Chapter Five: I was boring? #

All the girls were sleeping at Aliya’s house on Friday for her birthday.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” asked Melia.

“I have plans for dinner.” Said, Aliya.

“With whom?” asked Melia.

Aliya was looking at Shireen for help. “Must be her uncle. Let’s celebrate tonight.” chimed in Shireen.

They drank champagne, danced, talked, and fell asleep. It was morning. Aliya had a big bouquet delivered from Alex. She quickly hid them before anyone else saw them. She messaged Alex.

“Thanks for the flowers. I thought I said no gifts.”

“Happy birthday. Flowers are not gifts. They are just flowers. Has everyone left?”

“No. Everyone is hung over from too much champagne. See you tonight.”

“Can’t wait.”

Everyone left by noon and Aliya got ready. She decided to wear a simple black shimmer mermaid gown. Her hair was roughly tied, with strands falling on her bare shoulders. She went down at 7, and Alex was there waiting for her. He climbed the stairs and kissed her passionately.

“Happy birthday. I can legally kiss you now.” Said, Alex.

Aliya smiled. “In Washington. Thank you for the flowers.”

“Welcome.” Said Alex holding her hand and walking her down.

They were at the restaurant at a window-side table. They ordered food and champagne.

“Since it’s your birthday, I want to discuss you. Tell me about your life.” Said, Alex.

“That is a big question. What would you like to know?”

“Tell me about your parents.”

“My parents are from New York. They met in California and married a year later in Seattle at my uncle’s house. They decided to move to London to start their company, and I was born a year later. My mom is very cool. She approaches everything with logic and understanding. She is more of a ‘do it yourself’ person. We used to move between countries; if I wanted something, she would tell me to get it myself. I had to talk to different people in different languages. I had to pick my school, clothes, the furniture in my room, everything. Her ideology is; to learn to make decisions early so you can make mistakes early. As one ages, the cost of mistakes goes up.”

“Very interesting. Do you like making all the decisions?”

“It is scary because if something goes wrong, it’s my fault. I have no one else to blame. Freedom is nice, but it comes with responsibility. That’s why I can’t lie. I can’t stand the guilt that someone was hurt because of me. And I am curious. Well, the last one’s to finish the thought, and it usually gets me in trouble.”

Alex laughed. “How about your dad?”

“My dad is the exact opposite. He is emotional, and he cries during movies. He says Hunts cry, but he is only talking about himself. He never watches horror movies with us. My mom is calm and logical. My dad is turbulent and emotional. He is known for his temper and what he calls his passion, but it is just anger. He is an architect, and he puts his heart into everything. He gets angry very quickly when things are not aligned with his vision. He is not adventurous. Mom and I would ride roller coasters and do crazy stuff, but my dad would sleep. That’s it, sleep. We have this joke that my dad can even sleep standing up.”

“I have a confession. I also cry a lot. Movies, loneliness, my girlfriend walking out on me, I will cry.”

“I will order extra tissues.”

Alex laughed.

“My mom is an only child; hence I am an only child. She said she had too much fun as a single child. My grandparents died a while ago. My dad has an elder brother who lives in Seattle. Two sons, Arman and Aryan. Arman is older and reserved. Aryan is the younger one. My aunt died from cancer when I was a kid. Aryan and I have always been close. We are in school together.”

“I am sorry.” Said Alex touching her hand.

“Thanks!”

“Why do you not have a British accent?”

“Because I never lived in London. My parents moved as their job required. I have lived in Berlin, Moscow, Prague, Paris, and now Seattle.”

“Was it hard moving around? New school, new friends.”

“I met new people, and they would tell me stories. I learnt new languages and saw new cities. It was fun. About friends, yes, that was hard. I am unsure if it is cause or effect, but making friends is difficult. I can talk to people, but calling someone a friend means committing to the relationship. It takes time to build trust to talk to someone about me and tell my secrets. It is difficult for me to trust people.”

“Did someone hurt you?”

“No, my secrets are big.” She smiled.

“Would you tell me one?”

Aliya was thinking. “It will scare you.”

“I don’t scare easy. I don’t think I have ever been scared.” Said Alex smiling.

“Not even as a kid? No ghosts, nightmares, scary stories?”

“No. Everything can be explained by science. Tell me your secret.”

“I have an awful temper. I keep it under very tight control. I am not talking about screaming, crying temper. I have a physical temper that scares people. I justify it because if one did something that made me lose control, one deserved it. Once the threshold is crossed, then I can’t stop. The aftermath is even worse. I feel guilty and depressed because I harmed someone. It is just awful.”

“Tell me about a time of high temper.”

“All right. Very few people know what I am about to tell you. And I think you deserve to know before you move forward. I always began my life story in Berlin when I was three. That is because I always had a very bad temper and was very stubborn. I always got what I wanted because I would throw fits and break stuff like glasses, mirrors, pictures, and anything. I would destroy the place. My mom always ignored it by saying she was a kid. She will grow out of it. As I grew, my temper grew. One day I was riding a bicycle somewhere, and I was ten, I think. And this guy started cycling next to me, and he started catcalling. I ignored him and told him to leave me alone, but he wouldn’t go. Then he said something so disgusting that I caught his collar, and he started cycling very fast, but I was holding on to him. And I said to him, “Where are you gonna go?” And I pushed him, and we both fell. Then, I punched him. People came and pulled me off him.

I broke his jaw, his nose, and his wrist. The next day at the police station, everybody congratulated me on my bravery. He was a pedophile who had been harassing kids for a while. But I never forgot his bloody face. It was like I had no control over myself, and the first time I saw him was when people were trying to pull me away. You see these tiny little scars.” She said, showing him her right hand, which had less than nail length of scars on the knuckles of her middle and ring finger. “These are reminders of how badly I hit him. They haunt me every day that I hurt someone. I try to justify it when I think about it. He said I would like to take down your panties, take the rod from my bike and insert it inside you and make you wet.”

“Holy shit.” Said Alex with a horrified look.

