Buzz.
“Fuck me. What now?” I said to my empty bedroom.
Priya: So . . .
Priya: You kissed him.
Priya: In front of everyone?
Priya: And I learn about this from my Insta notifications? You are in serious trouble, young man. No one pisses off an Indian mother.
I could practically hear her voice through the text—that particular combinationof amusement and exasperation that only Priya could manage.
Me: You’re not my mother. You’re not even A mother.
Priya: Oh, no you do not, young man. You will not “cute” your way out of this. I have QUESTIONS.
Me: Aren’t you working?
Priya: I am between patients. Answer the question.
Me: What question? You didn’t ask a question.
Priya: WHY DID YOU KISS HIM IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE BAR?
Wow. Priya, my always calm and composed roomie, was yelling at me—in a text message. This was worse than I thought.
Me: It seemed like a good idea at the time?
Priya: Finn.
Me: What? It was!
Priya: Hold on.
Five minutes passed. I got up, padded to the kitchen, and started making coffee. Our apartment was quiet. Priya had left for the hospital hours ago. The place felt empty without her chaos.
I was pouring water into the coffee maker when my phone buzzed again.
Priya: Back. Another old woman fell. Story of my life. Anyway. You KISSED him.
Me: I’m aware. I was there.
Priya: And?
Me: And what?
Priya: How was it? How do you feel? What happened after? Did you go home with him? Did you get some of the Big D? That is what you gays call it, is it not? It is big? Tell me it is big. I cannot take you asking, “Is it in?”
I was alone in the kitchen in my apartment;and yet, the desire to crawl into one of the cabinets and disappear forever was overwhelming.
Me: Are you actually asking about my sex life while at work?
Priya: I am a physician. It is literally my job to make people uncomfortable. Now, stop dodging and tell me everything.
I smiled despite the waves of heat slamming into my face with every new text. I grabbed my mug and shuffled into the den and onto the couch.
Me: You saw everything online. He left after that, had early meetings. It was just a kiss.
