Chapter 85

Aquariums & Markets

He ROFL-ed on the inside but answered with a  straight face “Jaidrith?” he said under his breath stifling the laugh

“Umm.. I think he might want me to be around, new place and all”

“Has been to any sleepovers?”

“Umm.. not that I can think of”

‘Oh? OK”

“I generally don’t sent him any place overnight mainly due to his food allergies” she was quickly defensive

“I completely understand” he nodded

“I don’t have much of a relationship with my parents so he doesn’t get to go to the grandparents house”

“I am sorry”

“No, its not your fault”

“Is it because of how you had him?”

“Umm.. no not really” she felt really sad even talking about it

“Do u want to see a better view?” he said softly

“Oh really?”

“Hmm” he offered her a hand, as he got up

She didn’t know if she should hold it, she did as she was trying to balance the teeshirt her phone and the kheer bowl

He pulled her close and released her quick like a dance move

“Can you walk around all the way?”

“Yes I think so, except the spine of the building where the elevators are”

“Nice”

They walked slowly around the outside

“They might move me to Versova” he said

“”WHY?”

“I wanted a beach view”

“Oh”

“I have chosen one in Versova another one in Juhu Zone 3” he said pausing

She looked at him

He pointed to toward the outside

A sliver of ocean was visible through the trees and buildings

Boats shimmered like jewels in the faraway sea

“The Juhu apartment has the best views”

He scrolled through his phone

And bend down near her to show her

He handed her his phone

“This flat is beautiful” she gasped

“He sent me 50 pictures” he laughed

“So I shouldn’t look at all of them?” she smiled looking up at him

“U can, I can send u the link”

“U want the phone back” she handed it to him

He smiled shaking his head

She went back to looking

He leaned on the balcony facing the flat arms crossed across his chest and his feet crossed at the ankle

“Juhu is cleaner I think as far as beaches go, maybe I can go with him to the beach

“Hmm”

“U don’t like the idea?”

“I am just afraid” she looked up at him

“I will not do anything that will harm him in anyway” he said with a hand over his heart

She nodded tears filling up her eyes, his image became blurry

Without a doubt he was the most sincere person in her life

With everything that was screwed up about her life situation, he was unexpectedly pleasant

“You do take good care of him” she said grudgingly

“Thanks”

Sniffled with her head hung

“Why are you upset?”

“I am just overwhelmed sometimes” she looked away, turning her face away from him

“Hmm”

“The first year was pretty hard for me” she said leaning on a window across from him

“Oh?”

“I had a difficult delivery”

“Oh? I am sorry”

“I was living with Sai” she said quietly

He realized that meant NOT parents

“Do u have any siblings?”

“sai is probably the closest to a sibling” she said quietly

“the NICU nurse?”

She nodded

“What about the friends from that evening” he smiled warmly 

“Umm.. no not really” she shifted uncomfortably

“U were the most popular that night” he smiled

She flinched

She could never imagine herself again in two scraps of clothing barely covering her nude body in a party of 100 people

“I don’t think about it” she mumbled

“I do” he said quietly

“I bet Jaidrith would love a house with a sea view, he has always loved the ocean and turtles and such”

“Oh really?”

“Hmm” she nodded her eyes lighting up

She went on her phone and looked up some really old old pictures of him at the Taraporewala Aquarium

He scrolled through the pictures with fascination

“If you ask him today he will deny deny deny” she said peering at the pictures together with him in the dark

“Hahaha… why?”

“Because he thinks I am a nag, I am steering him toward something “I” want him to take up”

“OH REALLY? Is he so shrewd?” he was shocked

“Oh u have no idea, I have to be very careful in suggesting stuff, the second he gets wind of it he will resist”

He sighed and lowered her phone and looked at her

“You are great Mum” he said softly

“U don’t have to console me”

“Am I doing that?”

She nodded

“You are pretty tall” he whispered

“I know” she nodded confidently

“I can keep saying things that make u feel good if you are going to continue to sound confident” he whispered teasingly

“I already have a therapist” she laughed weakly

“Let me know when u are in the market for another one” he whispered