“He said that to a ten-year-old. Our old house in London had a driveway to park the car. One day, I was studying inside and heard my mom outside. There was a commotion. I walked out, and my dad was trying to calm this guy threatening to kill him. My mom was begging him, “We will pay you anything. Just calm down. My daughter will hear you.” I walked to my dad, and my mom was quiet. I asked the man what’s the problem. My dad said, “Don’t do anything. I was backing out, and I didn’t see him. And I hit his vendor bicycle, and it is damaged.” And this guy was shouting, “I will kill you. I will kill your family. How dare you hit me?” I got so angry that I held him by the throat. I wasn’t even this tall. I have no idea how I reached his throat. I told him, “Get out of here, or you won’t have a life.” He picked up his vendor thing, and he ran.

That was the day I realized that my parents were scared of me. We had security around us, and my parents were scared of me. I have such a bad temper, and I am such a bad person that my parents fear me. I decided that I needed to control it. I was getting training to survive. I focused on how to assess the situation and control my temper so that I could think of the best action. Anger makes me lose control and disrupts my thinking process. Losing control can be the difference between life and death. How scared are you?”

“Aliya, I am really sorry for what happened to you. I am neither scared nor worried. The only thing I am right now; I am proud of you. What he said, I would have hit him too. It is not your anger but your protectiveness for your loved ones.”

Aliya smiled. “Are you for real? I just told you I have a terrible temper, and you are romanticizing it? Even I can’t pull that off.”

Alex laughed. “Have you ever hit someone you thought wasn’t going to hurt you or someone you love?”

“No.”

“There you go. I think that is survival. If you fear your life or the life of your loved one, you react to save them. And clearly, your family needs to be protected. You have all this security around you. “Why is that? Because of money.”

“I am not entirely sure. We were in Paris a day before my eleventh birthday, and suddenly my parents left me in Seattle the next day. They never told me the reason, and when I asked, they felt sad. So, I stopped asking. I have no idea what my uncle does. He was in the army, and now he has a construction company, I think. My parents, I think, have access to blueprints and addresses of very powerful people and companies. I moved to Seattle in the middle of the school year, so I was homeschooled for a few months. Aryan and I had to take training classes. I was thrilled when my parents agreed to the flat.”

“What is in training?”

“It mainly prepared me to assess the situation and think. If someone is holding a weapon, running is the best thing to do. Unless one is Arman, who trains daily, one will get hurt. We were taught how to protect ourselves best. Being aware of surroundings, recognizing red flags, and situational training. Like if I am kidnapped, what should I do to increase my chances of survival? Are you scared now?”

Alex laughed. “No. But it is fascinating. I told you. I am not that easy to scare.”

“Have you ever been in a fight? Seen violence first hand?”

“No. Why?”

“It is easy to romanticize something when you have never experienced it. The reality might be very different. I am glad you are supportive, but I caution that you might change your view if you experience something. And I would completely understand. It is not your world. It is my world. I would not force anything on you because I don’t want anyone to force their lifestyle on me. It must be my choice, and it must be your choice. I have an excellent friend, Melia, who never comes to my flat. She doesn’t like my security, and I am okay with that. I go to her place. Ben checks the library, and we sit there and talk. Or we meet at a café. It is good.”

“Okay. I will keep that in mind.”

“Did you get a culture shock coming to the US?”

“No. I have never felt more British than at Harvard. In Cambridge, a martini is with gin by default unless you explicitly state that you want it with vodka. The martinis at John Harvard were remarkable. For some reason, gin and tonic is the most popular drink. But I find Americans confusing. The moment they met me, the first sentence was, ‘Ooh you are from England.’ They seemed fascinated by that fact. But as time passed, they had issues with my thinking or my way of talking; lifts, flats, bins, etc. London is very diverse. We don’t go around saying ooh French, ooh German. During my bachelor’s, I wasn’t exactly sure if they wanted me to be an American or British.”

“What about during your Ph.D.?”

“I stopped paying attention.”

Aliya laughed. “I wish I had an accent. At least then, it would be easier to explain to people how I think. In German, nothing is equivalent to the phrase ‘How are you?’ If you say that, you are expecting a long answer. People say it as a greeting here. My cousins are culturally American. I asked Arman once to camp in the garden at my uncle’s place. He asked for three tents. I told him we needed one tent and we would sleep together. He made such a big deal about not sharing the bed. I don’t get it. Space is limited in Moscow and Berlin. We would squeeze together on one bed. I even see it in movies. A friend would come over, and one would sleep in the huge bed and the other on the floor in a sleeping bag. It is a vast bed. Just share. You have seen my bed. It is a king-size bed, and still, everyone insists on sleeping separately. What am I doing to them in the night?

Culturally I represent Germans and Russians, and we are pretty direct. I find people here overly friendly but in a fake way. Like, when I started school, some girl started talking to me. And she was going on and on about I will show you this, I will show you that, but she never did. Why are you saying you will do something if you will not? Just be honest and save both of us some time. In my family, we never go back on our word. If we say we will do something, it will be done. And then there are the games. What did she mean? What did he mean? What’s the hidden meaning? Wait three days to call? This concept of pretending and feigning interest is literally foreign to me.

I understand that each culture has social norms. But people need to strive for advancement to become a better society. I don’t have five bedrooms. Why do you want to sleep on the floor or the couch when there is a perfectly comfortable bed? The entire point of camping is that we talk and fall asleep. What is the point of camping if we are in three different camps? Might as well go to your bedroom and sleep.”

“I understand. I thought you have two friends, Shireen and Melia?”

“We are a group of five. You have met Shireen. Then there is Melia, Jun, and Verma. They are all amazing. But Shireen and Melia are my closest friends.”

“Do you know what you want to study in college?”

“Maths. Though, I don’t know what I want to do. My parents grew up in New York and loved looking at tall buildings and talking to people. My dad was fascinated by beautiful townhouses and views of the river. They both knew what they wanted to study. Kids want to be astronauts and doctors, and I had no idea. I like maths, but I don’t know what I will do with it. I believe that maths is a language and physics is the grammatical rules. Studying them together would give us the language of the universe. But after the two shocks, I am so done with physics. I tried to like it. But, nope.”

