“What are you doing here? Did you come all the way to America by yourself? Are you okay?” Priya bombarded Payal with questions. 

            “I am by myself.  I’m touring colleges. And I’m great!  Didi, calm down.” Payal replied. 

            “How did you travel all by yourself?” Priya asked.

            “It wasn’t that difficult.  I had a connection flight in Dubai.  And when I landed here, I just took a taxi.  The taxi driver knew the address. Good thing too because I didn’t think to ask you.  Who knew Jija-ji was so famous?” Payal explained. 

            “Payal, you didn’t call or inform me.” Priya said, still distraught. 

            “It’s called a surprise, Didi.” Payal giggled. 

            “College in New York?  What’s wrong with Mumbai?” Priya said, realizing the purpose of Payal’s visit. 

            “Didi, you’re here. Jija-ji is here.  New York has amazing universities.  Why not?” replied Payal.   

            Priya didn’t argue with her logic.  She had a valid point.  She opened the door wider, allowing Payal to enter. 

            “Didi! This house is amazing! So beautiful!” Payal exclaimed as she took in the sight before her. 

            “Hi! I’m Neha.” Neha had made her way to the front door and now stood before Payal with her hand extended. 

            “Hi! I’m Payal.” Payal took Neha’s hand and shook it. 

            “Priya, you didn’t tell me you had a sister.” Neha said.  “It’s nice to meet you!”

            “Thanks! It’s nice to meet you too.” Payal replied. 

            “Is this your first time in New York?” asked Neha. 

            “My first time in America.” Payal admitted. 

            “No! Priya! You have to take her to Time Square. I know this new restaurant in SoHo.  We can go there after I take you gals to Time Square.  Tonight we’re hitting the city. Payal, you’re going to love it here.” Neha said excitedly. 

            “Really? Didi, can we please? I really want to see the city.” Payal begged. 

            “Don’t you want to rest first?” asked Priya, concerned. 

            “No! I’ll be fine. I’ll just change, and we’ll leave. Aaah! I’m so excited!” exclaimed Payal.

            “Um…okay. Great.” Priya replied. 

            When the three returned home from a night out in the city, it was well past midnight. 

            “Bye Neha! See you soon.” Payal called as she exited the taxi cab. 

            “Bye Payal!” Neha replied. 

            “Thank you for tonight.  Payal seemed like she had so much fun.” Priya said

            “No problem.  She’s a sweet girl. Priya, I hope whatever is wrong between you and Aman turns out okay. See you later, okay?” Neha said. 

            “Bye Neha.” Priya replied.  She closed the door and watched as the taxi pulled away. 

            The two sisters entered the mansion quietly.  Priya hadn’t called to tell Aman that she was going to be home late.  She also hadn’t thought to mention that Payal had stopped by for a visit. 

            “Priya?” Aman’s voice resonated from the kitchen.

            “Come on, Payal.” Priya said, leading her to the kitchen. 

            “Where have you been?” Aman asked as Priya round the corner.

            “I…Neha came over and..” Priya started.

            “Payal?” Aman said as his eyes landed on Payal.  “What are you doing here?” He asked.

            “Uh…surprise!” Payal said hesitantly.

            Aman was confused.  He looked at Priya, waiting for an explanation. 

            “Well Payal came up to New York to tour colleges. And Neha was already here, so she suggested that we take Payal out to see the city.  I’m sorry I didn’t call to tell you.” Priya explained quickly.

            “It’s fine Priya.  So, you had no idea Payal was coming?” Aman asked.

            “None.” Priya answered.

            “Sorry Jija-ji. I thought it would be a nice surprise. I…didn’t think it through.” Payal confessed. 

            “No Payal. It’s great to have you.  Priya, why don’t you…give Payal the grand tour.” Aman suggested.  He was trying to hide is puzzlement and especially his disdain towards the situation at hand.

            “Sure.” Priya said before leading Payal out of the kitchen. 

