Chapter 2
“Any minute now.” Abhay said, tapping his foot. “Why aren’t you getting in?”
The two were outside, Piya now needing to take Abhay to her house to pose as her for 24 hours. She stood at the driver’s door, twirling the keys around one finger. What if her dad saw right through the farce? He had an uncanny eye for these kinds of strange things.
Maybe we both should just stay put here.
Abhay waited, frustrated that he couldn’t read minds at this moment in time. What was she thinking? When would they be going? The stomach growls were startling him.
“Will you get a move on? What are you thinking anyway?,” Abhay asked.
“I am just worried. What if they catch you in the act?”
“If I were you, I would be more worried about the fact that you - Abhay Raichand for them - is coming to their house. If you have forgotten, they don't take well to my presence, especially your dad.”
Piya felt a sickening feeling in her stomach. Of course she had not thought about the fact that her father was not fond of the Raichands, and if he found out about their current dilemma…
She gave a shudder at the thought.
“I’ll just…leave you outside the gate. Who said I have to come inside?”
“Then why even come? Let's meet at the college directly, shall we?”
“Yeah..,” she said, rolling her eyes. “As if you aren’t followed by most of the female population there…”
Abhay looked away guiltily and muttered, “One problem at a time please.”
“Fine, just go by yourself. But please be careful. I don't eat parathas, if mom makes that for breakfast. I usually take something light. And please, my fashion sense is very colorful, not pitch black. And please please please keep your grumpiness in check. Piya is a ball of sunshine and cheer, not the grinch that stole Christmas.
Abhay rolled his eyes this time. “No promises. Just try not to scare anyone by smiling too much.”
He turned and drove off in the car before Piya got any chance at a comeback. Meanwhile, Piya shoved her hands into her pockets and muttered annoyances to herself while walking back inside.
Idiot. Loser.
Piya felt the burn in her throat increase, and after experiencing a burst of anxiety, dashed upstairs to Abhay’s room, closing the doors behind her. The brief silence only lasted a couple seconds before a soft knock arrived. She threw open the doors again, about to yell when she realized that it was only Haseena.
“Rough morning?” She asked, with a soft smile. Piya looked away and stepped to the side, letting her inside. “You both have more fights with each other than there are stars in the sky.”
Haseena could already see a difference in body language, though the body in front of her was still her son’s.
“I wanted to take you somewhere. Before college starts. Will you come with me?”
Piya looked confused, and shifted her gaze to the wall clock in Abhay’s room. “Where? I don’t want to be late or anything.”
“Just follow me. It’s not far from here.”
Piya saw Haseena jump off the window sill and onto the ground. She knew Abhay could follow her, he had seen him do it before. She closed her eyes and jumped behind Haseena, dreading crash landing onto hard ground, but it never seemed to come. Instead, she landed on the ground in a crouching position. She saw Haseena smile and then dash off behind the large trees. She followed right behind her, trusting that Abhay’s body was used to the speed, and was glad to soon reach Haseena. Her legs didn't feel tired, nor did her breath fall short. She felt as if she had tapped into an infinite pool of energy and was drawing from it constantly as they kept running.
“In these parts of the forest, even the sun won’t dare to shine,'' explained Haseena.
Piya only nodded. They had arrived deeper into the forests, where everything was damp and dark and only trace amounts of light managed to break through the leaves. But she could see the tall trees and every rock and pebble beneath the fallen leaves. She could hear the tiniest chirping of birds, the hooting of monkeys and distant growls of a leopard. She heard a twig break and turned her head in the direction of sound to find a deer grazing. There was a glint in her eyes before her guilt washed over.
“What are we doing here?,” she asked Haseena, to distract herself from the scent of a deer that now filled her nose.
“You are in a vampire's body, Piya. You need that,” Haseena answered, pointing to the deer Piya’s gaze kept fleeting to.
Piya froze. She felt an internal battle between her instincts and a sense of conscience. As if Haseena was able to understand her, she nudged Piya gently, but Piya protested.
“That burning feeling you have in your throat will only get more intense, and unless you want to endanger others at college, you want to go after that deer now,” warned Haseena.