Alex laughed. “That’s beautiful. Do you know where you want to go to school?”

“Not London. That’s about it. Aren’t you bored listening to me?”

“No. You are fascinating. I have tickets to Philharmonics for next Saturday. Would you like to go?”

“Absolutely. What are they playing?”

“I should know this. I think Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto.”

“Someone in Germany told me that people used to talk and participate in symphonies in older times. Now, one must sit silently, which is why young people do not like going to the philharmonics.”

“Interesting. Do you play any instrument?”

“No. I lack creativity. I can’t read music, and I can’t play anything. I can only identify famous symphonies such as Beethoven no.9, 5, Mozart no.40, or Bartók. But I cannot tell Tchaikovsky from Dvořák. I used to go to Berlin Philharmonics with dad. I would always sit orchestra left to watch the violinists. Then one day, they were on the other side. And then I learnt that symphony sometimes also comes with a seating chart. And conductors also like to design their seating chart.”

“What is your favourite violin piece?”

“If I say Mozart’s violin concertos, would you judge me?”

Alex laughed. “No. Do you like art?”

“Would you like the short answer or the long answer?”

“Long.”

“I appreciate art, but I am not fond of it. My mom knows art exceptionally well. I have a system. If something is modern, I use words like avant-garde and provocative. If it is something older, evocative, realist, romantic. If it is something really old; baroque, naturalist. And how I tell the age of the painting from the frame. Paintings are protected very well; frames, however, are not. I am correct 90% of the time. My mom goes into brush strokes and color palettes; I usually think if I can paint this. I notice things like women are not petite but fuller in older paintings. And they don’t have sharp features; they are drawn soft. I look for a story in the painting, and often I find nothing or can’t get to it. There was a painting of the start of a revolution in Spain at Prado. I wanted that painting to move me because it marked a significant historic occasion, but there was nothing.

Modern art is where I am completely lost. There is a painting by a German artist that is coming for auction. It is a blood-red canvas. That’s it. I thought that maybe it was a curtain, and the guy was trying to depict that our life has surprises. But my mom was like; it is a mirror covered in blood, showing our inner struggle. Umm what? How did she even get to that? By the way, my mom is willing to pay up to 1.5 million for that. I can make it for her for ten dollars. A few years ago, the same thing happened. We saw this art, a red dot on a white canvas. My first thought it is a stoplight.”

Alex laughed. “What was it?”

“It gets worse. Then I thought maybe it’s an illusion thing where you go close, and you will see two of them. Then my mom chimed in with industrialism and modern evolution. I listen to symphonies and am at the edge of my seat. It moves me. Looking at paintings, nothing. Berlin has an amazing collection of art. The Berlin wall moved me more than Raphael. I appreciate sculptures, especially Greek sculptures from the 5th century BC. I admire the accuracy of anatomy and the expressions on the face. I can look at one for four hours. But Matisse or Koons, get me out of here. Hirst, I can appreciate it because of all the diamonds, but I still don’t understand what it is representing. High jewelry by Cartier is art too. I met someone in Germany who was making sketches. I started talking to him about what can be or should be considered an art. He said, ‘art is what can be sold.’ It is the best definition I have ever heard. When I look at a piece, I think about how much I would pay to buy it. So that is my view. And I am guessing you like art.”

Alex laughed. “You are fascinating. And yes, I love the impressionist era.”

“I appreciate the work’s uniqueness or the creativity in art, like copper wire art from the Ming dynasty, ceramic art from Italy and Greece, or a very creative piece. There is a plaster piece at my home. It is the head of Medusa. I saw it at the Christmas market in Frankfurt, I think. It was thirty euros. I saw it, and I loved it. Its head is a little uneven, and I love that flaw. Even though your favourite line is ‘it’s perfect,’ truly in life, nothing is perfect. We have flaws that distinguish us from other people. I think it is not the perfection in us but the flaws in us that make us beautiful. Like my flaw of talking too much.”

“But I want to hear what you have to say.” Said Alex smiling.

“My talking is a byproduct of living alone. When I lived with my parents, dad and I would go on a walk in the evening to discuss the events of the day. Mom would ask me how my day was at school and correct my French; my French is horrible. I had people to converse with. Now, being alone, all those thoughts are in my head, and if I find someone interesting enough to talk to, I lay it all out. I don’t want to lose the opportunity.”

“I have all the time in the world. I would love to hear all you have to say.” Said Alex holding her hand. “Tell me something interesting.”

“Till now, I was boring?”

“No, I didn’t mean that. I need to rephrase the question. Tell me something unusual about you that no one would guess.”

Aliya thought for a minute. “Oh. I love Eminem.”

Alex laughed. “That is the extreme end.”

“Yes. I loved the movie 8 mile. The rap battle, I was an instant fan.”

“I wanted to ask you something, but please don’t get mad. When I hacked your computer, you had a blog bookmarked. You review books?”

“Yes. I like reading, and I get paid for reviewing them. A complete conflict of interest, but that is my money for my expenses.”

“You don’t get an allowance?”

“Not exactly. I have a joint account with my mom. They already pay for my school, so I prefer to pay for my things or gifts.” Said Aliya pointing to the cufflinks. “I learned about taxes and registering an LLC to hide my identity.”

“You paid for this?”

“Yes. A gift bought with my parents’ money would have no meaning. They have resources, and it would be an immaterial effort. Whereas it takes my time and effort to earn whatever I can. Gives the gift some meaning, I think.”

“It absolutely does. Thank you very much. Tell me a question that I should have asked. Or a question you want me to ask.”

Aliya was thinking. “I need to think about this.” Pause. “But I remembered something that I wanted to tell you. I don’t like chocolates. Shireen ate both of the boxes you sent. I am more of a gelato person. I love cold. My favourite memory is going on a horse-drawn sleigh in Moscow with my dad. Cold is so much fun, romantic, exhilarating.”

“Elaborate.”

“Picture this; it’s snowing outside, view of snow-covered mountains, sitting snuggled in a blanket by a fireplace, holding a snifter with Louis XIII, Dvorak playing pianissimo, reading a book. Try picturing this on a beach, sweating, eyes closed with sunshine, hands greasy with sunscreen, yuck.”

