May, 2016 Arjun “Bye brother Arjun!” Artha said as she hopped down from the backseat. “See you, Artha.” I responded, smiling at her from the window like I did every morning before she got her morning speech. I watched father shut the back door in the side view mirror. He then walked over to Artha who was now standing a little distance from the car. I sighed and looked the other way. I could hear father's stern voice as he told her the same things he told her every morning. I waited approximately two minutes before turning my head toward the window again. That's how long their morning sessions lasted. I looked at father kneeling in front of Artha, their eyes locked as he transferred his wisdom to a six-year-old. “You hear me?” He asked her. “Yes, papa.” She responded, pokerfaced. She had already been told that this was serious, and she was not to smile when he was telling her serious things. This year was Artha's first year in school, she still had twelve more years of morning
June, 2016 Preetah “I wrote this last night while I was studying for Biology.” I said, turning a few pages through my diary. “Let me see!” Roshni grabbed the diary out of my hands before I even got the chance to give it to her. “Roshni, you need to relax. I was giving you the book—” “Shhh.” She said and then a naughty smile stole her face. “Look at the title!” I blushed, glancing towards the school gate just in case Arjun was walking in. “When others are studying for the exams, you're writing love letters.” Roshni shook her head playfully at me. “Naughty you.” I rolled my eyes, smiling. “You know this just happens. One minute I'm studying Evolution and the next I'm thinking about him.” “'My Sweet Love'.” Roshni read the title. Roshni always wore red lipstick to school even though it wasn't allowed. Since she was one of the top students the teachers decided to turn a blind eye to her very red lips. Roshni was lowkey a rebel. She was the wild one in our relationship. Her sch
Arjun “June exams are starting on Monday guys. You're writing maths first. Study and study hard. If you are good with maths now, you shouldn't struggle next year in grade 12. And if you ace your grade 12, your life is sorted for life.” Mr Kapoor was telling us. I've been sitting in this same seat for exactly one hour forty minutes now. Mr Kapoor is our admin teacher and maths teacher. We had a double maths period as the last two periods of the day which is 45 minutes each. And now we were 10 minutes into our admin period and then the bell would ring for us to go home. What I liked about Mr Kapoor is that he respected time. Whenever this would happen that we have to stay in his classroom because of two periods for maths and admin, he stopped teaching when the maths period was over. He didn't try to steal some extra time. But what Mr Kapoor was telling us now about studying, I already knew. I heard it almost every day from father. Besides, my study timetable was ready from the day we
February, 2027 Arjun When I heard a siren behind me, I quickly darted at the dashboard. I was going at 120 miles per hour. “Ahg...” I groaned. “These bloody number plates have really made me a target.” The lady next to me, whose name I had already forgotten, quickly looked back and then placed a palm on my right hand that was holding a bottle of whisky. She looked concerned but didn't say anything. I looked at the flashing blue lights in my rearview mirror and then pulled into the yellow lane and stopped. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn't have the confidence to. “What?” I asked her. “Uh...” She chuckled nervously. “Shouldn't we hide the alcohol?” “Put it in the back then.” I said passing her the bottle. She rushed to take it from me, causing some to spill on her white shirt and my hand. “Relax!” I told her and then sucked my teeth. “Sorry.” She grimaced and then put it on the floor of the backseat. She opened her purse, took out a tissue and wiped my han
PreetahI paced around the classroom, my arms crossed over my chest, ensuring that I at least looked like I was aware of everything that was going on around me. In reality, my mind was very far away, focused on one thing; the payment notification I had received this morning. With having to pay for my bus fare for the month, groceries, other utilities and my father's chronic medication, the money would not be enough. Not even close. I let out a heavy sigh that I was not aware of until the students sitting close to me all turned to look at me. “Sorry.” I whispered, continuing my rounds. I stopped at Fatima's desk and looked down at her answers as she wrote. She had used the correct method but with the wrong numbers. Her answer was going to be wrong. The learner in front of her was only starting question 3 now and there was only 5 minutes left. These kids... I had told them to skip questions they didn't know so as to save time. I walked to the front of the class and leaned on the fro
PreetahI had never been in a car like this before. It was so spacious inside it looked like one could live in here! The seats were all brown leather and felt smooth to touch. There was even a small screen facing my seat, highlighting the news.Mr Korana and I were sitting at the back.“Do you drink?” He asked me when the car started moving.“Alcohol?”“Yes.”“No, sir.” I shook my head.“Good. Neither do I.” He answered. “People in America drink a lot.”“Oh...” “I don't understand what they like about alcohol. All it does is make you lose yourself and act like a complete fool.” He added.I nodded.For the rest of the way, Mr Korana looked out of the window at the country he had left behind. The country had only gotten worse. There was more litter, the streets got busier and with nepotism, jobs were scarce. As Mr Korana looked upon the transformation of streets he walked and drove in, I thought about Arjun. A smile stole over my face. His long eyelashes, his cute pink lips, and his c
