After the little intense moment I had, I decided it was only normal if I went back to my room. I wasn't in the mood of doing anything since I was still angry and sad and that's when it crossed my mind that, I could lift off a huge weight if I spoke with my mom about what had happened. The problem was, how was I going to reach her?

I googled her boss Owen Trumpet and luckily, I found two companies that were linked directly to him since he was a shareholder with a huge stake. I circled down those numbers and proceeded to call the first one. It rang for a few seconds before a guy answered the call.

"This is Ansel Jewel from Hit International. How may I help you?"

"Umm Hi! My name is Roy Agniholtri, a businessman from India. I wanted to speak with Mr. Owen Trumpet about some business we had started talks about." I had to palm my face with how obvious I sounded.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Trumpet isn't in today. But if it's urgent, I could give you the number of the office which might help you set up a meeting with him or any assistance they can provide." The guy, Ansel, answered.

"Is it by any chance Herbal Creamz?" I asked guessing with the second company I had noted down.

"Uh, yes. You know about it?" He asked me.

"Not really. I have their contacts from when we spoke first."

"Then I can assure you, if you call them, you'll be connected to Mr. Trumpet or his PA and all your needs will be catered to. I hope there is nothing else you need for now?" He was professional and polite.

"I think that will be great. Have a nice day at work."

"You too sir."

I nearly laughed if I wasn't too sad. Me trying to speak like Roy was fun, I made a mental note to do it when he was present as well. I bet he would go nuts!

I dialed the second number and it was connected in a second fraction.

"Hello, this is Herbal Creamz. Who am I speaking to and what should I help you with?"

"Hi, I'm Roy Agniholtri, a businessman from India. I had started talks with Mr. Trumpet and he said I should arrange an interview with his PA or secretary, something like that. I hope you can connect me with her." If it was the right place, I would get to her easier.

"You spoke with Mr. Trumpet directly before?!" The woman on the phone asked a bit puzzled.

"Kind of. He said I should arrange an interview and he would be of more help on what we were discussing. It was about a potential partnership." I tried to sound convincing and not get too into details to avoid any consequences later.

"Oh, that's right. I'll connect you to his PA Miss Girlfriend, I hope you'll have a good moment with her. She has been to India for years. Just give me a minute while I connect you two."

Yes, it was her. I was at the right place.

"That would be great. I'll wait."

There was then the ringing sound again before I heard her voice.

"This is Mr. Trumpet's PA. What may I help you with?"

"Mom! It's me."

"Aarush?! What the hell?!" I wasn't expecting her to sound pissed at me for doing that.

"What do you mean mom?"

"Hasn't your dad found you another one yet? I bet he has with how he was keen on chasing me away!" She was angry at dad, not me.

"Why are you taking your anger out on me? And FYI, Dad is in jail. I called to tell you that Rustema chacha passed away about an hour ago." I was angry as well.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry for the loss and what happened to your father?"

"Mom! This is ridiculous. Come back here. If you don't want to meet dad then it's fine, but come back for the same Rustema who helped to look after your children whenever you couldn't." She was getting on my last nerve.

"I'm very sorry, but I don't think that's possible. I have a lot of things to take care of here, and it's not even a week since I was in India."

"I don't care. The funeral will be this Friday at 4 pm. He will be cremated. You better be there."

"I really can't be there. There is..." I had a glimpse of what she was avoiding saying, but nothing was holding me back.

"Your wedding can wait Miss Anna. And in fact, it's a month away. What are you preparing this early? Some dark rituals so you don't get another crazy husband like my dad?"

"Aarush..."

"We'll be waiting for you. Bye, mom! I love you."

It was really hard to keep my tears where they belonged, but I kinda managed until I got into the shower. I had heard that crying in the shower gets you relief and it sure did. For most of the hour that I had locked myself in the bathroom, I cried my eyes out. I cried until there was nothing left to cry.

And that's only when I got out and prepared myself for bed. I needed to sleep fast.