Alex laughed. “Fortunately, I do have a fireplace. I look forward to the next snow.”

“We have a beautiful fireplace in London in our library. Our house in London is beautiful. It is in Kensington with seven levels. The first floor has a drawing room and library at the back. The fireplace is marble, with two beautiful Greek columns carved as statues on each side. So, I sit by the fireplace with the cognac every winter, reading one of the books. Where do your parents live in London?”

“Oxford circus. They have a penthouse on the eighth floor with three levels. It has like seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.”

“That sounds big.”

“The bedrooms are small. One is a study. I am sure it’s not as big as yours. It has two balconies and a terrace on top. It has a plant room, with a wall lined with plants.”

“Interesting. I love the idea of the reception room. The person is guided to the proper room based on who you are receiving. My mom tried to explain the difference between receiving room, drawing room, and living room. The first room one enters is the receiving room. It usually has a table and a fainting couch. The living room is where the household sits, and the drawing room is where guests sit. Wait, what was the foyer then?” said Aliya trying to remember. “We have all three, and it’s very confusing, especially when no one is allowed to visit.”

“I didn’t know that. You must know a lot about architecture.”

“Unfortunately, no. I know enough to distinguish between Roman and Greek architecture in theory. I have never been to either country, which is very sad.”

“You know they are Mediterranean countries, right?”

“Yes, but Alexander, think of the stories, the food, the music. I don’t have to go during summer. Pretty sure it is awesome in winter too.”

“That is what I should have done today, flown you to Rome or Milan.”

“This is great. Ask me what I would like to change about myself?”

“Ok, tell me.”

“I need to learn to be more easy-going.”

“That’s not true. You are very mellow.”

“No. I worry all the time about everything. I don’t think about the future because I get too sad thinking about the world.”

“But that is very kind of you.”

“You will find that annoying as we progress. Also, I am a little materialistic. Ok, that’s a lie. I am very materialistic.”

“The girl who doesn’t like jewelry is materialistic?” said Alex sarcastically.

“You should see my wardrobe. I wasn’t always like that. My mom wanted me to make all my decisions so that I would buy cheap clothes. Money left would be spent on books and walking around. In Paris, the buildings are very close to each other and of the same height. I and a couple of others would go to our roof and then jump to random rooftops and see how far we could go. Once, I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and I leaped over this wall, and my jeans button popped. Now, I am on a random terrace, far from home, with my friends, and my jeans are about to fall. Moreover, to get back, I have to jump over these crazy walls. I took one of the pins in my hair and improvised. That was the day I was introduced to quality stitching.

Then last year, I went to a party at Melia’s place. She throws impressive parties when her parents are out. Anyway, I was walking around with a boy discussing a paper from school when the strap of my heels broke. It is not as embarrassing as jeans popping, but they are heels. Now I was walking uneven in an earnest conversation. It was pretty embarrassing, and the next day I found Louboutin.”

Alex was laughing. “The stories are amazing. But I don’t think you are materialistic because you really value relationships. What you did for Shireen is amazing. Everyone wants nice things. It’s great that you are very self-conscious. You might have noticed that I am very indecisive. I am never really sure what I want. I am more like, ‘whatever you are having.'”

“That way, you experience all these new things you wouldn’t have known about. I think you are like your dad. You are trying what people think is best, and then form your opinion. You have one particular car and one particular champagne, but you have seven vodka brands. I think you have tried all the other champagne and all the other cars and you know exactly what you want. That’s the right way to do it. I am more, I see it, love it, and want it. I may not like that anymore as time passes because I haven’t experienced the other options. But once you like something, you like it. There will never be anything else.”

Alex was smiling. “I never thought of that. My dad would love that. Aliya, you are perfect.”

“I am not. But let’s keep the fantasy going as long as possible. What is your favourite city?”

“Hong Kong. I went there with my dad before coming to the US. It is gorgeous. What is your favourite city?”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t traveled enough.”

“Tell me about your summer. What do you usually do?”

“Usually, I go to London. I take AP classes in the summer, and many of them are online. This year I must prepare for SAT, SAT subject, and International Math Olympiad.”

“Are you done with all the AP?”

“The general ones, yes. But I am taking multivariate calculus and linear algebra II.”

“Does your school teach that?”

“No. It is an online class with Harvard. More self-study, that is why I need my Friday. I want to be better prepared for Olympiad. And then there is SAT subject. I don’t have a lot of extracurricular activities or charity work. To make my application stronger, I decided to take the classes. They are fun.”

“So, you want to go to Harvard?”

“It is a front runner. I have a recommendation from one of the professors in the Maths department. I took Calculus II last year. My mom went to Harvard.”

“You should apply at MIT too. You are fast. You will have fun there.”

“Let’s not jump ahead. Tell me your pick-up line.” Said Aliya changing subjects.

Alex laughed. “I don’t have a pick-up line. I just sit in random places eating garish food, waiting for beautiful girls to come and talk to me. I am good at physics. That is it. I am not good at anything else, including picking up girls. I am shy and emotional. I have always wanted a girlfriend. I never wanted one night stand or casual dating. I finally have one, and I feel like I should have done more for her birthday.” Said, Alex. “What can I do? Would you like to go to Rome?”

Aliya laughed. “No. But you can buy me gelato.”

“With cognac.”

“Alexander! That sounds lovely. Let’s go home.”

They went to Aliya’s home, and Aliya served ice cream with cognac.

“Take a bite of ice cream and a sip of cognac.” Said, Alex.

Aliya did that. “That is horrible.”

Alex laughed, watching her. “I forgot the cake!” Screamed Alex. “What kind of a boyfriend forgets cake? I am horrible.”

“It’s ok. I will get a big one tomorrow. I will save a slice for you.”

“This is horrible.” Said, Alex. “I am going to get one right now.”

“It’s midnight. We can bake one.”

“You know how to bake?” asked Alex.

“How hard can it be? Just follow the instructions.” Said, Aliya.

“Ok. We should change first. Also, tell me where the fire extinguisher is?” said Alex taking his jacket off.

