by Namita Singh
having sex with a girl but it also eliminates the possibility of him inclining towards men, sexually. Because not having sexual relations with a female, invariably means that he will be involved with a man. At least in this scenario it implies that. “So, there’s nothing to worry about.” I say further.
“Hmm.” Neal nods, not really paying attention. Then he shakes his head, as if getting rid of a thought, “Jen aunt just had me confused. I mean, if…” he shakes his head again, “Forget it. Anyways, you should just be cautious.”
“Of your aunt?” I ask, like it’s a bad joke.
Neal gives me a droll look.
I roll my eyes and shift sideways, towards the taboret. “I think you should sleep here tonight.” I tell him as I pick up the phone.
Though I am looking at the phone, I am sure Neal is frowning as he says, “You think she’ll ask me to escape with her during the night?”
“And if you don’t agree,” I say, nodding, “then I don’t think it’ll be tough for her to drag you out without your permission.”
“Dude…I am not that weak.”
I give him a pointed look but drag my attention towards the phone. When the hotel attendants pick up, I quickly tell them what I would like to eat. With informing them of my room number, I disconnect the call and turn towards Neal.
“She is a therian.” I tell him, “She can overpower you. And you won’t even realize it.” Neal scoffs, so I continue, “I am serious. It was aunt Rufina who had you fainted like a sissy within seconds at your house. I am sure you didn’t realize that either.”
Neal’s eyes widen, “No shit?”
“No shit.”
“Well….that’s a big hit on the ego.” He mutters.
I shake my head at him, “You’re a pure human. I told you therians, male or female, are stronger than an average human wrestler. You’re no wrestler, even if you’re good at fighting. Plus your stature is small too-”
“Oh, please.” Neal snorts indignantly.
“What?” I frown at him, “Come on, you’re like five foot eight inches or something-”
“I am 5’11”.” He snaps, “Just because I am an inch or two shorter than you, doesn’t mean I am ‘small’.” He bristles.
“You’re three inches shorter than me.” I calculate. Now that I think about it, I do consider Neal shorter than he actually is. In my defense, his loose clothing makes him look lankier and shorter.
“Whatever, Lichinsky.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that a therian is stronger than you. As I said, it took hardly five seconds for Rufina aunt to have you putty in her hands.”
Neal frowns, “I was wondering how did you guys brought me to your place. I didn’t remember much of fainting.”
“You weren’t in the most talkative mood when you woke up. Else, I am sure my family would have informed you.”
Neal laughs humorlessly, “It’s not every day I am accosted by an alienated person, who is much convinced of the authority he disposes on me.”
I squint at him, “How the hell did Ethan even manage to be inside your house?” I ask incredulously. “You should have known better than to let him in.”
“I didn’t know I was the red riding hood.” He says dryly, “Plus, he was being all civil; approaching me and talking politely as my friend’s uncle. He even apologized for his earlier behavior.” Neal shrugs, “So I let him in, warily though, but I did. Then he started asking all bizarre questions, making me excuse myself and call you. He wasn’t offensive till I called you.”
“Ah, well. He is history now; for the time being at least.” I say, “As I was saying, you should sleep here tonight. Lest your aunt pulls some trick.”
“But if I sleep in your room, Jen aunt will know for sure that I don’t trust her. She’ll be assured that I have you informed of everything.”
“Yeah, so?”
Neal opens his mouth to reply but then closes it back as nothing comes to him.
“She is antagonizing at our backs. We may antagonize too, but not at anyone’s back.” I say.
Neal sighs, “Whatever.” He mutters. “I will not sleep on the floor.” He declares, glaring at me from the corner of his eye.
I roll my eyes, “I’ll see if we can have an extra mattress or something.”
While I busy myself on the hotel phone, Neal excuses himself to go to the washroom. There is a knock on our door when Neal reemerges. He looks at me apprehensively. I sense one therian and two human auras outside the door. I nod at Neal and he goes to open the door. Aakir enters, towing a sad Silvia with him. The hotel attendant is here with my food too. Aakir gives him a tip while the attendant asks for the time when he shall bring an extra mattress. I tell him he can get it now. The room we are in is not small, but with four people, it is not exactly humongous. Aakir and Neal both gush over Silvia, making her sit on the bed and asking if she needs anything. I simply smile at her and start devouring my food. I am starving.