Artha I watched Dean's smile fade a little when the rose trail led us to his bedroom. He took in the decoration: red ballons hugging the ceilings, their coiled strings hanging over us. He stepped to his side table and picked up the bottle of champagne, reading the label. “Nice...” He grinned. He picked up the gift bag from the bed and looked back at me, giving me a warm smile. “Can I open it?” I laughed at his politeness. “Yes, you may.” He pulled out the football jersey, smiling ear to ear. “Aw, man.” He walked to me and drew me into his arms. “I love you so much, man.” I just smiled, hugging him back tightly. Nothing brought me more joy than seeing how happy Dean looked at this very moment. I would go out of my way each time if it meant seeing this joy on his face. He kissed my temple and then hugged me again. “I love you, Artha-bear.” He said softly at the side of my face. His warm breath against my ear, made me feel fuzzy inside. He then placed his hands in my hair and mad
10h09 Preetah The atmosphere buzzed with laughter, chatter and warmth as the mehndi artist carefully applied the henna to my hands. My cousins and aunts were all around me, talking, making jokes, and often teasing me about becoming married. Although they had all disappeared when father had started falling ill, it was good to have all of them here today. It felt good having so many people that all just wanted to see me happy. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was part of a big happy family again. “Preetah, we heard females in the USA all work and forsake their duties as wives, please don't become like them.” Aisha, my youngest cousin said. She was the most talkative of her siblings, taking after aunt. She was also the most beautiful. She was short and chubby, with long curly hair that fell past her bum. She had a sharp nose and wore a nose ring. “My brother did not raise our Preetah like that, don't worry” Aunt told her. Our big family was all from aunt’s side, I was
DeanIt was Steve. His eyes widened just for about 2 seconds before he wiped all the expression from his face. “Uhm... Madam Preetah said that she would leave a plate of food for me in the microwave.” He said nervously, avoiding both our eyes. “Oh.” Both Artha and I said simultaneously and surprisingly almost bumped into each other, trying to go for the microwave.“You can go...” I told her, moving away to let her pass.She took the plate out of the microwave and passed it to Steve. He thanked us awkwardly and then left quickly.Artha and I exchanged looks. I shook my head.“I think this is a sign.” She told me.“What sign?” I frowned. “Don't be sentimental. There is no sign. We are not telling Arjun anything.”She began filling the takeaway with more food from the pot. “It's only a matter of time before Preetah tells Arjun.”
PreetahArjun came home around 2pm with Dean, I was writing when I heard him and Dean's voice coming from the living room. They were loud and speaking over each other. I frowned, abandoning my book and running out of the room, my heart racing.I stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down, only to see them laughing and then Arjun playfully shoving Dean. Was this really Arjun? Smiling, talking, and having fun like this?I saw Artha come out from her room, tuck her hair behind her ears and approach them both.“Afternoon guys.” She greeted them as they took a seat. She sat on the one end of the same couch as Dean.“Afternoon.” They responded.“So you decided to come visit today?” Artha asked Dean.“This is my house.” Dean answered jovially. “I gave Arjun a one-week break because he had just gotten married. Didn't want to take all the attention from Preetah.&r
Arjun“Okay, Angelique, I must leave now. I'm too drunk.” I got up from the table.She got up and placed her hands around my neck. “My name is Kaylene.” She then kissed me.“Okay, that's it.” I said, breaking the kiss. “I need my bed. If I don't leave now, I'll pass out here. And that's not a good image for me.”“Sure, let's go then.” We walked out of the club, and she helped me not fall over all the way to my car.“Thank you for a lit night, Angelique.” I said as I fumbled for my car keys.“You're not gonna drive, are you?” She asked. “Call an Uber, I don't wanna die. I am only 35.”“No, no, honey. You're not gonna die, I am not taking you with—”“Why not?” Her face fell.I unlocked my car and was about to enter but she stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “Don't be boring, let's go finish off our night, baby.” She pulled me towards her by my shirt and kissed my neck. “Don't you... want... me?” She asked between kisses. “Come on, baby.”“Tempting but...” I pushed her away slightly