They changed and started baking a cake. It was romantic, and Aliya and Alex were on the kitchen floor without clothes when the cake was in the oven.

“I don’t think that was part of the instructions.” Said Aliya picking up her top.

“What are you supposed to do for forty minutes?” he said, pulling Aliya back.

“I don’t know. Play bridge.” Said Aliya smiling.

“Come here. Let me show you how you play bridge.” Said Alex pulling her.

Another twenty minutes later.

“Kitchen floor is not comfortable.” Said Aliya getting up.

“I agree.” Said, Alex.

Oven dinged. “Perfect timing.” Said, Alex.

They got dressed, and Aliya found candles. She blew out the candles and cut the cake.

“This cake is horrible.” Said Aliya tasting it.

“No, no. I have another idea.” Said Alex picking her up. They went to her terrace and made love.

It was 5 am when Alex woke up Aliya. “Hey. Get up. Your birthday present!”

“What,” said Aliya rubbing her eyes.

“It’s snowing!”

“Really?” asked Aliya.

“Happy birthday.” Said Alex kissing her. It only snowed for about 10 minutes before the rain began. They went downstairs and fell asleep in the bedroom. Aliya got up in the morning and left for brunch. Alex was watching a movie when Aliya got back in the afternoon.

“I brought you cake.” Said Aliya showing him a slice.

“How was the brunch?”

“Good. It was tough to explain why there was no dinner yesterday.”

“What did you say?”

“I blamed Shireen and Melia.”

“Would you like me to meet your parents?” asked Alex.

“You would do that?” Asked Aliya, surprised.

“Yes. I just need to confirm my life insurance. I told my dad about what you said yesterday. He was astonished.”

Aliya smiled. “What did he say?”

“Marry her.”

Aliya laughed.

“He also told me about your parents.” Said, Alex. “Your dad designed the house you like so much. My parents bought it from your parents.”

“Of course he did. I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

“My cousin Aryan would like to meet you. A few weeks back, I was at the mall, and I told everyone that I needed to leave early as I had dinner plans. Aryan was there, and I thought he would forget about it, but he didn’t. I had to tell him about you, and he wants to meet you. Is that ok?”

“Yes!!” said Alex with excitement.

Aliya smiled. “Are you staying over?”

“I may never leave.”

Aliya laughed. Alex stayed over and left the next day. The week was uneventful, and it was Friday. Alex drove to Aliya’s place and parked the car. Aryan and Aliya greeted him in the lobby.

“Hey.” Said, Alex.

“Hey. We were just waiting for you. Alexander, this is Aryan Hunt. Aryan, this is Alexander Knight.” Said Aliya introducing them. They shook hands.

“Nice car.” Said, Aryan.

“Thanks.”

“Let’s go up.” Said, Aliya.

They went upstairs and sat at the dining table.

“Something to drink. Scotch?” asked Aliya.

“Thanks,” said Alex.

She poured three glasses.

“I have heard a lot about you. You are very creative. I didn’t know a cat could be drunk.” Said, Alex.

“That was not what I intended. I took scotch from Aliya because she has an endless supply. I was transferring it to a discreet bottle, and I poured it into a bowl. The stupid cat drank it. The neighbors were like, ‘You spoiled our car.’ And I was like, ‘Your stupid cat drank my thousand-dollar scotch. I am the real victim here.’” Said, Aryan.

Alex and Aliya were laughing.

“You two are in the same grade?” Asked Alex.

“Yes, but I am two years older than her. She skipped grades.” Said, Aryan.

“She told me. She is brilliant.” Said, Alex. “Do you have any advice for dating your cousin?”

“Yes. Always make sure there are two bathrooms. She does not share her bathroom.”

“You are disgusting. Sit the fuck down.” Said, Aliya.

“Men don’t sit down.”

“They do in Europe.”

“I am not talking to you.” Said Aryan holding a hand in front of her. “Don’t even think of using her bathroom. Her bar is completely open. I can snag her Louis XIII, but no, the bathroom she must protect.”

“I sit down.” Said Alexander laughing. “It is polite and also healthy. But I will make a note. Anything else.”

“She is really impatient. During Christmas, she is on a hunt. She is ethical, like she knows my password.”

“It is a stupid password, and he refuses to change it.” Said Aliya cutting him off.

“Don’t hate on my password. See, no patience. If I check my email, she will suddenly pop up to see if I am buying something. She will go through the garbage to see the receipts of what was bought because she can’t wait till Christmas. She will search the house if it comes to it. And you know her debate skills?” asked Aryan.

“I have been made aware of them but have never seen her in action.”

“Oh, God. Don’t ever get into a debate with her. Because of her impatience, we now open the Christmas presents at midnight instead of in the morning.” Said, Aryan.

“Ok, enough about me. Aryan is looking at colleges too.” Said, Aliya.

“What are you looking to study?” asked Alex.

“Business, management. But I want to have fun, not get bogged down by homework and assignments.”

“You should think about going to Brown. You will be close to Aliya, considering she picks MIT or Harvard. There are no required classes, and it is not an intense school.”

“MIT? When did you start considering MIT?” Asked Aryan with surprise.

“My Ph.D. is from MIT. It is a great school for people who want to learn, not knowing what they want to do. I think Aliya would fit in perfectly. And Aliya, the things you struggle with at school, navigating through the social aspect, are nonexistent at MIT. The students come together for one common goal, to innovate.” Replied Alex.

“I will think about it.” Said, Aliya.

“There is no harm in applying. Once you get all the acceptance letters, you can decide.” Said, Alex.

Aliya laughed. “MIT is for geniuses. You are so cute to think I will get in.”

“You will get in,” said Alex. “Did I tell you how I got in?”

“By applying,” said Aliya guessing the apparent answer.

“No. I was driving, and I was trying to find parking. And this car hits my car from the back. I got out, and this older man got out. We were driving slowly, so nothing was damaged, but the man was scared because my car looked expensive. He told me that he was very sorry. He was not paying attention and thinking about something. There were scratches, and I told him it was fine. But he insisted that I come to his office so that he could pay it off. I went to his office at MIT, and he wrote me a check for a thousand dollars. We started talking about physics and my thoughts, and three hours later, he accepted me to the Ph.D. program. No application, no transcripts. I have the check framed in my lab.”

