by Namita Singh
get our right sizes?” Neal wonders aloud.
I am still arranging the pieces of my tuxedo on the bed as opposed to Neal who is already dressed, minus his bow tie. I frown at him as he looks himself over in the mirror.
“You’re actually looking tall.” I observe. “Why do you even wear loose clothes?” I ask as I return to lay out more of my tux pieces neatly on the bed.
“More comfortable.” Neal mutters. “I am going to go.”
I look up to find him ready at the door, his thumb pointing towards it. “Okay.” I nod at him and pick up my shirt.
When I am ready, with my bow tie on, I leave the room and immediately get assaulted by therian auras. As I traverse the hallway, I see a few people lounging about the mansion. They are dressed as fancily as Neal and I. As I pass them by nobody gives me the light of the day for which I am actually glad. Once outside, I climb down the stairs and start going about the width of the mansion, hoping to find the narrow way towards the backside. Many therians, even some humans are entering the gates of the mansion and traversing towards this narrow pathway to probably go to the backside. Cocktail gowns, straight laced appearances, elegant walks, excited hush whispers. What is this, prom?
It’s something even prissier than prom, I realize as I enter the backyard of the mansion. It’s a huge field with properly decorated tables and chairs arranged as if it’s a wedding. The border of the backyard is marked by plain lamp posts placed intermittently. I almost expected expensive decoration and glittering lights but thankfully the dining tables and the chairs are the only thing that looks out of place for a ‘judiciary’ meeting. But they are not gaudy. They look opulent, but simple. There is a buffet, which is again a surprise but I am glad that it is simple, nothing too extravagant. The champagne and wine seem unnecessary though.
I shake my head and ignore everything because everything seems unnecessary. An elevated stage is at one end of the field. It’s a huge platform where the thirteen council members are already seated, talking in hushed voices with one another. I move towards it and spot my family members lounging near the stage, minus Gwen aunt who has arrived today. Even here she is choosing to remain indoors. A little away, Neal and Aakir are standing with identical poses of their hands in their pockets. Neal looks irked while Aakir seems melancholic for whatever reason. I walk towards them.
“Feels much like a ‘judiciary’ meeting to anyone?” I say as soon as I join them.
Neal immediately snorts while Aakir just purses his lips and shakes his head.
“I don’t understand.” Neal says after a while, “Are these…pansies,” he looks at everyone around him at the hoard of people in fancy dresses moving about the field, “going to be the ones fighting for us, in case it came down to a war?”
“They all can hear you, you know?” I tell him slyly.
“No.” Neal says confidently, “They all are too busy gushing over who is wearing the biggest diamond.”
“I am very sure the realm will try it damnedest hard that it doesn’t come to a war.” A familiar voice interrupts us.
“You look pretty.” I tell mother as she joins us. I lean down to kiss her cheek.
“Aww,” my mother coos, pinching my cheek, “Thank you, Josh. And you look more handsome than anybody tonight.” She gushes, caressing my cheek. I roll my eyes at her.
She turns towards Neal, “And look at you.” She continued, “You should drop the loose clothing you wear. You look much dashing now, all primed up.” She says and starts straightening his collar.
Neal tsks, his ears slightly tinting pink at the attention, “Comfort over style, I suppose.” He says in as much cool voice he can muster while trying to suppress his blush.
“Oh, doesn’t go for the females that way.” Mother says apologetically while she is actually smirking. “And Neal?”
“Hmm?”
“Whatever happens forth this day, I want you to know that we have your back. Okay?”
Neal doesn’t say anything for a long moment. Then he simply nods at my mother. My mother smiles and caresses his cheek, “We are not a fan of the traditions of this realm either.” She tells him, “Tonight, they will publicize you. They will make people believe how much you belong here. You know, as we all know, that their support is only superficial. They will not even try to mask their superficiality. To authenticate your belongingness here, they will use the excuse of you being a part of myfamily. I just want you to knowthat out of everything they say the last bit is something they can’t be truer about. I consider you as much a part of my family as I consider Josh, remember that. I do not know if these people will be by your side if it actually comes down to a war but you should know that your family will be there. We all will be there, right beside you.”
