28 Water & Oil Pt. 2 (1/2)

Everyone looked at Priscilla while she pointed at the beer cooler behind the bar.

”Hey, rich lady. Give me a Corona,” Priscilla demanded with a glee.

Amaan handed her a bottle of chilled beer and asked, ”Isn't it a little early for a beer? We were going to have breakfast anyway.”

Priscilla touched the glass bottle to her lips and emptied the half of it in one go. When she separated herself from her beverage, she exclaimed, ”Well, I need something to wake me up, right? Corona always does that job for me.”

I let go of Mad and asked her, ”What are you doing here Priscilla? was this a plan of yours too? To crash our meeting while we're away from you?”

Her cheerful demeanor vanished, and she looked at me with those foxy piercing eyes she possessed. I retracted to a safe distance where her bottle throws won't hit me.

”Don't get worked up this early in the morning, Chink. I'm not here for a meet and greet. I was here for business. And since I knew you'd be in this town, I thought of paying you a visit. Besides, this guy sitting next to me was a big name in Velocity Cars, which I have been a very good customer of. If you think you're special and I paid YOU people a visit, you're gravely mistaken.”

Priscilla continued to drink her beer while everybody in the room continued to look at her.

”W-Well, people, the breakfast will be ready soon. Why don't we sit at the proper table,” Amaan broke the silence, and everybody was plenty thankful for that.

Everyone stood up and started walking, while Mad held on to me tightly like she was never going to let me go again. It felt good when the pillar of my household showed cracks of care directed at me. It felt good to be in her attention again. In that moment, I had preferred a bedroom above the breakfast. Nevertheless, the short walk from the bar to the breakfast table filled me with joy and bloom.

The table in the middle was made of fancy wood with beautiful engravings all over it. Some of them felt like scratches, but the rim was exceptionally artistic. There were exactly five chairs surrounding the round table, which made it a little awkward for Mad. One way or another, she would be sitting with her ex. And I was not ready to entertain that thought. The chairs were placed in such a pattern that anyone sitting in a particular chair could see two people in front of him/her without turning or

moving.

Lucky for us, Priscilla was the one looking at us, whereas Brad sat next to me and Amaan took the seat next to Mad. I had thought Amaan would sit next to me, but I brushed off that thought for my

own sake.

there were bigger things on the line here, I reminded myself.

The table was filled with bread, scrambled eggs, biryani and juice. Everybody started filling their plates, whereas Mad was looking down at her legs. I poured her some juice and scrambled eggs, then pushed a fork into her hands. She looked at me with no power in her body, but I couldn't help her due to Priscilla's lunatic tendencies.

And I was proven right when she asked Amaan where the bacon was.

Amaan set her cutlery down and explained why bacon will never be present in a Muslim's house.

I was equally terrified and surprised at Priscilla's lack of social awareness. For somebody whose job description required to travel the world, her social IQ was definitely low.

”So, Kiyomi, and Professor, what are we all doing here?” Brad threw the question on the table.

”Well, you see- ”Amaan started to explain, but I signaled her to be quiet. I wanted to explain out reasoning for her summon.

”Mr. Brad, we're here for forgiveness. I know the past has been hard on you. But the same pain has been incurred by my wife, Madonna. And I can assure you that the changes in her attitude and perspective have been for the better.”

”Cut the shit. I am not here for an interview. So, you can pocket your spiritual liberation bullshit in your back pocket and get out of my face. What I want is very easy. And if you can do that, I will be able to bear your fractured morality for a limited extent. Maybe.”

”Well, that makes it easy for us too. Please tell me what you desire, and we will take one heartfelt forgiveness from you.”

Brad started to chuckle. So did Amaan. They started laughing hysterically, while Mad reached out for my hand and clenched on to it. I was confused. The laughter continued for a long time before Priscilla smashed her hand on to the table floor. Everyone's focus was onto her once more.

”Listen to me, you Kylo Ren knock-off. If you want that beautiful set of teeth stay inside your mouth, I want you to start naming your price. I'll help you pay it all. But this laughing crap won't sit well with me.”

Her statement about helping us made me think if she still harbored feelings for Mad. My question got answered when Brad asked her the same question.