Page 76 of Unravelling: Aria & Crispin
Just enough time to remind herself:
She was not that nine-year-old girl anymore.
She had saved her sister.
She had survived the sea.
She would survive this, too.
Chapter 40
Aria
Lule met Aria at the railway station, practically sprinting towards her with arms wide open like a little girl. She wrapped Aria in a long, warm hug, rocking her slightly as if reluctant to let go. Rahul stood just behind her, holding her purse. He was a tall, striking young man whose lean frame and runner's build were noticeable even from afar. At well over six feet, he towered a full head and shoulders above Lule-who, at five feet nine, wasn't exactly short herself. His light brown eyes seemed irresistibly drawn back to Lule, as if she were the magnetic north to his compass.
Lule chatted excitedly, oblivious to the attention, holding Aria's arm tightly and pulling her close. The ride home was peppered with quick anecdotes and laughter as they made their way to her apartment. Aria noticed the stark contrast immediately. The modern, airy space on the second floor, accessible by a lift, was a far cry from the cramped worn-down flat she had grown used to. A sharp pang of embarrassment washed over Aria at her previous living conditions, quickly overshadowed by Lule's enthusiastic tour. Tears filled her eyes unexpectedly. Over the last few weeks, her emotions were all over the place.
"This is your half of the wardrobe," Lule announced proudly, opening the closet doors to reveal the empty space. "I practically live at Rahul's, anyway; it's closer to work and all." Aria spotted a crib tucked into a sunny corner. A tambourine, a wooden hand bell, baby maracas, and a wooden fish sounder were neatly stacked in one corner of the bedding. Her throat tightened with a mix of gratitude and shame for imposing.
"We'll find a bigger place once the baby's here," Lule said confidently while Rahul, standing nearby, nodded without hesitation.
"I really don't mind the couch," he joked, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Besides, you know how much you like being on top." Lule flushed scarlet, swatting at him playfully, but there was a tangible ease between them, a comfort Aria had only caught glimpses of in her relationship with Crispin.
Aria's phone buzzed again with another message from Crispin.
Did you arrive safely? Text me when you're settled.
She frowned slightly, conflicted emotions rising, but Lule quickly distracted her.
"Is it crispy fried chicken again?" she teased, pale eyes twinkling. Lule had loosened up a bit about Crispin after she’d heard his version of the story.
Rahul nearly choked on his tea, laughing as Lule continued to torment him with relentless good-natured jabs until he covered her mouth with his large palm, prompting giggles from them both.
Later, as Rahul prepared to leave, Lule sighed dramatically. "He'll survive one night without me," she quipped, though her affectionate gaze suggested otherwise. Rahul paused to share a lingering, heartfelt kiss with her before surprising Aria with a warm hug.
"Take my number," Rahul insisted, handing over a slip of paper. "Lule's hopeless at checking her phone, as you well know. Call if you need anything, Didi. I'm always reachable. Give me a missed call so I have your number as well."
He tossed a playful glare at Lule, who promptly pushed him out the door, laughing softly. "Off with you, heathen."
After Rahul left, Lule turned back to Aria, her voice suddenly soft and hesitant. "What do you think?" she asked, a thread of anxiety slipping into her words. It took Aria a moment to realise Lule was genuinely worried about impressing her, perhaps seeing Aria more like a mother figure than a sister.
Aria smiled, squeezing Lule's hand reassuringly. "It's perfect."
Over the next few days, Aria and Lule settled into a comforting routine. Crispin sent regular messages-small reminders of her, expressions of missing her.
My chest feels hollow, as if my heart is beating far away from me, wherever you are.
I woke up reaching for you today. My heart hasn't accepted that you're not just a stone's throw away from me.
You're the missing beat in my heart, Aria. Without you, nothing feels complete.
Crispin was never vocal about his feelings, but he seemed to have found his inner poet,Aria thought with bemusement. Aria's responses remained brief, yet the urgency to share the news of her pregnancy grew stronger each day. The strain of keeping the secret was wearing her down.
"Still no chicken? Not even lamb? Eggs? They're practically vegetarian!" Lule teased one afternoon, determined to nourish her sister. Their elderly Swedish neighbours had learned of Aria's pregnancy through Lule's cheerful indiscretion on the first day of her arrival, and they had begun to bring homemade dishes, eager to offer their help.
Pregnancy and stress made for a strange combination. Aria often felt like her emotions were like a runaway train. She would cry for no reason, and there were moments of unexplained rage. So, the first time the lady knocked at the door with a dish of vegetable stew, Aria couldn't stop crying. The poor lady was horrified.
One day, inspired by these acts of kindness, Aria decided to craft a story quilt for the elderly couple. Quietly, she gathered snippets from their life-birthdays, anniversaries, losses, holidays-intending to weave their memories into the fabric. Her daily walk that day was purposeful, exploring local shops for the right vendor. On a sunny afternoon, she wandered down Summertown before pausing outside a quaint tailoring shop. Inside, she hesitantly requested leftover fabric from the friendly woman at the till, quickly explaining her grandmother's tradition of creating meaningful quilts. She hastened to say that she would pay for it and was not looking for handouts.