Neal nods again, faintly this time, looking overwhelmed by the onslaught of emotional words from my mother. My mother’s smile widens and she lifts herself on her toes while cradling Neal’s face. Like usual, she puts two sloppy kisses on both of his cheeks, “And if you need anything, you need only throw a tantrum.”
Neal smiles at that.
“Okay?” my mother confirms.
“Okay.” Neal nods, still smiling.
“So, anything you need?”
Neal chuckles, “No, thanks.” He says modestly.
“Sure?” my mother drawls.
Neal chuckles some more. “Yes. Thanks a lot.” he hesitates, “For everything.” He adds.
“Well,” mother says, “You say you don’t need anything but I still have a surprise for you. But later, of course. Have fun till then.” She smiles at us.
Her eyes land on Aakir. Now that I notice, Aakir is still sulking, standing sidewaysand unseeingly looking around him. My mother steps up to him and cradles his face, much like she did with Neal. Aakir snaps out of his reverie at the intrusion. Once he sees that it is my mother, a minute smile greets his lips. My mother brings his head down and kisses his forehead, “She’ll be fine.” She assures. I frown, not really understanding. My mother abruptly let go of his face and instead loops her arm with his, “Let’s go and bug Rufina, she is being a strict lady somewhere near the stage.”
Aakir manages a chuckle and the both of them depart, my mother enthusiastically waving at us in farewell. I suspire when she leaves.
“Well,” I say, “That was too maudlin.”
Neal doesn’t say anything. It makes me realize that it must have been a huge deal for him to have my mother support him like that. However, before I can comment on the matter, Anastasia, one of the thirteen of the council, rises on the podium and asks for everybody’s attention. Her voice unpleasantly echoes through the speakers placed at every corner of the field.
She starts off by greeting everyone, launching into one of the well-rehearsed speeches in which she speaks of the realm, about how they support every therian in the realm and how trust is build up amongst the therians….and much more monotonous things that I tune out. I look around and notice that every person is listening to Anastasia in rapt attention. A few of them will surreptitiously glance in my direction, quickly looking away when I catch their glance. I frown and realize that Neal’s aura is already attracting a lot of attention. Anastasia hasn’t even started talking about him.
She broaches the subject by starting off with my grandmother. She speaks about how well a member Erisna is in the realm and how her daughter is now back. For a fleeting moment, I feel unease. Mainly because Anastasia is speaking only of my mother’s side of the family. She doesn’t even mention my father. She further says that how the children of children of the members of this realm are as much a part of this realm as the permanent members.
Then, to my utter embarrassment, she narrates how goodness has come in the form of a partner of one of those children. How the vaticinator now stands amongst us. The crowd bursts into excited chatter at the term ‘vaticinator’. The young people look confused but the older ones express shock. More people start turning towards Neal and I, stealing glimpses. Anastasia star
s speaking about Neal. How he is some sort of a blessing in disguise. How having a vaticinator amongst us is such a great honor. And again many more things that I choose to ignore.
“This is what is too maudlin.” I hear Neal harshly whisper next to me.
I can feel a yawn surfacing on me. I don’t comment. Anastasia then explains the plight of the vaticinator. How he wishes to not be under the rulers of the First Realm and how he wishes to remain as a permanent member here.
“That was not part of the deal.” I say, frowning. We never said that Neal would permanently stay here.
Neal says nothing. We listen as Anastasia goes on, speaking strongly against the desires of the First Realm to have the vaticinator to themselves. She ends by pointing out the uniqueness disposed by my partner’s aura and that he is right here. More faces turn towards us, making me awkwardly scratch my temple. Anastasia announces the voting schedule, to vote for in favor or against protecting the vaticinator against the First Realm members.
And that was that. People busy themselves at buffet and soon everyone is indulged in gossips of their own. More than once I hear the term ‘vaticinator’ but for once I wish my hearing doesn’t be this good. This whole event screams‘stepford wives’ weird and I am particularly uneasy with how my partner has been literally auctioned in front of these gossiping whores.
Neal and I say nothing but