***
When Carrie arrived, she was surprised to see the whole group gathered at the table. "What happened?" she said, shocked at Vijay's appearance. Before Raj or Lucky could say anything, Vijay answered.
"A couple of lowlifes from town attacked me and stole my wallet." Vijay didn't want to tell her the truth, especially since she didn't know Hina.
"Oh my God! Did you call campus security or the police?"
"No. Just please take me home. I'll be fine," Vijay said, putting his hand over her phone as she started to dial 911. "Please, Carrie. Don't report this. I have my reasons."
"But Vijay, this wasn't your fault! You have to tell someone?" she protested. Raj looked at her and shook his head. Carrie let out an exasperated sigh and put her hands on her hips, looking at Raj, then at Vijay, then at Lucky, and finally at Nadira. No one said anything, but Lucky and Nadira wouldn't look her in the eye. "Seriously? Okay, guys. I don't know what's going on, but okay," she said, holding up her hands in defeat and then putting the phone back in her purse. Raj looked at her and mouthed "thank you."
Raj and Lucky helped Vijay to Carrie's car, and Raj instructed her on how to get to their apartment. This was the first time she was going to see the place, since up until today, Raj had been successful in keeping her away. But Vijay was in pain and needed the ride, so Raj put his embarrassment aside. He was serious about Carrie anyway, so it was time that she knew the truth about the conditions they lived in.
Carrie parked the car in front of the house, and as Raj and Lucky were helping Vijay out of the car, Carrie ran up the walkway to the front door of the house with the intention of holding the door open for them. She grabbed the screen door and pulled it open, but when she turned around, Raj, Lucky, and Vijay were walking down the sloped driveway towards another door.
"Not the first floor?the basement," Raj called out over his shoulder.
Carrie stood there for a minute, still holding the door handle. She couldn't imagine all three of them living in a basement apartment, but she tried to hide the surprised look on her face and retraced her steps, following the boys down towards the outside basement door.
Lucky opened the door and Raj helped Vijay to lie down on some blankets. Carrie stood outside the apartment, trying to get a glimpse from outside. Raj had never talked about their apartment and had always avoided taking her there, and now she realized why.
"Come on in," Raj called out. "Surprised?"
Carrie tentatively stepped inside and looked around. She didn't know what to say, but with four people in that tiny space, she'd already begun to feel claustrophobic.
Lucky walked into the kitchen and took ice out of the freezer. Carrie forced herself to get over her shock, and ran over to Lucky. "Wait! I'll do it, Lucky. Can I have a towel?" Lucky nodded and handed her a dishtowel, which Carrie used to wrap the ice. She went to Vijay, who was laying on the ground, and she sat down cross-legged next to him. "Where did they hit you?" she asked. Vijay pointed to his stomach, and she lifted his shirt gently and applied the compress to his abdomen. Vijay jumped at the sudden coldness on his skin, then smiled at Carrie weakly.
"So," Raj looked at Carrie. "You always wanted me to prove to you that I cook, right? Well, today is the day. What would you like to eat?"
Carrie thought she was aware of Raj's struggles, but this was the first time that she was actually seeing the reality of his life with her own eyes, and she was still trying to process her feelings. "Anything is fine," she replied.
"Okay, I'll cook eggplant?your favorite. Is that okay?" Raj asked, heading to the kitchen. Carrie nodded silently and kept applying ice until Vijay began to feel better.
Lucky helped Raj in the kitchen for a few minutes and then sat down beside Vijay and Carrie. "So, do you like our apartment?" Lucky asked.
Carrie didn't reply, but instead brushed a wisp of Vijay's hair off his forehead in a soothing gesture.
"It is quiet cozy, no?" Lucky said, laughing to try to put her at ease. "Here is what is good about it. I can show entire apartment to you in few seconds without even moving. That is the kitchen, that is the bathroom and the place where you are sitting is our living room slash study room slash dining room slash bedroom," Lucky said, imitating Vijay and the conversation he'd had with him the first night they'd met. Despite himself, Vijay laughed and then immediately regretted it, grabbing his stomach again.
