Episode 11
1017 Words
Manav and his father argued for some time. Then, Manav stood up.
"I am going to see if the food is ready," He said, turned off the TV, and left the room.
When he was walking towards the kitchen, he saw Monica standing near the kitchen door with a sad face. He went near her and asked her 'what happened?' in sign language. She looked at him but said nothing. Then he heard some sounds of the ladies talking in the kitchen.
"Have you seen her clothes? " His mother said.
"Yes, girls these days have no shame. I don't understand why they do so much skin show. " Ashwin's mother said.
"It's because of the Western culture. The people in foreign have lost all the shame. "
"You are right. "
Manav was listening to all this. He understood they had upset Monica. He then entered the kitchen, while Monica was still standing near the door.
"Maa! Is the Aloo Parantha ready? " He said.
"Yes, you can have it. But it's better to eat together with everyone, " His mother said.
"Okay. "
Tanisha was also there. She was cleaning the plates. Manav looked at her and started admiring her beauty. It was like he had fallen for her once again. His face had a brief smile. But suddenly, he remembered he was in the kitchen where two middle-aged Indian ladies were present, who were just criticizing the young generation. So, he snapped out of it and looked at his mother.
"Should I prepare the dining table? ," He said.
"Yes, " His mother said.
The aroma of the ghee was like a fragrance from the heavens. He took a deep breath and walked out of the kitchen. He signaled Monica to come with him. She followed him to the dining table.
"You should not take it to the heart, " Manav said, cleaning the table with a wet cloth.
"I did not. Just felt bad a little," Monica said.
"Typical Indian aunties, you know. They love talking about other people."
"Yeah, I know."
"You know, they are just jealous of your beauty. They are not young now. Well, still... my mother is the prettiest."
He laughed. Monica also smiled.
He cleaned the table.
"Let's check on the girl upstairs, " He said.
"Okay. "
They went upstairs. They entered the room and saw that the girl was still sleeping.
"She must have gone through a lot," Manav said in a low voice.
"I think so too. The way she is acting explains that," Monica said.
They went near the window and started looking outside. Few zombies were walking around the house.
"Are you hiding something?" Monica asked, looking at Manav.
Manav got a little confused. He looked at her.
"What?"
"I can see it in your eyes. It looks like you have seen death. Your eyes tell me that."
He started remembering all those events which happened to him.
"I don't know... I just..."
"Just? "
"I don't know why my eyes look like that. "
Monica was looking at him with a brief smile.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. "
"Well... "
He was about to say something but he got interrupted - by a kiss. Their lips were touching each other. He got a bit surprised, but he took this as a chance. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, almost as her breasts were touching his chest. They were going at it passionately.
"Manav! Manav! " His mother was calling him.
They pushed themselves apart from each other. Manav was blushing a little.
"Consider this a gift from me. I hope this will ease your pain a little," Monica said and started walking towards the door.
Manav said nothing and followed her.
"Clean the lipstick from your lips, " she whispered before going out of the door.
Manav picked up the hand mirror which was kept on a rack in his room and wiped the lipstick. He then went downstairs.
"What were you doing upstairs?" His mother said.
"Just went to check on the girl sleeping in my room."
"Oh, is she okay?"
"Yeah, she is asleep."
His father, Ashwin's father, and Ashwin came to the dining table.
"Where is Tanisha?" Ashwin asked.
"Manav, you didn't meet her?" Manav's mother said.
"What?"
"I sent her to call you two downstairs. Didn't she call you?"
Manav got shocked. His eyes became bigger.
"What? Could this mean that she saw... me and Monica...?"
He then looked at Monica. She got shocked as well.
"Where is she then?" Manav's father asked.
"I don't know," Manav's mother said.
They heard a flush coming from the washroom.
"Oh, so she was in the washroom," Manav's mother said.
"Okay then, let's eat while the Paranthas are still hot. She will join us later," Manav's father said.
They all took their seats. Manav's mother and Ashwin's mother were serving them the Aloo Paranthas. Manav tore a piece of Parantha and took it to his mouth. That feel, that taste... it was something on another level. They all started eating.
Tanisha came out of the washroom and was washing her hands in the washbasin. Manav was still thinking about the possibility of her seeing him and Monica kissing.
"What if she saw us? I have to talk to her later and clear all the misunderstandings. "
Tanisha came to the dining table. Manav was just staring at her.
"We thought you went upstairs," Manav's mother said.
"Sorry, aunty. It was urgent. "
"It's okay. "
"So she didn't come upstairs? "
The ladies served the food to her. They all were eating with full joy but... God had other plans. They suddenly started hearing knocks and groans from the door.
They all stood up.
"They are already here?" Ashwin said.
"The scientist on the TV said that these zombies have senses of sight, sound, and smell. They must have come here after hearing the screams from that girl, " Manav's father said.
All the men stood up and ran towards the door.
- Writer
