Dont Mention it...
I wake up to the sun shining in my eyes through a floor length window. I shift a little, turning away from the light, and sigh in comfort. This bed, and blanket are so fluffy, and comfortable. I close my eyes to go back to sleep, only to stop myself. As I ask myself this, I feel for my clothes, these loose pajama bottoms, and this white t-shirt. There’s a knock at the door.
“Chandani?”, its Kiran. “Kiki, where am I?” I look up as she peeks her head through the door. “Akhil’s house. You don’t remember last night; you fell in the water, and passed out. How you got over there is beyond me.” She sits at my side. “Oh,” I say rubbing my head “The last thing I remember is putting my shoes back on, and then that’s it.”
“Yeah, good thing Akhil jumped in after you, and carried you in, otherwise I don’t know what would’ve happened. You had a fever too, has it gone away?” She places her hand on my head. “Oh its still warm, but better.” She says pleased that I’m better off then last night.
“Akhil says that you lost your balance. Why were just the of you on the dock any way?” Kiran raises an eye brow and tilts her head to the left. “Its not like that.” I let out plopping my head back on the fluffy, feather pillow. “I didn’t even know he was there, when I sat down.” “Mmmm” Is all she says. “I’m serious Kiran,” I shut my eyes, wishing she would drop it.
She can tell, so she doesn’t. “He’s a really nice guy huh?” She pushes me. “Nice?,” I laugh, “you think everyone is nice. Everyone is a saint to you.” I roll my eyes. “Well its better then holding everything in. Why don’t you like him?” She pulls up her legs, and rests her chin on her knees.
“He-” I start off, but now that I’m thinking about it, my reasoning may sound shallow. “He came in your dads store to book a flight, and was rude to me from jump. Within seconds of knowing me, and me barely out the room, he said I was ” I blurt out. “What does blah mean?” Kiran questions “Thank you!” I sit up, looking her in the face “He’s one of those guys who thinks just because he has a big bank account he can treat anyone like anything. He’s such a jerk, that knowing that he saved me even annoys me.” I push back my hair in irritation.
“Hmm, well it’s a good thing he’s a jerk then, Sheetal is crazy over him!” we both laugh when in comes Sheetal, without knocking. “How’s the patient?” she strides over to the bed, with clothes in her hand. “fine.” I let out, even though my head is still pounding. “Well then here, you can change, and we can go, you shouldn’t stay where you aren’t welcome for too long.” She snickers, “Yeah” Kiran looks at me holding back laughter, I smile and gesture for Sheetal to put the clothes on the bed.
After Kiran and Sheetal leave I get up and change into a pair of jeans, and a black shirt. I guess Akhil’s sister is about the same size as me, only she’s obviously taller. Me being five foot three, she’s got to be around five foot eight. I roll up the bottom of the jeans to my knees to make it look like Capri’s.
I look in the mirror and fix my hair a little. Its lost its curl and become waves. I turn around and make the bed, and then neatly fold the borrowed pajamas. I look around the room, its huge, and warm. Sometimes big homes are cold, and uncomfortable, but this one is inviting and affectionate.
I walk towards the window on the left side of the room, the sun is glistening upon the lake that nearly killed me last night. I lean against the window sill, and think for a moment.
A knock interrupts my thoughts, “Chandani, Rishi is ready to go, lets move it.” Sheetal demands. “I’m coming,” I sigh. I walk to the other end of the room and into the bathroom. I take an unopened toothbrush out of a package, and grab the tooth paste out of the medicine cabinet. After brushing my teeth, I grab the face towel that’s there and wash my face. I put the used face towel in this wicker basket, and throw away the tooth brush.
As I walk down the open hallway, I find the banister staircase, and join everyone else down stairs. “Sleep well little mermaid?” Rishi smiles at me, “Yeah, I did.” I turn to Akhil, “Thank you.” I give him a nod. “Don’t mention it.” He nods back at me. “Well we better get going, Papa needs Rishi to come into the shop today, he’s already late enough.”, Sheetal looks at me sharply.
We say our goodbyes and once in Rishi’s car, I suddenly feel lightheaded. It’s about noon, and kind of chilly out. I lay my head back on the head rest and close my eyes, maybe I need a little more sleep.