《Short Recap》

"Miss Joshi?" Mr. Deb called out, "Do consider coming to the cocktail party on the twenty fifth of this month. I'll have the details mailed to you. We have some other stuff to discuss."

I nodded in response over my shoulder, "Thank you Sir."

The moment I stepped out, I hugged the oblivious personal assistant who was waiting outside anxiously. She gasped at my sudden embrace, which was more along the lines of a friendly way of attempting to strangle the poor soul.

"I think I'm going to get a new job very soon!" I squealed, before rushing to collect my things from my workplace.

I had to call my parents and share the news. And Vinay, and Roshni and Neel of course.

Things were finally looking up and no bozonic numbskull was going to pull me down!

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"Vinay! The bananas are turning black...I told you to make some smoothie or something before they became over ripe!" I yelled, looking at the three distasteful bananas sitting calmly on the kitchen top.

"You're the one who bought an entire dozen, Akira. And you know that's the one fruit I hate." He yelled back from his room, "I don't get your obsession with bananas. You're a worse than those stupid minions!"

"You did not just go there, you dunderhead!" I marched into his room, "Not a single word against my love for bananas. They are most certainly God's greatest gift to us. It's packed with just the right amount of sugar and vitamins along with potassium. I love bananas. Period."

Okay, the last part sounded a bit off. Kind of like a sex crazed bimbo, who I most certainly was not, talking in code.

"Sure," Vinay guffawed, a sparkle dancing in his dark eyes, "Anything else I must know about bananas?"

"Well, they're the most feminist fruits you'll ever find," I replied cocking my head slightly, "They are parthenocarpic which means they do not need pollen to fertilize their ovules. In short, there's no place for men in banana-land."

"Yet we have our own hanging between our legs." He chuckled.

I cringed in disgust, "Eww, Vinay! That's just low."

"Aren't you on kitchen duty today?" he asked, opening his cupboard and took out a shirt.

He pulled off the one he was wearing, leaving me to shamelessly gawk at his sculpted torso. No matter how many time I'd seen him shirtless now, I still ended up drooling like a freaking pug.

"Umm...yes." I replied quickly, lifting my gaze to meet his amused one, "Give me fifteen minutes. I'll whip something up."

I headed to the kitchen and set a saucepan onto the stove, before turning it on.

"Do you have any plans today?" Vinay asked, entering the kitchen.
"Not really, I need to call my parents and tell them about TYCHE," I shrugged, as I poured some oil into the heated saucepan, "What about you?"

"My sister's been constantly asking me to come for her school concert. Apparently she's the lead dancer in the fairy dance. So I'm going to go for that. I was hoping you'd accompany me to that shit show, but I guess I'm going alone now." He replied.

"Your sister? As in Millie?" I asked hesitantly.

His head whipped in my direction, narrowing his eyes suspiciously as he inquired, "How do you know her? Did you go through my phone?"

"Of course not!" I feigned alarm, "What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Fucking histrionics!" Vinay muttered under his breath, as he rolled his eyes.

I set his plate on the table in front of him, before sitting across him with mine.

"Don't worry, I don't possess any obsessive stalker-ish tendencies that you accused me of having on my first day here. I ran into her and Harsh at the bookstore the day Mrs. Pinto got hit." I said.

"Oh..." Vinay answered in a resigned tone at the mention of Harsh.
I finished eating quickly and took the bananas out of the fridge. I stuffed one into my mouth and turned to Vinay.

"Are you sure you won't have even one? There are just two left." I asked holding them up by their stalk.

"No." he replied.

So I threw them in the dustbin and God knows how sad I felt to be wasting food like a privileged bitch.

RIP bananas...

I headed to my room to take a bath. Video calling Ma meant I had to look neat and impeccably clean because she despised scruffiness.

After a quick wash, I changed into a comfortable pair of palazzo pants and a printed cami before tying my hair into a high ponytail. I paired my outfit with a pair of jhumkis.

I took my laptop to the living room because it had the best lighting in the entire flat and plopped down on the sofa, adjusting the screen.
With a small puff, I started the call.

"Hi beta!" my mother waved excitedly, tilting the screen so that I had a clear view of her sitting in her balcony filled with numerous potted plants, "Can you see me, Akira?"

"Yes, Ma," I beamed, chuckling at her enthusiasm, " Where's Dad?"

"He's inspecting the electrical meter. Apparently, something's wrong and that's why our bill suddenly increases last month. I told him it was because of the AC, but he just won't listen to me. Who even listens to me these days?" she complained, making me shake my head.

"That's not true Ma, and you know that!" I said, coaxing her sweetly, "You're our support system and we love you for always being there for us."

Ma blew me a kiss, satisfied with my coddling. Both Dad and I knew how much she liked to be pampered and being the centre of attention and we always made sure she felt loved and was happy.

"Akira, I'm heading out," Vinay called out loudly, in a gruff voice before closing the door on his way out, "See you in the evening."

