ROOM 7
Chapter Forty-Two: The Saree
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The second day of the festival arrived with a note slipped under the door.
Traditional attire. Formal. Please dress accordingly.
Room 7 stared at the paper. Yuri picked it up. Read it. Read it again. "Traditional attire?"
"Traditional attire," Mica said.
"Like... traditional traditional?"
Care walked over. Took the paper. "It says sarees for women. Kurtas for men."
Yuri looked at his closet. At his shirts. At his jeans. "I don't have a kurta."
"Neither do I," Felix said from his desk.
Calix stood up. "There's a shop near the university. We can go this morning."
The room scattered. Yuri was already at the door. Felix was putting on his shoes. Calix was grabbing his wallet. Cole was following. Erdix was checking his phone for directions. David was already ready.
The women stayed. Mica was on her phone. "There's a delivery. From my mother. She sent sarees. For everyone."
Jay looked up. "Everyone?"
Mica held up her phone. "Everyone."
---
Part One: The Boxes
The boxes arrived at noon. Six of them. Each wrapped in tissue paper. Each tied with ribbon. Mica handed them out like presents.
Lyra opened hers first. Emerald green. Gold border. Silk. Her breath caught.
"My mother wore this," she said. "At her wedding."
Mica smiled. "She wanted you to have it."
Care's was deep purple. Silver threading. Heavy silk. She held it up. Her hands were shaking.
Cole was at the door. "Do you need help?"
She looked at him. "I've never worn a saree."
He walked in. Took the fabric from her hands. "I'll help."
Ash's was royal blue. Gold work. Lightweight. She held it against her. David appeared in the doorway.
"That's beautiful," he said.
She smiled. "Help me put it on?"
He nodded. Followed her to the bathroom.
Freya's was champagne gold. Delicate. She held it up. Erdix was beside her.
"I've watched my mother do this a hundred times," he said.
She handed him the fabric. "Then show me."
Jay's was the last box. She opened it. Deep red. Gold border. Heavy silk. Her mother's handwriting on the note inside: For my daughter. Wear it well.
She stared at it. Her hands were shaking.
Keifer appeared beside her. "Need help?"
She looked at him. "I've never worn one before."
He took the fabric from her hands. "I know."
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Part Two: The Saree
He led her to the bathroom. Closed the door. The room was small. The light was dim. The fabric was heavy in his hands.
"Turn around," he said.
She turned. Her back was to him. Her hair was loose. Her shoulders were bare.
He draped the fabric over her shoulder. His fingers brushed her skin. She shivered.
"The petticoat goes first," he said.
She looked down. She was wearing it. "I know that much."
He smiled. "Good."
He tucked the fabric into her waist. His hands were on her hips. She went still.
"Keifer."
"I'm helping."
"You're touching."
"I'm helping." His fingers traced her waist. Her hip. Her thigh. "The pleats need to be straight."
She grabbed his hand. "They're straight."
He pulled away. "The pallu goes over your shoulder."
He lifted the fabric. Draped it over her shoulder. His fingers traced her collarbone. Her shoulder. Her arm.
She grabbed his hand again. "Keifer."
He stepped closer. His chest was against her back. His mouth was near her ear. "You need to turn around."
She turned. Her face was inches from his. Her hands were on his chest. His hands were on her waist.
"The saree," she said.
"The saree."
"It's not on yet."
He looked at her. At her face. At her eyes. At her mouth. "I know."
He reached behind her. His fingers found the end of the fabric. He pulled it over her shoulder. Let it fall down her back. His knuckles brushed her spine. She closed her eyes.
"Done," he said.
She opened her eyes. Looked in the mirror. The saree was perfect. Deep red. Gold border. Silk draped over her shoulder. Fabric pleated at her waist. She looked like her mother. She looked like herself.
"How do I look?"
He stood behind her. His hands were on her waist. His face was beside hers. His eyes were on her reflection.
"I want to push you onto the bed."
She turned. "Keifer."
He kissed her forehead. "You're beautiful."
She grabbed his shirt. Pulled him down. Kissed him.
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Part Three: The Mistake
Across the room, Lyra was alone.
She'd sent Alex away. She wanted to do it herself. She wanted to prove she could. The saree was spread on the bed. Emerald green. Gold border. Her mother's wedding saree. She'd watched her mother wear it a hundred times. She'd never worn it herself.
