Chapter 26

His broad torso wraps me in his warmth as he spoons me, his hands lying on my stomach. It is a little bit suffocating, as I'm not small myself, and I'm out of breathe. I don't say anything, though, it feels so impossibly good, him being near me.

"Hey, pig?" He calls.

"What?" I reach back to pull his cheeks. "And I'm not a pig, you are."

"Pig. Umm, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What are we?"

This gives me a pause.

"Az, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just thinking. I don't know. I mean, " I take a deep breath and look away from him.

"I don't know what we are. I don't know what we'll be. I just want you to be a moment I'll never regret."

This gives him a pause.

I turn to him and he says, "Do you expect anything from me?"

"No. All I wanted was a friend. I got one, and I'm getting great sex as well, I don't need anything else, " I laugh.

"It's that good?" He bends down to kiss my earlobe.

"Mm-hmm. You should try it with yourself sometime."

"Very funny. I'd rather have it with some pig," he snorts.

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It's the first week of the year and I've so much to do. The rent for my room proved to be too much for my salary, and I decided to move. Dave comes over after his shift and helps me pack all my belongings. In the end, the only thing that remains are my bed and fan.

"What are you going to do about these?" he asks.

"Well, Mr. Ghosh has talked to some people who will move all the luggage to the new room. They'll be here in half an hour, I guess."

"Mr. Ghosh is your new landlord?" he asks.

"Yes. I'm super scared of him. So, I was thinking, we've got half an hour before they come." I tug at his shirt.

"Yeah? What do you have in mind?" He grins.

"Maybe we should use it productively, don't you agree?"

"Yes, I do." He pulls my waist and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. He bends down to kiss me.

"Az! Are you there, open the door."

There goes my productive evening.

I open the door to find two girls, an eleven year old and a five year old banging on my door. The younger one, Sania runs and leaps on me and I catch her in my arms. She refuses to get down as I walk with her inside the room. Shabnam walks in behind us. Both of them notices Dave standing there.

"So, this is my friend, Dave. Dave, this is Shabnam and this little one here is Sania." I give her a peck on the cheek and she laughs.

They greet each other except Sania, who clings to me tighter when Dave talks to her.

"Children don't like me," he chuckles.

"Really? I'd have thought they loved you, given that you look like their Teddy bears."

"And you look like a pig."

I scowl.

Four people come and start moving my luggage to my new room. Dave directs them and volunteers to take me to my new room. I say goodbye to the kids and the others and leave for a new chapter in Holtshire.

My new place is a single room on the rooftop of a two storied house. The room is spacious enough, but the only thing missing is a wash basin. The kitchen and bathroom are smaller but clean, and the rent is considerably cheaper. The room overlooks the terrace where Mrs. Ghosh has planted a thousand potted plants, and the terrace overlooks a vast field, and a few trees.

Dave brings back some food for me and helps me settle down. The Ghosh family invites me for dinner but I'm shy and a little intimidated by them, so I decline their invitation saying I already have had dinner. Dave leaves and I settle in my new room.