“You are a genius. I am not.” Said, Aliya.

“You are intelligent. You are studying advanced maths. You need the proper education and the right professors to guide you to success. You have time. Focus on your SATs, but please add MIT to your list.”

“Shouldn’t you be convincing her to go to school near you here?” asked Aryan.

“I want her to be successful and happy. Not going to MIT is something I regret. She reminds me of what I wanted from college or what I should have wanted. And as far as staying close to me, I have no family here, nothing keeping me here. I like Boston. It would be nice to be in that environment, and maybe this time, I will enjoy college life because I have a girlfriend.”

“Alex, you look immensely normal. When Aliya told me about you, I thought the guy must be nerdy with glasses. You live here alone?” asked Aryan.

“Yes. I moved here after I graduated. My parents live in London.”

“Why did you move here then?” asked Aryan.

“I had a bad breakup and just wanted to get away. My parents own a beautiful house here designed by her parents.”

“The house we were talking about last weekend?” Aryan asked Aliya.

“Yes. His parents bought it ages ago, but dad did the renovation.”

“Cool. Do you play any sports?” Aryan asked Alex.

“No. Never did,” said Alex.

“Aryan plays lacrosse varsity.” Said, Aliya.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?” asked Aryan.

“I like classical music, art, and Star Wars.”

“I love Star Wars. What about Star Gate?” Screamed Aryan with excitement.

“I love Star Gate!”

“Ooh, watch this. Aliya say Teal’c.” said Aryan to Aliya.

“Tea…l’kh, I hate you.” Said Aliya, terribly mispronouncing it.

“I have told her a thousand times how to say it, but it comes out a mixture of Russian and German.” Said, Aryan.

“Aliya, try Tok’ra.” Said, Alex. Aryan laughed.

“I am not talking. You can consider your scotch supply cut off.” Said Aliya to Aryan.

“No. No. I will think of something good to say.” Said, Aryan. He was thinking.

“Really? It is taking you so long to think of one good thing to say.” Said Aliya with frustration.

“It will come to me. Oh! She never goes back on her word. She can’t lie. You can trust her blindly. Like she knows my password, but she will never log in or tell it to anyone because it is not hers. And she is the most amazing sister in the world. I have an elder brother, but she is closer to me than him.” Said Aryan hugging her.

“That was sweet.” Said, Alex.

“Yeah Yeah. I love you too.” Said Aliya hugging him. “You want to stay over and watch Star Wars with us.”

“I love her, and I like you for making her watch the movies.” Said Aryan to Alex. “Let me call dad.”

“Pizza or Chinese?” asked Aliya.

“Both,” said Aryan getting up.

“You can change too. I got your clothes cleaned.” Said, Aliya.

“Isn’t she awesome?” said Aryan leaving.

Alex nodded.

“So that is my cousin.” Said, Aliya.

“He is nice, and he cares about you. I am glad I met him.” Said Alex kissing her.

“I am going to change.” Said, Aliya.

Aryan came back in pajamas.

“Aliya is changing and ordering food.” Said Alex taking a seat on the couch.

“Are you planning to meet her parents?” asked Aryan sitting next to him.

“I would like to, but I think she wants to wait.”

“I would have suggested the same thing. Aunty is cool, but my uncle and dad are quite intense. Are you cool with our security detail?”

“You have one too?”

“Yes. You think she has security detail, you should see mine.”

“Don’t scare him.” Said Aliya coming out of her room.

“I am not scaring him. Just letting him know.” Explained Aryan. “More scotch, please.”

“Do you know why you have a security detail?” asked Alex.

“No, we don’t. I always had mine. Our house in DC and Seattle has always been secure. Aliya got it a few years ago. She is at least well-traveled. All I have seen is DC, Seattle, and London.” Said, Aryan.

Aliya came back with popcorn and a scotch bottle.

“Is Misha staying?” said Aliya handing Aryan scotch.

“No. Ben will drop me off tomorrow?” said Aryan.

“Sure. I am not going anywhere.” Answered Aliya.

“Or I can drop you.” Said, Alex. “You can check out my car.”

“I really like him. You have been to his home?” asked Aryan.

“Yes, it is stunning. You want to see it tomorrow?” Said, Aliya. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to..” said Aliya apologetically to Alex.

“No. Aryan, you are more than welcome to see it.” Said Alex holding her hand.

“Sure. Ben didn’t tell your parents?” asked Aryan.

“No, he can’t. He is my protective detail. He needs my trust. It goes both ways. You would learn a lot if you just talked to Misha.” Said, Aliya.

“I don’t speak Russian. You take him and give me Ben.”

“Sorry, I like Ben, and Ben speaks German, as do I. Do you? Just be nice to Misha and stop getting in trouble.”

“You ask too much. Your expectations are stifling me.” Said, Aryan.

They stayed in and watched Star Wars movies over pizza and scotch and went to bed. The following day Aryan and Aliya were ready when Alex woke up.

“Good morning. Coffee?” asked Aliya.

“Yes, thank you.” Said, Alex. “How long have you been up?”

“A while.” Said Aliya getting up to make coffee.

Aliya made him coffee, and Alex picked a French toast.

“Our talk isn’t over.” Said, Aryan.

“Yes, it is.” Said Aliya giving Alex coffee.

“What is the talk about, if I may ask?” asked Alex.

“She hasn’t told Melia, and that is not good.” Said, Aryan.

“Melia is not here, and whenever I see her, she is with the girls or you and Brian. And she is stressed about Mike and the internship. I will tell her when she is in a better mood.” Explained Aliya.

“Is Mike not interested in her?” asked Aryan.

“No. Are you?” asked Aliya.

“Oh, please. We are only friends because of you. She annoys the hell out of me. Fashion this, fashion that.” Said, Aryan.

“I am sorry that she annoys you. Is that why you attend all her parties, crash at my house for dinner when she is here, and text her all the time?” confronted Aliya.