            “You don’t think he’s mad, do you?” asked Payal once they were out of earshot. 

            “No, not at all,” Lied Priya.  She herself didn’t know.  “Come on, I’ll show you the study and the living room, since you’ve already seen the kitchen. Then we’ll go upstairs.” Priya said, changing the topic. 

            “This is Aman’s room.” Priya pointed to the door of the master bedroom as she ended the tour of the tour of the house. “Your room will be near mine at the other end of the hall.” She said. 

            “Yours? Isn’t this your room too?” asked Payal, perplexed.

            “Actually…” Priya started.

            “It is.” Aman said, emerging from the stairs.  He had heard everything.  “Priya meant to say that your room will be near her favorite room.  She spends so much time in there that it seems like she has her own bedroom.” Aman fibbed. 

            “But…” Priya said.

            “Payal, why don’t you take a look at the master. I’m sure you’ll be impressed.” Aman interrupted Priya. 

            After Payal entered the master bedroom, Aman turned to Priya. 

            “Does she know about the business deal?” Aman asked. 

            Realization dawned on Priya.  Payal didn’t know.  She had no intention of telling her.  Now she realized what Aman was doing. 

            “No. I don’t want her to know.” Priya answered. 

            “Then she won’t know.  For all she knows, we’re happily married.  We weren’t coerced into this in any way. And this is our bedroom, yours and mine.  It’s as simple as that.” Aman explained. 

            “This is the biggest bedroom I’ve ever seen!” Payal exclaimed as Aman and Priya entered. 

            “I thought the same thing.” Priya said. 

            Aman unexpectedly placed an arm around Priya, pulling her close. Priya stiffened in surprise.  She questioningly looked over at Aman, who just gave her an apologetic look. 

            “Didi, it doesn’t even look like you live here.  No pictures, no decorations.  There’s not even a little temple.” Payal observed. 

            “Perceptive, isn’t she?” Aman whispered, slightly irritated.  Priya bit back a smile.

            “Um…it didn’t seem to go with the décor of the room. Plus I set up a little temple in another room.” Priya said referring to the temple setup in her actual bedroom.  “Payal, I’ll show you your room.  You must be tired.” Priya continued as she freed herself from Aman and led Payal out into the hallway. 

            “Goodnight Didi.” Payal said once Priya showed her her room.

            “Goodnight Payal.” Priya replied as she closed the door. 

            Priya went back to Aman’s room. They needed a game plan to make sure Payal doesn’t find out anything she isn’t supposed to know.  Priya was angry that Payal hadn’t told her she was coming.  She was sure Aman was angry as well, but he was doing a great job at hiding it.  When she entered Aman’s room, he was sitting on his bed.  He stood up as soon as he saw her. 

            “Priya, we have to talk about this.” Aman said. 

            “I know. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know she was coming.” Priya replied. 

            Aman walked over and closed the door before he spoke again. 

            “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter. She’s here now.” Aman replied. 

            “Aman, I put her in the room right beside mine.” Priya said, realizing that may not have been the smartest thing to do. 

            “Dammit.” Aman cursed under his breath. 

            “But it’s okay. I’ll just shift to a bedroom on this side of the house.  She’ll never notice.” Priya suggested.             

            “She will notice, Priya.  Just stay here.” Aman replied. 

            “H-here. With you?” Priya said.  The idea of staying in the same room with Aman did not sit well with her, especially after today’s conversation. 

            “Yeah. Why not?” Aman said casually. 

            “There’s only one bed.” Priya blurted the first concern that came to mind. 

            “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” Aman immediately replied. 

            Priya’s eyes shifted towards the other side of the room, where the sitting area was.  The sofa looked like it was there more for style than for comfort. 

            “Payal will be here for a few weeks though.  I mean, your back will hurt after a while.  It’d just be better if I moved to another room.” Priya said. 

