“Good night, Reyansh.”
* * *
“How was the event?”Maaasks me first thing in the morning as we sit on the table to have our breakfast.
Maaand Mom have officially stuffed our refrigerator with more food than we can eat. It is filled to the brim with half Punjabi and half plain British food.
So naturally for breakfast I am having plainparathaswith sausage. Dangerous combo.
“Good,” I say as I stuff my mouth with a morsel.
“Did Reyansh reach on time?” Mom asks and I nod
“Why do you think I didn’t reach on time?” Reyansh asks as he takes a sip of that horrible tea
Every time I see him drinking it on an empty stomach, I pray to our collective God’s to to forgive him for his sins. He is just a man who can’t digest milk in his tea, after all.
“You take after your father. He didn’t ever reach on time so I doubt you do too.”
I snicker and he rolls his eyes. I mean, she is right.
“You guys came late, ha?”Maagives me a look and I wonder if they heard anything
If they did, I would like to dig a hole and bury myself in it. Please and thank you.
“Yes.”
She doesn’t say anything but pours me another cup ofchai.
“Are you and Reyansh free today?”
“Why?” Reyansh asks the question on my mind
“You remember your favorite cousin Chhavi?”
The sound of her name sends a feeling of dread down my spine.
Chhavi is my youngest and my meanest cousin sister. She is not mean on your face but her back handed comments really get to me. I can’t say anything to her because she’s the youngest child in our house, and, like every youngest child in a desi household, she’s pampered and used to getting what she wants.
I remember how she kept taunting me for having a boyfriend and “gaslighting” my mother in letting me marry him. Not to mention, she would be the sweetest person in the world in front of Reyansh and even if I didn’t say it out loud, I would always get jealous.
“What about her?” I ask, already done with the conversation
“She is coming to London. She has gotten a scholarship here in a university and I want you to bring her here before she goes and settles down in her hostel.”
“No,” I say shaking my head. “Maa, you know how much she gets on my nerves. She is so spoiled, I can’t handle her.”
“You don’t have to. She will be here only for two days.”
“Two days and two nights.”
“Aisha, don’t be a brat,”Maasays with a sigh and I slam my cup on the table rather harshly than I should have because the glare she passes my way still scares me even if I am approaching my early thirties.
“Maa, is it really necessary she stays with us?” Reyansh asks and she finally looks at someone else other than me
“Reyansh, she is still a child. She will just stay a few days and won’t be an issue.”
I roll my eyes. She won’t be an issue to her but she will be an issue to my peace.