“See, I do all this for you.” Said, Aryan.

“Nice save.” Said Alex laughing.

“We are too young anyway. She is the only normal one in your friends.” Said, Aryan.

“Not Shireen?” asked Alex.

“That gossipy fishwife. Please. It is a moot point anyway because once I am out of Seattle, I will date and party and travel like no one ever has.” Said Aryan, dreaming.

“Travelling and parties are not everything.” Said, Aliya.

“You have aunty to guide you. You are going on a girl’s road trip after exams. What am I doing? Going to DC again to listen to a bunch of old farts.” Said, Aryan.

“It was Melia’s idea for her eighteenth birthday. Mom has nothing to do with it.”

“She always says yes. I have never heard aunty say no. You don’t even have to ask for it. You have a full bar, your own place, an unlimited allowance that you don’t even bother to use.” Complained Aryan.

“Do not emotionally blackmail me. You already used that to get my Christmas scotch. And by the way, that was a two-thousand-dollar bottle of Balvenie.” Said, Aliya.

Aryan sighed. “Alex, let’s go see your place.”

“My bag is in my car.” Said, Alex.

“I will ask Naz to bring it up.” Said Aliya getting up.

Alex got ready.

“Are you coming?” asked Aryan.

“Bugatti has two seats.” Said, Aliya.

“Come with us. Without Misha, Ben is going to follow us anyway.”

“I would like to use this time to study. So go have fun and don’t break anything.” Said, Aliya.

They were on their way. Alex and Aliya went to the symphony in the evening, followed by a late dinner. At Sunday morning breakfast;

“Neu called, and he is coming to Seattle in two weeks for work. He will be here for the week, and then my friends will join him the week after for a get-together. I would like you to meet them. What do you think?” said Alex drinking his coffee.

“Sounds great. What is your plan?”

“Neu wants to go to some bars since his wife is not coming. I am considering arranging dinner at Le Jeune Amour when everyone is here. You will love them.”

“Great. I will meet you at the bar.”

“I can pick you up, and we can go together.”

“No. I like to make an entrance.”

Alex laughed. “Ok. I have another request. Can you take two days off from school? Fifteenth and sixteenth, to be specific.”

“Are we going out of Seattle?”

“Out of the country. What do you think?”

Aliya was checking the calendar. “Ok. I have a few things due, so I must study extra next weekend.”

“Absolutely. I will arrange everything and let you know the plan. You have all next week to yourself.”

“Where are we going?”

“That is a surprise.”

“Alexander. You can’t surprise me. My security needs to know.”

“I will tell them. They don’t need to tell you.”

Aliya smiled. “Ok. I will not ask.”

Aliya studied next week to finish the assignments. She was packed, and Alex picked her up on Tuesday at 5. They were at the airport and on the plane.

“We are going to Europe.” Said, Aliya.

“How do you know that?”

Aliya took out a compass from her purse. Alex laughed. “You came prepared.”

“No. I always keep it with me. It helps me from getting lost. How long is the flight?”

“Nine hours. And before you begin your calculation, I am happy to tell you we are going to London.”

“This could end very badly.”

“I planned well—quick stop, in and out. We should have dinner and go to sleep. We land around 11 am tomorrow, and it will be a long night.”

They woke up before landing and were quickly at the hotel.

“I never stayed at a hotel in London. How did you pick this hotel? Asked Aliya.

“Only hotel that offered two bathrooms.”

Aliya laughed. “Don’t remind me. What are we doing today?”

“Well,” said Alex taking off her jacket. “I have some things in mind.” Said Alex unzipping her dress. It was three when Alex and Aliya were on the couch under a blanket.

“You are obsessed with couches.” Said, Aliya.

“I am not. There is not always enough time to get to bed. My ripped shirt can testify to that.” Said Alex kissing her.

Aliya placed the blanket on her face.

“Don’t worry. I bought twenty-five shirts last weekend when you were studying. Also, the very nice sales assistant told me to get a tailor. He sold me shirts with strong stitching, so only the buttons rip, and a tailor will sew them quickly.”

“That is so embarrassing.”

“No, no. He congratulated me on a very passionate girlfriend.” Said Alexander kissing her. “Let’s get ready. We will have an early dinner and drinks at the bar and then leave for your surprise.”

Alex was ready in a black suit when Aliya walked out. She wore an elegant white strapless gown with a bandeau neckline and fitted bodice. The gown clenched her waist before opening into a floor-sweeping fishtail hem. Her hair was tied, and she held a silver clutch paired with silver high heels.

“Wow. You look amazing.” Said, Alex.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go down.”

They went to the bar, and Alex excused himself to make a call. Aliya had ordered drinks and was sipping hers.

“You look amazing.” Said, Alex.

“Thank you. I am excited about tonight. What are we doing?”

“Have patience. We must leave soon because I don’t want to get stuck in London traffic.”

“What is your favourite memory of London?”

“We changed houses every year when I was young. We could never find anything where both mum and dad were happy. That is my biggest memory, moving. I hate moving, packing, and unpacking. So, my favourite memory of London is when we moved into the penthouse. It was beautiful, and finally, both my parents were happy. There was a year when I knew we would move again, and I never even bothered to unpack. I lived out of my suitcase.”

Aliya laughed. “I love packing and unpacking. I always find something hidden that was a stowaway, and it reminds me of the memories with it. Packing comes with hope for a new place, new excitement, and new adventure. Of course, I move around continents. I am sure I would be equally dissatisfied if I were moving around in the same city. What is your favourite memory that you think about?”

“Our first date.” Said Alex spontaneously. “Nearly six weeks ago.”

“How about something more dated?”

Alex was thinking. “I don’t know. I don’t reminisce so much. Every good memory has somehow been tainted with something bad. For me, the future is more hopeful. Present is hopeful. I like to think about that.”

“What is your future like?”

“Very traditional. A wife, a child, a home.”

“Just one child.”

“Yes, I had too much fun as an only child too. Why do you want more than one child?”