            “Priya, stop over thinking this.  Why even take the chance? If you stay here, Payal won’t suspect a thing.  I’ll be fine on the sofa.” Aman persisted.

            “I’ll take the sofa.” Priya relented.

            “No, Priya. Either I take the sofa or we share the bed. You are not sleeping there.” Aman declared. 

            “Tell me if your back hurts.” Priya said.  She felt guilty for imposing on Aman in his own bedroom, but she thought keeping the truth from Payal was more important. 

            “I will.” Aman said with a smile. 

            He walked over to the bed and picked up a pillow before heading over to his closet to fetch a spare blanket. Priya watched as Aman set up his makeshift bed on the couch.  Another feeling of guilt washed over her. 

            “I’m going to change.” Aman said as he retreated into the bathroom. 

            Priya took this opportunity to hurry over to her bedroom and grab some clothing.  She took out a small suitcase and quickly stuffed it with as many saris as she could fit.   She also packed some valuables and essentials.  Priya paused as her hand rested on the doorknob.  She turned around and went to her temple.  She picked up the statues of a few Hindu gods before making her way back to the door.  She cracked open the door and stuck her head out.  She looked left, then right, and then left again as if she were checking for traffic in the empty hallways, but in reality she was making sure Payal wasn’t lurking about.  Once she was sure the coast was clear, she rushed down the hallway back to Aman’s room, suitcase and statues in hand. 

            Priya opened the door and quickly shut it behind her.  She felt silly when she realized how fast her heart was beating.  She was acting as if Payal was the police instead of her sister. 

            “Why are you so out of breath?” Aman asked. 

            “I…” Priya was at a loss for words as she looked up and came face to face with Aman.  Aman, who was shirtless.

            She quickly turned around.  She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks as embarrassment settled in. 

            “What’s wrong?” Aman asked, stepping closer. 

            Priya wouldn’t turn around to face Aman.  Apart from the actors in films and the beggars on the streets, she had never seen a shirtless man before.  She definitely had never been stuck alone in a room with a shirtless man.   

            “You aren’t wearing a shirt.” Priya said quietly, her back still turned. 

            “Oh. I usually sleep without a shirt, but if it makes you uncomfortable…” Aman trailed off as he searched for a t-shirt. 

            Priya felt another rush of guilt. 

            “No! It’s okay.  Sleep however you like.” Priya didn’t want to inconvenience him anymore than she already had. 

            “It’s fine, Priya.  You can turn around now.” Aman, now fully dressed, said with a slight chuckle. 

            “Aman, I’m sorry.  You’re having to give up so much all because of me.  Sleeping on the sofa, wearing a shirt, sharing your room. I’m really sorry.” Priya apologized. 

            “It’s okay, Priya.  Marriage is all about sacrifice, right?” Aman replied with a wink. 

            Truth be told, Aman did feel imposed upon.  Payal showed up with no notice whatsoever, which didn’t bother him at all. He was rather fond of his sister-in-law.  The fact that he was being forced give up the comforts of his own bedroom just so she wouldn’t find out about his and Priya’s true relationship, however, irritated the hell out of him.  He was more than willing to share his room with Priya, but he was hoping she’d agree to share his bed rather than preferring him to sleep on the sofa.  He couldn’t bring himself to voice any of his complaints though because he didn’t want to hurt Priya’s feelings. 

            “We should go to sleep. It’s really late.” Priya observed.     

            “Goodnight, Priya.” Aman said, taking a seat on the sofa after turning the lights out. 

            “Goodnight.” Priya replied, as she settled herself onto Aman’s bed. 

Bad ending, I know.  Aman is sweet, don’t you think? I don’t know how long I want to keep Payal around.   She might get in the way of Aman and Priya’s romance, but then again, she might be the catalyst that their romance needed.  Who know? ;P 

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Btw did anyone catch the Zimmerman verdict? Not guilty my foot! Ugh! I'm outraged!

Anyways, vote and comment! Next chapter will be up very soon!