She picked up the fabric. Draped it over her shoulder. Tucked it into her waist. The pleats were crooked. She tried again. Crooked. Again. Worse. She groaned.
"Alex."
No answer. She'd sent him away.
She tried again. The fabric slipped. The pallu fell. The pleats unraveled. She stood in the middle of the room, holding the saree, wearing the petticoat, her hair falling in her face, her cheeks red.
The door opened.
Alex walked in. "I heard you call."
She turned. Her face was red. Her hands were full of fabric. "I didn't call."
"You called."
"I didn't."
He walked toward her. "You need help."
"I don't need help."
He took the fabric from her hands. "You need help."
She stared at him. "I sent you away."
He draped the fabric over her shoulder. "I came back."
She opened her mouth. Closed it. His fingers were on her waist. Tucking the fabric. Smoothing the pleats.
"The pallu goes over your shoulder," he said.
She turned. Her back was to him. His fingers traced her spine. She shivered.
"The saree," she said.
"The saree."
"It's not on yet."
He lifted the fabric. Draped it over her shoulder. Let it fall down her back. His fingers brushed her skin.
She turned. Her face was inches from his. Her hands were on his chest. His hands were on her waist.
"The saree," she said.
"The saree."
"It's on."
He looked at her. At her face. At her eyes. At her mouth. "I know."
He stepped back. She looked in the mirror. Emerald green. Gold border. Silk draped over her shoulder. Fabric pleated at her waist. She looked like her mother. She looked like herself.
"How do I look?"
He looked at her. At the saree. At her shoulders. At her face.
He kissed her.
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Part Four: The Kiss
It wasn't like the first kiss. That kiss was soft. Gentle. The kiss she'd been wanting for years. This kiss was different. His hands were on her face. Her hands were on his chest. His lips were on hers. Her lips were on his. The saree was between them. The room was empty. The world was gone.
He pulled back. His forehead was against hers. His hands were shaking. His voice was low.
"You look beautiful."
She stared at him. Her face was red. Her lips were swollen. Her heart was pounding.
"Alex."
He stepped back. His hands went in his pockets. "We should go. Everyone's waiting."
She grabbed his hand. "Alex."
He stopped. She pulled him closer. Her face was inches from his. Her voice was steady.
"Thank you. For helping with the saree."
He looked at her. "You're welcome."
She let go. He walked to the door. She followed.
---
Part Five: The Hallway
They walked out together.
The hallway was full. Jay in red. Keifer beside her in black. His hand was on her back. Her back was bare. His fingers were tracing her spine. She was holding a napkin. He was dodging.
Freya in gold. Erdix beside her in cream. Her camera was around her neck. His phone was in his hand.
Ash in blue. David beside her in navy. Her hand was on his arm. His hand was on hers.
Care in purple. Cole beside her in gray. They were arguing about something. They were always arguing about something.
Mica in pink. Calix beside her in white. They were laughing at something Yuri said. Yuri was in green. Felix was in brown. They were comparing kurtas.
Ci N was in the corner. Notebook open. Pen moving. Rakki was beside him in yellow.
They all looked up when Lyra and Alex walked out.
Jay stopped throwing napkins. Keifer stopped dodging. Freya lowered her camera. Felix closed his sketchbook. Ash turned.
Ci N's pen moved. "Page 308. Lyra and Alex exiting. Saree confirmed. Probability of teasing: 100 percent."
Ash was the first to speak. "Alex helped with your saree."
Lyra's face went red. "What?"
"Your saree. It's on. You couldn't reach. Alex helped."
Lyra opened her mouth. Closed it. "I asked him to help."
"I didn't say you didn't."
"You implied—"
"I didn't imply anything." Ash smiled. "I'm just observing."
Lyra grabbed a napkin from Jay's hand. Threw it at Ash. Ash caught it.
"You have a catching problem," Lyra said.
"You have a throwing problem."
"I have an Ash problem."
Ash tucked the napkin into her pocket. "The worst kind."
Care stepped forward. "He helped with your saree."
"He helped with my saree."
"Your hair is a mess."
Lyra touched her hair. It was falling out of its pins. "I was struggling."
Care looked at Alex. At his red ears. At his hands in his pockets. At the way he was standing close to Lyra. "He helped."
"He helped."
Care smiled. "Good."
Jay walked over. Circled Lyra. Looked at the saree. At the pleats. At the pallu. At the way it was draped over her shoulder.
"The pleats are perfect," she said.
Lyra nodded. "Alex did them."