PreetahDid I get used to spending my days completely alone in a two-story house? No. Every day was the same and really boring. Eating takeaway food and not doing anything except make our bed. I even gained some weight. My joys came when Arjun would come home, be it at 4.30pm, which was rare, 5pm or 6pm. But even when he came home, the only time he showed interest in me was if he wanted sex. When I would ask him about his day, he would give one-word answers or not answer at all. Maybe he was just not talkative, and I couldn't force him to be.About my father? Babuji always gave me vague answers about how far Arjun was with the process of getting him here. I was afraid to ask Arjun directly because of how he had responded the other day.Ding-dong!That must be the guy that will fix the aircon that Arjun told me would be coming.I looked in the camera and saw the back of the head of a man wearing a green cap.I wondered if he was the one.I took the chance and buzzed him in. I watched h
Arjun Artha looked like she was hiding something, and Dean looked like he knew what it was. Dean smiled nervously as the elevator doors began opening. “Well, we're all gonna need a seat for this one—” “Oh, there he is!” A man in a grey suit exalted, upon seeing us. I immediately recognized him. “Trevor Noah!” I reflected his excitement. “Bosses don't need to come early, right?” He chuckled as we shook hands. I shook my head, laughing too. “I don't believe in that. I just had a little emergency at home this morning.” I gestured to my office. “Please and welcome.” “Emergency or your wife kept you busy this morning?” He said and then laughed. I shared in the laugh although I found it a bit creepy that he managed to guess it. “I can see your face saying, 'wait, how did he know, but let me laugh so he doesn't think it’s true'.” He laughed as I closed the door behind him. “Am I right?” “Well...” I kept my grin as I went around my table. “Please have a seat.” “I am a presenter, I c
PreetahI don't know whether it was him standing so close to me, his voice so soft and provocative or his hand lifting my chin to look at him – but I was dying!“Say you want it.”I was so nervous but I build up a little courage. “I want it.”“And what exactly do you want?” He moved his hand back to my neck, which made my womanhood tingle with excitement. “Hmm?”“You...” I responded.His lips curled upward, as if satisfied with my answer. He then began kissing me again. He placed my hands around his neck and reached for my bum. He pinned me against the door as his kisses became more passionate and his breathing got heavier.He then lifted me off the floor and took me to the bed. He sat at the edge of the and I stood in front of him, he pulled down my pants and kissed my thighs in the process. I just had my top now.He stood up and kissed my neck as he pulled down his pants.He ran his fingers over my vagina, a couple of times.“Hmm...” He moaned. “You're so wet.” He sat on the edge o
PreetahAfter lunch, which was pizza and cold drinks, both Artha and Babaji went back to their rooms and left me alone in the living room. It was boring without a phone or anyone to talk to. I didn't know how to turn the large flat screen on, it didn't seem to have a remote.After sitting on the couch for too long, I took a walk in the garden, just to have something to do. The house was already spotless, there was nothing to clean. I spent some time outside and then came back to the couch after I had looked at all the different kind of flowers Arjun had in his front yard.I actually missed my class. I am sure they were missing me too. If I was still back there, I would have been giving them back their maths assignments that I had marked and then do revision. It was always beautiful seeing their eyes light up after I explained something.“The kids seem to really like you, not that I care but, the maths pass rates this term for all the classes you teach sky rocketed compared to the term
Dean I felt so weak, exhausted. For the past 3 days, I felt like I've been running on reserve energy. I'm glad Arjun gave me the day off. I was grateful. Especially that I would have never gotten it had it been me asking of my own accord. Arjun was a good friend when it came to other stuff but in business — he didn't know family or friends. Even on my sick days he demanded a sick note from the doctor. Imagine. “Can't believe you really left me here for three days.” Bianca told me, cozing up to me. “You could've taken me with you, you know?” She placed a soft hand on my neck and the other interlocking with my fingers. The thing with Bianca is, she was very physical. Her love language was touch. The only time she wasn't clinging onto me was when Artha was around. I loved it though. I loved her softness and femininity. “I told you; it wasn't my place to invite you.” I answered, leaning towards her instinctively, I don’t know. Everything about her just draws me in, made me feel some k
ArjunPreetah looked like she was on the verge of tears. I didn't understand why she would think we would fly her father over – was it because of the court wedding? Court weddings weren't even that serious. And here she was, about to cry as if somebody had just died.“Babuji,” She turned to face dad. “You told me that father would be coming with us.” She then turned to me and that's when tears fell down her cheeks. I turned my heard away. I didn't have the patience for this."Are you really crying?" I asked, ignoring the stares of the other people in the room. Gosh, this was so embarrassing. "Why are you crying?"“Arjun, you said that father would be coming after us, remember? I asked you about it at the hotel and you said that he will be coming with—”“I was talking about my father.” I answered, my voice clear that I wasn't liking this one bit. “Why would your father come here? This is just a court wedding, exchange vows and sign some papers, done.”“Babuji told me that he would be c