Peace & Love
So glad you’re back to read my next installment of Loving Autumn. I hope you’ve been enjoying her journey.
So many of us are looking for the right person. Often it’s challenging to figure out who we belong with or who fits well with who we are. Sometimes we’re still trying to figure out who we are. This story is about a young woman’s journey to find her best love. What I think makes it interesting, is unlike most of us in real life, she has the best of both lovers and has to figure out who she really belongs with.
Chapter 3
I took the train from downtown to Raj’s home. He lived in his own apartment in the family building. Yes, they bought a brownstone together, and the parents and children live there. It’s a family tradition. So if I married Raj, I am supposed to move into his apartment so that the family unit remains intact. I’ve thought about it, but with my new love life, I’m not sure that would be approved.
I let my self through the door of the vestibule and walk up the stairs.
“Hey Autumn, here to see Raj.”
“Why else would I be here, Arjun. How are you?”
“I’m well. Aren’t you suppose to call first?”
“Why? You all know me, and no one seems to have a problem with me here?”
“That wouldn’t be the only reason.”
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No, you’ll see. Just know Raj loves you.”
“What the.” I was cut off before I could say the curse.
“You know how baujee feels about foul language.”
I roll my eyes at Arjun and continue to walk up the stairs passing the rooms on the first floor. Now that man, Raj and Arjun’s father doesn’t like me at all.
I sigh and reach for the knob about to open Raj’s door when I hear a female voice.
“Oh please, Raj, when are you going to give up that girl. You know baujee isn’t going to let her live here with you. You’ll have to move out.”
‘Baujee,’ I’m shocked. She called him that. I’m not allowed to. I have to call him Mr. Arya. I know exactly who the voice belongs to and am wondering why Raj would tell me to call. I never call become coming over. The other women who date the Arya sons don’t call. I’m starting to feel unwanted. I was about to leave and go home, but Mrs. Riya Arya walked right to me.
“Autumn, Arjun said you were here.”
“Hi, mom. I was…” I didn’t know what to say. I’m here standing eavesdropping at Raj’s door. I take a deep breath. “I was here to see Raj, but I should have called. He seems busy.” I turn to walk away, and Riya grabbed my arm.
“You don’t have to call. You and Raj have been serious for a while, and I like you for my son. Autumn, you and Raj, complement each other. Ignore Rhea. Varun encourages Rhea to get close to Raj. Don’t give up.”
I nodded and gave a slight smile as the tears build up in my eyes. Riya knocks on the door and then walks back down the stairs.
I quickly wipe the tears as they start to fall and open the door. I never knock. My entrance startles Raj and Rhea. How perfect do their names sound together? “You’re mom said you were up here. I didn’t think you had company. Did I interrupt something?”
Raj looked nervous, I knew he saw the look on my face and knew what I was feeling. Rhea looked angry. When she was talking, she was closer to the door, now she was standing over Raj as he sits at his desk chair.
I thought it took too long for anyone to speak, but I said nothing. Even in the silence, I knew my body language said everything.
“I told you to call.”
“You’re mom says I don’t have too. Not to mention, I live here at least half of the year. What the fuck Raj? And why is the door closed?”
Rhea found her voice. “I closed it. We need privacy.”
“Really, I could hear you loud and clear with the door closed. What made you think a closed-door gives you privacy.” If Raj didn’t ask her to leave in the next ten seconds, I would. Right before I walked out of the door.
“A closed-door tells the family not to enter.” Rhea turns away from me and looks at Raj.
I am boiling right now. I can’t help but think, how dear she.
You may think this is hypocritical, but I never hid anything from Raj about Charles. He knew how our relationship had changed before anything happened between Charles and I. He never once mentioned that Rhea was back in the picture.
Thankfully before I finished my thought, Rhea was walking towards the door. Granted, I didn’t hear him say it, but when I came out of my head, I saw his hand gesture for her to go. I couldn’t help but think he better had. He would have hell to pay if he didn’t.
“I knew she would be here today and didn’t know how long it would take to get her to leave. That’s why I said to call.” I said nothing, just stared at him. “My love.” He opened his arms for me to come to him. I knew the gesture well, but I couldn’t easily forgive. “Autumn, you know how we are.”
I couldn’t help but think, ‘yeah, mother fucka, I know.’ But I said nothing, I just stared.
“Autumn, please, you know I love no other. I just needed to deal with Rhea because until I propose to you, my dad will keep sending her to me. He thinks.”
“Yeah, I know, that I’m just a passing moment for you.” Did he say until he proposes? So he’s going to? I smile on the inside, but make sure to keep my face unfeeling.
Raj gets up and walks to the door where I am still standing. “You know, you’re it, right? There is no other for me.” He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. I lean on him, but don’t relax into him as I usually do.
“What do you want?”
“I understand the dynamics of your household, but you will not be alone in a room with a closed door with anyone else but me, or your family.”
“Is that all?”
“That’s in addition to everything else.”
“You’re such a hard woman to please.” Raj tugs me a bit, and I lean into him as I unfold my arms and wrap them around his waist. He kisses my cheek and grabs my butt before he lets go and walks back to his seat. “I have some work to finish. Relax, you’re at home.”
I smile. “I know.” I walk towards Raj’s bedroom to relax and watch something online. My head is spinning too much to work. I just need to veg out for a while. Maybe the rest of the day with how I’ve been feeling since last night.
As I drop my bag on the floor and sit on the bed, my phone pings. A text from Charles. He’s off traveling again and won’t be back for a few weeks. He’s always traveling for work. Charles is a photojournalist. I guess I’ll stay with Raj for a while. My best friend is gone and leaves me with no one to talk things out with. Charles was always my sounding board. He texts, and we sometimes talk when he’s away. But I’d much rather curl up with him and my chunky blanket and watch re-runs of the eighties show while I talk through my feelings. The lovemaking part was just an extra perk I wasn’t expecting. Now that we’ve crossed that line, will he disappear if we’re not screwing anymore?
I sighed and plopped back on the bed.
Raj walks in and sees the look on my face. “Charles is gone again?”
“You know me so well.”
“You say that as if you don’t know me.”
I smile and hold out my arms for him to join me. Raj climbs on the bed and hovers over me, smiling. He’s in a playful mood. It could go either way. We could end up making love for the next few hours, or we could just curl up and enjoy the presence of each other. Raj always decides what we do, and I’m cool with it. He reads my mood and energy right every time.
We kiss softly before he lays on his side next to me. He runs his fingertips across my cheek and lips.
“I love you so much, Raj.”
He smiles. “I know. I love you.”
“I nodded and turned to face him, my hand resting on his cheek.
We couldn’t be more perfect. So why do I feel like a storm this way comes?
Copyright 2019
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Make sure to check back next week for our next installment of Loving Autumn.
Peace & Love
LeticiaEdghill 