Page 15

ARUSH

After breakfast, I find myself wandering around the condo, unsure what to do with myself. We’re in the middle of Julian’s first away-game streak, where he’s gone for an entire week as opposed to a single night. Not going to lie, this is my least favorite part of being here.

It’s so quiet. I’ve been leaving the television on low just to have some noise. I can get through a couple hours of Julian at hockey easily enough, but six days is a really long time. He told me that last year, the Arizona team he was on had an away-game streak of like twenty days!

I’d lose my mind. What the hell would I do for twenty days all by myself?

Before I left India, I would have thought that I spent a lot of time alone.

As it turns out, that’s entirely false. I spent almost no time alone.

Even if there wasn’t someone physically with me, I was on the phone or texting with someone, video chatting.

But I also spent a lot of time with my nieces and nephews.

With my siblings and my father. Definitely with my friends.

I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to put such distance between everyone I knew and myself. It’s not the miles that’s the problem, but the different time zones. I’m just beginning my day when they go to bed.

Okay, not quite, but definitely for a large portion of the day.

Today is morning number three that I’m alone. I already ate and cleaned up after myself. I didn’t burn down the kitchen, nor did I flood it from the sink. Those are some pretty impressive achievements for a guy who hasn’t done a damn thing for himself his entire life.

My wanderings take me to stand in the door of the bedroom where my suitcases are. Two of them are open on the bed. One large one I haven’t opened yet. My backpack is on the desk chair and my carry-on is unzipped on the floor, though it’s closed in on itself.

Maybe I should unpack. I think I subconsciously didn’t because of the reception at the airport. I wish it had been different. I wish it had been the dream I had hoped it would be.

But that’s okay. I think in a year we can look back on it and laugh.

For right now, am I comfortable enough in this situation to unpack?

Yes, I think I am. So I spend the next hour putting my clothes away in the drawers and in the closet.

I have to grab all the hangers from the closet of the spare room and then sneak some of Julian’s extra ones as well.

I hadn’t realized how much clothing I could fit in these suitcases.

I also didn’t realize how many toys I brought. They barely fit in the sock drawer hidden under my socks. Which makes me question just how many toys I have because I left a lot at home. Oof.

Once I’m settled into the room, I bring the empty suitcases into the closet of the spare room and stack them beside the place where Julian has his suitcases.

Granted, his nestle inside each other like stacking dolls.

Mine are all the same size, so they’re a little in the way.

Maybe there’s somewhere else to store them, but for now, this seems like a good spot.

Just as I’m coming out of the room, my phone rings. My father’s name lights up the screen and I grin. “Hi, Dad,” I greet.

“Arush. How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you? How’s home?”

“Everything is great. All great. What are you up to?”

I glance at the bedroom. “I was putting away my laundry just now. I’m not sure what I’ll do for the rest of the day, though.”

“Where’s your Julian?”

“In Arizona.”

There’s a sharp edge to my father’s tone when he asks, “Why is he in Arizona and you’re in Chicago?”

“He has hockey, Dad. He has to go away for hockey sometimes too. They don’t all come here.”

There’s a pause before my father says, “I need to read up on hockey.”

I laugh. “It’s rough, confusing, and definitely entertaining. But anyway, yeah. He’s in Arizona. That’s where he was traded from, so he’s hanging out with his friends right now.”

“I still don’t like that he’s with friends and you’re alone.”

“It’s okay.” I’m definitely not going to tell him I hate it, either. He might fly out here or something dramatic. “I’m going to head downstairs later and check out the pool.”

“Is it warm there?”

“The pool is inside, but no, it’s not warm.” I glance at the window. The sky is clear, and the sun is shining brightly, casting the entire room in a bright yellow glow. “It’s nicer out today than it has been though, so that’s nice.”

“Very good. Have you been making wedding plans yet? I’d like to hear them.”

I chew the inside of my lip. “No, Dad. I just got here. It’s only been a month. We’re still getting to know each other.”

He hums in acknowledgement. “Your wedding will be this summer.”

He tries to inflect a question mark to the end of the sentence, but I hear the statement in it. “Maybe,” I hedge.

“Arush.” The absence of a stern tone makes me understand that he’s worried.

“Everything is going really well,” I assure my father, because I believe it to be true. It might have started off a little rocky, but I think we’ve found our rhythm. Every day we’re learning about each other a little more. “I don’t want to rush anything.”

“Rush,” my father parrots, a frown thick in his voice.

I get it. This is very different from the process that we go through at home. It’s not rushed, exactly, but my siblings have all been married within a handful of months of meeting their parental-picked spouses. Maybe it’s rushed in my family. Maybe that’s normal.

Jash married Chaaya pretty quickly, too. I think it was less than four months from the day they met.

“Please trust me.”

“Are you happy?”

The question surprises me. Am I? Right this very second, I could be a little happier if Julian were home, but… I am. “Yes,” I answer.

He sighs. “I trust you.”

It warms my chest to hear those words from my father. “What’s happening at home?”

“Navi has decided he doesn’t like Sayuri. He will be meeting Niyara in two days.”

I roll my eyes. “You ever think Navi doesn’t actually want to get married, Dad?” This is what, his fourth decline?

My father laughs. “Yes. That’s why I’ve not been giving him serious consideration for quite some time.”

“Oh! Sly.”

He laughs again. “I, too, can play that game.”

My smile feels like it splits my face. I love my father. He has such a rich sense of humor. He’s strict when it comes to business, but he’s also personable. He can have silly conversations and indulge his family. He’s a really great guy.

“I must turn in to bed or your mother will come looking for me. Keep me apprised on wedding details.”

My stomach flips. “I will when we begin talking about them,” I promise.

“Very well. Enjoy your day.”

