A Promise to Keep

by Carter Tachikawa

  "Well, if it makes you feel any better, my sister was crazy about Strawberry Shortcake up until middle school." Rachel said. "And let's not forget about the boy band phase in high school. She had about a million posters of New Kids on the Block. I never got into that. I was all into grunge rock and men that didn't have voices that could crack glass."

  My mother stepped away from the stove long enough to see what we were doing. “You introduce your fiancee fiancée , the future bride, to Neela but not your mother? What is this? Introduce your future wife to your mother!”

  “Amma!”

  “It's okay, it's okay. I can introduce myself.” Rachel nodded to my mother. “Rachel Morgan, ma'am. Anwar and I have been...dating for a while, I guess you can say. You've got to excuse him, he's probably nervous.”

  “A little”, I admitted. But I was pleased that she had mentioned the dating part. I hadn't told her to say anything but she did it anyway. “Amma, this is the girl. The one I've been seeing. The one you want to marry me off to I hope.”

  Rachel laughed and Neela snorted from behind her book. I was doing it again. I was making a giant fool of myself but this time it was on purpose. I had to show everyone that I was still being myself and no one else.

  “This boy shall be the end of me.” My mother sighed. “But he is good, no?”

  "I like him." Rachel said. "I enjoy a man with a good sense of humor. He doesn't lack in that area so good job, Anwar."

  I smirked and that was when my phone went off. Great. Another text from Astra. Why did that woman have awful timing? Did I want to see what declaration of love she was sending me now? Was I crazy enough to take that one peek? Was I stupid enough to answer back?

  Do you work for UPS? Because I see you were checking my priority mail.

  Oh, I was a crazy man. And I was also unamused. If this was Astra's idea of humor, then I was doomed. Poor girl had no clue how to say the joke. Either that or she really was not checking out my package. I highly doubted that she had a package unless there was something about her that I didn't know about.

  "Dear God, another one?" Rachel looked over my shoulder and shook her head. "Someone needs to teach her the joke because it's not one you should be saying to guys."

  "It's not a joke you should be saying to anyone!" I exclaimed. "Check out my package? Seriously? I'm not checking out her package or priority mail or anything that came through the mail for her."

  "Oh, it's lame." She agreed. "But still...poor thing." She started to laugh again. "First she wants to lick your...whatever. Now she wants you to check out a package she doesn't have."

  “Depressing, isn't it?”

  “Completely sad.” She looked at my phone. “Why don't you just tell her you're not interested in her? That you're dating someone else?”

  “Because I figured she'd get the hint by now.” I shrugged. “Besides, we're technically not dating each other.”

  “Yeah but she doesn't know that.”

  Good point. “All right, I'll try to get rid of her for good. No promises but I'll attempt to do so. Satisfied with that?”

  “Very much so.” She nodded to the stove. “Now if I remember correctly, you were supposed to start cooking. What's on the menu?”

  Cooking. Yes, I had to cook. “I was thinking of naan and butter chicken. I make a mean butter chicken. Sound good?”

  “Haven't had it but it sounds delicious.”

  Well, I had her approval. My mother worked on one end while I worked on the end with Neela and Rachel. She watched me as I cut up the chicken and started to prep it for cooking. I put it in the pan so it would turn brown fast. "This isn't something I make all the time."

  "I figured as much. Looks like it takes too much time."

  "Not really. Neela, do me a favor and put the naan in the microwave. I know Amma bought a bunch last week." I said, turning the chicken over to cook the other side. I didn't want it to get too pink. Chicken had always been the biggest problem when it came to cooking for me. It either came out too dark or not dark enough. I had gotten better at it since my first attempts but I still wanted this to be perfect. As far as the naan went, I felt bad for giving her microwaved bread but I had no time to make naan nor was I any good at it. It was better play on the safe side with microwave.

  "You need my help on with anything?" She asked.

  "I've got it all. Thanks. Besides, I just need to microwave the naan and we'll be ready to eat in a few more minutes or so. The recipe I have is actually a very quick way to make butter chicken. It doesn't take long and it's a good thing to give people who've never had Indian food."