¶

"Wake up!"

It was Leen's voice.

I opened my eyes to find Roshni and Aryan cuddled in my bed, and Roy was with Mahir on the couch. The clock read 6:23 am. I wasn't late, but I wasn't early either. I liked to think being early is being on time, and being on time is late.

Roy also had woken up simultaneously after Leen started shouting again. Why was she even shouting that early in the morning? I didn't know. But maybe she couldn't sleep, because I could swear all names of Greek Gods that she was never a morning person.

After a huge silence of like forever, Roy spoke.

"I spoke with the morgue team and they accepted our request of going for him by tomorrow afternoon. He will be washed and sent to the apathy room, and we can take him from there."

"No! Call them and tell them that we will take him before noon. His family member is coming from Australia, I bet she would want an alone moment with him before the cremation ritual."

"Mom is coming back to India. That's great." Roshni jumped up from the bed. I didn't know that she was up. But I didn't care if she heard what I said as well.

"Don't raise your hopes too high. She is coming for the funeral and nothing else." I was fierce in answering her outburst, but that was the truth.

"So, she won't hug us and..." Aryan pouted at an instant and started to ramble. Why were they up?

"She will, but she won't stay. She will go back to Australia after the funeral." I told them and went to freshen up.

I did my morning routine as usual, and when I went to the kitchen, I found Priya had everything in control and the table fully set. I just helped with telling people that they had things to go to so they had to wake their dirty asses up and get to the table for breakfast.

During breakfast, Roy told me to ring the company that I accepted their job and ask them about the details. I told him that I would do so, and asked him to take Aryan and Roshni home to take a few things until things with dad were settled.

I called the company first thing that morning when I set foot in school. Being a huge company in our neighborhood and having guests from all over the nearby cities, they wanted a posh theme with red and white roses only.

I challenged my brain during the periods and came up with a great theme, but it needed a yellow and green flower at the entrance so it could be an attention-seeking and very rich setting. They never agreed to that, so, the first thing I did when I got home was asking for the pictures of the hall and I put up what I had planned before I sent them back the edited pictures.

I thought I could wait for a long time, but it took only twenty minutes before they agreed and asked for the list of things I needed and ordered all of them. Black and pink curtains and gold ribbons with all the flowers.

The party was to start at 5 pm, so I had to be done by 4 since that's when people would start to arrive and it was the time of the cremation as well. I just showed the setting I had to Priya and asked for her opinion on whether something was to be changed or anything. She had an eye for detail. She shocked me when she said to me, 'perfection wasn't to be messed up with.

I then helped with dinner because it was 7 when all that ended. I informed Priya that we wouldn't be going to school that Friday because of the funeral. A few teachers said they would come as well, but I was to get there late because of the party I was going to help set up.

¶

Friday at 10, I was already at the company and the delivery came at the same time as I did. They had brought over everything just like what I asked. Nothing more, nothing less. I liked their level of professionalism.

I started to do the simple things like putting the background curtains which happened to be black, so it was a no-brainer kinda thing. At 12 when the help arrived, I was nearly finished with the background curtains, so they helped me with the rest of the setting. And at 3, I was ordering where to place the flowers and I was ready to go. To God be the glory, I had enough time to attend the funeral, and have the last chance of seeing my mother before her wedding.

"Ooh My God! This is more awesome than the pictures. I will have to send my daughter to that school." Alisha cried taking in the scenery that she had never seen before.

"It's just beauty senses, nothing much." I never wanted to keep it that way, but it left my mouth like that. And should I tell you it felt good to finally take credit for something I did!

"Okay! Mr. Jagdish wants to see you at his office. If you, please."

Yes. I had freaked her out. Way to go Aarush.

"I am heading over there now. I am finished in here either way. And I'm sorry, I am so off today." I didn't wait for her response as I just shrugged and left for the office.

"I am glad you are here, Mr. Solanki." Thirty-two teeth smile welcomed me into the office.