"The pallu is perfect."
Lyra nodded again. "Alex did that too."
Jay stopped in front of her. "Alex did everything?"
Lyra's face was red. Her hands were fists. Her voice was tight. "He helped with the saree. That's what best friends do."
Jay looked at Alex. "Best friends help with sarees."
Alex nodded. "Best friends help with sarees."
Ci N appeared beside them. "Page 309. Best friends help with sarees. Probability of more than best friends: 94.2 percent."
Lyra grabbed a napkin. Threw it at him. He caught it.
"You have a catching problem," she said.
"You have a throwing problem."
"I have a Ci N problem."
He tucked the napkin into his pocket. "The worst kind."
---
Part Six: The Teasing
Keifer was still standing behind Jay. His hand was on her back. His fingers were tracing her spine. She grabbed his hand.
"Stop touching my back."
"I'm not touching your back."
"Your fingers are on my back."
"I'm holding you up. The saree is heavy."
She grabbed a napkin. Threw it at him. He caught it.
"You have a catching problem," she said.
"You have a throwing problem."
"I have a Keifer problem."
He tucked the napkin into his pocket. "The worst kind."
He kissed her cheek. She pushed him away. He laughed. She tried not to smile. She failed.
Ci N appeared beside them. "Mother. Father."
Jay looked at him. "Ci N."
"Father kissed Mother."
Keifer's ears went red. "I kissed her cheek."
"Pappa don't kiss her. I won't snatch her from you."
Keifer stared at him. "What?"
Ci N opened his notebook. "Page 310. Father kissed Mother. Probability of more kisses: 100 percent. Probability of snatching: 0 percent."
Keifer looked at Jay. "Did he just—"
"Call you father?"
"Tell me not to snatch you?"
She smiled. "Yes."
Keifer looked at Ci N. Ci N was writing. His pen was moving fast. His forehead was wrinkled. His lips were moving.
Keifer walked to him. "Ci N."
Ci N looked up. "Yes, Father?"
Keifer's ears went redder. "I'm not your father."
Ci N tilted his head. "You're not?"
"I'm Keifer."
Ci N looked at Jay. "Mother."
Jay walked over. "Ci N."
"Father says he's not my father."
She looked at Keifer. Keifer looked at her. "He's not your father."
Ci N looked between them. "Then what is he?"
Jay opened her mouth. Closed it. Keifer opened his mouth. Closed it.
Ci N waited. "Page 311. Mother and Father cannot define their relationship. Probability of eventual definition: 100 percent."
He walked back to Rakki. She was watching. Her hand was over her mouth. She was laughing.
"You're impossible," she said.
He smiled. "You like it."
She didn't answer. She held his hand. He held hers.
---
Part Seven: The Courtyard
The courtyard was transformed again.
More lights. More lanterns. More flowers. The music was different. Slower. The crowd was different. Everyone in traditional clothes. Sarees in every color. Kurtas in every shade. Room 7 walked in together. Sixteen people. Sixteen people who were something to each other.
Yuri was the first on the dance floor. Felix followed. Mica and Calix were at the edge, watching, laughing. Care and Cole were arguing about the music. Freya was taking photos. Erdix was filming. Ash was dancing with David. Ci N was calculating. Rakki was beside him.
Jay stood at the edge. Keifer beside her. His hand was on her back. Her back was bare. His fingers were tracing her spine.
"You're still touching my back," she said.
"I'm still holding you up."
She grabbed his hand. "I can stand on my own."
He pulled her closer. "I know."
She looked at his face. At his eyes. At his mouth. At the way the lantern light caught his skin.
"Keifer."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
He kissed her. "I love you."
Ci N's voice from the table: "Page 312. I love you recorded. Probability of more I love yous: 100 percent."
Jay grabbed a napkin. Threw it at him. He caught it.
"You have a catching problem," she said.
"You have a throwing problem."
"I have a Ci N problem."
He tucked the napkin into his pocket. "The worst kind."
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Part Eight: The Night
The festival went on late.
Music played. Lanterns glowed. Students danced. Yuri was still on the floor. Felix was beside him. Mica and Calix were dancing now. Care and Cole were dancing. Freya was taking photos. Erdix was filming. Ash was dancing with David. Ci N was at the table, notebook open.
Rakki was beside him. "You're not dancing."
"I'm calculating."
She looked at his notebook. "Calculating what?"