  "Well, I can't say I never had it but I look forward to your cooking, future husband." She winked at me. “I expect to be pimped out too. ”

  "You want me to cook every day?"

  "Oh, that would be lovely!"

  "But you have to help around the house too!" I taunted.

  "Don't worry. I can bring home the bacon and you be a good house husband by making my dinner, dear. How do you like them apples?"

  "So not happening."

  "Yeah, I know. But you can't blame a girl for dreaming", She leaned over the table. "You sure you don't need any help?"

  "I'm good but thank you. If I need it, I'll let you know."

  "Cool beans."

  My mother shook her head. “Please handle my son.”

  Rachel smirked. “I'll handle him with care.”

  I frowned. “What am I, a UPS package?”

  “Nah, we're teasing you. Go on, make your food.”

  I began to prepare everything while she sat on the counter and watched. She was also taking down some notes, making sure she caught everything that I was doing. Every now and then, I caught glances from her. She was a cute girl. I could not deny the fact that she was attractive with all that pink hair and makeup on. I think I was turned on. I blushed and kept working away at dinner. I had to stop thinking of her in that way.

  She's not yours. She's not yours. She's never going to be yours.

  If that was to be my new mantra, then I was screwed.

  127

  Carter Tachikawa

  Chapter 7

  Dinner didn't take as long as I had thought. The naan was finished and my butter chicken looked gorgeous, covered in delicious tomato paste and yogurt and butter. The steam from it wafted into my nose and I wanted to devour it. But I couldn't, I had guests. Rachel eagerly waited to try my food. I gave her a small bowl of butter chicken to go with her naan. “Here you go. I want you to start off small. Then, if you want more, let me know. I've got enough to last me for the next two weeks.”

  “Looks good.” She rubbed her hands and tore off a piece of the bread before dipping it in the gravy. “I'm doing this right, aren't I?”

  “You're doing great.” I said. “Although it's not that difficult to eat with your hands.”

  I watched as she took a chunk of chicken and put it in her mouth. I couldn't tell if she liked it or not. Her expression gave me nothing and that wasn't a good sign. Usually, I got some kind of reaction from the person eating. She didn't say anything as she swallowed. Maybe it was good that she didn't talk while eating. Still, I wanted something.

  "How's the chicken?" I asked, finally trying to get a reaction.

  "Terrific!" She swallowed her bite. "You didn't tell me you could cook!"

  "I said I made a mean butter chicken. What did you think I did, grab some cocks and smother them in butter?"

  "Anwar!" My mother hissed.

  "I'm talking about roosters, Amma. Not...you know." Rachel was trying to hide her giggles while I washed down my embarrassment with water.

  “He is a cheeky rascal, no?” She asked.

  “Oh yeah.” Rachel agreed. “In more than one way, I might add.”

  “Rach!” I groaned.

  “Rach?” My mother was confused.

  “My nickname. I figured that since we are getting married, it would be nice for him to call me by my nickname.” She explained. “Is that
a problem or something? If it is, I'll stop.”

  “Oh no, it's not!” I assured her. “My mother was just confused, that's it. I hope you don't mind me using it.”

  “Not at all. I've actually been waiting for you to call me that.” She grinned at me. “Now do you have a nickname?”

  “I do but it's one I never want you to call me.”

  “But I can totally tell her! It's...” I shut Neela up before she spilled the beans.

  “Breathe a word of that and I'll tell everyone you kiss your Edward Cullen pillow at night.” I threatened her. Unfortunately, Rachel stopped us and pulled her away. Neela stuck her tongue out at me before running off into the living room to finish her book. Good riddance. With my mother busy talking to her sister in India, it meant we were alone.

  “Okay, okay. Now come on. I got pictures of the love birds.”

  “The love birds?”

  “My sister and her boyfriend, silly. I told you I'd bring them over.”

