Shaurya
"Dude, no! What the actual hell are you doing?!"
"Nathan, calm down! I didn't know you meant to go right!"
"Bro, I've been screaming RIGHT for the past five minutes!"
"I thought that because I was going right, like I was correct!"
Nathan screeches to himself as his car speeds off of the runway, planting itself into the bushes, mainly because of me. I wince in embarrassment as Nathan cusses to himself, tossing the controller across the room. "Goddammit, Shaurya! We were this close to winning!"
"I'm sorry!" I whine. "I won't do this again, I promise."
Nathan takes a deep breath, walking back and forth across the room. "Okay. Fine. I forgive you," he sighs. "I guess I'm just hungry."
I snort as he goes off into the kitchen to possibly grab him a snack. We just got home from college and I am super exhausted. Not only because of my classes, but also because I have a party in two days that I haven't even finished planning for. I think at least hundreds of people are coming, and I'm still not sure if Anika is going to show up. I want her to, but sometimes I feel like she doesn't enjoy my company, or the presence of me or if I'm too annoying or pushy.
Speaking of Anika, I look through my phone to see if I've gotten any text messages from her. I shake my head in angst as I see the last text I got from her was yesterday, asking me how I did on the examâ I got a 90, by the wayâ but that's basically it.
I miss her.
I know it's only been a couple of hours since I've seen her, but I do miss her. She's just so unforgettable and amazing, how could I ever not miss her?
"Dude!" Nathan screeches from the kitchen. "What do you want for dinner?"
"Um..." I think. I have thought of the perfect idea. "I think I'm gonna skip dinner tonight."
Nathan's head appears from the kitchen. "WHAT?" he booms. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I tell him, standing up. "And you're skipping too."
"The fâ" Nathan places his hand on his forehead. "Yo, yo. Let's just take a deep breath here." He comes up to me and places both of his hands on my shoulder. "Are. You. Okay?"
I take a deep breath. "I. Am. Fine."
"Dude!" He moans. "What's going on?"
"Justâ stop talking!" I order. He raises his eyebrows at me and I sigh. "Sorry. Just get the car keys."
"But whyâ"
"Just get them," I hiss. Nathan narrows his eyes at me and then finally admits defeat. "Okay, I will." I smile at him and pat his shoulder. "Thanks, man."
"Yeah, don't mention it," he replies sarcastically.
As Nathan grabs the car keys, I change into something better looking than a black Nike shirt and grey sweatpants. Instead, I wear a nice button down shirt with khaki pants and brush my hair just a little bit because I know Anika likes it when it's messy.
Nathan and I go down to the parking lot where my car is. "Why are you so dressed up?" He asks as we climb into the car.
I take a deep breath and turn to him. "Okay, listen up." I close my eyes and start to speak. "I want to surprise Anika by showing up to her house."
Nathan's eyes widen. "What?!" He shrieks. I jump back in surprise. "What do you mean by what?" I ask. "Is that bad?"
"I mean, it's not bad," he sighs. "It's justâ well, I've just never seen you do this for a girl. Hell, I wouldn't even do this for Emma, since we just started dating. And you and Anika aren't even dating each other! Or is there something you're not telling me?" Nathan trails off.
"No, we're not dating each other."Â Unfortunately. "I just want to surprise her."
"How are you going to surprise her?" he asks.
"I-I dont know," I stutter. "Just me showing up to her doorstep?"
"Okay," he nods his head. "And why'd you bring me along? Just so I can third wheel with you guys?"
"No," I snort. "I brought you along to double date with us."
"With what? A door?" he remarks.
I smack his shoulder. "No, you dumb shit! We're going to pick up Emma along the way."
"W-wait, really?" Nathan's face reddens. "But why didn't you tell me to dress up too?"
"Because you guys are already dating each other, so you don't need to impress her," I say.
"Hah. Makes sense," he mutters. "But wait. Do you know where she lives?"
"I mean, you're dating her so I can just ask directions from youâ"
"No, not Emma," he snorts. "I meant Anika."
"Oh," I sigh. "Well, she told me where she lived a long time ago."
"Wait, seriously?" He opens his mouth in surprise. "Okay, you guys are definitely dating each other."
"Bro, I've told you several times. We're just friendsâ"
"Yes, and I'm also Jewish," Nathan rolls his eyes. "Let's just do this, okay?"
"Okay," I take a deep breath. "Let's do this."
I start the car and then reverse out of the parking lot. I let the windows roll down as the cool, Californian air takes over. "So, where does Emma live?"
"Hold up, I have her address saved somewhere in my phone," Nathan mumbles as he pulls his phone out. "Since we just started dating, I haven't exactly met her parents yet so this is new to me, ya know?"
"Yeah, I get that," I sigh. I pull the car out into the side of the curb and blurt out, "Wait! Just call her."
"Call her? Why--"
"Just call her. Actually, give me your phone."
Nathan looks at me confusingly and hands me his phone. I grab his phone and scroll through his contacts until I find Emma's name. I click on it and it goes straight into call mode, as it rings multiple times. Finally, the line gets quiet as I hear a girl's voice. "Hello? Nathan?"
"Oh, hey, Emma," I clear my throat. "It's Shaurya."
"Oh, Shaurya!" she replies. "What's up? Why are you calling me through Nathan's phone?"
"Okay, well..." I take a deep breath. "Nathan and I are going to my friend's house, and since I don't want him to third wheel, you're gonna have to come along as well. Is that fine?"
