he uncharacteristically agreed.
‘Anu,chal, it’s time to go home,’ Bhaiyya called.
I turned. He was carrying two bags. One was full of fruits and veggies, and the other was from Rajshree Sweets. That meant we had guests coming over.
My phone dinged. I shoved it in my pocket before walking over to him.
He put his helmet on before straddling his bike.
‘Who’s coming home?’ I asked, putting a hand on his shoulder as I lifted myself up and sat behind him.
‘The Sharmas.’ Wind carried his words away as he pulled onto the street, but I caught them.
‘What?’
Of course, he didn’t reply. He knew better than that.
Dread prickled my skin. They were coming over to see me.For Parth.
Anger and frustration bubbled inside me.
Maa and Papa were giving me space, treating me well and feeding me good food to fatten me up for slaughter. And I played right into their hands like a naïve little lamb.
The moment Bhaiyya stopped in the veranda, I hopped off the bike and barrelled inside. I went straight to the kitchen, where I knew Maa would be. She was frying samosas. I turned off the stove.
‘Ananya—’
‘You invited the Sharmas?’ I snapped. ‘Are you serious? I haven’t been here for five full days, and you pulled this stunt? How could you do this to me?’
‘We tried to ask, but you didn’t tell us how long you were home for,’ she said calmly. ‘Parth has come all the way from Delhi to see you.Again. Just meet the boy and then—’
Her careless, heartless actions struck harder than usual. ‘I’m leaving. I never should have come back home.’
‘Ananya, beta—’
I exited the kitchen and froze.
