My Indian Wedding

Chapter 18: Romeo and Juliet?

“Naina.” I said softly.

“So are you doing it with my cousin?” I chocked on air itself, but that’s when all the question started arising. Everyone started questioning me like crazy.

“Are you, using protection?”

“You guys are dating?”

“Does that mean I am going to be a great-aunt?”

“Can I be the god father?”

“Wait, you’re pregnant?”

“Are you having twins?”

“Is it a boy or girl?” The question kept on coming back and forth and I couldn’t tell who was asking them with everyone screaming at once.

It wasn’t until Ethan slammed his fist down on the table. He was either blushing or red with anger. “For the love of all that is holy me and Naina aren’t dating we are just FRIENDS!” He screamed. The words friend echoed the silent room. I didn’t know why, but my chest hurt from the idea of being ‘friends’ with Ethan. Why did I care? We were friends. I need more sleep. I am going insane, but instead I came up with the conclusion of why I felt this way.

Maybe the hangover still didn’t wear off.

***

I open the back door to the house and saw Ethan sitting on a bench. I walked towards him and sat right next to him barley leaving any space in between us.

“Hey.” I whispered.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have drag you to meet my crazy family.” I laughed forcefully.

“Its no big deal aren’t all families a bit crazy.” I half smiled.

Ethan chuckled. “I guess.”

“They are nice except your grandmother doesn’t seem to like me that much.” Ethan sighed at my response.

“She has been like that ever since my mom.” He said sadly.

“Your mom?”  I questioned.

“ My mom passed away three years ago, and well my dad didn’t take it too lightly. He just…” His voice cracked and I could tell from his eyes that he was questioning whether or not if he should tell me the whole truth. “Lets just say he did somethings that my grandmother isn’t proud of.” I could see the crystal clear water that was threatening to erupt from his forest green eyes. “and at the end of the day lets just say he left his kids to fend for themselves.”

I wasn’t able to form words. It’s like that part of my brain just stopped working. How could I be so blind? Here is this amazing guy trying to 'fix' me, and here I am being selfish and not even sparing a glance to see that he is broken completely. His smile has never reached his eyes and now thinking of it his eyes have always contained this sorrow in them. I am such an idiot.

I didn’t speak because what could I say? All I wanted to do is ask more questions, but prying on his personal life would be useless, so instead I grabbed his hands and gave it a squeeze. What can I say actions speak louder than words.

Ethan laughed without any humor. “I am a wuss aren’t I?” He said while trying to wiped the waterfalls that escaped his eyes.

“No you are guy that has gone through a lot of shit. Everyone deserves to cry Ethan. You aren’t a wuss. You are a guy that is just hurt and there is nothing wrong with that.” I said genially.

We didn’t say anything instead we just enjoyed the silence that eloped us. I was the first to speak. “Thank you for trusting me Ethan.”  I said honestly. Ethan didn’t reply. He just decided to change the subject.

“Never been kissed.” He said while trying to lighten his mood up by teasing me. I let out a groan.

“Yes I have never been kissed. Happy!” I said while throwing my hands up in the air. I expect him to tease me more, but he took me by surprise.

“Want to change that.” He said huskily.

My breath was stuck in my throat. I could feel my heart beginning to slowly rip through my chest, and worse of all my stomach started doing summersault, back flips, and all sorts of other tricks.

Was it just me or were his eyes coming closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer……

“Ethan time to go!” Someone yelled from behind. We both jumped off the bench. I thought it would be awkward, but instead Ethan offered me a hand.

“Now lets go get your Romeo, Juliet.”

***

The first thing I saw when I walked back to the hotel was Raj sitting in front of my door. He just looked depress. God I feel ten times worse. The poor guy looked like a lost puppy.

“Raj?” I said softly.

His head snapped up and his face went from disappointment, to relief, to happiness, and then to panic. “Holy crap Naina where have you been! I have been freaking out like crazy! I am so stupid. I put you in the most awkward situation. I am your best friend of course you never saw me in a romantic way. Lets pretend none of this happened.”

“I don’t want to pretend that none of this never happened.”

“What?” Raj asked confused.

I took a deep breath before I let the words escape from my mouth. “I like you Raj and I would love to go out with you.” No one said anything, and to be honest it freaked me out that Raj didn’t say anything. Maybe he decided that I wasn’t worth his time. Maybe he stopped liking me, but then all my doubts disappeared when I saw the smile that erupted on his face. He didn’t say anything but instead pulled me in to a embrace.

Hugging Raj felt nice….it felt comfortable, but it didn’t feel special. My stomach didn’t do summersaults and all kind of other tricks like I thought it would.

My head rested on his shoulder and when I looked passed him I saw a familiar boy standing behind us and was about to open his hotel door, but instead stood there staring at us.

He smiled at us, but just like every other time it didn’t reach his eyes. Instead his eyes contained the same sadness it did today, and this time I wasn’t blind not to see it.

Please leave your comments and let me know what you guys thought about this chapter. Thoughts  on Ethan? What you think should happen next? Also I am thinking the next chapter should just be over Naina and Raj’s date? Thoughts?