Empty 3/3

Chapter Three:

Wednesday Afternoon

"Jaya! Stop fussing. We just need to get me to the car and then they'll let me out of the wheelchair. It's just procedure."

"Oh, goodness, Amita! Seeing you in that chair, it makes my heart go so fast! If your mother knew..." Jaya's hands fluttered with nervous activity despite Amita's admonishments.

"Jaya, you promised not to tell anyone back home!"

The older woman shook her head in disbelief. "A promise I will regret to my grave, I tell you!"

"Dev, where did Charlie disappear to?"

Much calmer than his wife, Dev merely shrugged. "He's getting the car, I think."

"No, seriously, Dev, where's Charlie?"

The hospital double doors opened with a push of a button and Amita was wheeled out to the parking lot where an impossible sight met her eyes.

Charlie drove up right in front of them and hopped out of a brand new silver Volvo SUV.

"But he doesn't even have a driver's license!" Amita protested in disbelief.

"Oh, dear!" Jaya said, surprised. "I didn't know that. Still, on the way here he drove much better than anyone in Chennai so I'm sure it's safe."

"Safe!" Charlie echoed. "This car is possibly the safest car on the market right now. It's even silver which is statistically the safest color."

"But you don't have a driver's license!" Amita couldn't seem to wrap her head around this new development.

Charlie put his hands on the arms of her wheelchair and leaned in close. "The Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of California, and I, beg to differ." He gave her a quick kiss and pulled away, taking her crutches from Dev and putting them in the back.

Amita just sat there stunned. Charlie had gotten his driver's license and bought a new car in just two days so he could drive her home from the hospital. That was definitely going on the list of things to remember forever.

"Okay, the passenger seat is already moved back, we just need to get you in the car." Charlie reached down and scooped her up and placed her gently in the car, making sure her cast cleared any obstacles.

It only took a few minutes of driving for Amita to relax. It was painfully obvious that Charlie was a cautious yet confident driver. The trip back to San Marino didn't take long, but Amita was glad to be out of the car just so she could lie down again.

When they entered the house, the same way she had exited it ironically - in Charlie's arms, she made him carry her around the living room for a brief tour. Jaya and Dev's furniture had been delivered and the professional relocation company had done an amazing job, even hanging the artwork for them.

"You like, yes?" Dev asked her, beaming with pride at how nice their new house looked.

"It reminds me of home," Amita smiled, letting her head fall on Charlie's shoulder.

"I think she needs to rest, Mr. Srivatsa."

"Oh please, Charles, you must call me Dev. You are like family to us already. The guest room is this way. Follow me!"

Charlie smiled at Dev's kind words and started carrying Amita towards the first floor guest room. As they passed the stairwell, Charlie couldn't help but pause and Amita couldn't help but look.

"Are you going to be okay staying here?" he asked her quietly.

"Jaya's family," she nodded. "That makes all the difference."

He nodded back to her and carried her into the room.

Dev pulled back the covers in preparation for Charlie to place Amita on the bed, which he did, very carefully.

Jaya came in carrying Amita's crutches. She left them next to the bed where Amita could reach them if she needed them.

"I have dough for naan rising in the kitchen. Do you have any special requests for dinner, Amita?''

She shook her head. "Jaya, home baked naan is more than I could ask for already. I'm sure whatever you make will be great."

"Then rest, my dear. I have left you a bell. You must ring for us if you need anything at all. Any time of night, yes?

"Yes, Jaya. I'll ring."

Dev and Jaya each kissed Amita and left her and Charlie alone in the room.

Charlie picked up the bell and looked over its engravings. "The detail on this is amazing."

"Where I come from that bell is just average. The hand craftsmanship of the really nice work would truly amaze you."

Charlie put the bell down as Amita tapped his arm.

"You bought a car. You got your license and bought a car. In two days." She still couldn't believe it.

"I suddenly realized I really needed a car."

"When you knew I'd need a ride home from the hospital?"

"No," Charlie's voice got serious. "When I knew you might be in trouble in San Marino and I was stuck in Pasadena with no way to get there."

"Oh." Amita hadn't thought of that. She'd just assumed that Don and Charlie were already together when they came for her.

"It was time. I own a house now and I have someone I love in my life..." He stopped to kiss her gently. "And it's time I started embracing adult responsibilities. I'm a grown man and I wouldn't be showing you proper respect if I just treated you like my eternal chauffeur. Besides, someone has to get you around with that cast for the next few weeks. I wasn't going to just sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to step up and take care of you."

"I'm touched."

"I'm glad." He kissed her again, this time slowly.

"Charlie?"

"Yes, Amita?"

"What you said before, in the hospital, about making the banker in Goa an unhappy man?"

"He found out about us already?"

"No, I mean, that's not what I wanted to know."

Charlie got up, closed the door, came back, and lay down on the bed alongside Amita. He laid his hand flat on her stomach in a gesture both intimate and protective. It made Amita's stomach flutter with butterflies as he started moving his hand in small circles

"Are you asking me what my intentions are?"

"Yes," Amita could barely get the word out.

"Could you imagine in a million years that I'd only want you for sex and then dispose of you?"

She shook her head.

Charlie's hand slipped to her waist and he pulled her close to him.

He looked her in the eye and said, with all seriousness, "Amita. I am a patient man. I am going to wait until your leg heals. I am going to wait until you get your doctorate. I am even going to wait until the math community won't look down on you for being with me if that's what it takes. But when all that's done, Amita, I am going to propose to you in some amazingly inventive way that you will never forget and you will say yes. You and I are going to be married."

He leaned in close to her but instead of kissing her, his lips hovered just over hers as he spoke the final words. "Those are my intentions."

Amita pulled him the rest of the way down into an ecstatic kiss.

She was going to need more space in her book of memories.