"I'm sorry, okay?" I grumbled.
This was the third weekend in a row I was cancelling plans with Simmi and Rinni. Needless to say, they were pissed off.
"But Sharon! Cant your dad just like arrange for something else?" said a whiny Rinni.
I sighed and said, "I'm real sorry. We'll go to the mall next weekend, alright?"
"Alright, Sharon." Said Simmi dejectedly.
"Bye guys! Have a good weekend."
BEEP.
I let out a soft growl of annoyance. I could believe that I was going to be at home for two weekends in a row. This was so aggravating.
The same thing had happened last weekend too. I wish I could've convinced my dad a little more.
"DADDY!" I yelled and ran to his room.
He was just fixing up his tie and looking at himself in the mirror.
"Daddy? Are you absolutely sure there's nothing you can do? I mean, ask Auntie again no? Maybe she would've changed her plans or something?" I asked excitedly.
My dad sighed and looked at me, "Beta, I can't. A promise is a promise. Besides, it's just a couple hours! You barely spend time with her anyway. Please, love?"
"DAD! You're being unreasonable! If Auntie's going out and if I'm going out why can't you just leave her here at home?" I said. "Besides, I have plans." I said, smartly.
"Yeah? With who?"
"With' Swayam. Swayam, dad. We have a college meet coming up and we have some work regarding that."
I wasn't entirely lying, no. The truth was that I had to meet Swayam sometime this weekend about the Cultural Meet and I'd rather just do it now so as to avoid my task this weekend.
My dad looked at me with skepticism, "That's' good. He can come over and you two can do this job together!"
"WHAT?! No way, dad. Please."
"Sharon. That's it. My decision is final and you will stay at home tonight."
I sighed dejectedly, "Dad. We have like 6 housekeepers. Can't they do the job?"
"Beta, It's rude and besides not even safe to leave her here alone with the housekeepers." My dad argued making finishing touches to his suit.
"You left me alone with housekeepers my entire frickin' life, dad." I spat out, my anger unable to be restrained.
My dad finally turned around and met me face to face. I had obviously touched a nerve there. He gaped a little, stumbled over his words and then said, "Sharon' Those were circumstances."
I narrowed my eyes and said, "These are circumstances too, dad."
My dad's eyes hardened and then he said, "Call your friends over if you want. To keep you company and everything. I'm leaving now, Sharon. I'll be home by around 12."
He walked out of the door and then turned back to me, "Baby, I don't want to leave with this whole anger thing between us. Give me a hug, no?"
I walked towards him and he swept me into his arms into a loving hug. "Love you, bete. Be good, alright?"
I mumbled a soft yes as my dad disappeared down the stairs. I walked towards my room and looked at the grandfather clock. 5:30 pm. I had to do a couple things.
I took out my phone and drafted a text, "Swayam. My house at 8:00 am tomorrow morning. We have to discuss the Cultural meet thing."
I was nowhere near comfortable going over to his place ever since the whole incident between the both of us. Every single thing he had said to me was true. But that didn't mean he had the right to say it. I truthfully didn't want any more confrontations between us. Even more, because I knew now that I had some sort of feelings for him. I could admit that he had some power over me, my decisions and my dance. And he was definitely not the old clingy Swayam anymore. He was trying to patch things up between us for the greater good, but I didn't want to. What if I started feeling for him again?
My phone beeped and I looked at it. At the rate at which things were going, Swayam wouldn't say no to me about anything.
"Make that tonight at 8:00pm and I'll be a happy man."
NO WAY. I couldn't have him at my house tonight. Not in the current situation.
"I'm busy tonight. Going to the mall with Simmi and Rinni."
I had to lie, there was no other alternative. Swayam was so persuasive. And besides, we had had an awkward incident two days ago in the rehearsal hall.
The weaklings had been at dance practice and I had thought that I could use the rehearsal hall after that. Much to my annoyance, even after practice, Swayam had stayed back. Unable to walk away, I had decided to see what he had been practicing. He had put on a fast Hip hop number and started free-styling. He was magnificent at hip-hop. It was just his thing. As the music had started to fade, he looked super exhausted and then removed his wife-beater.
YES. Removed his wife beater. I was petrified and turned away, but then hid behind the curtains so as to not attract any attention. I peeked out and saw him rummaging in his bag for a fresh shirt to wear.
And that was when I saw it.
His body was lean, muscular. A dancer's body, it was rather perfect actually but I tried not to think so much about that and more about what had captivated my attention. It ran along the side of his body, the left side. His left' ribcage, I guess. It was Chinese or Japanese maybe. It was some sort of a motif. I ran its way down, the black ink looking so dangerous and yet, gorgeous at the same time.
It was beautiful. And damn how much I wanted to touch the damn tattoo!
While I had been drooling, he had found his shirt and started walking out. As he pulled the thing over his head, I looked one more time at that piece of art.
What did it mean?
I snapped out of my reverie at the sound of another text.
"My dad's birthday is tomorrow. I have to be there the entire day, so I can't come to your place. Please reschedule with them. This is more important."
I growled in annoyance. Couldn't he do anything without a fight?
"SO?! I'm busy. I can't accommodate this tonight." I replied.
In a fraction of a second, there was a reply.
"Don't be unreasonable."
I was about to call him and scream when I heard the noise I had been dreading the entire evening.
"SHARON! I'M HOME! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Holy Mother of God.
I went down to greet her and almost forgot about the matter at hand. I sent a quick text to Swayam. HELL, I wasn't going to change my mind!
"Whatever. 8:00."
I'd rather deal with him tomorrow morning. Tonight was going to be a mess.
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