Page 97 of Born in Sin

They got up from the table in silence, walking out of the restaurant and waiting on the pavement for the valet to bring her father’s hired car around.

“Dad?”

He glanced at her. “How long will you be here for?”

“I fly out tonight, Celi,” he replied, regret coating his voice. “But listen, once your exams are over, come to Dubai, we’ll spend some quality time together.”

Tonight. She nodded dumbly, fighting tears and refusing to look at her mother who was quietly simmering in her anger and outrage on the side. The car arrived and they got in, making their way back to Crestwood in the simmering, toxic, silence.

Her father stopped the car outside the main school building. Her mother shot out of the car with a muttered goodbye and stomped off in the direction of the teacher’s quarters. Celina bent at the waist to kiss her father’s cheek. “Bye Dad,” she murmured.

“Bye Celi.”

He put the car in reverse and turned it around to face the gates once more. She stood back, waiting to see him leave, a small part of her, the child in her, still hoping he’d stay.

“Bye darling,” he said again and then he was gone. The red of his taillights disappearing into the night.

Celina made her solitary way back to her room, crossing a few children who’d gotten special permission like her to spend the evening with their parents. She made it all the way to her room without a single person acknowledging her or asking her why she was sad.

Her roommate was propped up in her bed reading a complicated looking research textbook. It made Celina’s head hurt just to look at the cover.

“Hey Celina. Your friend dropped a note for you while I was down at dinner. It’s on your desk.”

“Which friend?” Celina frowned.

“The guy you’re always hanging out with.” Her roommate pushed her glasses up her nose with one finger and went back to reading, already dismissing Celina and her trivial, brainless issues.

Virat? Excitement surged through her tempered with disbelief. When she’d told him she was going out to dinner with her parents, Virat had told her that he was spending the evening with Amay and Ishaan. They were celebrating Ishaan’s win of the academic achievement trophy.

This couldn’t be Virat. She walked briskly over to the desk and picked up the note.

‘Chem Lab at 9.’

She let out a little squeal which had her roommate glancing at her annoyed. It was Virat! She looked down at her watch. It was 8:50PM. Thank God for her parents and the dinner from hell, they’d come back in time for her to meet Virat! Graduation was done and now, he had no more excuses. That must be why he was calling her tonight, so they could talk.

With one last glance at her room and her grumpy roommate, Celina left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Chapter Thirty-Two

CARA

“Kabir, can you hear me?” Virat murmured.

“Loud and clear, Shadow.” Kabir’s voice was edgy with excitement.

Virat closed his eyes, muttering about aggravating divas who didn’t know when to let go of their main character energy and try being the extra. Cara grinned, something warm and fuzzy unspooling inside her at the sight of her love and her friend interacting.

“For the last time, we don’t need call signs,” Virat said, watching the screen where Kabir stood on the side of the road outside Mohan’s building.

Kabir pouted on screen. “But we do. I adore mine. Please use it.”

Virat sighed and looked up at the roof of the van. “Somethings are worth my dignity,” he reasoned out loud. “This would be one of them, right?

“I’ve found that it’s best not to argue with Kabir,” Cara murmured.

“Can you hear me, Rogue?” Virat forced the words out, painfully slowly.

“Loud and clear, Shadow.” Kabir grinned, clearly enjoying tormenting Virat.