Chapter 31

Raj and I spent the day together to visit his mom's grave. Maaga ring nagising si Raj sa akin. Nagmuni-muni sa paligid. Para ba naman kasing nasa mall na kami natutulog sa laki ng mansion nila. Nagkita na lang din kami nang yayain ako ng isang staff para mag-breakfast kasama ang mag-asawang Carrington.

Raj talked about visiting his mom because he hadn't seen her grave since her funeral. His father didn't allow him to go to Vegas as he didn't want his son to meddle with the Carringtons after they neglected their sister's condition. Knowing that history from Raj, kung ako ang nasa posisyon ng tatay niya, hindi ko rin siya papapuntahin dahil baka alipustahin lang siya ro'n. Hindi pa sila aware sa pamilya nito. It was hard for them to navigate this world when on the other hand, ang kalaban nila ay isang makapangyarihan na pamilya.

Even though the Singhs wanted the best for their family, it was the Carrington's they were afraid to go against.

Hindi ko sigurado kung binaggit din ni Raj iyon kay Devin. Sa tingin ko, hindi niya sinabi iyon. If Raj told it to Devin, their conversation yesterday might not end well. Baka hindi na rin kami nakatulog sa mansion nila kung 'yon ang naging topic nila. Raj might've considered their relationship as cousin so he had to ste aside all those dramas their family had before so everything would be fine. I only know Raj for what I've seen and what he had told me. He still surprised me to whatever things he told me about his family.

The Carrington brought us to the cemetery where Raj's mom was buried. Tahimik lang si Raj. Kapag sinusubukan ko pang tingnan ang mukha niya ay iniiwas naman niya ang ulo at inihihilig sa ibang direksyon. It was okay for him to be emotional lalo na't matagal ang panahon na hindi niya nakita ang nanay niya.

Nakasunod lang kami kina Devin at Cely. Nang matunton namin ang museleo kung nasaan ito nakaratay ay napahugot na lamang nang malalim na hininga si Raj. Pumasok kami sa loob at nag-alay ng bulaklak si Raj sa puntod ng nanay niya. He touched the gravestone and took his time there. Tahimik lamang kami sa paligid niya upang bigyang katahimikan ang pag-alala ni Raj sa kanyang magulang.

A moment later, I noticed Raj sobbing. Tiningnan ko pa sina Devin at Cely. Lumapit naman ako kay Raj at dinamayan ko ito. Hinagod ko ang likod nito habang ikinakalma niya ang sarili. He looked at me and smiled as he leaned his head on mine.

"Thank you for coming with me, Kash. . ."

"No problem," I told him. "I'm happy you've finally seen your mom again even though at this situation."

"Yeah, I'm still happy. . ." he said, nodding his head. "It took me a while, Mom, but I finally came to Vegas to see you. I hope it wasn't too late."

I chuckled. "I'm sure it's not. What I thought was even though she was buried in Vegas, she's with you and your father back in Mumbai."

Napangisi naman siya. "I hope so. . ."

It was as emotional as it was for Raj. Nag-promise na rin ito na dadalasan na niya ang pagpunta ng Vegas para lang mabisita siya. Then Devin jokingly offered he should stay in Vegas. Well, we thought he was joking, pero hindi pala. Devin said he could give Raj a position in one of the business owned. Maganda ang track record ni Raj kaya pwedeng-pwede niyang tanggapin ang offer ni Devin sa kanya. Raj said na pag-iisipan na lang daw niya muna 'yon. It would be a big step for him if he would take that opportunity because he would leave everything behind in Mumbai and live a new life in Vegas where he would be alone.

For sure at that time ay tapos na ang agreement namin ni Raj so both of our lives moved on without each other. May kanya-kanya na ulit kaming ginagawa sa buhay namin. Siguro may sarili na rin akong bahay no'n at hindi na umaasa sa ibang tao dahil sa puntong iyon ay kaya ko nang buhayin ang sarili ko without depending on anyone else. Imagining how it will all unfold made me smile. Ang sarap mabuhay nang gano'n.

