…5 Days Left…
The next two days I went back to the café around the same time. I haven't seen him since. It made me feel hopeless. Even a stranger knew to stay away from me. I sighed as I sat down in my seat. It was raining outside. The weather now matched my mood. How cliché id that? I took a sip of my hot cappuccino, the taste warming me up.
The last two days I have been overthinking my situation. I could get him to agree with me. Then we could get a divorce later. What guy would agree to that? And what happened in my past could endanger them. That's if I ever use it again.
The door of the café opened. I was too lost in my thoughts to even turn around. My book lay flat down, closed.
Someone cleared their throat. My head snapped up to see Bruce himself. He looked down nervously. "Just wondering if this seat is taken." He said pointing to the one across from me.
I shook my head still smiling. "Please sit." He sat down with his tea. "I was starting to get bored Mr. Banner."
"You can call me Bruce."
"Of course, Bruce. You can call me Alariana or Ana."
For the next three days Bruce and I would meet each other here. It was like an unspoken agreement. I still haven't gotten the courage to tell him. I was making my way inside my Aunt and Uncle's house. After I was done with college I moved back with them. It wasn't like I had much of a life.
During college I made some friends. One was from America. Angela was born in Ohio, but she was an adventurer. That's why she decided to travel and came to India for a while. The other two are from India: Myola and Shaba. Their families were very traditional. I found it sweet. They were cultural, even though I disagreed with some things. I just don't know much about myself.
We would spend some time together when we can. Having them around didn't make me so miserable.
My Uncle was sitting on the couch. I already knew what he was going to say. His face said it all. I ran out of time, but I would not marry one of his friends. "Lil Anna." He spoke softly, "You what we need to talk about."
I smiled and sat next to him. "Uncle it's alright. I think I might have found someone."
He sighed and looked at me. "You know it's not right to do things at the last minute. Let alone ask someone to marry you in two days. What if he says no?"
"Then I'll leave. I refuse to marry anyone else Uncle." I got up from my seat and headed upstairs to my bedroom. I will ask him tomorrow. And pray that he says yes.
…
The next day I sat nervously in my seat. My drink was hot in my hand as I tapped my foot. Today I would ask Bruce to marry me. Ha, the life. I shook my head. Maybe I should just run. Yeah, run. I got up out of my seat. But I heard a voice that stopped me. "Leaving early?" he asked me.
"No," I sat back down in my seat and he sat across from me. "Can I ask you something?"
He nodded his head, "Sure." He took a sip of his drink.
"Have you ever been married before?" I asked him. Bruce eyes widened and he choked a little on his drink.
"No, I… never got to that point in my life. Why do you ask?" he looked at me nervously now.
I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Um, okay just don't freak out." I looked at him innocently and bit my lip. "I been wanted to ask you, but I always chicken out. Well, I wanted to know you more first. But I'm asking you to marry me… in two days."
Bruce's eyes widened. He looked freaked out for a moment. He didn't know if I was just pulling his leg or if I was serious. "Alariana, I'm not sure if you're joking or not."
I pouted at him. "I'm completely serious, but before you say anything I asked for a really good reason. My parents left me their money and personal items. However, I need to get married in order to get it. Honestly, I'm not only doing it for the money. It's to free myself from an arranged marriage and my life here in India." I looked down at the table. He didn't say anything else.
"We could even get a divorce as soon as we can. Please, Bruce I belong in America where I was myself and had no worries." I practically begged. "I cannot marry some pervert or someone who just wants my money.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't do that to you."
I shook my head. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time." I stood up. My life is going to hell if my uncle picks the man. This was my entire fault. I walked out of the café deciding to head home.
A shout was heard from behind me. I turned and saw Bruce. He walked up behind me. He looked like he was debating as to why he ran after me. But he gave into himself, "I'll agree to marry you-"
My eyes widened and without thinking I had my arms wrapped around his neck and held him close. "But…" I let him go, "You must be careful around me. I can have… anger problems."
"Okay I promise." I paused then said, "Just understand that you are saving my life from a forced marriage to a person I've never met. You're saving me." I said sincerely.
He didn't look at me when he said, "Why would you want me as a husband." He asked me and he seemed to regret the question.
A smiled appeared on my face, "Well you're not an old perverted man." I looked down at my feet. "You were nice to me. You still are. What man wants to marry a stranger?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, nervously. "And how are we going to exactly do this?"
I smacked my head and said, "You have to meet my Aunt and Uncle so they can be the witnesses. And we can go up to a chapel in the city or a private beach. Do you have a suit? We don't really need anything dressy. When do you want to meet them? Tomorrow would be good. No we can-"
He cut me off from my rant. "Calm down." I nodded and he continued, "I can come meet them tomorrow. For now, I think we should go and talk. We still don't know much about each other." He began walking and I followed him. We walked for ten minutes until we came to an apartment complex.
We made it upstairs to where he lived. It was the opposite of where I stay at now. It's small, dirty, and so not a house. I sat on the couch and looked around. The kitchen was separated by a counter and a short hallway with two doors. Bruce went to put away a medical bag I didn't notice until now.
He came back and sat next to me on the seat available. I asked, "Do you want me to go first."
He just nodded his head once and I said, "I didn't have the best childhood. Some things have happened. I can't even remember much of it. But I lost my parents when I was young. A couple adopted me not too long after. They kept me happy and they told me of their travels around the world. We lived in the US in the country to be away from the city. A few years ago they died from unknown purposes. I believe someone covered it up because I didn't even get to see their bodies. Don't look at me like that." He looked at me in disbelief. "I told you my life wasn't the best. Anyway, my aunt and uncle took me in when they found out. And here I am now."
Bruce was still trying to wrap his head around the information. I didn't want to mention anything with my parents being murder and people took their place. It was still too much to even think about.
