61– Chapter 61

Preetah“I was standing at the balcony getting some fresh air when I saw Artha running out of the gate.” I said.The policeman taking my report looked up expectantly. “And then what else did you see after she ran out?”I exchanged looks with Arjun, who had a hand at the base of my back. He was also looking at me like I was leaving out something.“I saw her get into a car and then they drove off.”“Okay, who are ‘they’?” The same police officer asked me.“Artha…”“Artha and? You said ‘they’.”Arjun shifted closer to me. “Honey, you need to be more specific here.”I looked at the faces of the men, all hinting at the same thing.My eyes shot over at Dean again, all alone in the backseat of the police car with his head dropped. “Uh… Artha and… the person who was driving.”The men looked at me like I had given the wrong answer to a question that wasn’t asked.The other officer who wasn’t writing anything cleared his voice. “Did you see Artha get into that man’s car?” He gestured towards D

62– An Indian Daughter

ArjunI sat on the couch, hand under my chin, waiting. Every minute that ticked by made me feel humiliated, worthless and disrespected. I told her forty minutes ago to get home and she still wasn’t here.Grinding my teeth felt like working a fidget toy, it was keeping me from going out and turning Dean’s place upside down to find her. That little girl. I shook my head regrettably as sadness crept in. How could she let Dean put his hands on her? I thought she was innocent. Little Artha throwing tantrums and attitudes here and there. When did she…Fuck. I held my head in my hands. How was I blind enough to let Dean play with my sister right under my nose? All those times I trusted and left them together. “Arjun.” Preetah came from upstairs.The sound of her voice instinctively made the corner of my lip curl, like tasting something distasteful.“Why don’t you come to bed? You haven't had any sleep.”I narrowed my eyes. “Are you serious?”She lowered her eyes – hypocrite.“You haven't h

63– All good

RoshniWe ate at Kiki's Kitchen. Yasser had chosen the spot, claiming that they made the best murgh makhani. Turns out he wasn’t exaggerating. They did.“Hm…” Mr. Arora hummed after the first bite.“It’s really good, hey?” I commented.“Is this place new?” He asked us. “I’ve never seen this restaurant here and we live just a few blocks away.”“But Mr. Arora you never leave the house.” Yasser chuckled.“Maybe we should change that.” I smiled.“I’m up for it.” Yasser’s gaze lingered on me.“I mean just Mr. Arora and I.” I stressed, pretending I couldn’t see his expression fall.“Roshni, have you got a fiancee?” Mr Arora asked just before he took a big bite.I almost choked on a piece of naan. “Hm?”“You don’t have a fiancee, Yasser doesn’t have a fiancee. You two should… what's the word you young people use nowadays… date.”Yasser had a smug smile on his face, obviously enjoying this.“We’re just –”“Friends.” Yasser pretended to support me.“Not even that… we’re just… associates.”“Ass

64– Blindside

RoshniJunior pulled out my chair, pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head, and took the seat opposite me. The restaurant shimmered in tones of gold and silver. Candles flickered on every table, while warm orange bulbs dangled from the ceiling, casting an intimate glow. The atmosphere was both cosy and elegant – the kind of place where a Bollywood hero would bring his heroine for a perfect romantic evening. This felt too perfect to be my reality. What did I do to deserve Junior? Why did he love me so much, me with all my imperfections? I was just a nobody, someone who used to work at his parents store, currently I was unemployed. I didn’t have any qualifications except my high school diploma. Junior on the other hand had everything, in a few years he would qualify and become a medical doctor. He could get any woman he wanted. Surely there were more beautiful and smart girls at his university? Why the nobody from his parents’ store?“Are you okay?” His smile fading. “Do you not li

65– Seventeen

ArthaWe drove in utter silence. Arjun had one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the open window. He looked deep in thought. When was he going to say something? Should I start?Maybe this was him giving me the platform to lay my case. He was probably just too arrogant to state it.Okay, I am gonna start. I darted at the dash board. Clearly he wasn't going to work today.Speaking of which, will Dean still have a job at the company?Artha, you’re getting distracted. The platform is open, use it.I sucked in as much air as I could. I can do this.Five… four… three… two –“I’m your big brother.” His voice came out of nowhere. “And as your big brother, my job is to protect you and if I can’t do that then I have failed our family.“Do you know how mom died?”“Cancer?”He shook his head.I shifted in my seat, feeling the seatbelt strangle my chest. Was I ready to hear that what I had believed my whole life had been a lie? “She died because I couldn’t protect her.” He sa

66– Consequences

08h45ArjunThe cold morning air felt like a reminder that warmth had left us.I came around to Artha’s side of the car and closed the door for her.She was avoiding my eyes but I could see her eyes were red and swollen.She started putting on her jacket and I helped her.I had been angry about all this the whole of last night and today. But right now, seeing her in front of me, ashamed and trying to put on her jacket – I felt sad, weak, a failure. I let my friend do this to my little sister. I was more to blame. I took her out of school and made her live like an adult when she wasn’t ready. How could I blame her for wanting to live like one?Dean took advantage of her, she was just naive. Just seventeen years old. After this, I would forgive her. I would really put everything behind us.It’s Dean that I could never forgive.“Brother, just to be clear.” She looked up at me. “I’m not going to lie about anything that didn’t happen. I’m just going to tell them what did happen.”I nodded