  My mother finally excused herself, still going on with my aunt, and left us alone to pour over photos. I had been hoping that Rachel brought pictures of Dylan and Aurora that were better than the one with the cream cheese and sesame seeds everywhere. I was wrong. About two-thirds of the pictures were of those two kissing. It wasn't just simple pecks either. No, those two were performing oral surgery with their tongues. There was tongue everywhere. Whether they were at a park or at a concert or even in the bedroom, they were putting tongue into each other. And here I thought the rug make out was bad. That one turned out to be tame compared to everything in still photos. I died a little more inside when I saw th o e se beauties.

  But it wasn't the worst part. In some pictures, Dylan had given his jacket to Aurora and had his booby chick with the penis tattoo exposed. Thankfully, the obscure part seemed to be blurred but I still couldn't hide the fact that he had a tattoo. I knew my mother would never approve of this man entering our house. Not until he got rid of that tattoo and promised not to shove any body parts down Aurora's gullet. As for Aurora, she looked spaced out in every photo. I didn't know if it was because she was drunk or that Dylan's kisses were making her dizzy. Either way, her eyes were all funky and she had the world's dumbest grin on her face. She also had blue ink all over her nose, her lipstick was smeared, and her headband was falling over her eyes. There was no cream cheese or sesame seeds on her this time but they were plastered.

  Neela, who had come back to get something, was now staring over our shoulders at the photos. She looked a little confused and amazed at these pictures. "Is that your sister?"

  "Blue nose is Aurora and that's Dylan, her leather studded, tattooed woobie as she calls him." Rachel explained. "I know they look so mismatched but he makes her happy. I haven't seen her happy since...oh, I don't know. It's been a long time since she's had fun. I forgot that she had dimples until recently."

  "I like his naked lady tattoo." Neela said. Ah shit, she noticed it! But she had said it softly enough so my mother couldn't here. "I want to get a tattoo one day too."

  "Yeah, like your mother will let you. That and you're afraid of needles." I scoffed. "What will it be of, something from Twilight? I know you love that series because it's oh so romantic. What's your tattoo going to be, Neela? That main guy's face on your boob? That lion and lamb quote that everyone thinks is romantic on your thighs? Or maybe that quote about watching people while they sleep over your stomach? That's attractive."

  She flipped me the bird. Unfortunately for her, my aunt saw that and started scolding her in Hindi. I smirked and went back to my naan and butter chicken. So far, so good.

  "Oh man, why did I bring this one?!" Rachel groaned, looking at one of the photos. "Rory is going to murder me."

  I stared over her shoulder and I realized what she was talking about. It was more making out but this time, Dylan and Aurora were doing a little more. And by a little more, I saw that Dylan was putting his kajus into Aurora's barfi to make kaju barfi. And while I loved that sweet and it was one of the few that didn't upset my stomach, I was suddenly nauseous.

  "When was that taken?" I asked, curious to know and cursing myself for being curious.

  "Probably during one their sexual romps." She sighed, putting it away. "I was cleaning her room, found a lot of photos, and decided to take them to show your parents. Now I know for a fact that this one can never see the light of day."

  "We'll burn it in the fireplace." I nodded sagely.

  "Nah, we just won't show it to anyone. Now help me pick out some decent stuff here."

  Decent stuff was hard. If those two weren't making out, then the naked man/lady was exposed. Or Aurora looked tipsy or was having an orgasm on camera. Or Dylan did things with his tongue that I wish I never knew about. We finally narrowed it down to three where neither looked drunk, spaced out, or lovesick. They weren't the best photos in the world but they wouldn't kill my mother either.

  “Oh, Rory and Dylan look so cute in this one.” She held up one of the photos that we had picked to show my mother. Sure enough, she was right. This was one of the few where they looked like normal people and not drunk skunks making love. Instead, they were curled up on the couch together and looking like a couple in love. Well, Aurora looked like she was staring into space but at least she didn't look too lost.

  “They are cute.” I agreed. “But are you sure you want to show my mother this stuff? We could just tell her about them.”

  “Come on. Aurora is my sister and Dylan's slowly becoming a member of the family. I think she should have a right to know about them. And don't worry, I will make sure they are on their best behavior around your family.”

