✿ Day 3 (3)

True to her word, Mira helped Mrs. Chandra in the kitchen. Despite Yuv's mothers extremely aggravated protests, Mira made her way to the kitchen and with Keirna at her side, she sliced the tomatoes. Keirna was Mrs. Chandra's helper. Being paralyzed from waist down, it was hard for her to operate in the kitchen alone. Keirna was a young, beautiful dark-skinned woman. Long cascades of hair trailed around her back, curling around her waist.

"Dr. Yuv moved to Mrs. Chandra's place a couple days ago because his oven had caught on fire. Apparently, he was trying to cook and it didn't end well." Keirna explained, her nibble fingers deftly slicing the onions.

Mrs. Chandra laughed in the background. She was stirring a pot of roasted peanut rice. "I'm telling that boy to just quit everything and move in with us. He can't live alone until he gets himself a wife. She'll take care of that klutz."

Mira smiled and wondered what it is like to have such wonderful and doting parents. She never understood why children moved out, not when the parents were very much loving.

Mrs. Chandra stopped stirring. "Where are you from in India?"

"My parent are Bengali but we were settled in New Delhi."

"Apni Bangla bolte paren?" Do you speak Bengali? Mrs. Chandra asked her, with a hopeful expression.

"Ji, ekṭu bolte pari." Yes, just a little, Mira replied. A plum color entered her cheeks as removed a strand of hair from her face. "But not much, I lived in New Delhi my whole life. We didn't speak much Bengali there."

"What's your mother's name?"

At this part, Mira felt wry. She didn't want to share this bit of information. Just in-case Mrs. Chandra did know her parents. Her family didn't have a good reputation. Her mother and father had run away from home to marry. Her grandparents weren't particularly supportive of their marriage then. They still weren't.

Mrs. Chandra oblivious to Mira's reluctance, added the chopped chilies to the pot. Smoke rose in the kitchen. It stung the back of Mira's throat and made her eyes a bit watery. The smoke didn't effect Mrs. Chandra and Keirna. Maybe they were used to it.

Mrs. Chandra spun around and stared carefully at Mira. "You have a very familiar face. I can't really remember who it reminds me of but..."

"You say that about everyone." Keirna shook her head slowly. She had finished chopping the onions without a tear. On the other hand, Mira's cheeks were dripping with tears.

Mira hoped that Mrs. Chandra wasn't being serious. She didn't want to open any past wounds. In-case, Mrs. Chandra did know anyone related to her. It would be disastrous.

"I have a very typical face. I mean most Bengali look like me." Mira hoped that would draw away her attention.

"Nah," Mrs. Chandra clicked her tongue. "You have a very unique face."

Keirna dumped the chopped vegetable into the oil simmering on a pan. Mira set down the knife and breathed a sigh. She didn't particular enjoy the task of chopping.

"Mrs. Chandra. Give it a rest. You're probably mistaken" Keirna lifted the pan in the air, like a magician, she tossed the vegetables around.

"It's a small world, Keirna. You never know." Mrs. Chandra turned back to the rice pot.

"Could be." Keirna nodded in agreement. "Remember you thought the delivery man was your relative's son."

"Hey." Mrs. Chandra slapped her arm in aggravation. "They had a very close resemblance. I'll show you my nephew's picture. He looks exactly that."

"But you won't admit that you're old now."

"Well to youngsters like you two, I may be old but my heart is ever young and youthful."

"Hah! The irony." Keirna laughed. Mira understood the joke, Rani was a heart patient hence, the irony of her heart being young and youthful.

Someone's phone buzzed with a soft tune. It was Keirna's phone, she quickly excused herself for a break, humming as she went.

"It's her new boyfriend." Mrs. Chandra explained, partially amused at Keirna's excitement. "If you're free, can you keep an eye on the rice? I'm going to grab the turmeric" Mira obeyed and grasped the warm spatula.

Mrs. Chandra wheeled towards the pantry in far corner. The cabinet made a small creak as Mrs. Chandra opened it. After a couple seconds of moving the rice around, Mira heard Mrs. Chandra curse loudly.

"I don't know how many times I've told Keirna to not put spices at the top. Mira, can you help me?"

Mira quickly left the spatula. "Yes, of course."

Mrs. Chandra looked really guilty. "I'm sorry for making you work so much. I feel really bad."

"It's okay aunty. I don't mind." Mira looked at the pantry brimming with various jars and bottles. "Which one should I get?"

She pointed at the large jar filled with mustard colored powder at the topmost shelf. Mira instantly knew that she wouldn't able to get it without any step chair or stair. She looked around the airy kitchen.

"Do you have anything I can step on?"

"Oh my, you're so short. I was your height. You know Yuv's father was around six feet and I was around four foot eleven." She laughed. "We're such a mismatched couple. Oh, I should stop blabbering. There should be a stool around here." She reached under the sink and pulled out a blue step.

"Try this"

Mira placed the step directly in-front of the pantry, the aroma of the spices was strong. It had been years since the last time Mira had seen so many spices in one place-dried chilies, bay leaves, curry leaves, cloves, cinnamon sticks, pickled vegetables, dried fruits. It was extremely nostalgic.

