Two
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By the time Elliot returned home at dusk, Darrin had left. When the front door opened and Elliot stepped inside, Raven felt an invisible force grab her by the neck, and when she heard his footsteps coming in through the door, she's quite sure she's dead already.
She jumped up from the top of the stairs where she'd been sitting the entire time and ran into her room. Quiet as a mouse, she closed the door behind her and positioned herself on the chair in front of her study table.
"Raves!" She heard her brother call for her from the living room, downstairs.
"Oh, God. No!" She whimpered as she leaned forward on the desk and buried her face in her arms.
Since her mom and second elder sister, Sarah, returned home from the market, she'd been trying to get her mom to let her sleep over at Darrin's house just for this one night. But all the persuasion went in vain since she had to wake up early for school tomorrow. It just wasn't possible, despite the countless puppy faces she had pulled up.
Raven dreaded the thought of having to face the outcome on her own without Darrin by her side. Separated, they were like half a soul and together, they made a whole. The thought of having to face her beloved brother's wrath without the empowering presence of her best friend frightened her to the bones. Elliot rarely got mad at her, which was why she found it the most frightening.
"Raves," Elliot called, knocking on her door.
Ishooooorrrrr!!!!
She gulped and timidly answered without even looking back (she wouldn't dare meet his eyes), "Yes?"
The door cracked open and Elliot peeked in. Raven was sure the world's longest lecture and chastising from her brother on how to act her age and not go about crushing on his friends was on the way.
This is it. I die tonight. I'll miss you, Darcy.
She turned and crossed her fingers behind her back as she met her brother's eyes.
"Aaron said he'd forgotten the test portion for Math. Here." He pulled out his phone and held it out to her. "Bring it back to me once you're done."
Raven froze in her chair and goggled at him with her light brown eyes as though life had taken a pause on her.
Just that?! Doesn't he know?
She nodded absentmindedly in response.
He seriously isn't scolding me?!
"Are you coming to get it or what?" Elliot asked, still holding out the phone to her.
Raven jumped up from her chair and ran across the room to get the device.
Too bad she wasn't allowed a phone. Raven was now in eighth grade and most of her friends, even Darcy, now had a phone. Even Aaron. But her parents, including her brother, wouldn't let her have one. They said it would get her distracted from school and the lectures always had to go as far as how a good person can become naughty through the usage of the very evil device called phone. Naughty as in, you know, late-night chats and getting involved with boys and all the dating stuff.
Raven figured it best to abort the thought of ever getting a phone before her matriculation exam because she knew that would never happen. God forbid. Her parents had proclaimed a decree that a phone would happen if only she get an A+ on her matriculation exam.
So she decided - 'to hell with a phone. Saves the trouble of listening to endless lectures'.
Besides, if she really, honestly, sincerely, needed to use it for the purest of intentions, Elliot never hesitated. And to top it all, she didn't need a boy anyway.
Why would I even need a boy?
Her heart was set on a man; a man she'd known all her life, a man she adored ever since she could remember, a man she secretly hoped would wait for her grow up.
So that was basically her life. Going to school, becoming teachers' tamest pet, getting good grades and . . . Yeah, coming back home from school for dinner and homework.
Pretty interesting.
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Even during dinner, Elliot sat right across from her on the table, but not once did he breathe a word concerning Nicholas or the letter. And Raven profusely thanked God for that in her mind because if he brought it up on the dinner table alongside her mom and dad, and Sarah, that would mean triple-trouble.
Raven couldn't help but feel beyond relieved that her eldest sister, Darshang, had gotten married last autumn to a guy from another village. God forbid. Her words were literally double-edged swords with the ability to practically kill people. Raven knew she wouldn't be able to bear it this time if Darshang berates her. But fortunately, they talked about Elliot and his career instead.
Too bad for him.
"So have you decided what you would do after your masters?" Sarah asked Elliot.
She taught in Manipur University as a Zoology professor, occasionally visiting home in the village during the weekend.
"Nope," Elliot answered.
Raven let her discreet eyes peeked over at her dad. He was now intently staring at Elliot but soon dropped his gaze and continued eating his meal. Her father, Jonathan Saka, who worked at an SBI Bank was a strict one, someone who would not tolerate slacking or anything irresponsible.
"You should start planning, you know. Time won't wait for anyone and before you know it, you will be too late," Sarah said.
"I know," Elliot answered without meeting her eyes. "I just don't wanna start planning my life over some things I don't even enjoy doing."
"Life is not always about enjoyment, son," Jonathan added.
Raven's gaze shifted from one person to the next as she worriedly drank from her glass. She didn't want them quarreling over Elliot's future anymore. She'd had enough of it.
"I know. What choice do I have anyway? My life is in your hands. You can stir it however you want whether I like it or not."
