Cross Roads: Pick a Path (3 page)

The time neared 2:00am, and it was probably
time for us to head back to the hotel. However, I was waiting till
she wanted to leave. At this point even the hours of time I spent
with her wasn’t enough. She continued going on of the things she
has done, or wanted to do for a few more minutes before she felt
tired. We then decided to head back to the hotel. As we walked
through the courtyard towards the tall glass doors I started to
wish that time would sit still, but tonight is the first of many
moments I planned to spend with her. Her room was nothing more than
a few doors down from mine; saying our goodbyes she leaned in for a
hug. Her head pressed against my chest and I knew I wanted this
forever, as crazy as it may sound I felt like I was really falling
for this girl.

I waved to her as she entered her room, and
then opened my own. Closing the door behind me I leaned my back
against it. Never have I felt this way, ever! I’m not even too sure
if this is love. Today was the first day I have ever crossed paths
with her, am I crazy to be calling this love? I saw my face in the
mirror next to me, and I was incapable of erasing a harmonious
smile off my face. I felt like dancing and jumping around like I
just won the lotto.

I laid on my bed with my mind lost in
another world. I tried to figure out why I fell for her, and no
other before her; the curiosity was killing me. Even with my eyes
shut her beauty kept presenting itself. My fingers tapped my chest
gently, and I can feel the rise in beats with every moment I
thought of her.

I never had the chance, nor will I ever get
the opportunity of meeting my birth mother. I will never feel her
care, love, and compassion, but Sarah never made me miss it. Sarah
was my mother, and I long felt the emptiness of her presence, that
is until this very moment. It struck me of how Hasini made me feel
new; she reminds me of my mother. Hasini was a strong independent
woman, with a dream, someone who desires to not only look out for
herself, but for the lives of others as well. You meet many girls,
and some may be friends, but no woman ever measures to the standing
of a mother. Though when a woman reminds you of your mother, even
to the slightest degree you simply do not let her go. I don’t know
what Hasini feels about me, she may just consider me a friend or
her friends’ brother, but from this point onward I know she’s not
someone I can watch leave my life.

~

Around 5:23am I was awaken rudely to a
knocking on the door, it was Thiru and Mahat. The two of them were
prepared for the wedding, and here I was in my boxers. Apparently
they decided to wake me up knowing that I probably came back to my
room really late last night. Great call on their part; I might have
even missed my sisters wedding. They barged in and took my pack of
smokes, while walking out the door Thiru reminded me to call them
after I was ready. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror I
applied shaving cream to my face, and as the blade stroked down my
cheek I had a sudden realization. What if Hasini isn’t awake yet? I
should probably check to make sure that she woke up as well!
Rushing out my room I knocked on her door, I forgot that I remained
in my boxers with shaving cream applied all over my face. She
opened the door wrapped around in a towel alone, her hair wet, as
drips of water kissed her skin.

She began to laugh uncontrollably; I stood
still, thinking that I should probably leave; she was wrapped in a
towel! I may have really good self-control, but at the end of the
day I am still a guy; the thoughts will begin to flow. In the midst
of laughing she asked, “You really like stripping in the hallway,
don’t you?” That’s when I realized that I continued to stand there
in my boxers, with shaving cream on my face; how embarrassing,
especially in front of the girl you want to impress. I watched as
she laughed; putting my shame aside, I couldn’t resist but to laugh
with her. While I was walking away with a smile on my face she
called my name.

“Come knock on my door when you go down,
this time try to wear more clothes,” she joked.

She was one with a good sense of humor,
something else I loved about her. I finished shaving and hopped
into the shower, to soon be slipping into my clothes. I wore black
pants, and I tucked my white shirt and began knotting the black tie
around my neck. After throwing on a black blazer, I was out the
door walking towards Hasini’s room. She too was coming out of her
room, I was blown away at how fast she got ready; this girl just
gets better and better. In her white saree, she looked
breathtaking.

“Hasini, you look gorgeous!” I said; her
beauty was really making me nervous.

“Well Arrun, you clean up very nice! Though
the boxer look is better on you,” she responded.

