8. Blood is thicker than Water

lt is awkward sitting on the bus with a straight face while every person is talking about you. Sophie is sitting beside me and Ryan is in front of me. People came near me, gave me their condolences and pity glances, and then went to their seats.

Currently, I was feeling extremely low hearing them discuss the accident and thinking about how I would lead my life now. I felt like crying all over again.

'She would be given to foster home if not for The Browns.' A girl said in the back.

Tears clouded my eyes and my vision turned blurry. I held the bag in my lap tightly, acting like I didn't hear any of it.

I'm not used to so much attention. Only when Jason tried some stupid prank on me, people would notice me. But no one bothers me in school except Jason.

A girl from junior high who is known as the gossip queen came near me and cleared her throat.

"Hey Alicia, sorry about your parents.. so how are you coping up?'' She asked with concern.

"Her name is Amelia and yeah she is fine," said an irritated Ryan with people.

"Now that your parents are dead, I'm so worried for you. If you need any help from me just ask me. Where are you staying now? Have some relatives around? Or is it true that you are staying with The Browns?" She asked me ignoring Ryan.

I'm already feeling low and the way she is bombarding me with questions like if I'm waiting to get adopted or about my chances of adoption.

All the students on the bus are now looking at me intently waiting for my answer. And I'm feeling like I made a big mistake coming back to school.

"Back off Gina, it's none of your business. And no, she doesn't need your help," Sophie barked at her.

Gina went back to her seat and sat with a pissed-off look. I noticed Jason going and sitting next to Gina. I looked at him but he is so engrossed in making Gina laugh.

As expected!

Gina is acting all dreamy with Jason next to her. Twisting her hair with her fingers, fluttering her eyelashes at him, and laughing animatedly at whatever he is saying, and touching his hand and shoulder.

This is the same reaction that he gets every time. Sighing and shaking my head I turned to look out the window.

I guess people don't change over a month!

The whole bus is in laughter seeing Gina scratch herself and crying with embarrassment.

"What did you do Jason" Gina shouted at him embarrassed.

"What did I do? I'm just sitting here, and why are you scratching yourself like an ape who didn't shower for a decade." He acted innocent.

The whole bus erupted in laughter.

"I'm fine till you came, but after that, I am feeling itchy all of a sudden." She wailed at him.

That must be Jason's itching powder which he brought especially for me.

Did he use that on Gina now?

I looked at him in awe, just then Jason looked back at me grinning. I averted my gaze from him, but couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips.

I can still feel his gaze on my face but chose to not look at him. I felt Sophie nudging me pointing that we reached the school.

After getting down the bus. I told Ryan and Sophie to go ahead. I ran towards Jason.

"Why did you do that?" I asked him.

"What did I do?"

"You know... that thing with Gina. Why did u spray that itching powder on her?" I asked him after checking Gina is nowhere near us. I don't want her to hear us.

Seeing him silent and averting his gaze, I asked him again. "Did you do that for me?"

"Don't flatter yourself too much. I only did that because I don't like it when someone else bothers or troubles you. I'm the only one who can trouble you." saying he walked away leaving me perplexed.

I saw my locker filled with flowers and post-its wishing me a speedy recovery from my classmates.

Few people asked me how I was doing and some gave me pity glances. During lunch, Dylan walked over to our table.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine" I smiled at him.

"I got so worried about you." He said with concern in his eyes.

"It's okay. I'm fine now."

The day passed quickly. I went by bus to Brown's Residence with Ryan. Jason didn't come back with us because of his football practice.

Jason would accompany us to the school by bus and after the stunt, he pulled on Gina, no one bothered me. I had alternate days therapy at home.

The doctor coaxed me to try getting into thof e car because life would be very difficult if I chose to not get into a car.

Another week and my parents' death became old news at school. And I again turned invisible.

As I  stepped into the living room with Ryan, I noticed Kristina and Peter sitting in the living room with a stranger.

"Hey mom, hey dad" Ryan greeted them.

"Hi. you kids are back? How's your day Amy?" Kristina asked me?

"Fine" I replied to her.

"Come sit here" saying she patted the space next to her on the couch.

I noticed that the stranger, in his fifties, 5'11" black hair, and was heavily built and his almond-colored eyes looked familiar. I looked at him curiously, while he kept straight face and looked at me.

"Amy dear, this is your uncle Mr.Raj Kashyap from India. We have contacted them about Rob and Priya's demise. He came to meet you." said Peter said.

He is my Uncle Raj from India. Meaning Mama's brother. 'Hitler' I remembered the name Mama gave him. I heard about him from my mother, he is mama's elder brother. She always feared him, he is very strict with her.

He always opposed her coming to the US for her studies but somehow she convinced her parents. But once she told them that she wants to marry Dad, he is the one who reacted in the worst way possible, deciding to break all ties with her.

"Um, Hi Mr. Kashyap," I said nervously as his gaze stiffened on me. I sat twiddling my thumbs in anxiety.

He is making me extremely nervous and uncomfortable with his scrutinizing gaze. No one is speaking.

Ryan is still standing like a rock, rooted in his spot and looking at my uncle and me with his mouth open. I glanced at Kristina for some help.