He showed her. Probabilities. Kisses. Sarees. Dances. "The probability of Alex kissing Lyra again tonight is 67.3 percent. The probability of them talking about it is 8.2 percent. The probability of—"
She closed his notebook. "Dance with me."
He looked at her. "I don't dance."
She pulled him up. "You're dancing."
He followed her to the floor. His arms went around her. Her arms went around him. They swayed. His notebook was on the table. His pen was on the notebook. His fox was in his pocket.
"You're impossible," she said.
He smiled. "You like it."
She didn't answer. She held him. He held her.
---
Across the courtyard, Lyra sat on the bench. Alex beside her. Her head was on his shoulder. His arm was around her. Her eyes were closed. His eyes were open.
"Alex."
"Yeah."
"Thank you. For helping with the saree."
He looked at her. Her eyes were still closed. Her face was calm. Her hand was in his.
"You're welcome," he said.
She opened her eyes. Looked at him. "Everyone was teasing us."
"Everyone was teasing us."
She smiled. "They think something happened."
He looked at her. "Something did happen."
She went still. "What happened?"
He looked at her face. At her eyes. At her mouth. At the way the lantern light caught the green of her saree.
"I kissed you," he said.
She stared at him. "You kissed me."
He nodded. "I kissed you."
She leaned closer. Her face was inches from his. Her hand was on his chest. His heart was pounding.
"Alex."
"Lyra."
She kissed him. He kissed her back.
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Part Nine: The Return
They walked back to the room together. Hand in hand. The courtyard was behind them. The lights were dimming. The music was fading. The night was ending.
The door opened. The room was quiet. Everyone was there. Yuri on his bed. Mica and Calix in the kitchen. Care and Cole at the table. Freya and Erdix on the couch. Ash and David by the window. Felix at his desk. Ci N on his bed. Jay and Keifer on her bed.
They all looked up when Lyra and Alex walked in. Hand in hand. Saree perfect. Kurta perfect.
Yuri saw their hands. "YOU'RE HOLDING HANDS AGAIN."
Lyra looked at Alex. Alex looked at Lyra.
"We're holding hands," Lyra said.
Yuri stared at them. "You're holding hands and you're best friends?"
"We're best friends."
He grabbed his hair. "I CAN'T. I CAN'T WITH THEM."
Ci N was writing. "Page 313. Hand-holding confirmed. Kiss confirmed. Probability of more kisses: 100 percent."
Lyra grabbed a pillow. Threw it at him. He caught it.
"You have a catching problem," she said.
"You have a throwing problem."
"I have a Ci N problem."
He tucked the pillow under his arm. "The worst kind."
Lyra laughed. Alex laughed. The room laughed.
---
Part Ten: The Night
The room was quiet that night.
Lyra was on the couch. Alex beside her. Her head was on his shoulder. His arm was around her. Her eyes were closed. She was sleeping. He was watching her breathe.
Ci N was on his bed. Notebook open. Pen in hand.
"Page 314. Lyra sleeping. Alex watching. Probability of more kisses: 100 percent."
Rakki closed his notebook. "You need to sleep."
He looked at her. "I'm not tired."
"You've been calculating all day."
He looked at Lyra. At the way her hand was in Alex's. At the way his thumb was tracing circles on her palm.
"They kissed," he said.
Rakki looked at them. "They kissed."
He picked up his fox. Held it. "Good."
She kissed his cheek. He closed his eyes.
---
Across the room, Jay lay in her bed. The shark was beside her. Keifer was beside her. His arm was around her. Her head was on his chest.
"He kissed her," Jay said.
"He kissed her."
"In the courtyard."
"In the courtyard."
She looked up at him. "You helped with my saree."
He smiled. "I helped with your saree."
She grabbed his shirt. Pulled him down. Kissed him.
From across the room, Ci N's voice: "Page 315. Goodnight recorded. Probability of more goodnights: 100 percent."
"Ci N," Jay said.
"I'm sleeping."
"You're talking."
"I'm sleeping and talking. My brain works at one hundred sixty percent. I can do both."
"Ci N."
"Goodnight, Mother. Goodnight, Father."
She smiled into Keifer's chest. "Goodnight, Ci N."
The room was quiet. Sixteen people. Sixteen people who were something to each other. Something that didn't need a name.
Jay closed her eyes. Keifer was beside her. The shark was beside her. Lyra was sleeping. Alex was watching. They kissed. They were figuring it out.
She slept.
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End of Chapter Forty-Two