CHAPTER 7

                 The week passed by in a blink and it’s time for them to depart. Even though she had put on a great show, she got to admit– Sarah was already missing them. The thought of staying alone in the house on weekends till they return was revoking and so, she resorts to staying with her mother for 3 days, hence packed accordingly and was ready to leave –not before she sends off the rest of the pack to their retreat.

                 Mike took over the wheels and gave her a cold glance while Laura and Jessica were saying their heart-melting–goodbyes. He then darted to the road and steered the car forward without even a bye and frankly, she didn’t mind. The sure thing is he will be with the others during the weekend and she was definite that the others will find a way to enlighten his mood. Sarah dismissed with a smile and a head shake and carried on to her mother’s.

Her mother was so overjoyed to see Sarah after so long

“My baby!!! You look thinner than before. Have you been eating on time?” the first typical question every time they meet, probably premeditated across the world with all mothers who had been away from their children. Especially Santha, since Sarah is her only daughter– her only family that she sent away willingly.

               Sarah’s dad, Rakesh Patel was a very strict and protective man. It was safe to say that he became so after migrating with his family to a foreign land– to a foreign culture and customs. He didn’t let Sarah or his wife walk-in carelessly into anything in the name of their own gratification and it went on throughout his life.

               He ran a strict ship where everything must be consulted with him first. His life’s sole purpose was to do what was best for his daughter, even if she opposes it. Being drawn to western culture, the opposition from Sarah’s part was quite frequent and Santha will be her only comforting wall. It is unfair to blame him completely as his background is such and he is always under the microscope among his own relatives here and back at home.

              After his decease, Santha doesn’t want her daughter to be a stay-at-home mom, like her. She wanted her daughter to see the world, learn new things constantly, and explore new fields of interest as much as possible before she settles down since it has been deeply implanted in her mind that marriage is a golden cage for a woman.

              She ventured into the city, searching for a life of her own. Soon, the other 2 friends tagged along. She was the reason Jessica took a position in her father's company unwillingly, just because it is in the city, next to her friend. As for Mike, well, he can build a company where ever he wants and that is what he did with a consultation clinic.

              Santha's little baby did live up to her expectation and not even a day went by without her feeling proud of Sarah. She had walked out of her parent’s nest, slowly crumbling away from her comfort zone. She is now earning her own income, although it is not necessary for her. She spends at least a portion of her earning learning new topics, such as photography, cooking, archery, botany, herbology, traditional medicines, and such. Hence, assuming she had achieved her highest bar, Santha is considering Sarah’s future. It was time for her to think about a suitable spouse for her daughter and intend to discuss with her regarding her pitch in the arena. Sarah has always been open about her relationships since she was in school and to Santha’s knowledge, she is not involved in any serious ones. Santha has to wait for a correct time before she opens up the topic, though.

                Sarah arrived at 1 pm at her mother’s house, hence she had a lot of time to get ready for the wedding. She and her mother sat down to eat delicious mom’s home-cooked meal, chattering away about all the gossips lurking around their acquaintances, review updates on their own life changes that had already been shared via phone call, before went to take a long nap on the same bed with Santha fiddling Sarah’s hair, lulling her to sleep. She is very well aware that this wedding will last till early morning, so it’s best for both of them to get as much sleep as possible.

                A gourde, sparkly Punjabi dress, suitable for the grand wedding hung in a wooden hanger, staring back at Sarah while Santha brought out her game plan– a gorgeous, elegant looking saree, made of chiffon material–the pure white one with gold embellished borders and paired with a full-blown gold sequenced blouse. She had even thought of suitable gold dangling earrings and heels to fit the outfit. After all, she is composing an opportunity to woo possible partners for her daughter and this wedding will be the perfect place to start since every one of her relatives, from the same origin, will be attending it.

                  On the other hand, it was 3 hours, long drive for Mike and the gang to reach the hilltop of The Gold Lotus resort. Mike took the steer on purpose; he wasn’t in the mood of conversing; distant from the world around him. His mind kept wondering what Sarah would be doing now? Has she arrived at the wedding venue or is she at her mother’s? Is she alone or is she cramped between a noisy and nosy crowd know as relatives? Is she expected to bring along a date? If so, who had she brought?  Among thousands of searing thoughts, his head kept ringing with what Sarah said a few nights back

‘Mike…We are 26. We can’t always stick together. It’s sort of imminent…’

                    She said it in the softest manner, like an angle trying to make sense to a child but for Mike, it was a harsh splash of reality. Unexplainable nervousness pooling in his stomach and a feverish heat crept up that he kept rubbing his neck. The root of her words is that she is prepared to let him go–she expects him to move on. Meaning, given the right window, she would also fly away.

                   Maybe this crush that unwinds out of the blue isn't good for him. After all, he still hasn’t mustered the guts to express himself after 3 long years of pent-up feeling, just like a wrecked ship at the bottom of the seabed.

“Mike, is it too tiring to drive this far? “Laura sitting beside him, in the passenger seat tried to comfort him and rubbed his neck but Mike just retreated away.

“No, I’m not. Thank you”. Laura looked with a question mark at Jessica sitting behind Mike and she immediately pitched in to ease the atmosphere.

“Mike, can we take a break at the next rest house? I need to use the washroom.” A simple nod was all he could give.

                  At the pit stop, both girls went to the washroom while Mike and Robert leaned on the car with a cigarette in their hand.

“You miss Sarah, don’t you?” an inevitable question coming out of nowhere. Mike remained expressionless and Robert let out a sigh.

“Mike, I have been working for your dad’s company for 5 years now. I don’t know you as much as Jessica or Sarah. But I know men, and I can say for sure that what you have towards Sarah is more than what you think. She completes you. Without her, you feel empty, am I right?” This last sentence caught his attention and he turned to look at Robert with a frown. He didn’t agree to it neither did he denied– more to analyzing the situation.

                  Having a crush is one thing but growing dependent on someone is a whole other level. It’s as simple as a cancer cell, dormant in everyone. Once activated, they spread, push your boundaries, and needy of a drug to keep yourself in line, eventually making you weak. After a long pause “No, I don’t need her forever with me.” He drew another long puff

“Why do I feel you are lying?” Robert chuckles slightly, probing him more.

“I’m not and I will prove it! Let’s take this trip as a challenge. Want to bet?” He was somewhat enraged that Robert pointed out his weakness that as a psychiatrist, he couldn’t cover-up.  He needed someone to stop him from looking for Sarah or running into her arms and, this betting might be helpful.

                  Jessica and Laura were having a kind of similar conversation inside the small, dreadful space in the name of the toilet.

“You seemed a tad more...caring, per se, at Mike...” Jessica from the left stall.

“Shut up...” Laura from right, oozing with shyness.

“Ah ah!!! So, I was right!!!”

“Hmm...Sort of... I like him and trying to get his attention. Let’s see how it goes” Laura, replied by a chuckle from Jessica.

                  Robert was quite surprised by Mike’s answer. He took out his wallet, counted every single printed bill, and throws them on the car booth which fanned irregularly “$1000 “  Mike rolled his tongue against his cheek, a challenge he sees. He took out $1000 and throw it on the booth as well when Jessica and Laura walked on them.

“What is this money for?” Laura asked

“Just a small bet that we have going on,” Robert said glancing arrogantly at Mike.

“Jess, you hold the betting for now, will you?” Mike said and Jessica took it and flipped through the cash, counting

 “$2000!!!Deal” Jessica declared before thrusting the cash into her pocket with a little pat over her jeans.