  Neela looked surprised at one of the photos. “Hey, I didn't know that was possible to do with a tongue. Maybe I should try it.”

  “Definitely not!” I exclaimed. “He's...He's...He's way cooler than you.”

  “Duh! I can see that. He's cooler than all of us. You know my mother would kill me if I showed up with a tattoo, let alone a tattoo of a woman with_”

  “Hey!” I stopped her before she could reveal the 'good' parts of the tattoo. “Not with Amma in the other room! Are you nuts?!”

  Neela shrugged. “She'll see it eventually.”

  “Not if we cover him up!” I began thinking of ways to cover of naked man lady on Dylan. Maybe I could mummify him. I didn't care how hot he got or if he sweated to death in that leather jacket. I didn't want my mother to know what kind of tattoo the guy was walking around with. She would have a heart attack when she realized what the extra parts on the woman were.

  “You want to cover him up?” Rachel asked. “Oh, man, he will cut you if so much as to suggest he change his image.”

  “I'm not asking him to change his image. I just want him to cover his image.”

  “You are weird.” Neela said.

  “Piss off.”

  “She's not the only one who thinks that, you know.” Rachel added, separating the good photos from the ones my mother never needed to see. “But that makes you a little bit charming. You're weird and you are so scared of my sister's boyfriend.”

  “I'm not scared of him! H e im and his leather jacket and his naked lady man tattoo don't frighten me at all! No, sir! No way!”

  “Okay, whatever you say.” Rachel turned away. “By the way, Dylan wants to talk to you.”

  “Tell him I died!” I yelped. That caused the girls to burst out laughing.

  “Oh, that was good!” Neela exclaimed, slapping her hand against the table. “Poor Anwar. You looked ready to crap all over yourself! You must feel like an idiot!”

  “Not funny.” I grumbled. “What does he want?”

  “Nothing yet. Don't be afraid of him. He won't be beat you up if he asks to talk to you. He's gotten a lot more tame tamer since the first time I met him.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “I know so. If he hasn't beaten you up yet, chances are he never will. So loosen those tense shoulders! He's a lamb underneath the leather.
”

  “How comforting.”

  “I'm serious! You just need to get used to him.”

  Maybe she had a good point. A girl like Aurora could not score a man like that unless he was a lamb underneath the leather. He hadn't done anything to me yet so there was a chance he wouldn't hurt me. I had to stay on the good side. I could do that.

  “Fine, I'll see him.” I grumbled. “Just tell him not to hurt me. I have too much life to live that I haven't lived.”

  “You have no life.” Neela snorted.

  “Ah, go back to reading Twilight and fantasizing about Edward Cullen turning you into a vampire and loving your pure self, puri butt.”

  “Bite me, Anwar. You're such a chicken.”

  “Am not! I said I'd see him.”

  “And you'll piss yourself the entire way.”

  “That, I will.” I sighed. “That, I will.”

  “Come on.” She grabbed my arm and led me away. “I've got to go home and see if Aurora's okay. It was nice meeting you, kid.”

  “You too!” Neela waved to her. “Visit us again! At least before the wedding.”

  Before the wedding. Oh, how I wanted to correct her and say that there really was no wedding. There would be no music, bells, lights, or anything for us. Maybe we were becoming good friends but that was it. We weren't dating, we weren't going to be dating, which meant there would be no wedding.

  Yeah, right.

  127

  Carter Tachikawa

  Chapter 8

  Rachel had asked me to come over the next morning because she wanted to get more facts and she wanted to tell me that she had finished reading all my Tinkle comics. She was anxious for more Indian literature so I decided to bring over a translated version of Rabindranath Tagore's poetry. It wouldn't be that hard to understand and I knew she would love it. When she came to pick me up, I handed it to her and she squealed in delight. Then she hugged me tight enough to cut the circulation in my body.

  "I had a nice time meeting your family." She said when we pulled away from each other. "I just kind of wish that...you know, we weren't lying to them. In another time, I think we could work out. Maybe I could love you."