When he didn't speak I said, "I know it's weird telling a stranger your life's story. You can tell me anything you want to. If there's something you need to keep from me then you can or you can tell me later, or not at all. We all have secrets Bruce."
"It's unnecessary for me to tell you my life story if we won't be together that long anyhow. We'll just go our separate ways when you need to leave." He got off the couched. He probably thought this was idiotic agreeing to this. It was though.
"You know what we'll see where this goes, okay? You tell me something so I won't lose sleep trying to figure out if you're a killer or not." He looked at me like I was crazy, "It was a joke." Yet no one laughed.
I sighed and stood. "I'll come tomorrow morning. I'll tell them by tonight. And don't worry. They want to get rid of me as much as I want to get away and live my life. Just think about it. Faith had me spill your drink to show me that you're worth it." With that I left and walked onto the darkening streets.
…
Waking up late was completely inevitable in this house. I didn't have to go anywhere in the morning. They insisted to wake me up early saying that it was proper. That's bull crap and they know it. I'm the person to stay up all night.
When I was woken up, my aunt had the car downstairs ready for when I went to go get Bruce. I told them last night of my decision. They were relieved about that.
I got dressed in a dress I found in the city market when we went to get some clothing for me since I was growing out of my older ones. It was black with gold jewels. It stopped above my knees and the sleeves we short. I brought some flat, gold shoes to go with it. I put my hair half and half down. I nodded at my reflection.
In the living room they both sat, talking quietly. I said, "I'm on my way out."
They both said their byes and I left out of the house and into the small, black car. The drive only lasted about twenty minutes. A little bit of traffic were in the roads. I parked the car on the side of the street and headed up to his apartment. I was happy to remember which room it was. I knocked on the door, but he didn't answer. I knocked again and he came a minute later Bruce opened the door.
My mind felt like it froze. Bruce stood in the door way with only pajama bottoms on. His chest was covered in hair. Usually I would think it repulsive, but he pulled it off. The view almost made me drool. Being stupid I said, "If I have to walk up to this everyone morning, I don't think I can leave."
He blushed, like went red in the cheeks. He said, "Come in." He closed the door behind me. "I just need to get ready first."
I shook myself from the teenage feelings of just getting a look at his chest that clearly had some muscle. I got up to take my mind off of him and walked to the kitchen. He didn't have much food. Leftovers should not be a breakfast meal. Quickly I left and heading to the café that we meet each other at. He should at least me treated well since he's doing me this big favor.
I came back with two muffins and a coffee for Bruce. When I opened the door he was sitting on the couch looking through a book. His head popped up at the sound of the door closing.
"Here I got you some muffins since your kitchen is full of foods that should never be eaten and a coffee to wake you up."
"Thanks… that's very thoughtful of you." He said when I handed him the foods.
I waved my hand at him, "Its practice for when I become a wife. I have to feed my husband."
Bruce got this look on his face that confused me. He said, "How long do you think we'll be married for?" He paused at my expression face so he hurried to say, "No offence, but you sound like we've been together for years and I finally popped the question."
Bruce didn't look like the type to talk so much. I'd like to think I was the cause of that. "I was thinking about that." He stared at me so I continued, "I was thinking that if we get married we can try to make it work. We can stay together and see where it takes us."
"No. We can't do that. We're strangers. You literally ran into me and you decide to marry me in that moment you saw me." He stopped for a few seconds. "You can't be around me. I want to help, but willing being with me can hurt you and I can't carry that burdening of knowing I did it to you-"
I cut him off. "You won't hurt me. And if you did it would be an accident, Bruce. Whatever you are facing I can face too. Bruce we are both lonely and live a life that wasn't meant for us, but here we are. We have that chance to get away or at least be together."
The silence carried on until I made him finished his food. We'll discuss this later, when he thinks about the option I'm giving us. When he was done we left the apartment and got in my car. The seat was adjusted from when my uncle would sit there. This car was too small.
When I pulled up to my uncle's house, Bruce was surprised. He hasn't been to this area where they had better homes in India. He was admiring the paintings on the wall when my aunt and uncle came from upstairs.
"Hello I'm Aboli and this is my husband Aadi. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Banner."
"The same to you." Bruce was nervous.
I jumped in. "Let's sit down." Bruce and I sat on the love seat while they sat in the arm chairs. My aunt put a tray of iced tea on the coffee table I haven't noticed until now. "Before we go into any details, you both should know that I told him about my situation.
Aadi looked ready to say something rude, but went against it and turned to Bruce, "Tell me Bruce, what's your occupation?"
Bruce answered without hesitation. "I'm a doctor. I'm known for my research on gamma radiation. I have a PhD in Nuclear Physics."
My body tensed when he said that. I did have a natural fear of scientist. My memory was practically erased. I would've remembered something. They're the reason why my life is so hectic. I was lucky enough that my aunt and uncle don't know about that.
Bruce noticed the distance look on my face, but he was now talking with my Uncle. They talked for a little while until Bruce said, "What are we going to do?" He said.
"I know you both wouldn't want to waste time with a wedding and in two days. We'll just find a small place for you to get married. Alariana you can pack your things tonight and go move into your new place I rented for you two to live in until you decide where you want to go."
"Aadi you didn't. That's unnecessary." I didn't think about where we would move to. I wouldn't mind sleeping at his place even though I'm spoiled living here.
"I might as well do this for you. You had to go through so much. I'm pretty sure you love to stay sleep in the morning. See this as a wedding gift."
It turns out they we're going to get married on a beach tomorrow at noon. My Aunt knew someone who could join us together. I had packed up my clothing and had help with Bruce to bring it to the new house along with his clothing. I would stay at my Uncle's and he'll stay here so we can get this over with.