The deer, that Piya had been tracking with her eyes, was now moving away. She stepped forward and felt Haseena give her a push. The deer must have sensed their presence cause it looked up to them and was now sprinting away as fast as it could. A kind of thrill washed over on Piya, so she followed it and soon caught it behind a bush. Her eyes widened in anticipation. She heard Haseena asking her to just think about it and she somehow felt she knew what to do. Soon her instincts took over her mind and she felt two canine teeth piercing the gums in her mouth and making their way out and before she knew it she could feel the deer skin on her lips. Piya felt it twitch and wriggle in her arms as her nails dug into its skin. It must have known what was coming because she could hear the last cries of deer as its heart beat loudly and arrhythmically. She brought it close to her mouth and punctured through its thick skin onto a beating vein and felt the warm blood gushing through her lips and down her throat as if quenching a thirst she had felt for a long time. She looked into the eyes of her prey which were now wide open in shock and fear and as she did so she could read through the crude feelings and thoughts of survival. Curiously, she felt more alive, certainly more alive than she had felt all morning. The blood tingled her otherwise numb skin. For the first time she felt the gusting wind through her hair. she could feel the wet unkempt grass on her legs. She could feel the warmth of the deer in her arms. And the most amazing part was its beating heart that struggled to stay alive. She could finish it right there and then or she could even stop. She could determine how long she would hold on to it. She could decide whether to play around with her prey or be quick. It was at her mercy. And she experienced an intense rush of satisfaction. It was euphoria she had never known before. All the guilt and the doubts disappeared from her mind and she felt herself flying over clouds.
She felt Haseena’s hand digging her shoulders and bringing her back to reality. She gradually opened her eyes and looked down in her hands to find the deer taking its last breath. The euphoria disappeared and the guilt returned to her mind as she saw its empty eyes. She stood up with a jerk, feeling disgusted with herself. The cold body of the deer which she had killed lay still beneath her legs on the ground. Her clothes were all drenched in blood and the patches of deer hair were sticking to it. Her hands closed on her mouth in shock as the tears trickled down her eyes and she slumped down on the ground beside a tree.
“Come on. Let's get you cleaned up,” Haseena said, helping her up. She gingerly got up and followed Haseena back to the mansion. Her body seemed rejuvenated but lazy, as if she had just had a hearty meal. She looked behind at her prey and closed her eyes in misery.
“If it makes you feel better, it was an old deer and wouldn't have survived long anyway.”
“How could you tell?”
“Subtle things. It was limping, the shine of the fur was lost and it was very slow.”
Was she supposed to take comfort in the fact that she had just ended the life of a deer which was already too old and weak to protect itself?
“By nightfall a lion or leopard might have finished it off anyway. You were at least quick.”
If Haseena thought these words provided her any comfort, she was sorely mistaken. If anything, she just felt more guilty.
“I.. it was..does Abhay always feel this guilt?,” Piya asked.
Haseena nodded. “This is a guilt we have to live with for the rest of our existence.”
They climbed back to his room and Haseena left her to clean herself up.
How can I love you Piya when the only thing I know is how to kill?
She didn't realize the gravity of Abhay’s words until today. For the first time, she realized for a fact how different she and Abhay were. She had read books and articles. She had heard her father speculate and theorize. And of course, she had heard many of Abhay’s own warnings. But reality was a different experience altogether. Killing was a sin and she had just committed that sin. What was worse was she had thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like playing with your food, finding enjoyment before and after. She had made a sport of it, first chasing it and then killing it. For those few moments, she had complete control over its life. She felt like a god. But then the brutality of it all washed over her when she saw the whites of its eyes. She felt so powerful and at the same time so weak. She had been no different than a forest animal who killed for survival and succumbed to most basic instincts. And if just for one time she felt such guilt, she couldn't imagine what it would do to a person who had to live it everyday. As she looked in the mirror, washing her face, she found Abhay’s frowning face staring at her. Suddenly Abhay’s testy and irritable mood made sense to Piya. It wasn’t easy to be happy after a moment like that.
Meanwhile, somewhere along the main road, Abhay grumbled his way to the Dobriyal mansion, where he was to stay until the two swapped bodies again. He debated turning back around to stay in a hotel or something, or even just hide in the forest until everything had returned to normal.
Seeing the fingers gripping the steering wheel, he tossed the last idea out the window.
I’ll end up under a tree if I go there. Suck it up, Abhay. It’s only one night.
He sulked and drove through the open gates, parking off to the side. Looking in the car window, he took note of the scowl that reflected back at him, the one Piya often gave him after an argument. This was not the face he saw when she was with her friends and family, and sometimes even him. For sure, she smiled much more than he did on a daily basis.
Act cheery, she said. Like that’s going to be easy…
He pushed the front door open, peeking around inside to see if Arnab or Misha were around. Out of everyone who lived in this house, he wished to avoid those two the most. The coast was clear, so he stuck one foot in. Then two. The door creaked behind him as he pulled it slowly to a close. He felt as if he were there to steal something.
“Piya! You’re back.”
From around the corner, Panchi greeted him with a smile. He jumped from her sudden arrival, and curtly nodded.