"I think you are tired from the long flight Mr. Kashyap, Martha will show you your room, We will call you down for dinner. You can talk with Amy then" Kristina is the first one to break the silence.

I thanked her mentally. Because finally, he averted his gaze from me. I can't help but sigh in relief and sagged my shoulders

"No Mrs. Brown, I can stay at the hotel, I will take your leave. I will come tomorrow to meet Amelia." He said standing from the couch.

"No I insist you have to stay, you can stay in the guest bedroom."

Seeing him deep in thought Kristina nudged me to say something.

"I...I would like it, if... if you stay here Mr. Kashyap" I told him meekly.

God, I'm not able to even speak properly in front of him. I mean like I'm a chatterbox and not able to say one proper sentence is something.

 

He said 'okay' and left for the guest bedroom.

Did he just agree immediately after I asked him to stay?

I went to my room with Ryan trying to catch up with all missing classes and making notes.

Martha came knocking on my door, calling us for dinner. After Ryan left, I took a quick shower. Put on my yellow T-shirt with hello kitty print and cotton black shorts with polka dots.

I walked down towards the dining and saw Jason entering.

"Hey my kitty is wearing a kitty" he exclaims and I just kicked him on his leg.

He pulls my hair tie and tugged my hair in the process, allowing my hair to fall in curls and lunges to the dining, I ran after him, we ran circles around the dining table.

I suddenly halted dead in my tracks seeing Mr.Kashyap seated at the table with a scowl on his face. Jason saw that I stood rooted in my spot, then he too looked over at Mr.Kashyap.

"Hello Mr.Kashyap" I smiled at him. But he bestowed me a disapproving look looking at my shorts and then at Jason.

"You can call me Uncle. No need to be formal with me," he replied with a straight face.

I can't understand what's the matter with him.. why is he so angry all the time, but there was some development. He said a full sentence to me.

"Let me introduce my sons to you. This is Jason, my elder son, in high school and that's Ryan, my younger son, he is in Amy's class." Said, Peter.

"And this is Raj Kashyap, Amy's uncle from India, he is Priya's elder brother" continued Peter.

"Hello Mr.Kashyap, it is nice meeting you," Jason said extending his hand.

The dinner is awfully quiet. Kristina made the chef prepare Indian food. I finished my dinner first. Well, I only had a few spoons of rice with chicken curry. I excused myself and went to the living room. My appetite didn't return to normal since the accident.

Jason came with fresh fruit cut into cubes and offered me plopping down on the couch next to me.

"No, I don't want to eat. I'm already full."

"You have to eat nutritious food. You look so weak" Uncle Raj spoke surprising me.

I grabbed the fruit plate from Jason's hand because I don't want to appear rude to my uncle. After a while, Peter and Kristina joined us in the living room.

"You look so much like your mom, you remind me of her in her childhood. Your grandparents will feel so happy to see you." Said Uncle Raj.

"That would be lovely to meet them." I smiled at him. I never thought I can meet my maternal grandparents.

"I don't like beating around the bush, so I'm getting straight to the point, I would like to take Amelia to India with me, she will continue her education there. I will take care of all the legal procedures here." He announced to Peter and Kristina.

The color drained out from my face. I can't go and live my life in India, with strangers. They may be family but practically they are strangers. I looked at Peter and Kristina and noticed the same expression mirroring their faces.

Peter looked at me and then again at Uncle Raj.

"I don't think it will be easy for her to live in India, all her life she is raised here. Let her stay here with us. She can visit you during the holidays. She already went through a lot. " he told looking with hope in his eyes.

"Why would she live with strangers when she has her own family back there? We can't come and stay here to look after her, so it would be best if she moves to India to live with us. And change is good for her to forget everything." Raj replied. I could sense the anger and dissatisfaction in his voice.

I noticed everyone in the room flinch with the word stranger. I can see the hurt and tears already forming in Kristina's eyes.

"I'm sorry to say but we are not strangers Mr.Kashyap, we are friends. Robert is my best friend. Priya is like the sister my wife never had. We always treated Amy like our own child. Our kids practically grew together." Peter retorted with rage. And his voice made me shudder in fear. I have never seen him so angry.

"Yes you may be close, but you are not family. Remember, blood is thicker than water. Only we have the right over Amelia. And I'm taking her with me. And I'm planning to sell all the property here. So that there wouldn't be any reason for Amelia to come back here." He replied in a similar tone to Peter.

"It is not for you or me to decide Mr.Kashyap. It depends on Amy." Peter replied with the u-can't-dare-me look.

My head felt heavy. I lay in my bed thinking about the future. Everyone retired for the night. It's way past midnight but sleep is never near my eyes.

The thought about moving to India and living there my whole life made me anxious. I walked out of my room to the garden, sat on the swing staring at the tulips in front of me.

With the cold breeze, I felt my body shiver, so I wrapped my hands around my body to keep me warm.

I felt something warm around my shoulders to see Kristina near me. She wrapped a shawl around me and sat next to me on the swing.

We sat in silence for some time. She broke the silence saying,

"It is your decision. I don't want to force you in staying here. But I would feel content with you right in front of my eyes."

"I don't want to move to India. I don't want to live with strangers. You are the only family I know, so don't believe anything else. I would always choose you guys." I replied to her.

She hugged me immediately. And I could only feel motherly warmth radiating from her.