"We know what is best for you."
"I only mean I live one life and I intend to spend it in a nice way," Elliot answered, reaching out for the sliced cucumbers which were on a plate in the middle of the table.
"That's pretty easy. Study well and get a decent job."
"It's not always about getting a decent job." Elliot finally looked up to him, his eyes hard.
Elliot and their father never really looked at each other in the eyes whenever they talked. Probably the reason they could never connect on an emotional level. So if they did meet eyes, it only meant bad news.
"What do you want?" Jonathan questioned stonily, "Music? For God's sake, open your eyes. How the hell in India would you get a life in music?! And especially coming from a village! You'll end up nowhere!"
"Jon," his wife, Tracy, reminded him to stay calm.
With his high blood pressure and everything, his temper could rise any moment and cause trouble to his health. He often lost his cool towards his older children. Raven was the only exception. She was his darling child, and he could never get mad at her. No matter how frustrated she would get him, just one look at her would get him laughing. That was just some effect her youngest daughter had on him.
"It's the only thing I'm good at," Elliot countered calmly.
'Might I add football?' Raven thought.
But Elliot was right. He wasn't the smartest kid in school. In fact, he was one of those who got C in every exam and every class test. He just couldn't do it even if he tried.
"Well then pull your act together and try to be good in something else too. You're are the heir of this family. Don't embarrass the family by going after music."
"You think I enjoy being a dumb fuck?!" Elliot snapped. "I try too. I just can't."
"That's not true. You already have a degree in Economics now."
"I cheated in all of my exams," Elliot returned stubbornly and a giggle slipped from Raven's mouth.
It was hilarious. More so at the fact that Elliot was probably being honest. His bluntness sometimes amused her to no end. Elliot glanced at her and she immediately pursed her lips to stifle the god-forbidden smile on her lips.
"Doesn't mean you can't start doing your best. . ." their father persisted, and Elliot groaned.
"Let's just stop talking about this. Enough." Elliot drank from his glass and stood up. "There's no way I can get out of this trap, can I?"
"Right. You're continuing your masters and getting a decent job. You hear me?" his father shouted behind his back as he stalked out of the kitchen.
Elliot left the kitchen without another word. Picking up the acoustic guitar from the living room couch on the way, he went up to his room.
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After dinner, Raven sat on her study table with all of her senses perked up, wondering and listening if Elliot would ever come in to admonish her. She thought maybe he knew about the letter, but magically forgot about it somehow. Only he never came.
Nicholas had kept her trust again. He never failed her.
Meanwhile, it was only after dinner and late at night that Nicholas finally set his backpack on his study table and unzipped it. He'd have to remove his game clothes for laundry and keep his winning certificate in the drawer of his study-table. As he pulled out his clothes, a red envelope slipped out from the front pouch, landing next to his feet.
He stared at it lying on the floor for a second or two, wondering where it had come from. He couldn't remember putting anything like that in his backpack earlier in the morning or after their game. He picked it up and turned it over.
"For Nick" was scribbled on the back of the envelope in neat handwriting. His right eyebrow went up the moment he recognized the handwriting.
Dumpling's.
He first dumped his clothes in the laundry basket, kept his certificate in the drawer, and came back to the table to open the very red envelope with a cute black, button seal.
Hmm. Crafts.
As he walked to his bed, opening the envelope, he couldn't help but be amused, wondering what that silly girl could have possibly written to him. She'd written nothing to him before. This came as an absolute surprise. He plopped down on his bed, holding the letter just above his eyes, adjusted the pillow beneath his head and exhaling a relaxed breath, he proceeded to read the letter.
Nick,
You're leaving soon. You will be gone for so long and I don't know when I'll see you again. I think it will be after a long, long time. I don't know. But I have a feeling that it will only be after so many years. I'll miss you.
''Sweet,' Nicholas thought with a growing smile on his lips, followed by a small laugh, thinking she had written him a farewell letter.
So, I thought maybe it's about time I tell you something, something I've been keeping away from you for so long. I don't want you gone without knowing how I feel about you.
Suddenly hit with an odd feeling, Nicholas bolted upright on the bed, frowning over the paper. He couldn't quite understand what was going on, but he sensed a forewarning that something disturbing was on the way.
I've always been loving you, Nick. I hope you understand. I'm not being silly. I mean it. You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know. I love you. Always have, always will.
Yours, Raven
Nicholas stared at the paper in his hand, eyebrows raised just as high as the roof over his head, shocked beyond words and comprehension. He blinked at the words on the paper.
What the fuck just happened?
He stared and reread the paper over again. Turned out, he wasn't delusional after all. Raven, that silly Dumpling, his best friend's little sister, had written him a love letter for God's sake.
God, Raves.
What do I even say to you?
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