Chapter 72: Am I being cruel?
ALEXIA'S POV
"Thank you," I smiled.
"If I were you, I would go have a shower," he chuckled, "you stink from all the strenuous stuff we had going on today," he teased.
"Yeah," I nodded, " I will go upstairs now and have a shower."
I avoided making any form of eye contact with him, I did not want him to read the pitiful expression I had in them.
"Miss, you are here," Lisa called behind me totally startling me.
"Everything is still intact," I remarked, pointing at my room. I had expected that by now, Garvin might have had most of my things removed.
"Miss Alexia, this is your house. Your home. Of course, your stuff would always be waiting for you,"
"Lisa you would not understand" I sighed. It was my home when I thought Garvin and I had a sibling kind of bond. Now it just felt like, there was a hidden message behind all the gestures he had shown me.
"Tell me I would."
"No Lisa you wouldn't."
"Does it have to do with The sir's feelings for you?"
"He doesn't have feelings for me," I protested, " you are just imagining things"
"Well, I have seen the way he looks at you."
"That reminds me Lisa, what about yen fine young man you used to go out with" I asked, eager to change the topic really bad. The last thing I need is another back-and-forth with Lisa.
"Things didn't work out between us anymore," she expressed sadly.
"And you just gave up? That does not sound like the Lisa I know."
"Well I still love him very much, but most times love is not enough. Most times love means letting go or forgiveness. Or going out of your way to help the one you love, It comes in various forms." A faraway look was present in her eyes as she spoke, "Oh my I forgot why I had come here in the first place. Kian just got out of the shower. I was thinking you should come be with him for a while."
"Oh yeah sorry, I will just... Change into something better."
"Alright."
*
"Kian you still up?" Pushing his door lightly, I tiptoed to his bed and squatted beside him.
"Momma I was thinking you weren't going to come and wish me goodnight," sitting up from his bed, and crossing his arms at me.
'Why would you think so honey? I just had to take my bath first." I explained, joining him to sit on his bed.
'That makes sense."
"Adjust your little body so momma can fit in your bed."
"What are you doing momma" his eyes widened as I struggled to adjust into a much more comfortable position.
"Lying in bed with my son that's what."
But the bed might crack. It isn't as strong as that of the hotels.
I had avoided any conversations that would center on what happened at the hotel. Even though I needed answers from Kian too
"Who says they might be stronger than those at the hotels."
"I am glad that we are finally back home."
"Me too."
*
I haven't slept in this well in weeks and I am guessing it's the same experience for Kian as he lay cuddled up against me, snoring softly.
I opened my eyes to his light blue room which Garvin had decorated to the things Kian showed interest in first as an infant. Just like the miniature fishbowl on the left side of the room and a life-size action figure on the right.
Plastered up against the wall were sticker characters of his favorite movies. His shelf at the far right end was filled with more toys than books.
I lay in bed, pinned to a spot, and unable to move because Kian's arms were wrapped around me. Muttering a silent prayer as I finally slipped out of his grip in bed and replaced my body with a pillow.
I tiptoed out of his room and down the stairs. My eyes landed on Lisa as she ambled to and fro the kitchen.
"Uhm, Lisa," I said softly on getting nearer to her
"Yes miss,"
"I am sorry to pause your morning preparations but do you in any way know where Garvin is,"
"Yes he decided to leave for work but he should be here for the lunch break
"Oh," I mouthed.
wondering if it was truly the cause of a meeting or if he was avoiding running into me again.
"Um Lisa"
"Yes miss"
"Can you please help me read out this recipe I have on my smartphone," I stated, handing her the phone, " I am trying to make breakfast for Kian you see."
"Ohh alright ma'am," she nodded.
Ingredients:
To make oats dosa batter -
Oats - 1 cup
Rice flour - 1/2 cup
Rava - 1/4 cup
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Pepper
Ginger - 1 tsp finely chopped
Green chilies - 2 nos finely chopped
Onion - 1 no. Finely chopped
Coriander leaves - finely chopped
Curry leaves - finely chopped
Sour curd - 1 cup
Water - 2 cups
To make coconut chutney
Coconut - 1 cup freshly grated
Red chilies - 4 nos
Garlic - 1 no. Clove
Tamarind - a small piece
Ginger - a small piece
Salt - 1/4 tsp
water
Method :
To make oats dosa batter -
Add the oats to a mixer jar
Grind it to a fine powder
Transfer it to a bowl, add rice flour and rava
Add sour curd, cumin seeds, crushed pepper, onions, green chilies, ginger, coriander leaves, curry leaves, salt, water
Mix everything well
Let it sit for about 30 mins
Add enough water to the batter to get a thin and runny batter like that of a rava dosa batter and mix well
Heat a tawa, pour the dosa batter (do not spread the batter with the ladle)
Pour some oil around the dosa
Flip the dosa to cook evenly on both sides
To make coconut chutney -
Add the grated coconut to a mixer jar
Add red chilies, a clove of garlic, a small piece of tamarind and ginger, salt, and water.
Grind it to a fine paste.
Serve the dosa hot with sambar and chutney
"Hunter" she exclaimed.
"Huh," I turned around to look at her, " Hunter isn't on the list of ingredients." I chuckled.
"No ma'am I mean a certain Hunter is calling your phone”