We shared a brief laugh and made our way
down to the lobby where I saw Mahat and Thiru having a smoke over
some coffee. Benny was in the opposite direction flirting with the
smoking hot receptionist.

“You could at least try not to stare,” said
Hasini with a smile on her face. I really need to clean up my act;
if I want to impress her I should really stop getting caught in the
midst of my stupid activities.

“I’ll get us some coffee, we both probably
need it after getting two hours of sleep,” I suggested.

Some how I managed to escape the
embarrassment, after grabbing a cup of coffee I decided to
introduce Hasini to Mahat and Thiru first considering the fact that
Benny is completely occupied. They were still smoking away, and
while walking towards them I had the urge to ask for a smoke as
well, but I wasn’t sure if Hasini cared or not.

“
Guys this is Hasini, she’s Rohini’s best
friend; you guys remember seeing her at dinner right?”

Hasini just remained there in her stance,
with a smile on her face; shaking their hands Mahat asked, “Why are
you hanging out with Arrun of all people, he’s boring.” “There’s a
lot more to him than you think,” Hasini praised; I felt great. Who
wouldn’t feel great seeing the girl they treasured defending them
while they are made a mockery of. A few moments after my brothers
stopped insulting me, Hasini asked Thiru for a smoke.

“You smoke?” I asked, completely
astonished.

“Rarely, I do at times though, just when I
have the feel for it. Don’t you?” Asked Hasini.

“No, I do; just thought you may feel
disgusted by it,” I responded.

Laughing hysterically she said, “Don’t
pretend like you don’t smoke just because someone else would care,
do as you wish.” I swear this girl ceases to amaze me, she keeps
saying things to make me tumble deeper in love; if she doesn’t fall
in love with me by the end of it all I swear I don’t know how I’d
deal with this heartbreak. I wasn’t the only one who was surprised;
Mahat and Thiru were pretty speechless themselves.

“You’re pretty awesome,” screamed Thiru.

“I know right!” She cheered with her
tasteful voice.

Mahat standing to my right, came close and
whispered, “She’s a keeper bro.” It seems as if I wasn’t the only
one enjoying her company, one member at a time she was stealing the
hearts of my family.

Being surrounded by family and friends I
didn’t notice the time fly, Hasini stood at my side the entire
morning. It was 11:00am before we even got a moment to check the
time, in a brief moment Akil will tie the auspicious thread around
Rohinis neck pronouncing them husband and wife according to our
birth culture, followed by the exchanging of rings. Standing there
amongst family in the midst of those I love, I had to take a brief
moment to think of Sarah. Had Sarah been here this very moment this
wedding was conducted exactly the way she would’ve wanted to see
it. Though we are all adopted children Sarah took the initiative in
making sure we stay close to our roots. She even made the effort to
learn more about our culture just so she can teach us about it in
the future; a wonderful mother indeed.

The big moment, as Akil grasped hold of the
thread bringing it around Rohinis neck he began tying the first of
three knots. Rohini held both her hands palm to palm and I saw a
tear drop down her cheek, as her eyes came towards me I tried my
best to not shed a tear myself, she looked beautiful. With a hand
on Rohini’s shoulder, Hasini too was looking towards me. While she
was looking at me with her smile I had a wild thought of one day
having the chance to marry Hasini, keeping her for myself. With the
third knot the confetti began to fly, my three brothers jumped in
joy, while Asha hugged Rohini tight. Emotions were flying
everywhere, I felt Hasini wrapping her arm around me, leaning her
head against my shoulder. Smiling with a glance at Hasini I turned
to have a look at everyone in celebration; this moment was
irreplaceable.