Later on, Raj received a phone call. He excused himself kaya naman lumapit ako sa mag-asawang Carrington at tinanong nila ako sa naging experience ko sa Vegas. If I would compare Mumbai, Manila, and Vegas, iba't ibang lugar ay may iba't iba rin binibigay na kakaibang feeling para sa akin, pero ngayon na nasa Vegas ako ay ramdam ko ang kalayan.

"I hope this won't be the last time you'll invite us here in Vegas," sabi ko pa sa kanila.

Cely giggled. "I bet it won't be. Kailangan mo lang mag-tiyaga ang mahabang flight. Hindi ko kinakaya 'yon. Mabuti na lang kapag Vegas to Manila ay hindi gano'n katagal. I'm so happy na you guys still made it at na-e-enjoy niyo ang Vegas now."

"Yes! Now I understand why this place is so special for you."

"Shhh," she said, hushing me.

Natawa naman si Devin sa tabi niya. Hindi inaalis ni Devin ang pagkakapulupot ng kamay nito sa baywang ng asawa niya. Simula nang dumating kami rito sa cemetery, hindi na siya umalis sa tabi nito.

"I told you guys, you can stay in Vegas," he said. "I've got jobs for you if that's one of the things you were worrying about back in Mumbai."

Napangiwi naman ako. "Well, I got a job back in Mumbai and needed money to send to my family back in the Philippines. My cousin would pretty much understand if I would move in here, but I'm not sure about Raj. He has a lot of ties in Mumbai and surely, even though he doesn't get along with his father lately, I'm sure he wouldn't like to leave the country."

Devin nodded. "Yeah, he mentioned that to me when we were talking yesterday. He got a life out there in Mumbai, he could get a new life out here in Vegas."

"You're right. . ."

Mayamaya lang din naman ay bumalik si Raj sa amin at dali-dali nito akong nilapitan. Magkasalubong ang kilay nito nang kunin niya ang atensyon ko.

"Kash, be honest with me, did you send pictures to your family of us here in Vegas?" he questioned. I paused for a second until I remembered I had done it a few times. Tumango ako sa kanya. "Oh, shit," he hissed, shaking his head.

"Wait! What's happening?" I asked. "What does it matter if I sent pictures to my family? They deserve to know what I was doing. . ."

"It was my father who called," he stated. "And your parents called him asking if their daughter was with me because you weren't picking up your call. They've been calling you many times to ask about it, but you didn't. I know they were calling you, right?"

Muli naman akong tumango. "Right. . . But what's the problem?"

"My father believed we weren't married at all," Rajn dropped the bomb. "Your father told him that if their daughter was married to me, they should've known it first, but they don't have any idea what my father was talking about. Now, he knew that I was in Vegas. He was mad at me and wanted me to fly back to Vegas and continue arranging my marriage with Noor."

"Wait. May I?" singit ni Devin. "I don't understand what's happening here, but you were speaking about marriage. Aren't you guys married? You've got rings on your fingers."

"It's a long story, babe," sabi pa ni Cely. 

Napalingon si Raj sa akin. "You told Cely?"

Napangiwi ako. Nahihiya na ako. "Yes, back in Chennai. . ."

"Please don't get mad at her," depensa pa ni Cely. "She warned me not to tell anyone and I did."

"What?!" Devin exclaimed, still confused about what was happening.

"Let me be clear about it. Your father wanted you to go back to Mumbai right away because he would be arranging a marriage for you and another woman there, right?" tanong pa ni Cely sa kanya saka naman siya tinanguan ni Raj. "Do you want to marry that woman?"

Umiging ang panga ni Raj at saka ito umiling. "No, I don't want to marry her."

"I think I've got a plan," Cely said, looking at the three of us. "We can get you married—for real, this time. No extra preparation is needed. We just needed to call the person we know who can get you guys married. If you want to keep the relationship you had, I'd suggest you should do it. You can still get a divorce anytime, but if you don't want to marry any other woman, that would be the plan. . . And only if it's okay with you?"

Hinarap ako ni Raj, and looking at those eyes means something.

"Would you like to marry me, Kash?" 

Napalunok ako ng laway. Mukhang wala naman akong choice. I brought us again into this situation and the only thing I could help Raj out of it was to say what he wanted to hear.

I nodded. "Yes, Raj. . . I will marry you."

***