“Where were you? The servants said you went somewhere in a hurry this morning.”
“I–uh–”
“I think the unthinkable happened,” said Misha, with a teasing smile on her face. “Piya. Has. A. Boyfrie–”
Abhay ran up to her as fast as he humanly could and pressed his hand to her mouth. He did not need this sort of attention right now. Misha blinked twice, and he felt her smile grow under his hand.
“Shh! I just had some…errands outside. I do not have a boyfriend.”
“Whatever you say….,” she said with a smug grin. Panchi dragged her down the rest of the steps, just as Madhu called them for breakfast.
Here we go.
He took the smallest steps on his way to the dining room. The table was filled with smells, smells that were muted, just as the human sense itself was. But it smelled good. His stomach growled again. He found himself staring intently at it.
Misha waved her hand in front of his face, followed by a loud snap of her fingers. “Are you…okay? You look like you haven’t eaten in years.”
Abhay corrected himself and shook his head, wearing the fakest smile one could ever see. Misha kept staring at him.
“What?” He questioned, feeling cornered. His hands were tucked in his lap after sitting down.
Misha ripped her toast in half with her teeth. “Nothing, you’re just reminding me of someone.”
Madhu emerged from the kitchen with a plate full of parathas at that moment, giving Abhay a chance to breathe and put on a more believable smile.
It smelled amazing. His mouth began to water. The entire sequence of sensations was quite strange to him, having not felt them for two centuries. He couldn’t even tell what kind of paratha they were, or what any of the food before him tasted like. Some of it didn’t even exist when he was human.
But Piya said no.
The plate hovered just above his nose, and each paratha was followed by his eyes. Misha was right; he hadn’t eaten in years. Madhu, at last, reached his plate, but she stopped right after lifting one.
“Oh sorry Piya beta, I forgot you’re on a diet.”
He shook his head, grabbing her wrist before she set it back down. “Actually…I’ll have one today.”
Everyone stopped to look at her. Arnab choked on his coffee.
“What? I’m hungry.”
Misha shook her head in disbelief, and neglected her own breakfast just to stare at him. But he didn’t focus on that for too long. The food was getting cold.
This all feels strange, but….I think I missed it.
He broke off a piece, and cautiously put it in his mouth. After living off blood for the past two centuries, tasting human food again surely felt odd. Complex flavors and textures. But he couldn’t deny that it tasted as good as it smelled.
“Come on Piya! I know mumma’s parathas are good, but they’re not that good!”
Panchi quietly took out her handkerchief, and slid it across the table. Abhay didn’t notice the tear rolling down his cheek until the fabric touched the side of his arm. He wiped it quickly with the handkerchief and resumed eating. The parathas tasted much better piping hot.
Sometimes I wish I could go back.
He missed being able to eat. He missed being able to cry with tears that wouldn’t stain a handkerchief red. Even when he was human, he never sat down to eat with family. He used to eat alone most of the time, unless Sid found some time away from the king to join him. That time too disappeared, as they drifted apart.
You’re lucky.
His fingers clinked against the glass bottom of an empty plate. The entire thing was gone within ten minutes, and he didn’t even notice it. Then to everyone’s surprise, he asked for one more.
“Even birdie doesn’t eat that mu—“
Panchi elbowed Misha in the side as she made the statement, the former keeping a straight face and the latter trying to force the pain down with a tight smile. Abhay was licking his lips happily, watching the two sisters bicker over their breakfast. Arnab was buried in a newspaper, giving him the opportunity to slip away before Arnab asked him about himself.
“Done already, Piya? I made you one more.”
He was already partway up the stairs when Madhu called from below.
“Two was enough. Thanks aun—mumma!”
You almost slipped up, you fool.
Thankfully, no one took notice, excluding Misha, who had been suspicious since the beginning already. Abhay rushed upstairs before more questions were asked, passing by a mirror. He’d never seen a face so happy.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Piya didn’t realize how fast the hunting trip had gone, because she found some time to sit around before college. Though merely sitting was getting uncomfortable; she could feel the drying blood of the deer in her hair.
A shower would be nice.
She was halfway into the bathroom with two buttons undone, when suddenly she realized what she was about to do and couldn’t help but feel a mix of shame and awkwardness.
After all, she would basically be looking at Abhay’s naked body.
I can’t shower like this.
The phone in her pocket buzzed. Abhay was calling. He didn’t even say hello.
“How much do you hate greasy hair?”
“Why? What did you do?!”
Piya was very fond of her curls, and took care of them very well.
