Chapter 23
It was a a long flight. I reached India the next day. No one came to pick me up as expected. I checked my phone to book a cab and there were a hundreds of calls from Zach, Anna and Noah. And several other messages from everyone else.
It was evening over here so it would probably be the midnight in USA. I bought a bottle of water. I was starving but I really didn't know how would the food be in India as I've never been here.
I waited outside the airport until my cab arrived. It was so hot over here. Even though it was the month of November but still this southern area was pretty humid.
I reached at my house by 9:00 p.m. , there is so much of traffic in India.
I stood in front of my house gazing at it. It was different from the one I used to live in NYC. I went inside and there were people all over. Some were wearing white and mostly people were wearing black.
My mother's body seemed to be no where and I could pretty much guess that the funeral was already done without me.
"Maya." my dad said as he walked inside and he came and hugged me.
With him there was a boy whom I've probably never meet.
"Dad are you ok?" I said sobbing.
"Of course I am. I was worried more about you as you loved your mother so much." he said.
"And still you did the funeral without me, even though I said that I'm coming." I taunted.
"I'm fine Maya. Your mother had a tumor and we knew it's gonna happen one day. " he said as if he doesn't even care.
I stood there and said nothing.
"And I want you to meet him. He's Maverick your second step brother." as he said Maverick smiled at me.
"What are you even and saying? And what do you exactly mean by second step brother?" I said.
"It means both me and your mother were in an open marriage and we were dating other people. Maverick is your mothers son and mine would be here anytime soon." he said patting at Maverick's back.
I just couldn't believe what all he was saying, how could they just do things and I literally have no idea and this open marriage thing had be going since years even before I was borned as Maverick was an year older than me.
"Can you please tell me where's my room dad?" I said.
"Yeah on the first floor. The room on the right." he pointed towards the room and I nodded.
As I knew no one over there I just walked towards my room and kept my bag and changed into some decent Indian clothes that mother used to get for me.
As I lay on my bed I cried for the reason that I always thought that since childhood I've never been close to my parents and we always had differences and they literally never gave me any time to spend with them. But I didn't really paid attention to those things as I thought I'm the one they are actually working for but who knew that they have there other better half's and other children to work for and do things with.
I regretted my decision of coming to India. My mom used to be the only one in my family whom I used to talk sometimes but now after facing the reality things were changed and she was dead.
I switched on my phone and called Anna.
"Hi Anna." I said.
"I'm so sorry for your loss Maya." she consoled me.
"I miss you so much." I cried.
"I miss you too Maya and everyone over here does." she said.
My dad called me from downstairs.
"I'll talk to you later Anna."
"Yeah. Take care."
And she hanged up the call.
"Coming dad." I shouted.
I went downstairs and everyone was at dining already.
"Come have dinner with all of us." dad said.
"Yeah." and I sat down as my stomach was growling.
We had our dinner the food was too spicy and that's why I couldn't each much.
"Dad where's your son?" I asked.
"He'll be over here by tomorrow morning." he said.
"Where does he live?" I asked.
"Brooklyn. And he's in your school too." he said.
"What! He lives in Brooklyn and he's in the same school and you still didn't told me." I yelled as I was annoyed.
"Relax its not Zach." he smirked and I sighed.
"It's not funny guys. My mother and your mother too Maverick died and dad she was your wife. Do you guys have no sorrow for that?" I shouted.
"Clam down Maya. Even you shouldn't be that sorry. She never really cared about you, for her it was always Maverick." dad said.
"She was still my mother." I said firmly and walked off to my room as I couldn't control my emotions anymore.
I really couldn't figure out anything that was going on. I was feeling left out from everywhere.
It was 1 at night and I couldn't sleep and I had jet lags. It was so irritating. And I got up from my bed to go out and suddenly my phone buzzed.
"Hello." I said.
"Maya, are you ok?" Zach said.
His voice gave this different comfort to me. And tears rolled out of my eyes.
"I'm not sure about anything Zach. My life's so fucked up. You know both my mom and dad were dating other people and my mom has this son older than me and even my dad has a son whom I'm gonna meet tomorrow." I sobbed.
"I know Maya you're going through a lot but you know that you are not alone. All your friends are there with you."
"I miss you so much Zach. I wish I could hug you tight and be with you always."
"I miss you more Maya. Lately so much has been happening I didn't get any time to spend with you. Just come back soon."
"I'll be coming back in two days. I can't stay here much longer."
"I love you so much Maya."
"I love you more Zach."
We spoke to each other for the whole night and I was felt better after that.
It was 7 in the morning and I was so sleepy now. So I gave a rest to myself and slept peacefully.
"Maya are you up?" my dad knocked the door.
"Yeah dad."
"Then I'm coming inside, my son is hear to meet you."
I looked myself in the mirror and I was looking fine and I grabbed a mint.
"Yeah come in."
My dad walked inside and sat down in the edge of my bed.
"Morning my baby." my dad smiled.
"Good morning dad." I said still sleepy.
"You slept well?" he asked.
"No dad. I had this jet lag."
"Oh. By the way I want you to meet my son."
"Where is he?"
"Oh God. This boy is always on his phone. Son? Can you please come inside."
And a talk guys walked in he was wiping his face with a napkin and his eyes they were too familiar.
And as he removed his napkin, I was shocked.