“Sleep well,” I return, since the same sentiment can’t be returned right now.

We end the call and I find that I’ve been wandering around the condo while we’ve been on the phone.

I stop in front of the windows and stare outside.

The sun is so bright it gives the illusion that it’s warm out.

The trees aren’t quite ready to agree, though.

Julian says that they’ll turn green and begin to bud when spring is finally here. They’re still looking a little dark.

But they’re not swaying wildly in the wind right now, either.

I haven’t checked out the building yet. I’ve been holed up inside for the past month, unless Julian takes me to the store or something. Maybe I need to go explore. I may not leave the building, but I can certainly check out the inside, right?

The keys that Julian had made for me are hanging just inside the door.

I try it on the door before I even put my shoes on to make sure it works without issue.

When I can visibly see that all locks respond to their keys, I get into my shoes and put on the hoodie that’s hanging by the door.

It’s a Chicago Breeze hoodie, so I feel like I’m representing my… partner? Is it okay to call him that?

Not to be debated right now. I make sure I have my phone and the ring of keys in my pocket before stepping out into the hall. There’s an older couple waiting in front of the elevator, and I slowly make my way to them.

As soon as they spot me, they’re all smiles.

“Hello!” the woman says. “Are you new to the floor? I thought we knew all our neighbors.”

I nod. “I live in four.”

“With Julian,” she says excitedly. “Oh good. That boy needed a roommate. I worry about him.” She looks at who I presume to be her husband. “Didn’t I worry about him?”

“We did,” he agrees. He adjusts the cat in his arms, which I’m just now noticing, and offers me his hand to shake. “My name is Paul. This is my wife, Ellie.” I shake their hands and he lifts the cat. “And our Mittens.”

I offer my fingers to the cat to smell and then rub its head behind its ears. “My name is Arush.”

“How long have you been with our Julian?” Ellie asks. “It must be recent, yes?”

“I’ve been here for about a month,” I tell her.

“Where are you from? You have a wonderfully beautiful accent, dear.”

“Mumbai, India.”

“Oh, India!” Ellie exclaims. “I love your food.”

I grin. “Thanks.”

The elevator opens and we step inside together.

“What brings you all this way? India is on the other side of the world.” Ellie asks.

I find I’m stuck staring at her. Do I tell her I came here to marry Julian? No, that seems… it just doesn’t feel right. It feels invasive when we haven’t even spoken about marriage, despite the fact we met on a marriage service site.

“Ellie,” Paul says, taking her hand in his. “Do not put him on the spot.”

“I’m sorry,” Ellie says, but giving me a wicked grin. “You do not need to share your reason.”

I shake my head. “I want to see different places,” I tell her, which isn’t a lie. “I’ve seen different countries close to home, but I’m not sure you could get more different from America.”

“That’s probably very true,” Ellie agrees.

“We’re taking Mittens for a walk. Would you care to join us?” Paul asks as the elevator delivers us to the first floor.

I stare outside again, wondering if it’s as warm as it looks. In the end, I agree. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten some fresh air.

As I let myself back into the condo, my phone rings. My heart leaps into my throat when I see that it’s Julian, so I answer as I struggle out of my sneakers and get all the locks flipped closed.

“Hello? Are you okay?”

Julian chuckles. “Yes. I’m fine. Are you? You sound out of breath.”

Because he takes my breath away. No, I’m not going to say that. Far too corny. “I was wandering around the building. I met some of your neighbors.”

“Yeah? Who did you meet?”

“Ellie and Paul from this floor. Do you know them?”

I can hear his smile. “I know them. They’re wonderful people.”

“They really like you. They talked about you a lot.”

He sighs. “They’re one of the biggest perks of living in this condo. Such wonderful people. I think they’ve adopted me.”

“I think so too,” I say, grinning. “They also seem to know everyone. I’ve been warned away from Sally on Ten. They think she’s a drug dealer. She has people of all genders, class, and walks of life come into her home at all hours of the day.”

Julian laughs. “Sally is a sex worker, something I haven’t tried to explain to them.”

“Oh.” Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.

“Yep. She has an escort service and from what I understand, she’s very popular among a certain upper middle-class crowd.”

“That’s… cool.”

He laughs again. “She’s a good egg. I’ll introduce you to her sometime.”

“Okay. They also told me they think the roommates on four—Tobias and James—are secretly together, though they insist that they’re just roommates. I met them when I checked out the gym and I don’t know. I can see it both ways. What do you think? Do you know them?”

“You’re being drawn into the condo gossip, Arush,” Julian says, amused.

“I am,” I admit. “We walked their cat Mittens for half an hour and they told me so many stories about the people in this building. I didn’t know you had such colorful neighbors.”

“I sometimes shudder to think about the gossip Ellie shares about me,” Julian says.

“I don’t think she has anything bad to say about you. She thinks you’re the greatest person ever.”

He sighs.

“So… what have you been doing?” I ask. “Are you having fun with your Arizona friends?” I wander into Julian’s room and lie back on the bed to stare at the ceiling as we talk.

“I am. It’s been really nice to spend time with them again. I miss their presence in my life.”

I understand that. Even though he can’t see me, I nod.

“It’s nice that we seem to pick up right where we left off, as if I hadn’t moved away.”

“Those are the best kinds of friendships.”

“Have you been keeping in touch with your friends?”

“Yes. I talk to them most days.”

“Good. I’ve realized how important friends are now that I live so far away from mine.”

I can feel that in my soul.

Quiet settles over us and I think he’ll probably get off the phone before it turns awkward. This is the first time we’ve talked on the phone. We usually text. It’s good to hear his voice, though.

I close my eyes and listen to him breathe.

“I’m looking forward to coming home to you,” Julian says, and my heart nearly stops.

“Me too,” I answer. I miss you.