Savita.
I had no intention of pumping her for information. That just wasn’t me. But I was happy to help her with her project if she asked. It’d be a good distraction from the torture my own brain was putting me through.
“Lyra!” She waved as she approached.
“Hey, how’s the project going?”
“Good, these books were perfect. I’m hoping you can help me find some more?” She said it like a question and I smiled.
“Of course, just let me put a few more of these on the shelf and I’ll be right with you.”
“No biggie.”
A text notification went off and my heart fluttered. Not wanting to seem unprofessional, I turned my back to Savita, blocking my body with a large atlas. No text. My heart sank.
“Oh my God,” Savita muttered under her breath as she looked down at her phone. “He’s the biggest pain in the ass.”
“Boyfriend trouble?” I asked.
“Ugh! No, my brother.”
Adrenaline rushed into my belly. Dev was texting her. I hadn’t heard from him, but he was texting his little sister.
Damn it.
Clearing my throat, I gave a half smile. “Oh, why this time?”
“He’s got the flu, and he expects me to drop everything and take care of him.”
“He has the flu?” I asked, surprised.
“Yeah.” She rolled her eyes. “And he’s such a baby.”
“I had no idea he was even coming down with something.”
“That doesn’t surprise me…at all.”
Taken aback, I asked, “What do you mean you aren’t surprised?”
“He always gets weird when he’s sick. He thinks it makes him seem weak or something.”
“That’s ridiculous. Everyone gets sick. It’s just part of being human.”
“I know! When he was with Trupti, she wasn’t allowed near him when he was sick. Only my mom and my brother. But since they’re out town, I’m the chosen one.” She rolled her eyes. “Lucky me.”
“Well, what does he need?” I asked, trying not to sound too eager.
“What do you mean?”
“I can take it to him.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes were wide with relief. “That would be amazing! Like, you have no idea. I have so much work to do.”
“I wouldn’t be able to go until after work, but yeah. I can take care of it.”
“Yes, sure, of course.”
“And don’t tell him it’s me. I want to surprise him.”
“Oh girl, I wasn’t planning to. He’d reach through the phone and murder me if he knew I told you. He’s so strange.”
“But kind of adorable,” I said, feeling even more relieved than Savita.
“Ugh, yuck. Are you two a thing now?”
I paused for a second. “I’m not sure. But I hope so.”
“Aww, you’re so cute!” Savita said, pulling me in for a hug. “And seriously, you’re a lifesaver!”
For just a moment, my brain shuffled through so many of my conversations with Dev during our weekend at the ski resort. And right then, I got an idea. A really, really good idea. An enthusiastic smile crawled across my lips.
“Of course. But I need a favor of my own.”
“Anything,” she said, standing tall. “Just name it.”
Hours later, a little exhausted and disheveled after hours in my kitchen, I managed to fix my hair and makeup, run to the store, and arrive at Dev’s apartment just before six p.m. I buzzed his apartment and my heart raced. I was excited to see him, but also a little nervous that he didn’t know I was coming in Savita’s place.
There was no response to my buzz, and I worried that he may have fallen asleep. I waited another minute and buzzed again.
“Ugh, Savita?” he asked through the speaker, sounding weak.
“No, it’s…it’s Lyra.”
“Lyra?” His voice sounded hoarse and a little panicky. “What are you doing here?”
“Can I come up? I have some things to help you feel better.”
“Wait! How did you know I was sick?”
“Savita.”
“I’m gonna kill her.”
Buzzzzzzzzzz.
I grabbed my things and caught the door before it locked shut. Dev lived on the second floor, so I climbed up the steps gingerly as not to drop anything in my arms. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on his door. I could hear movement inside. Dishes clanged together and a loud thump startled me a bit.
Finally, he answered the door. He looked like he’d been through the wringer. Huge bags sat under his eyes, and there was a gray hint to his normally healthy-looking skin. His normally coifed hair was in complete disarray. At least he looked comfy in his hoodie and sweatpants. But I could tell by the look on his face he was completely miserable.
“You shouldn’t be here. I could get you sick,” he muttered before stepping aside, sort of welcoming me in.
“I got my flu shot.” I waved him away. “Besides, I’m a carrier.”
“A what?”
“I never get it. I’m just a carrier. That’s what my mother tells me anyway.”
“Lyra, seriously, you shouldn’t be here. I look and feel like hell.”
“I know, so I thought I’d surprise you,” I said. “I stopped at the pharmacy and got you everything on your list. Gatorade, throat lozenges, decongestants, and everything else…” My voice lingered.
“Everything?” he asked, a pained look in his eye.
“No judgment,” I said with a smile. “I like to read gossip magazines when I’m sick too.”
“Fucking Savita. She’s dead to me.”
“Don’t talk like that.”
“And my place is a fucking disaster. I had to cancel Inga; she normally comes today.”
I looked around the kitchen. Aside from a few dishes in the sink, it was immaculate. He had dark cherry cabinets and granite countertops. Stainless steel appliances shimmered and the place smelled like cranberries and pine. A disaster? Not by a long shot.
“Don’t be ridiculous; your place is lovely. I really like it.”
“Wait,” he said, sniffing the air and looking down at the covered ceramic pot in my hands. “Ugh, I don’t even know why I’m trying to smell the air. My nostrils feel like they’re filled with rubber cement.”
I had to laugh. “You poor thing.”
“What’s that?” he said, still looking at the pot in my hands.
I walked to the counter and looked down. “May I?”
He grabbed a trivet shaped like an owl and placed it on the counter. I put the red ceramic pot on the owl and opened the top.
“Khichdi?” he asked. His entire face transformed from misery to jubilation. “How did you…?”
“I have my sources,” I said with a wink. “I remember you saying it’s your favorite comfort food. Now, I have to admit, I have no idea if it’s any good. I tasted it, but…”
“But?”
“Okay, I have a confession to make. I’ve never had Indian food before.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. So I have no idea if it’s any good. I mean, I thought it was delicious. But I won’t be offended if you just throw it away.”