Mira reached for the topmost jar. The step was wobbling slightly, she ignored it. Mrs. Chandra's voice was slightly pitched. "Be careful dear."

"I will."

The jar was out of Mira's reach, wedged right between tall jars of cardamom and fennel seeds. She stretched her arms at bit towards the jar. The cool glass came in contact with her fingertips.

A little bit more Mira thought, biting her lower lip and reaching over by an inch.

Just then the disaster happened, as Mira grasped the jar's lid, it flew open. Someone had previously left the jar loosely screwed together. Turmeric, a yellow fine powder with a slightly pungent smell, burst into the air. A cloud of yellow settled over Mira and the shock of this sudden explosion made her stumble backwards.

Her eyes widened, this was going to be a mighty fall. In anticipation of the pain, Mira closed her eyes. She landed on the floor with a loud thud. The ankle of her right leg painfully bent from the impact.

She groaned, loudly. Coughing and spluttering, when she opened her eyes, she found herself covered in turmeric from head to toe. The powder stuck to her like dust.

"Are you okay?" Mrs. Chandra's skin was ashen.

Mira didn't have the voice to reply. The turmeric powder was suffocating her. When Mrs. Chandra noticed the blue tint of her lips, she screamed on top of her lungs and wheeled to out the kitchen.

"Oh God! Oh God. Yudishter!"

Mira tried to block out the bitter voice inside her head.

"Can't do one thing right." Stormy eyes stared at her, her mother's tall, portly figure hovered over her petite frame. "Clean this mess and go to your room. Don't come out until I'll tell you to."

Mira quickly wiped the grease off the floor and didn't dare to lift her gaze.

"You should be thankful that I'm your mother. Someone else would have kicked you out by now."

And Mira believed her. Never have seen a kind act in her life, Mira didn't know what love was like. She growing in house where she was called a loser, she didn't know what it was like to be treat with respect. All her life Mira had believed that she would never be a star, those revered, respected, adored stars. Maybe that's why even the smallest act of kindness didn't miss her eyes.

Maybe that's why her heart was filled with warmth, a crackling fire, the stars tipped from the sky into her eyes. Yuv gripped her hand, a crease of separating his brows. His breaths were rapid, his eyes were wide as he accessed her state.

It wasn't love. Mira didn't know love. How could she? A person who didn't know how to love themselves couldn't possibly love another? It's like a flickering candle trying to light another.

But at the same, there was a cascade of emotions colliding within her. The first monsoon rain hitting a hot summer road, steam rising in the air and drenching every passerby. The coolness of the rain on her back, the wetness on her skin, under her eyes, within her chest.

The tenderness of his touch as he eased her into a sitting position, the gentle curve of his wrist which was rested on her twisted ankle. She leaned against his shoulder, wanting to bury her head there. The glares of the audience she had gathered was suffocating.

There was a man in a black suit, white shirt buttoned up to the collar. He watched her with a strange upturn of his lips. The disapproval was clear as day in his eyes. Mrs. Chandra was at the front of the small crowd, with a tensed Keirna on her side.

Mira felt cool fingers rub her back.

"Easy there, breathe." Yuv whispered, calmly. "You're close to having a panic attack."

Mira gripped his arm, as though her life depended on it. Since Yuv was leaning so close to her, his pale cream shirt and steel grey pants were soiled with yellow stains of turmeric. He didn't seem to mind though.

"I-I'm really sorry. I didn't mean t-to wreck your kitchen." Mira was close to tears. "I'm so sorry."

"Hey, hey." Yuv whispered, his hand smoothed the wrinkles of her shirt. The way he held her, at a polite distance yet comforting enough to know that he was here. "It's okay. I should be apologizing. I shouldn't have allowed you to work. You're my guest."

"No, no." Mira shook her head, strands of curly hair got tangled with the buttons on his shirt. "You don't understand. I'm the problem. I always mess things up-"

"Mira." Was it they first time he had said her name? Because, it sure felt like it. The way her name rolled off his tongue, with command, with that personal touch. He was one of the few who had said her name correctly, in the perfect accent, the right syllable was accentuated. "It's okay."

Something about the way he had said made Mira stop mid-way. His light honey eyes holding her captive, like drowsy spell, a glass of strong whiskey making her lose the ability to form coherent words. She quietened, almost instantly, forgetting about everything she had to say, everything she had been through.

Yuv motioned the man in the black suit, the one who was watching them with a strange look, caught between angst and fear, he quickly obliged.

He sunk to floor and lifted her ankle. He twisted it slightly and as confirmation, Mira's face contorted into a painful expression.

"What is it, Jace?" Yuv sounded a bit unhinged. Was it her reaction to the incident that had caused it? Mira wondered. It wasn't the first time Mira had reacted this way. She thought she was over this, her lack of self-esteem. It had taken her years to build it. But somehow, in the few past days, the old fire had reignited.

"It's a sprain." Something unsaid passed between Yuv and Jace, something tense and stiff and it didn't miss her eyes. "The swelling should go down in a day."

