When I got back to my car I was pleasantly surprised to find even more than I had hoped for. There was a neatly folded sheet laying on top of a pillow. Beside it was a platter filled with rice, vegetables, paneer, and roti. By now it had gone a bit cold but it was still delicious and I was starving. I finished my dinner and immediately pulled the fresh sheet over me and went to bed. I think I may have been asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
I woke up early the next morning. I sat up, folded the blanket and put everything neatly in the back. I knew it must be very early. The streets were quiet and there had been no morning prayer yet. I decided I was going to take advantage of this and go take a peaceful walk. It was still dark. I checked my phone to see it was almost 3:30. Even though it was very early I knew the morning prayers would start not too long from now. I walked the empty streets, never getting more than, what would have been considered 2 city blocks, back home. I knew if I got lost it would be a terrifying journey to find my way home. This city went on forever and it wouldn’t take much to end up in a bad area. Once the morning prayer started I decided to make my way back home before drawing too much attention.
I knew it would still be a few hours until breakfast so I decided to start my car, plug my phone, and rest for a time. Once my phone was charged I turned the car off to conserve what fuel I had. After a while, Ron came down with enough breakfast for both of us and we ate together. We both sat in the back seat with a platter of food between us. We were having roti with a few different curries and for dessert, we had kheer which I guessed must have been leftover from the night before. As I finished my kheer Ron looked to me and said, “You have some kheer on your lip.”
I went to brush it away but before I could he grabbed my wrist with one hand. At the same time, he cautiously placed his other hand on my cheek and slowly wiped it away with his thumb. I felt my heart racing in my chest and I could almost swear I could hear his. He left his hand like that for a second longer than any aunty would think appropriate. He lifted my chin ever so slightly and I saw his eyes looking over my face. Almost as if he were actually seeing me for the first time. His hand felt warm and inviting on my cheek. I wanted to stay like this forever. I wanted to close my eyes and fall into his embrace. Before I could move I felt his fingertips brush against my lips as he pulled his hand away.
He looked down embarrassed and cleared his throat. “So, uh, have you gotten anywhere figuring out the lock.”
Now it was my turn to look down in embarrassment. I had been so preoccupied yesterday that I hadn’t even given it a proper amount of thought. “No,” I finally said. “To be honest I don’t even know where to start. What kind of code you possibly have a pattern of a letter, number, letter, number, letter, number.”
He shook his head and straightened up, “I have no idea. I tried doing some research on my computer but nothing came up.”
I snorted with laughter, “What were you typing in the search, 6 digit code for when future wife travels back in time?”
He grinned, “I don’t know, I figured I had to at least try.”
“Is there a bookstore nearby?” I asked.
“Yeah, just a short walk away, I think they even have a section for English books. Why do you ask?” he replied giving me a puzzled look.
“I just had a thought I’d like to look into, do you think we could go?”
“Yeah sure, but it will have to wait until after my morning lessons. Why don’t you go to the gym in the meantime and I’ll meet you back here for lunch,” he said collecting the dishes.
“That sounds like a great plan,” I said.
As he headed back up the stairs for his lessons. I collected what I needed and headed off to the gym. I barely noticed anything as I walked. All I could think about was Ron’s hand on my face, and how he looked at me. I felt like I was melting from the inside. The look he gave me was one of wanting something bad and worse knowing you could have it but also knowing that you shouldn’t. I felt like my whole soul longed for him.
As I got to the gym I tried to shake that moment from my head but it was no use. I thought about it while I worked out. Replaying the moment his thumb touched my lip over and over again. Thinking about the warmth from his hand. I barely even noticed my workout. I just ran on autopilot until I was too tired to continue. I went to the showers and did all I needed to do. This time when I went to my locker I took out my now dry clean clothes and folded them neatly before putting them in my bed. I hung the clothes I just washed and locked up before heading back to my car.