The line is quiet for a couple of seconds. "Yeah, that's fine," she mumbles. "But why? Like, why are you going to your friend's house?"
"Just to surprise her," I reply. "Can you get ready now? We're gonna pick you up in five minutes."
"Yeah, that's fine. I'm home alone right now anyways, so I'll be fine."
"Okay, that's great! Thank you, Emma."
"It's not a problem," she replies. I hang up as Nathan looks at me flabbergasted. "She agreed?"
"Yup," I sigh. "So we have to get there in five minutes, and then we would get her and drive over to Anika's house."
"But wait!" Nathan interjects. "Is she home alone, though?"
Oh shit! That thought never occurred to me!
I hope her father is not home. I know how strict her father is, and once he sees a grown man standing in front of her house... well, let's just say that Nathan might have to start digging my grave by then.
"I... I think she might be," I gulp.
"Okay, that's good," Nathan sighs with relief. "We can go now."
I chuckle nervously, letting the car move forward.
We reach Emma's house in approximately five minutes (which is extremely weird, yet great at the same time), and Nathan and I see her waiting outside of her house. She notices our car pulls up by the curb, and she runs over. She smiles once she sees Nathan in the passenger seat as Nathan climbs out of the passenger seat to climb in the back with her. Great, guess who's going to be third wheeling now?
"Hey, babe," Nathan sneers. Emma giggles. "Hi! I've missed you, even though it's only been three hours since I've seen you." Nathan chuckles. I glance at the front view mirror and see Nathan and Emma making out. He's pushed Emma against the window as he tries to make his way into her shirt. Cue the vomit!
"Guys, oh my God," I mutter. "Can you, like, not do that?"
"What?" Nathan mumbles against Emma's lips. "Sorry, Dude! Guess we got carried away..." Emma giggles again and pulls herself off of Nathan. "You've been really horny lately, mister."
"Sorry, I just can't seem to control myself around you," Nathan huskily replies, placing kisses on her neck.
I quickly look away from the front view mirror and feel a smirk growing on my face. I set the car from park to drive, drive a little further, and slam on the brakes, hearing two satisfying thuds from the back of the car.
"Ouch! What the hell, Shaurya?"
"I think I just broke my goddamn pelvis."
"Sorry," I reply with a chuckle.
The car rumbles with power and it moves forward. As Nathan and Emma adjust themselves in the back, I turn up the radio and hear Nathan and Emma converse. Well, at least they're not eating each other's faces now.
"Babe, why are you dressed so poorly?" Emma questions. "I thought we were going on a double date."
"We are," Nathan grits through his teeth. "But Mr. Roy over here thought that it's not really necessary for me to look really well."
I roll my eyes. "Dude, you look fine."
"No, he doesn't." Emma deadpans.
"Oh, I know why you don't like how I look," Nathan adds.
"Why?" Emma and I both ask, but I mainly ask it because I know what he's about to say.
"Because you'd rather prefer it if this outfit wasn't on me, if you know what I mean," Nathan admiringly adds. I groan to myself as Emma sighs adoringly. "Babe, you're so right!" They both giggle and before I knew it, they were swapping spit again.
At that point, I knew I just had to give up because nothing would keep these two apart, so it seems.
Once ten torturous minutes of Nathan and Emma disgustingly make our pass by, I round by a neighborhood with small family homes. I look at Anika's address one more time to clarify where it is and set the car forward.
Once I turn around the corner, I notice red and blue flashing lights by the specific house. The vision gets clearer as I see an ambulance parked in front of a home. There seems to be people going back in front of the house, and there's a stretcher coming out of it with a panicked middle aged man following right behind it.
What... the hell is going on?
My heart rate fastens as I park the car from the home in a safe distance. Nathan and Emma look at me weirdly, still tangled up in each other. "What's going on, bro?" Nathan worriedly asks. "Are we here?"
"No!" I shriek. "I mean, yes. I mean..." I take a deep breath. "Justâ just stay here, okay? I'll be back soon."
Nathan looks at me weirdly, but then shrugs and continues making out with Emma. I shudder in disgust, grab my car keys and my phone and walk towards the home.
My knees wobble as I start to get closer to the house. I hear the emergency department talking amongst themselves, and the things they were saying honestly scared me to death.
"What's the current health status on the patient?"
"Severed cuts, bruises on the back, and blood seeping mainly from the patient's arms."
"And what would be the past health status?"
"Looking through her records, it seems as if she had depression, anxiety, and a sudden weight loss."
Her?
I bite my lips. I start to walk a little closer to get a closer look on the stretcher. It seems to cover everything but the person's face, but I just can't seem to see it clearly...
"What is the patient's name?"
"Her name is claimed to be Anika Desai by her father, Mukesh Desai. She's a 21 year old born on February 23, 1998."
... what?
I stop dead in my tracks, feeling my heart beat so much to the point where I think it's gonna leap out of my chest. My mouth goes dry as I close my eyes, praying that whatever I just heard was just a lie.
No... it can't be.
"And what's the reason for Miss Desai's injury?"
"Judging by her cuts and bruises, we assume that it may be attempted suicide."
My ears ring as the world around me goes dizzy. Attempted suicide... attempted suicide...
Before I knew it, I was running. And I don't know where.
But I was running.
*
A/N:
Soooooo looks like Shaurya found out. Welp.
The only not-depressing thing about this chapter is Nathan and Emma making outâ wait no that's actually depressing as well cuz that ties to relationships which ties to love and which ties to me because I'll never find love. Haha.
Stay tuned for the next chap.
- Ru <3