"Yes, yes. Tell me already, I'm getting late for another appointment."

"I think it should wait or even cancel."

"Are you serious? I rescheduled preparing my Godfather's funeral to help you with a thing that we had clear plans about, but you decided to change your mind and couldn't even tell me to keep me in the loop?! So, fantastic!"

Why had he chosen that time to piss me off? I sure was going to kill him if he continued.

"I'm sorry about that. But we are going to offer you an extra 500 US$ for this." And it was confirmed that he didn't know when to shut his mouth.

"To hell with your nonsense. Do you think I'm broke? I need money to live, yes, but I'm not greedy. If you continue with your stupid things, I'm gonna leave without listening to a thing you have to say. I'm late either way, I don't even know what I'm still doing here!"

"Okay! It's fine. I'm sorry. I apologized for what just happened!"

"You better be."

Well, he had to. I was getting late to the funeral.

"We couldn't get the schedule for the event, and the one who was to prepare it is out of the city. We have no other way to fix this than to ask for your assistance. We know how you tampered with the schedule of your graduation and we were thinking if you could help us make one." He sounded sincere but he still was a jerk who got on my nerves a few seconds before.

"Why do you think I might be of help? After what you just did."

"As I said I apologize for that. And as I also said, we know that you are the one who did everything for the prom party we attended at your school. We believe you can do this as well. That party was beyond awesomeness."

I was grateful for the compliment, but that was a thing even Roshni could do if she was told what was going to happen.

"Listen, don't raise your hopes too high. I don't have experience with formal events nor do I have the time to prepare what you are asking the favor for." He was taken aback by my response.

"I have a very important funeral to attend at 4 pm. I don't think I'll be on time if I go on with your request." I clarified to him.

"I think it's our loss then. We can try to make anything relevant for it. Thank you for working with us. I just hope the schedule won't ruin the taste of the decorations you did." He was all out depending on me.

It was just a party as any other. Maybe I could be of help to them. Maybe I could prove to myself that I can do things for others. Maybe I could prove I wasn't selfish.

"Wait! I think... it's worth a try if a cab will be at the door by the time I finish."

"I'm calling it right now. Thank you so much, Mr. Solanki."

"Just a simple favor for the first business partner. So, what's the plan?"

He gave me the general layout of the party and what events they had planned. The time they expected to start and end the event, and all other important things that I needed to know. It took me only fourteen minutes to give him the draft for which they might look out. Surprisingly, he sent it to his Secretary for proper editing and it was supposed to be printed as the official schedule of the event.

"So, about the payment-"

"Keep it. If by the end of the event it's worth being given, then send it to my account that you paid for the decoration services. If not, I'll understand. No hard feelings."

I got up ready to go before he stopped me again.

"It was a pleasure working with you Mr. Solanki."

"Mine too. And remember, the theme you chose is accompanied by classical music only. You do something foolish then you might lick your own shit."

I didn't need a go-ahead as I stomped off to the entrance where I saw a somehow luxurious cab waiting. Without further ado, I climbed in and gave the driver the address to where I should be dropped off. In like thirty minutes, I was there already watching my mom performing the rituals. I was twenty minutes late.

The cab driver didn't need to be paid as he said it was from the company's order. I hurried over to the cremation site to hear muffled cries from somewhere between the group of spectators. I didn't give a damn as all I wanted was to be there for Rustema Chacha's last time with us and also, meet my mother for another time.

Maybe what I wanted wasn't what I was supposed to do. Because just after the cremation was done, my mom came lunging at me in a foul mood.

"Mom! You made it." I started with a gentle voice to show my appreciation for what she had done.

"Yes. I made it. I think I'm the only person affected by the words of a father and son who don't even care about the most important people in their lives. Even at their funerals. It's such a pathetic situation. I just hope I don't die in your hands."

"But mom, I had work and it ran a bit late. I didn't know I would find you halfway through the rituals, I thought you'd call me to ask where I was. I didn't plan for this to happen."

