Page 62 of Pillow Talk
Aruna’s shoulders dropped.
‘Dance classes were held in the community centre. Youremember? You picked me up a few times when I was younger,’ she said.
Shona nodded.
‘On Thursdays, karate lessons were held in a smaller room in the centre. Dance and karate finished at the same time, so we were bound to bump into the people from the karate class. I made a friend. Zayn. He was also 15. He wasn’t in my school. We hit it off,’ said Aruna, her tone flat and matter-of-fact.
Shona leaned forward. ‘You left because of a boy?’
Aruna shook her head.
‘No. I left because of our grandmother. She claimed that a friend saw us standing outside the community centre and we looked cosy. She convinced Dad to forbid me to go back to dance classes,’ Aruna explained.
Shona stood up and started to pace. The fury pulsing through her veins was making her ears and neck hot.
‘Dancing was your dream. How dare she? Why did Dad listen to her? What about Mom? I spent most of my summers with Sen. Why was I allowed to be with a boy and you couldn’t even talk to one in public?’
‘Shona, Senthil’s grandfather was and still is the shop’s biggest customer. She probably thought your friendship with Sen was bringing in business,’ her sister replied.
Shona stopped pacing. ‘Aru, do you enjoy working in the shop? Do you want to be there?’
Her sister took a few seconds to reply.
‘Shona, I don’t think anyone enjoys working in that shop.’
‘Dad does,’ she countered.
Aruna began to laugh. Genuinely laugh. When she could catch her breath, she shook her head at the sight of Shona’s serious expression.
‘Shona, Dad hates the shop. Are you blind? You’re dumber than I thought you were.’
‘Hey!’
‘I’m serious, Sho. Dad hates the shop. Sit back and think carefully about it,’ her sister replied.
‘Why does he hate it?’
Aruna stood up.
‘You’ll have to ask him that. I’d better be going,’ she said.
Shona stood dumbstruck.
Her sister turned to her.
‘I want to thank you, Shona. If you hadn’t taken the leap, I also wouldn’t have,’ she said.
‘Huh?’
‘I’m leaving the shop too. Remember that boy, Zayn? From karate? We’ve been dating for a few years and he wants us get to married… and I want to marry him too. He has a job out of town; I’ll be moving with him,’ she said.
Shona was lost for words.
‘I managed to take my dance exam after Grandma died. I started a website where I give out advice and tips to aspiring dancers. The revenue from advertising is even enough for me to move out on my own. But I love Zayn and he loves me. And I want to be his wife,’ she said simply.
Shona reached out and hugged her sister. They were both in tears.
Aruna patted Shona’s back and pulled away.
