13. Sona
SONA
A loud knock woke me up that morning, an insistent rap on the door. Mihir and I sat up with a start.
Sameer’s voice was loud and urgent. “Mihir!”
“A minute,” Mihir answered as I scrambled toward the bathroom.
“Clothes,” he mouthed, and I scurried to gather my lingerie and robe, then closed the door behind me.
Muffled sounds filtered into the bathroom. I dressed swiftly before I heard the door close.
“He’s gone,” Mihir said, seated at the edge of the bed in his sweats when I emerged. “He’d come to wake me up. We need to leave soon.”
His smile, cautious, was different from the bright, uninhibited one from last night. Regret, maybe? Though it had come sooner than I expected.
It was only sex, I repeated to myself, but the awkwardness was in keeping with an impetuous encounter like the one we’d had last night. What was I thinking?
I rushed toward the door. “I’ll try and sneak into my room,” I said.
He stood swiftly and grabbed my wrist. “Hey, I’m not going to kiss you with my gross morning mouth, but I want to see you again.”
I turned in his grip and looked into his dark eyes.
“And next time, I want to hear you scream my name,” he rumbled deeply. A quick shiver ran through me, and he let go of my arm with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “We should talk before you leave.”
At those words, the weight of my departure washed up on me like a landslide. I’d had a wonderful weekend, but ahead of me lay a terribly busy, if a bit lonely, life in New York.
I slipped out of the room, not bothering to check if I was spotted. A quick shower later, I walked down the stairs with my bag. Like me, Mihir was dressed in jeans and lugging his parents’ bags out the door.
“Sona, why don’t you ride with us?” his mother said. “That will give us more time to chat. Mihir can drop you back later.”
My heart thudded, and inadvertently, I looked at Tara.
“Sure,” she smiled back, and I nodded at Sneha aunty.
When Mihir came back in, his mom said, “Sona’s coming with us. Take her bag.” Mihir’s eyebrows jerked slightly, but he grabbed my suitcase from where I had left it and stepped outside.
Before we left, Tara took me aside and spoke in Marathi. “It’s actually for the best that you are going to Sneha aunty’s. Juhi will be back, and I suspect she’s planning to rake up more trouble. Something happened last night. I heard Sameer and his parents arguing in whispers. I regret inviting you over this weekend when I had so little time to give you. If I had known Juhi was coming, I would’ve planned better. In fact, I would’ve planned to come visit you instead.”
“Don’t worry, ga,” I said to her. “My flight is late afternoon. Maybe I’ll just slip off to the airport from there.”
She tried to resist, but my insistence wasn’t selfless. My sinister motive was to spend more time with Mihir, preferably naked.
“Mihir, I’m holding you to seeing her to the airport on time,” Tara said to him as we stepped out to the cars.
“I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” Tara said and placed a kiss on my cheek.
I gave her a tight hug and promised myself to make up for my selfishness too. This weekend had been one of debauchery and giving in to my baser instincts. Hopefully, I would return to my city a new woman, happy, contented, and satisfied. Sometimes, even good girls needed a weekend off from being upright and responsible. The universe had handed me mine, and I had grabbed it with both hands.
As is often the case, when one gives in to their base instincts, the rational brain takes a hike. I was so consumed with the thought of spending time with Mihir that it never occurred to me that we could be at risk of being exposed.
Sneha aunty had certainly taken a liking to me. What if she had ulterior motives for inviting me into her home? It wasn’t unheard of for meddling mothers to take matters into their own hands, or worse, interfere in their children’s affairs—literally. I had first-hand experience of the latter. What if she thought I was unworthy of her son too?
My jangly nerves calmed down soon enough, because Mihir’s parents were pleasant and endearing. With brilliance and wit, they talked about Texas, told me the places to visit, and asked me about my work.
“There is so much I’ve missed out on,” Aunty said. “We were still in the league of early feminists when I worked in India.”
“Your generation laid the foundation for much of what we do today,” I reassured her.
“It is so good to talk to you, Sona. You remind me of Rajni, my best friend in college. We used to march at rallies and participate in debates and protests at a time when our words had little social worth.” She heaved a big sigh, and her husband turned in his seat to look back at her.