"Can you stand?" Yuv asked her.

Mira tried putting some weight on her foot. Her ankle groaned in pain, she wanted to lie, she really did but the pain was reflected clearly on her face.

"I'm fine." Mira still tried to lie.

"You're not." Yuv blandly replied.

"Poor baby." Mrs. Chandra burst out. "I shouldn't have asked her to get that darn turmeric jar. I'm getting rid of the top shelf."

"Amma." Yuv sighed. "I don't think that solves anything."

"Oh, it does. Yudishter, you should carry her home." Mira didn't know if she should laugh or cry in embarrassment. The baffled look on Yuv's face said the same thing. When Mrs. Chandra add the next part, she swore every face in the small kitchen gave them sly grins. "I don't mind if you don't come home. Stay at her place and take good care of her."

Jace cleared his throat. "I think we should get an x-ray. In-case, there is a fracture."

Yuv nodded. "Yah, you're right. Mira," He turned to face her. "Any hospital preferences?"

"Albany Medical Center."

Without waiting another second, he lifted her off the ground and into his arms. Mira could have sworn she had never felt so embarrassed in her life. The crowd parted to make way for them. Jace followed closely behind.

Mira's head rested on his chest, and she knew for sure, as she heard his heart speed that it was for her and the draught had ended, the first storm, the first hurricane, it was the beginning of something, something terrible.

When his eyes met Mira's, she was everything but reassured. The same old path, she wasn't ready for the storm, not when she hadn't finished securing her walls. If this storm did come, all her walls would shatter, the past would light her present and all would end.

✿✿✿

Yuv had taken her to the emergency room. The doctor got her an x-ray and thankfully there was no fracture. She was advised a day of rest before putting any strain on her ankle. Jace quickly left after thirty minutes, making an excuse of a family emergency. There was certainly something strange passing between the two and more than once the tension caught Mira's attention.

Being the ever ready gentleman, Yuv dropped her home. Leaning against him for support, Mira made her way to the lobby. He smelled of turmeric and cologne. They took the elevator since Mira lived on the third floor and the stairs weren't a pleasant option.

The silence in the elevator was suffocating. Mira pressed her back against the elevator wall. The deep notes of saxophone made her sweat slightly. Yuv stared at the screen above with a blank expression.

"I'm sorry for what happened today. I really can't seem able to set things right, am I?" He directed the words at her, warmly, calmly, without any hidden malice.

Mira bit down on her lower lip. "Maybe it's sign. Maybe you should stay away from me."

"Or maybe it's a sign that we should go on a date. How does the day after tomorrow sound?"

Smooth, real smooth. Mira thought, as a slight grin threatened to break lose.

The elevator opened with a small ding. Mira's neighbor, the Crow family was waiting for the elevator. Mrs. and Mr. Crow and their two small daughters waved a hello before entering the elevator. Yuv and Mira, two still bodies, stood in the empty hall. Yuv held Mira around the waist, keeping her hoisted upright.

"My apartment is right there." She pointed to the first red door. He helped her walk towards it.

As they walked, he asked her. "You haven't answered."

Mira reached for the door's handle and pulled out the key for the apartment. She kept her eyes carefully away from his. "You should come in. Would you like some coffee?"

He smirked and propped himself on her front door. Mira had already clicked the lock open but she didn't open the door, if she did, he would fall on his face.

"What kind do you have?"

"Nestle. Instant Coffee."

His smirk grew wider. "I think I'll pass."

"Why doctor? You don't like coffee. The cheap kind."

His jaw stiffened. If he was bothered, he didn't say so. The smirk was still fixed, as a glass capturing light. She was in close proximity with his face, strands of hair tipped with stars were scattered across his forehead. Something was alluring about his eyes, the awkwardness from earlier seemed to have vanished. Yuv was quite a smooth talker.

"Coffee is coffee but it seems like you aren't in the mood."

She blushed at the implication. "I'm in pain. Of-course, I wouldn't be."

"Mhm," He hummed, the strong smell of aftershave drifted from him. "You sure are."

She stayed silent, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Heat drowned her face. Mira wasn't flustered so easily. She was a strong, independent woman. Today's events had shaken her to the core. The very familiarity of his house, Mrs. Chandra welcoming her so easily, the amount of love she had felt in the short duration. It was very unsettling.

"I'm going to pick you after work." He turned around to leave but Mira firmly gripped his hand.

"Don't do this."

"Do what?" He asked, innocently.

Mira stepped closer to him, even though her ankle groaned in pain, she held his gaze. "You're not going to find what you're looking for."

"Maybe I already have."

"I'm not capable of love, Yuv."

He smiled. The ever so magical smile. "Everyone is. You just don't know it."

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Note: Okay, so I knew someone just like Yuv and as I write this story, all my feels are going awire. Sigh. I loved this chapter, did you? And whenever I think of the romance between Yuv and Mira, I think of monsoon and the heat. Who's excited for the next chapter? The action is about to rise and yay for early update.

So what do you think of this chapter?