The girl next door - Ch 103 - pg 108; note pg 109 - Page 6

They all had lunch together - Mira, Ravi, Shraddha, Kabir and Keerti. She was floored by the simplicity of this family...they all liked simple Indian food despite being brought up in the US. Even their house was fairly simple...they didn't have excessive furniture or overly gaudy decorations. In fact, none of their bedrooms had beds...they all slept on mattresses. They had 4 bedrooms upstairs and 1 downstairs...kitchen and living room were downstairs as well. The basement held some fitness equipment and had two entrances, one from inside the house and one through their backyard. One of the reasons why the house looked so gigantic and spacious was the fact that they did not stuff it with any kind of showy cases or unnecessary pieces of furniture...they had just how much they required...not more not less. Kabir had given her a tour of the house and had made sure all corners were covered.

She got a text from Simran...

Beep: Is everything okay?

Beep: Yes yes...I'm good. Thanks Sims.

Beep: So you are coming in the evening right?

Beep: Yes.

Beep: Do you want us to pick you up?

Beep: I'll let you know.

She mustered some courage to talk to Mira...she had never been comfortable lying about anything let alone lying to cover up her devious plan she had made with Simran. She turned to Mira to say "Aunty, I will have to leave soon. There's Diwali pooja at BU and I had committed to being there." There indeed was a pooja for Diwali at BU but not until Sunday afternoon. In her heart she prayed for them not to know or ask for details...she was sure she would fumble and say something that would make them catch her lie.

"Okay beta. It would have been great if you stayed for dinner tonight but if you have to go, I understand. I'll have Kabir drop you off."" Mira was the sweetest soul on earth she had to admit. Everything she did was so selfless and for the good of the other...in fact the entire family seemed such. For a moment she felt terrible for lying but now she had no way of going back on her words. "When do you have to leave?"

Keerti looked at her watch and replied after some thought "I can stay for another hour to help you out. Please let me do something...anything" she kept her hand on Mira's as she pleaded.

"Great...we have one more hour to bug you. Bhaiyya will be back by then too." Kabir always had a mischievous grin on his face that made him look even more endearing. Mira gave him a supposedly stern look and his grin widened from ear to ear. Everyone had a good laugh as Mira and Keerti went to the kitchen to prepare some dessert. The food was being arranged by one of their cousins and she had offered to make at least the dessert at home.

An hour and a half passed before they got done with the humongous chocolate cake they baked. Keerti looked at her watch and panicked...it was getting late and she wanted to leave before the guests started arriving. She asked Kabir if he would still be willing to drop her off and without doubt he agreed. They were becoming friends and she didn't mind him being around her, or keeping his hand on her shoulder while talking or pushing against her back to make her move faster...it was all in good spirits she thought.

Mira, Ravi and Shraddha all hugged her as she bid them good bye. "Hope you can come back soon here. We would love to have you here..." she was still talking to Mira when their front door opened and Kabir exclaimed "Oh look...bhaiyya is here!"

Keerti turned and her eyes were instantly transfixed on the form in front of her...and then something in her heart made her chide for wanting to leave this blessed house...because suddenly she wanted to stay back...but how...she wondered...