"Is that a boy's voice, Akira dear?" my mother asked suspiciously, leaning closer as if doing so would give a panoramic view of the house.

I bit my lip nervously, my words getting caught in my throat as I swallowed slowly. This was not how I wanted my parents to find out that I was staying with a boy.

"Uh...yeah Ma. He's my roommate." I said quietly, cautiously studying her expression.

My mother broke out into a giant fit of laughter. "When did you develop such a sense of humor, Akira? Surely, he's your study partner or a friend of your roommate's, right. You can't fool your mother!"
Wait, what? She didn't believe me?!

"No Ma, I'm serious. My roommate is not a girl, it is a boy." I said slowly.

A pregnant pause ensued.

"Say something, Ma."

Her quietude was scaring me, putting me on edge as I waited anxiously for her response.

"Are you saying that, for the last two and a half months you have been living under the same roof with a boy?" she asked, her voice cracking because of pent up emotion, "And not once did you feel the need to tell your parents this?"

"Ma, I...." I started defensively.

"Shut up!" her voice pierced through the air, hitting me like a slap on my face, "Were you ever even going to tell us?"

"Yes." I replied quietly, a ball beginning to form inside my throat.

I hated it when my parents shouted at me.

"When?" she questioned, her lips trembling with rage, "After he had had his way with you and you had no one to turn to? Answer me, Akira!"

"Vinay's nothing like that," I sucked my lips into my mouth, "We're just friends, Ma."

"I don't know whether I can trust your words anymore. Lying by omission is as terrible as lying," she replied coldly, "Every single day, I ask about your roommate and every single time you answer vaguely. But I didn't think much of it, I trusted you."

"I'm sorry Ma," I sobbed, "I only found out after you and Dad had left Bangalore and I didn't think I had any choice."

"That's for us to decide. If you had considered informing us, we could have done something to help."

"But..."

"You said you had news to share. Was it this?" Ma cut me off midsentence.

Gosh! I completely forgot about TYCHE. But given the current turn of affairs, it seemed kind of insignificant to mention.

"Uh, yes." I replied halfheartedly, " I think I'm going to get a permanent job at TYCHE."

"Good for you," my mother rolled her eyes, "You'll start earning now. Go throw yourself on whoever you want. It's your life after all."

A tear escaped my eyes as I heard Ma faintly say to herself that I would bring nothing but shame to our family in the community.

I knew my mother did not mean a single thing that came out of her mouth, but her words sliced through my heart nevertheless.

My father came into view.

"Hello, Akira dear!" he greeted zealously before taking in our sullen expressions, "What happened to you two?"

"Ask that daughter of yours." Ma answered, looking away from him.
My father turned his warm brown gaze to meet mine expectantly.

"Daddy, my roommate is a boy." I blurted mindlessly.

After all there was no point in stalling. It would be easier to battle all the disappointment at once rather than constant waves one after the other.

I looked down at my fingers unsurely. I had unconsciously twisted them weirdly, wringing them.

"Are you pregnant?" he asked softly.

My eyes shot up on hearing his words, dumbfounded that my own father could think that of me.

"No, of course I'm not." I shook my head vigorously.

"Then what is the problem?" he asked.

"What are you even talking Ratan?!" my mother roared incredulously.

"Calm down Shashi, I'm talking to Akira." Dad held up his hand.

"My husband is one fool, and now my daughter is turning into one too." she huffed, "He Bhagwan! What sins have I committed that I need to see these days?!"

"Shashi, I'd like to have a word with Akira," Dad said authoritatively, "Alone."

With a final huff, my mother got up without a single glance my way and left, muttering to herself as she went.

"Akira, look at me." my father said gently, urging me to look at him in the eye.

"Daddy, I..." I started, my voice cracking.

"I know you did not do anything wrong," he consoled me, "I know for a fact that you are old enough to make your own decisions and you would never do anything to degrade our family. You are my little girl after all."

"But Ma thinks otherwise," I hiccuped, "But believe me Vinay and I are friends, that's all."

"I'll handle your mother, don't worry. And whatever your relationship is with that boy is for you to decide. We shall not interfere."

I nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry Dad." I croaked out, almost inaudibly.

"There's no need to be, dear," he replied, "Your mother's just upset that you never mentioned this to her. She'll get around. What's more important is that you trust your own instinct and always do whatever you deem right. The consequences are never up to you, only your choices are."

"I don't understand."

"You will, when the time is right." He chuckled, his eyes twinkling.

"Okay."

"Now go wash your face and forget about what happened. And congratulations on getting your first real job," Dad smiled, "Go celebrate your success instead of wallowing now."

"I'll try." I offered him a weak smile.

"That's my girl! I should get going now. Bye."

"Bye."

I shut the laptop screen, and let the tears flow without any apprehension for some time before wiping them away.

I had to go shopping with Roshni for an outfit to wear to the TYCHE anniversary party and right now shopping sounded like great constructive therapy.

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I'm crying...

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