Sunshine Doc (10:30 p.m.)
I don't want to be. I just. . .
We’ll talk in a couple days.
I need to focus on my family.
Bugs4life (10:31 p.m.)
I love you, Doc.
I miss you.
Sunshine Doc (10:33 p.m.)
. . .I miss you, too.
38
Catharsis
Rian
Rian leaned against thecold metal railing of his balcony, his sights pinned at random at the highest point of the sea-link bridge that he could see from his apartment. The clear skies brushed in hues of pale pink and purple formed a delicate backdrop for the imposing concrete structure.
Had his mind been at peace, he would have taken the opportunity to appreciate this view. Amongst the cacophony of thoughts today were two additional voices that troubled him with their concern.
“Do you want to go to the new club that opened near the Queen’s Palace?” Kaya offered.
“No.”
“How about laser tag?”
“No.”
“How about Arjun holds you down and I hit you with my shoe?”
“No. . .what?”
“I’m game,” Arjun responded, his voice bored.
“You’re driving me insane, Rian,” Kaya grumbled while lowering into the loveseat near him. She gave him the stink eye at the subtle twitch in his jaw, shifting to the larger couch immediately. She’d made the mistake of trying to sit in Aditi’s spot once already, leading Rian to throw a small hissy fit, much to Arjun and Kaya’s amusement.
“Now I know why Aditi dumped his ass,” Arjun muttered, throwing an arm around the back of the lounge to make space for his wife.
“Hey, go easy on the judgement,” Kaya tapped his thigh.
“Love, I went easy on you when you kept running from me. I have no reason to go easy on this fool,” Arjun pointed, catching the balled up napkin Rian launched at him in irritation.
“She didn’t dump me,” Rian snarked, frustrated by the nagging. “Nothing is wrong with us. And if you both plan to discuss me like I'm not here, then I’ll leave.”
“Sit!” Kaya hissed, pulling him into the seat beside her as he passed them by while Arjun rolled his eyes, very much unimpressed with his tantrum. “Aditi is too good for him.”
Unfortunately, Rian agreed.
Kaya and Arjun had shown up to check in on him after days of not getting a response to their messages. A conversation with Nanamma had confirmed that he was sulking alone.
“Did you two fight?” Kaya asked, shushing her husband before he taunted her friend some more. “Adi was quite disturbed when she left the event last week, and I don’t blame her.”