Celebration continued through the day and by
nightfall it was time to party. We sat around the bar as a family,
the same bar where I met Hasini for the first time. Ironically both
Hasini and I were sitting in the same spot we were before. I’m just
hoping that this time around she doesn’t tear me apart with her
“kind” words. The drinks flowed over laughs, along with cheesy
speeches from all the members of the family. The best time of the
night came when we hit the dance floor, I may not be so great
talking to the ladies, but I can sure as hell impress them on the
dance floor. We danced to our hearts content; with ten minutes
remaining the DJ began playing music for the couples. For most of
us it was our queue to take a seat; Rohini and Akil sharing a
moment of their first dance, Asha with her boyfriend, Benny with
some random girl he sweet-talked, and Mahat and Thiru were far too
busy at the bar once again.

I took a seat next to Hasini at one of the
empty tables on the side of the dance floor. “Aren’t you going to
ask me to dance,” she questioned. I can’t believe I didn’t even
think of asking her! For a moment I gazed at the dance floor, and
then held grasp of her hand. With a gap between the newly wed and
us I put my hands on her waist as she wrapped her arms around my
neck. With the night sky glowing of bright stars, the dance floor
was becoming packed with couples in every direction. Though my full
attention was on Hasini alone. In that moment I felt the presence
of no one around us, it was only she and I accompanied by the stars
and the moon. “Brittle Pieces,” by Zemmy was playing in the back;
with the music creating the right atmosphere I saw it for the first
time. Her eyes glowed of something different, something I haven’t
seen in all others. I had the urge of thinking that she felt the
same way as I did, but I can’t find the courage to ask till I knew
for sure. Ten minutes in length, I felt like I was dancing with her
for an eternity.

The DJ played the concluding song of the
party. Everyone ran back on to the floor jumping and screaming, but
Hasini and I remained grasped to one another with no reaction to
everyone going crazy around us. Asha and Rohini were the ones to
first bump into us. Bringing us back to reality, and with a glance
at one another she drifted away with the girls. On the middle of
the dance floor I stood, with both my hands against the back of my
head feeling more alive than ever. I watched as Hasini would
constantly turn back and take glances back at me; it was just an
amazing feeling. My brothers including Akil soon circled me; I
tagged along with them, and danced like a bunch of crazy
people.

When the party commenced it was about
3:15am, and you could see the tiredness among all. Countless people
started making their way back to their respective hotel rooms. I
stood there for a moment with Benny, Mahat, and Thiru having a
smoke. Among the crowd of friends stepped forward Hasini; coming
toward us she asked me, “Heading back upstairs soon?”

“You three don’t mind if I head back with
Hasini right?” I asked, hoping my brothers won’t be upset.

“No you go ahead, we’re probably going to go
sleep too,” replied Thiru

Making our way back to our rooms we remained
moderately quiet; neither one of us broke the silence till we made
our way to the elevator.

“Great wedding, right?” I asked unable to
bare the peace.

“It was amazing,” responded Hasini with
enthusiasm.

“I’m actually pretty drunk, I don’t even
remember drinking that much though,” she shouted.

Looking at her with a smile I responded, “Oh
trust me, we all drank plenty enough today.” Continuously blabbing
away she thought she might have trouble finding her room, so I
accompanied her all the way to the door. Once she walked in, I
turned towards the direction of mine.

“Going back to your room already?” She
asked.

Turning back towards her I asked, “Why, is
there something you had in mind?” We laughed for a brief moment
reversing the roles from the night before. She stepped into the
bathroom to change; I took my blazer off and loosened my tie before
getting comfortable on a couch next to her bed. When she came out
she took seat on the bed, and we continued talking of the moments
through the day; even our dance. An hour in I thought I should
maybe hint how I feel, just to see her reaction, and so I did.

“
Its funny how we just met yesterday, or
the night before; though I don’t remember the incident much. But I
feel like I’ve known you my entire life, and that probably never
happens for many people. The sight of you standing under the
moonlight remains in my eyes, and now I have the imprint of your
beauty when we shared a dance. I’ve met a lot of girls, many of
whom I’ve even tried dating, but none of them were able to make me
feel anything special. You did, and I don’t know how you pulled the
string but I am in no way able to let you go. I was never able to
see my birth mother, and then a year ago I had to lose the mother
who never let me feel at loss. After you came along all that
heartache I had locked up disappeared, leaving life nourishing me
from within. You know you could say some.”