Aliya laughed. “I have never thought about it. I am not very fond of kids. I have never been around one, never even picked one up. They scare me, and they annoy me at restaurants and on flights. My dinners have been ruined by screaming, misbehaving children.”

“Were you a screaming, misbehaving child?”

“Not that I can remember. I was always buried in books or papers. Where do you want this home to be?”

“Anywhere as long as the city has good philharmonics and restaurants. I cannot go back to eating at malls again.”

Aliya laughed. “How long were you going to that mall?”

“Two months, maybe. Usually, I walked around the city, but it was raining and cold. I decided to check out the mall instead.”

“So, it wasn’t the food. It was the weather that attracted you. I could have waited till march.”

Alex smiled. “Why did you wait at all? I missed a month with you.”

“It sounded crazy in my head. The first line I thought of when I saw you was, why would he eat that? By the sixth week, I was curious about what kept you returning for the horrible food.”

Alex laughed. He looked at the bar and waved to someone. A guy in a black suit walked to the table and handed Alex a blue box.

“Thank you,” said Alex opening the box. It contained beautiful cascading diamond earrings with teardrop diamonds at the end set in white gold from Harry Winston. Alex took an earring out and opened it. He motioned Aliya to come closer.

“I know you don’t like jewelry, and you are not comfortable accepting these, but this dress deserves the earrings.” Said Alex placing one earring in her ear. He motioned for the other and added that.

“Thank you. But,” said Aliya touching them.

Alex cut her off. “You look gorgeous. I don’t know if you know this, but I really like you. I have been very happy and can’t wait for what’s coming next. Please don’t stop this feeling. Just say thank you.”

Aliya blushed and kissed him. “Thank you. They are beautiful.”

“You are welcome.”

“How did you get them so fast?” asked Aliya.

“My dad has an account with Harry Winston. He says it is the secret of his successful marriage. If mom is depressed or has a fight, dad asks for a piece of jewelry, and all is solved. And, of course, I had to fall for someone who doesn’t like jewelry. That brings me to a question. What should I be doing if we fought and you got mad?”

“Talk, explain, and give me time to cool down and understand your position. It’s not that I don’t like jewelry. I love the Chanel ring. I wear it all the time. And I appreciate the thought of the earrings. But it’s what you said. It takes one phone call to get the jewelry. Just spending money doesn’t make me feel special. Buying something because you saw that my dress needed earrings; that thought makes me feel special. That is how you got caught. You gave me the Chanel ring, and after the exhilaration, my first thought was, why did he give me a ring? It is not an engagement ring; it is a fashion ring, and I suddenly realized it is a very specific one. How did he know that? We got into a fight, and I never got the chance to ask you. Why did you give me this ring?”

Alex smiled. “I wanted to tell you what I told you today. I really like you and would like to be your boyfriend and exclusively date you. We got into a fight, and unfortunately, I ended up saying that to Shireen. Nevertheless, I am happy that it worked out.”

Aliya laughed. “Next time, add a note. And don’t hack.”

“I will never, Ms. Hunt. Do you wear it even at school?”

“Yes. Who’s going to believe it’s real? Even my mom didn’t notice. The only person it is hidden from is Melia. She is interested in fashion. She knows the catalogs inside out. Of all the people who should know, she deserves it the most. I tell her everything. But she hates coming to my flat because of the security. And lately, either she is not here, or the talk is about Mike. Until this thing sorts out, I can’t tell her. I tried twice, and both times she was depressed about Mike. And I didn’t want to be insensitive. Sorry your relationship isn’t working out, but I am in a great one. And let me tell you how amazing he is so you can particularly feel bad.”

Alex laughed. “Is Melia a closer friend than Shireen?”

“They have different personalities. It’s just that Melia doesn’t have as much time as Shireen lately. I think it’s just the stress of the internship and getting into school. We are going on a road trip. That should settle things down.”

“When is this road trip?”

“Right after finals. Melia’s birthday is May 21, so every year after exams, we party. This year she wants to really party. So, we are going to California for a week, LA specifically. She wants to throw a huge party with all her LA and New York contacts. My parent’s place is going to be trashed.”

“I thought your parents lived in London.”

“They do, but they own places all over the world. I never stay at hotels because we have a house in every city I visit. So, the two bathrooms are never an issue. I moved into Aryan’s room in my uncle’s house, and he moved into the guest room. His option was to share a bathroom with Arman or with me. Mine is closer, but it was a hard no.”

“Why did you move out? You and Aryan are so close.”

“There is no freedom in that house. Even the computers in the library are locked. I have a bar, my friends can visit me anytime, you can stay over, and I can stay out. That house feels haunted. I stayed there for one year and never slept peacefully. Aryan stays over when he can. He has clothes at my flat. When the parties begin in May, he will stay over until he leaves for DC, right after Melia’s party. Why did you decide to stay in Seattle? I understand you were trying to get over the breakup, but It has been two years. You are over the break-up, right?”

“Yes. It is quite easy to get over a fake relationship. I told you I hate packing. I needed a reason to move, and nothing came up. I have a house here; my lawyers are here, and it just got comfortable. I had to wait to meet you. With that thought, we should get going.”

They left and were at Royal Albert Hall. Aliya saw the poster, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring Live in Concert.'

“Grand.” She said, looking at the poster. She had a massive smile on her face. She hugged him. “Thank you so much. I am going to cry, but it’s ok.”

“Belated happy birthday.”

“You are a wonderful man.” Said Aliya kissing Alex.

“Let’s go in.”

They went in and had the incredible experience of life. Aliya got the cd signed by Howard Shore and had the program signed by Ludwig Wicki. They were on their way back to the hotel.

“I can’t believe I had nothing better to say to Howard Shore. ‘I love your music.’ That’s the best I could come up with. The live music was amazing—especially the theme of when orcs were coming. The drums were loud, and they enhanced the experience. I didn’t notice that in the movies. Maybe I should let you talk.”

Alex laughed. “No, I am thrilled you had fun.”

“I feel so energized. I am not sleepy at all.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on sleeping.” Said Alex smiling.

They were at the hotel, and they, indeed, did not sleep. They had a quick breakfast and were off to Seattle.