"You guys sleep here? Together?" Carrie said, finally breaking her silence. Raj was listening to their conversation carefully from the kitchen.
"Oh! Yes. Vijay sleeps in this corner, then Raj and I sleep at the end. Those are our beds," Lucky pointed towards the bed sheets and pillows on top of the bags in the corner. Vijay had started to feel better, and Carrie and Lucky helped him sit up and lean against the wall. Lucky then offered a chair to Carrie, and he sat back down on the ground. "This is better than where I lived in India during undergraduate studies. I had ten roommates and we used to take turns for sleeping because there was no space for ten people. I am the expert of sleeping while standing," Lucky said, laughing again. Carrie didn't seem to think there was anything funny about Lucky's story. In fact, she looked like she wanted to cry. Lucky decided to end the conversation, and Raj asked him to put papers on the floor and help him bring the pots and dishes over.
"Would you like to sit on the floor with us or in the chair?" Lucky asked Carrie while arranging the newspaper on the floor.
"Let her have the chair," Raj replied. He began scooping the food onto plates and passing them around. Vijay was still upset about Hina and shook his head when Raj handed him a plate. Lucky insisted, and when he realized Vijay was having trouble sitting properly to eat, Lucky put his own plate down and went to help Vijay.
Seeing Lucky's compassion cut Carrie to the bone. It wasn't even that he was helping Vijay so much as his overall nonchalance, as though putting his friend first was just the most natural thing in the world. Like he didn't even give it a second thought. Carrie burst into tears, and everyone looked up from their plates.
"Are you okay?" Raj asked.
"Yeah, it's just the spices," Carrie lied. She quickly finished the food on her plate and excused herself, as it was getting late.
"Okay, Carrie, thanks so much for the ride. And for everything. I really appreciate it," Vijay said as she stood to leave. Lucky bobbed his head and smiled at her warmly, and Raj helped her put her coat on and stepped outside with her. It had begun to snow, and the ground was lightly frosted in white. They walked together towards the car without saying a word, Raj holding her around her waist so that she wouldn't fall on the slippery pavement. "Thanks for helping us today," Raj said as Carrie opened the car door. Maybe he had misjudged her, and she wasn't going to be able to accept how poor he was. He couldn't blame her. She really did deserve better.
Carrie rested her arm on the car's side window and turned to face Raj. "You know, you told me about your childhood and your struggles, and I always admired you for your strength and for everything you went through to get where you are today. But now, after seeing this?I'm speechless," Carrie said, and she looked away from him to try to hide the tears that had started to fall again.
Raj turned her to face him again and took her into his arms. "Today, for the first time, I actually wanted you to see it. This is me, Carrie. This is my life. Now you know everything about me. If you want to run, now's your chance."
Carrie stood back from him and looked into his deep-set eyes. "If you think this changes any of my feelings for you, then you're dead wrong, mister. You're stuck with me for life. Just as long as you promise to make me eggplant like that again, whenever I ask you to!"
Raj laughed and she hugged him tightly.
"Seriously?" Raj said. "Because I was kind of thinking that we were moving too fast, and maybe we should see other people?" he teased, and Carrie slapped him on the chest. He laughed again, and her expression softened.
"You know
you can come and stay with me. Anytime," Carrie offered.
Raj wiped a snowflake off her cheek. He smiled, and then took her by the hand and pulled her back towards the driveway.
"Raj, what are you doing?" Carrie said, glancing nervously back at the open car door. But Raj was insistent. He led her back down the driveway and stopped in front of their tiny window, and then looked at Carrie.
"Look at them," Raj said, nodding his head towards the window. Carrie bent down slightly and peered through the dirty windowpane.
She saw that Vijay had his arm around Lucky's shoulder, and Lucky was helping him towards the bathroom. "Do you see that right there?" Raj asked gently. "That's my family, Carrie. That tiny basement is full of love. I'm happy with them. I can't leave them."
Carrie felt a lump in her throat. "I love you, you know."
"I love you, too," Raj said as he bent down to kiss Carrie before he walked her back to the car.