Chapter 35: Dinner with Atira

Vira's grandma sat at the dinner table, waiting for them.

Her hair, now a salt-and-pepper mix, did nothing short of adding grace to her character-etched face. Her eyes twinkled. She did not look the sort who would take it kindly if you messed with her.

Her voice was firm, not too loud, but commanding. Years of teaching experience  perhaps had contributed to the tone.

She stood up, stretching her hands wide. Vira, in quick, long strides, closed the distance between them and gave her a firm hug.

"My grandson looks amazing!" She smiled widely, her love uncontained and obvious.

He did look much better than he had while working in Marina. His eyes smiled, he had become more talkative, and he enjoyed working.

"He looks and is amazing," Vira added cheekily.

She laughed. "Ah, from where did he get this much confidence?"

Vira replied, "Some people are late bloomers, Gran."

Saka stood a few steps behind them, watching and smiling at their exchange.

She saw him watching them and, with the same amount of warmth, beckoned him.

"Ah! Who is this handsome young man?" She hugged him as she asked, making Saka feel very shy.

Vira smiled. "Gran, meet Saka, the guy you've been dying to meet."

What? Vira had spoken to his Gran about him?

"And I stand justified." She turned her attention to Saka. "So, Saka, tell me, how is my grandson at school? Does he work, or does he slack off?"

Saka chuckled. She erased any doubt he might have had about being out of place.

"We all feel delighted to be around him. He has brought so many changes!"

He spoke animatedly about Vira and what he had done.

"Vira is that responsible? I thought he was still a kid."

"Not at all, he is so cool, he has a lady fan as well!" Saka said.

"No, no, no! Don't you dare!" Vira growled. He knew where this was heading.

His grandmother ignored him. "Tell me! I don't get to hear any juicy news from Vira!"

Saka gladly obliged. His grandmother laughed as he told her about their first encounter and his interactions with Mina.

"Looks like Vira is not having a single dull moment."

Vira muttered, "Try dealing with Saka and Laika. Your life would be equally colorful."

They all laughed.

They moved on to philosophy. Saka's take on different schools and thoughts stumped Atara.  She asked him questions to which he had answers. He could talk about her school and her beliefs just as much as he could talk about his.

She, unlike Vira, was a firm believer. She was impressed. "When I speak to you, I can't help but want to visit your temple."

Saka smiled shyly. "It would be our pleasure to host you. Just let me know when you can make it, and we'll make all the arrangements!"

Vira did not contribute much to the conversation. He enjoyed watching his grandma and Saka have fun. He felt grateful that the two people he loved got along very well. It was after dinner when Atira said, "Saka, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

Saka told her about going to the college for a tour and formally introducing himself to his course instructor.

"Great, so I think you'll be free in the evening?"

Saka nodded.

"Will you come with me for shopping then?" Saka's eyes widened in surprise. He nodded again.

Vira decided to butt in. "What are we planning to shop for?"

"You are not invited," his grandmother said firmly. "Mark said he is coming over for a game of chess. He feels slighted that you ignored him completely. Spend the evening with him."

Vira sulked but nodded. "Fine."

Saka didn't say anything, but he was a bit anxious. Why did his grandmother want to spend time with Saka? Did she get to know he was in love with her grandson? Would she try to force them apart because he had no money?

Was she trying to set her grandson up with Mark? Was Mark a rich kid?

His questions remained unanswered as they bid their goodnights and walked back to their rooms.

Vira noticed the change in the atmosphere.

He sighed. Saka was probably overthinking something again.

He couldn't figure out what triggered the mood change but decided to get it out of Saka.

He sat on the bed, pulling Saka to his side, while motioning for Saka to sit next to him.

"Tell me, what is troubling you?" He asked him.

"Do you think your grandmother likes me? Did I make a good impression on her?"

Vira laughed. "Such a silly question! Of course, she likes you enough to want to take you out with her only twenty-four hours after meeting you."

Saka didn't look convinced. But he couldn't possibly ask Vira if she knew he liked him. So he asked the second question that was troubling him. "Who is Mark?"

Vira pointed to his photograph and said, "The guy you were checking out."

"I wasn't checking him out. I just thought you smiled so carefree around him, and it made me jealous." Saka blurted out, then felt so embarrassed by his confession that he clamped his mouth shut.

Vira was taken aback by Saka's words. He blushed. How could Saka say such things out loud? He wondered.

"Do I not smile the same way around you?"

"Around me, it's an indulgent sort of smile."

"What's wrong with being indulgent?"

"Then you don't treat me as your equal."

"It may be because you are so cute that I want to pamper you."

Saka gaped at Vira. Since when did Vira get this playful? He openly called Saka cute.

"Sen, I'm being serious."

Vira sighed. He gently pinched Saka's cheeks and said, "So am I. You are extremely cute. Every time I am around you, I can't help but smile. I don't know how you differentiate smiles, but, as far as I am concerned, I feel happy to be around you."

Vira's eyes didn't lie. But then, Saka realized, Vira never lied.

"Sen, you will wait for me, right?"

"Huh?" Saka jumped topics, and now he was at a loss. What were they actually discussing?

"You will wait until my graduation day, right? Don't go out with anyone else."

Vira burst out laughing. "Focus on getting into Vayu."

Saka sulked. He dove into his part of the bed and turned to the other side. Vira always diverted the topic. Why couldn't he just say okay?