“I saw a therian downstairs.” Aakir informs when Silvia is comfortably settled on his bed. I am not sure why Silvia is here. Is she going to stay the night here too? I highly doubt that.
“I thought dad said there are no therians in this part.” I say.
Aakir shrugs, “It was just one. He didn’t even react when I passed him by.”
Both Aakir and Neal are awkwardly standing at the middle of the room while I am sitting on my bed and Silvia is sitting on Aakir’s. An uncomfortable silence emerges. Not so uncomfortable for me, as I have my tray of food to distract me. Silvia seems oblivious too, unseeingly staring at the foot of the bed. Aakir seems reluctant in joining her. Neal just looks lost. He must be probably wondering the same thing, if Silvia is going to stay the night in our room or not. Our room is not enough big for four people. Especially not if one of them is a girl.
“Um,” Neal starts when the tense silence becomes too tangible. He points behind him towards the door, “I am going to go…” he trails off.
“Were you two not done talking?” Aakir asks, interrupting Neal. He must think the awkwardness to be the result of an incomplete conversation.
“Nah, we were done.” Neal says offhandedly, “I am just…” he again points at the door while catching my eye.
I swallow before speaking, “What for?” I ask him.
Neal raises his eyebrows, his eyes discreetly moving towards Silvia. I look at Silvia too, “Are you going to stay the night in our room?” I ask her bluntly.
She frowns, “No.” she says quietly.
I look back at Neal, my brows raised. He discreetly rolls his eyes, “I am going to get changed…and get my stuff.” He says, moving backwards.
“Let me finish.” I tell him, “I’ll accompany you.”
“…there’s no need.”
“Just two minutes.” I say to him, increasing my speed.
Neal scoffs, “I think I can manage to bring my luggage.”
I glare at him, effectively conveying that he shouldn’t be meeting his aunt alone. Neal gets the message. But he simply huffs and leans on the wall behind him, crossing his arms over his chest.
“…okay.” Aakir says, who is emotionlessly taking in our talks. Or lack of enunciated talk, thereof.
Aakir’s impassive reaction towards my partner and I has me wondering how different my equation with Neal has come to be. We are no longer mere acquaintances. May be it is due to the circumstances but I am still someone whom Neal feels confident enough to confide in. There are uncomfortable moments but even those somehow make me feel good; because I am aware that even this level of awkwardness is achieved only and only because I worry about my rapport with him and hopefully he worries about the same. Else we may not even risk facing such kind of tensed environment. We risk it because somewhere in our subconscious mind we know that a much precious thing is at stake, even if it is simple friendship. Aakir is still standing here for his partner, even if the latter is being nothing but a headache with her constant depression. Silvia, though not here on he
r own volition, is still sitting through her depressed stance, so to just wait for that valuable moment that will make it all seem worthwhile. Neal and I may be awkwardly inept during our every conversation but I know and believe that even Neal knows that this uncomfortable phase will definitely bloom into an everlasting friendship for us. The friendship, where if I perchance do marry someone, Neal must be right there behind me, standing at his rightful spot beside Aakir.
It all does feel worthwhile, in a twisted way.
16.Tussling Words And Aiming Birds
“Yeah, man,” I hear Neal say, “it’s kickass, knowing I need a bodyguard to traverse through a corridor.” He chuckles.
“Ahan,” Aakir snorts, “not only that but you have a full time bodyguard assigned to you for your astral form.”
“Sounds like one of those cheap movies.” Rahul adds, snickering.
The three of them chuckle sardonically and continue to pass offhanded comments about how ‘hilarious’ our serious situation is in the parallel world. My partner is laughing and contributing his own witty comments, boasting in jest how important he is to have everybody gushing at him at all times. Aakir and Rahul are laughing over Neal’s wittily humorous comments but I am aware of how much sarcastic Neal is actually being with his words. He was not happy last night as he had sulkily allowed me to accompany him to his aunt’s room. With an exchange of bitter words, I had assumed we are done with our bitchiness for the day. But come morning, and my partner has only monosyllable replies to my every question.
He