“Nothing….yet. Listen, there’s an issue.” He paused. “I…uh…need to shower, but—-“
“But you don’t want to see me naked. I get it. I’m having the same issue.”
“….yeah.”
Piya sighed, and rubbed her temple.
We’re both adults, and we’re together. Why are we acting so prudish?
There was an awkward silence on both ends of the call. Abhay cleared his throat, and so nonchalantly said, “I suppose…this would happen someday anyways…”
His cheeks felt really hot when saying that, and he shook his head. Piya didn’t say anything, as her jaw hung open in shock. He was flirting, even at a crucial moment like this.
“This is not how I wanted it to go!” She stamped her feet and whined. “It’s the opposite of romantic.”
“Here’s an idea. Just don’t look down.”
Easier said than done.
Only she knew how much she fantasized about him when her mind was free. This was not how she wanted to admire his body.
“Don’t look down, fine, whatever. All I want is for you to wash my hair properly. Shampoo, conditioner, it’s all in there for you.”
“I don’t even know how to use conditioner.”
He never needed such a thing. His hair was always soft and silky. Piya groaned on the other end.
So that’s what I sound like when I’m annoyed, Abhay thought.
“Another idea, stay on the line. I’ll walk you through it.”
“Is it really that important? It’s just one day.”
“Yes! How could you ask such a thing? My hair is very high maintenance.”
Abhay rolled his eyes, and picked up the bottle, opening the cap. It did smell nice. He set the phone down, volume up to the highest setting. He turned the water on, and began the task of removing his clothes. Piya was doing the same, and boy was it hard to not look.
Abhay struggled to unhook the bra, and wondered how girls could wear such things. He threw it to the side in exasperation and stepped slowly into the shower, doing anything else but looking down.
“Can you hear me?!” Piya said, with no answer.
This was a dumb idea. He has human ears right now, idiot!
Abhay gave up, and settled on carefully reading the instructions on the bottles. He was so focused on washing his hair that he didn’t focus on the call at all. Piya had given up as well, and both finished their showers successfully.
She picked up the phone after wrapping the towel around her waist. One accidental glimpse in the mirror was enough to send her running outside, to a wardrobe that only knew the color black.
“Abhay, where is that red shirt I gifted you?”
Abhay froze on the other end, and nearly shouted, “You are not wearing that to college!”
“Why not? It was a gift.” She frowned, and began to search for it. “Which I never got,” she mumbled softly, but loudly enough for Abhay to hear.
“Of course my life, a free bodyguard, and a whole year under ice was not enough for you. You want a diamond studded tiara as well?”
“Forget I asked…,” she muttered, snatching a black shirt off the hanger and slipping it on.
Meanwhile, Abhay had opened her wardrobe and was aghast, “Why is there a rainbow inside your closet?”
“Be quick. We’re getting late,” said Piya.
“I’m doing the best I can.” He was fumbling with a particularly tricky dress and asked with exasperation, “How do you get in this thing? Where is the neck and where are the arm holes?”
Piya heard a ripping noise.
“What did you tear?”
“Something violet.”
“What? That was an original Versace piece, you idiot. Just find a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, will you?”
He rummaged through the wardrobe one more time to find other, simpler clothes. “This is taking too long. Humans are incredibly slow.”
“Humbled, aren’t you? I’ll see you at college. Bye.”
She hung up and finished throwing on the rest of her clothes and rushed out of the house with his car keys in her hand. She hoped he didn’t destroy too much of her wardrobe after hanging up.
Don’t forget Piya. You are now Abhay Raichand, smartest guy in class, the object of the female population’s affections, and a natural brooder. Put your frowny face on.
She set off, leaving Abhay to struggle without help on the other end. He soon figured out her clothes himself, minus a few casualties, and rushed out the door. Misha was incessantly pressing the horn.
“Princess Piya is finally here. May I take your bag, your highness?”
“Don’t you think it’s too early for jokes? Let’s go, we’re getting late.”
Misha shook her head and frowned and then threw some water from their puja ghar on abhay.
“What did you do that for?,” Abhay asked, wiping water from his face.
“I saw this in movies. They use that holy water on possessed people.”
“What?”
“You are behaving a lot like that sadu Abhay. Did he possess you or something?”
Abhay felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead. He cleared his throat and put on another fake, but smug smile. He even fluttered his eyelashes, which weirded Misha out even more. It seemed to have done its trick of diverting her attention from his behavior.
“Princess Piya would like to go to college please.”
Misha gave her a strange stare and grumbled, shifting the gear and stepping on the gas.
“Yes, your highness.”, she said with dramatic bow.
Edited by Abhaythevampire - 2 years ago
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