“I’m alright,” she said to him, then turned to me. “He worries about me because he knows how much I loved Rajni. She got married early to the wrong man. She passed away years ago, unhappy and unfulfilled.”
“I’m sorry, Aunty,” I said, and she patted my hand.
“Thank you. It’s been a long time, but some wounds never heal,” she said, then pulled out a smile. “That’s why I enjoy talking to you. You sort of remind me of my days with her. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I love talking about my work, and usually, my audience is a little less attentive and a lot more distracted.”
She laughed just as Mihir turned into the driveway of a huge house flanked by elm and oak trees. A tall, bearded man leaned on a motorbike near the entryway, talking on his phone.
“What’s Grant doing here?” Aunty said, and I peered through the tinted windows to ogle at the man I’d teased Mihir about last night.
He and Mihir looked like two peas in a pod—same hefty build, same full beard. Same attitude, except Grant was a tad taller with deep brown hair. Handsome was definitely an understatement. I smiled. This was good ammunition to ruffle Mihir.
“He’s here to visit Dad,” Mihir said before elegantly exiting his car and holding the door open for his mother. “He called to ask about our ETA.”
Mihir called out as he came around to get the door for me, “Looks like midlife crisis finally hit you, Grant. Are all your convertibles out of commission now?”
I was already halfway out of the car when Mihir reached the door.
Grant flashed the same cocky smile as Mihir and mouthed something, which set the latter roaring with laughter.
“Good to see you, Grant,” Aunty said.
“Hi, Mrs. S. I knew Mir wouldn’t invite me, so I came over to wish Dr. S a happy birthday.” He strode to us, studying me in a quick flash before turning his attention to Mihir’s parents.
“You don’t need an invitation. This is your home,” Aunty said as she unlocked the door and led us in. “You know you’re my second favorite son.”
Both Grant and Mihir broke into uncharacteristically warm smiles.
“Yes, we know Mike’s your favorite because he’s a doctor, like Dad,” Mihir said.
“No, he’s my favorite because he’s quiet, kind, and thoughtful, like Arvind,” Aunty said to Mihir, which led the two younger men to laugh while Uncle tried hard not to look embarrassed.
“I still wonder how he’s tolerated the two of you for so long. Grant, this is Sona. She’s Tara’s friend, but she’s also our friend now, I hope,” Aunty said, directing a warm smile at me as Grant extended his hand. And that’s when I noticed his eyes. Dark blue oceans one could swim in.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Grant. I’ve heard all about you.”
“Hope not everything,” he said and winked at Mihir.
“Stop embarrassing her,” Aunty said pointedly, then turned to me. “Don’t mind them. They are mostly harmless.”
I followed Aunty as she led us all into the kitchen.
“What will you have, beta?” Her question was directed at Grant.
“Nothing, Mrs. S. Just came by to give Dr. S his birthday gift,” Grant said, producing a small, wrapped package from his leather jacket.
“Ah, thank you,” Uncle said. “I’m still enjoying the last gift you gave me. That is one good bottle of scotch.”
“I hope Mir hasn’t been sneaking from it. It’s for you and Mrs. S.”
“I don’t enjoy scotch. I’m a wine person, you know that,” Aunty said with a naughty smile.
“Hint taken. Next birthday, you’re getting your own exclusive bottle of wine, not to be shared with Dr. S or Mir.”
Aunty patted his arm and shared a heartfelt laughter.
“There he goes,” Mihir grumbled as he settled on a chair at the breakfast table. “Making me look bad again. What did you gift him this time that makes mine seem worthless in comparison?”
“Don’t be jealous because you can’t think of better gifts, Mir.” Grant shot him a crooked smile.
Just then, Uncle got a call, and he walked out of the kitchen.
“Mihir,” Aunty said. “Can you make coffee for Sona and Grant? I’ll be back in a minute.”
With graceful steps, Aunty walked away from the kitchen. Mihir got up and went to the coffee machine while Grant and I settled around the breakfast table.
“Sona. That’s a lovely name. It means gold, right?”
I smiled. “Wow, I’m impressed!”
“Don’t be,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve caught a few Hindi words from Mir and his parents over the years. Are you from around here?”
“I’m visiting from New York.”