"Yeah, I know. Maybe your father wasn't all wrong by saying you're good for nothing."

And there it was. The word I was dreading to find out about. It was 'Good For Nothing'.

"Wait, you went to see dad? How is he doing?" That was so nice of her.

"It's none of my business, but a hint won't kill a troop I think. He is paying for your ridiculous mistakes. You can collect the ashes and perform the rest. My flight leaves in 40." She went to take her handbag and started to leave.

"But mom, I want to speak to you. I have to"

"I'm sorry young man. My car is here. See you all of you."

"Dad has to be helped soon or else-" she climbed in the car and shut the door. "- and I'M GOOD ALSO."

Well, she went away just like that and I was left there with everybody else looking at me as if I was two minutes from joining my godfather. I had a long way to go.

¶

After we got back home that day, I sat down with Roy and he told me all about it.

Mom touched down at 10 am and before they went to take Rustema Chacha's body, they had visited my dad at the precinct and they had spoken quite a bit. He didn't really get into details about everything, but he was sure to mention my dad breaking down when he saw mom, and all that came after.

He also told me about how my mom wanted to try to pull some strings and get him bail, but he refused and went on to say things to her that made her angry. After the little outburst between the two, that's when they finally went to the reason why he was in there.

Roy said he had tried to talk with his lawyers and place a bail for him, but it was a closed case and they just had to wait till the court day. And that's where dad started to say mean and bad things about me and how I'd put him in that place. He didn't say what other things were, but he confirmed that Good For Nothing, was truly mentioned by him.

When he was done, I just couldn't process what had been told to me by Roy. It was stressful beyond belief. I never thought that anyone could say such things about me. And not just anyone, my father.

With everything that was happening around us, I sure had no room left for surprises and shock. And speaking of surprises, Roy had also said that the case with Tamasha was suspiciously moved back. The theft case which held Tamasha and Roy's brother victims was finally moved to the then coming Tuesday.

It was enough surprising news for the night, I shifted to my emails to see any other news I was up against. I sure wasn't in the mood for anything and so, I just went to open my emails, and the first good news appeared. I had two emails, one from the bank to confirm a transaction made to my account and the other, from Mr. Jagdish saying he was grateful and had sent a grand instead of the 500US$ we agreed about. I opened the bank email, and there it was, a thousand dollars transactions made to my account.

When I thought I was done for the day, Roy came back and said he forgot to tell me something. I thought it would be something I would want to look forward to, but it wasn't. it was heartbreaking news and I cried at some point when he was telling me about it.

My father wasn't looking forward to undergoing treatment for his lung problems. He even ordered the police to stop taking him to dialysis and caused quite a fit at the precinct. According to the inmate's specialist, his problem was still early and he could be up and running after a transplant. But he didn't want any of that. He wanted no treatment because he was fed up. The world was driving him nuts, and me as well. He just wanted to die and be at eternal peace.

I was lying in bed contemplating what was going on in my life after what I heard. It was late in the night and I knew Roy wasn't asleep as I could see him trying hard not to enter to check on me. His shadow kept appearing at the door every ten minutes and then pacing around before going.

"You know you can come in," I said after I saw his shadow for the hundredth time in that grief night.

I didn't know if I was loud enough, but I believed he heard me as I saw the door being opened slowly and then he came in.

"Were you up all this time?" He asked me with the empathy and carefulness of a very serious man.

"Asks a man who has been questioning whether he should enter or not for the past five hours or so." I chuckled to try to play it nice. I didn't want to add his life a burden of worry for my problems.

"I knew you would never sleep after that. I shouldn't have told you all those. I could have - "

"Roy! Do you hear yourself?! You are blabbering! It's nothing for sure." I wanted to convince him that it was fine.

"No, Aarush! It's not nothing. They don't know your situation and they think you're the bad one here. Your father is dying of - " I cut him off at that instant.

"Correction, he isn't dying. He is just suffering, and he won't die this easily, nor for not taking treatment. Maybe for other