“Hm, that’s too bad.”
I threw a quick glance at Mihir, who was busy giving him a dirty look. “I loved the lake house. Thank you for letting us use it,” I said while resisting the urge to glance at Mihir.
“It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he drawled in his sophisticated Texas accent, and I decided to play.
“I love that accent. I’ve always heard very bad caricatures of it, but when I hear native Texans, it sounds…”
“Sexy?” Grant said with a wink, and I allowed myself a shy smile and a warm blush.
“I especially loved the pool,” I said, and he returned a wicked, sweet smile.
“I’m glad, Sona. I rarely get to use it anymore. I’m glad the house had a guest as special as you.” He grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on it. Oh!
If Mihir was a seducer, Grant was his guru.
Across the kitchen, Mihir cleared his throat loudly, but neither Grant nor I paid him any heed.
“Can we get coffee sometime?” Grant asked me instead but before I could respond, Aunty walked back in.
“Mihir, can you help me get the bags from the car? Arvind needs his medicine,” she said.
Mihir had no choice but to follow her out and leave us alone in the kitchen, but he did shoot Grant a pointed look as he strode away.
Grant was busy studying me when his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen and gave me a slick smile. “Did you get a chance to explore all of the lake house, Sona ?”
My heart thumped to learn that he suspected what we had done there, but I looked into his eyes with confidence. “Indeed. The mirrors worked magic.”
“Did they now?” He laughed. “So how serious is this thing with Mir?”
“It’s not. We’re not looking for serious.”
He glanced at the phone, then back up at me. “Well then. Here’s some well-meaning advice. Don’t get too comfortable in that thought. I know what he sees in you.”
He swiped his phone open to show me Mihir’s text. Hands off her .
“Nicely done, you two,” I said and burst out laughing. “Coordinating your play so well. So, what’s your assessment?”
“Assessment?”
“That’s what this was, wasn’t it? Trying to figure out if I was worthy of taking on your precious friend?”
“Here’s the thing, Sona,” he said as he slipped the phone into the pocket of his leather jacket. “I’m not sure my friend is worthy of taking you on.”
“That I’ll agree with.”
He took my hand in his remarkably soft one and kissed it again. It was only fortuitous that Mihir came back at that exact moment with Aunty right behind him. Like Mama’s good boy, he went straight to the counter and poured us the freshly brewed coffee while Aunty joined us at the table.
A little later, when Grant was ready to leave, he stood up, leaned in, and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.
“It was very nice to meet you, Sona. I hope our paths cross again.”
As Mihir stepped out to see him off, Uncle got another call for his birthday. I sat alone in the kitchen with Aunty.
“Beta,” she said. “I want to apologize for dragging you along this way. It occurred to me that I should’ve asked you in private if you were alright coming back with us.”
I blinked with a slight smile on my lips, trying to figure out the reason behind her apology.
She cleared her throat lightly. “I…I’m really not trying to thrust you and Mihir together like a meddling Indian mother, although I’m guilty of having done that in the past,” she said with a sheepish smile. “It’s just…you remind me so much of Rajni. I just wanted a bit more time with you…with her. It was selfish.”
With a smile, I took her hand in mine. “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. I’m glad you asked, and you should know that if I was uncomfortable, I would’ve said it. And I’m always here if you want to talk. We can have our own friendship, can’t we?”
Tears rimmed her eyes, but she quickly sniffed them away. “Thank you, Sona. You’re very gracious.”
“Alright, here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll send you papers and book titles I think might interest you. Would you like that?”
“I’d love that. It will keep my writing alive too.”
“You write?” I cried with wide eyes.
“A little. I haven’t shared it with anyone, though, not even Arvind.”
“Well, if you ever want to share, I’ll be happy to read it. And I can keep a secret,” I whispered just as Mihir returned to the kitchen. I surreptitiously removed my hand from his mother’s arm.
“You and Mihir haven’t had breakfast,” she said. “Let me make you something.”
“I’d hate to bother you, Aunty,” I said and looked at Mihir.
“We’ll get something on the way to the airport, Mom,” he protested. “Don’t worry about us.”
The look in his eyes held a promise that had my heart thumping. It was somewhat scary to think we already understood each other so well.