Louisiana Catch

by Sweta Srivastava Vikram

  “You have a problem, boy?” The white guy pushed Jay.

  Jay lost his balance. He almost fell, but stood up straight.

  “He asked you a question.” The black guy stood a few inches away from Jay. “Answer him.”

  Both the men had a Southern accent. The white woman looked high. Her feet were unstable and the braids in her long hair swayed every time she wobbled. Jay moved toward her but the two men intercepted.

  “You motherfucker!” The black guy punched Jay in the face.

  Jay fell. His cap and glasses came off.

  “Oh, my God, stop it! Stop hurting him.” I ran toward Jay. “Are you OK?” I helped Jay to his feet as panic swept through my spine.

  Jay quickly picked up his cap. It was only then I noticed he was bald in the middle of the scalp. He wiped the corner of his mouth and adjusted his cap so the logo was facing the front and his bald patch was hidden. His fingers were pulled together in a tight fist. He brought his fists closer to his face.

  I picked up his glasses and handed them over to him. “Let’s go from here, Jay.”

  Jay’s breathing got harder.

  The two men didn’t say a word. The woman seemed disinterested.

  I ran my eyes over Jay’s face. There was no cut. No blood. His eyes were not bruised at all. Thank God!

  I begged the men. “We’re sorry about the miscommunication.”

  “Ask your man to keep his temper where his balls are.” The white guy adjusted his crotch and spat on the side.

  “Just give them what you have, Ahana. They won’t let us leave.” Jay whispered into my ears.

  “No! They can kill me if they want, but I will not give them my handbag.”

  “Are you out of your fucking mind?” Jay raised his voice.

  “How can you not understand? You have lost a mother too.” I became unafraid in that moment.

  I noticed that the men stepped away. They didn’t touch me. No one grabbed me by my hair. I wasn’t picked up and thrown against the rocks. There was no gun barrel dug into my skin. There were no knives threatening to cut me up. No one tried to hold my head underwater. That’s when I realized: these men were not killers. I saw something in their eyes, but I wasn’t sure what. But having worked with a women’s organization that helped survivors of violence, I knew what danger looked like. These people looked poor and hungry. And they also looked unfit.

  “Ma’am. Sir.” I turned to all three of them. They were a few feet away from where Jay and I were standing. “We’re going to leave now, and I suggest you do the same.” I didn’t hesitate to use my words forcefully as I backed away.

  Jay looked shocked. “What are you doing?”

  I rummaged through my wallet and took out two $100 bills. “I’m going to leave this here for your dinner.” I put a rock on the two bills. “We won’t call the police if you let us leave.” A sudden calm filled me. Who had I become in the face of adversity?

  The muggers looked confused, but as soon as they bent down to pick up the $200, I said, “Run, Jay, run,” in a low but forceful voice.

  In my stilettos and with a heavy handbag, I ran without turning back. From the corner of my eye, I saw that Jay was to my right. We ran until we reached the entrance. The route was a lot shorter than the one we had taken on our way in.

  “That was a pretty stupid move.” Jay was bent over, breathing heavily.

  “Or a gutsy one. But the point is we’re safe now.” I turned around and there was no sign of the muggers.

  He stretched his facial muscles and let out an “ouch.”

  I was surprisingly calm when I said, “Let’s go to the police station and file a report. And get you checked out at the doctor’s.”

  “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” He placed his right palm on his forehead and let out another, “ouch.”

  I pulled my phone from my bag, but Jay snatched it from my hands.

  “What are you doing, Jay?”

  “You’ve done enough.” He held me by my shoulders. “I’m supposed to protect you, not the other way around. Involving the cops would mean admitting I couldn’t take care of my friend. Don’t make me feel weaker.”

  “But….”

  We argued more, but Jay remained resolved in his decision not to report to the authorities or see a doctor. I was too worn-out and numb to argue.

  “What do you want to do?” I took out a wet tissue from my bag to wipe my hands.

  “That’s the whole trouble. You can’t ever find a place that’s nice and peaceful because there isn’t any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you’re not looking, somebody’ll sneak up and write ‘Fuck you’ right under your nose.”

  “Are you quoting Salinger right now?” There was a hint of shocked annoyance in my voice. He doesn’t recognize Salinger when he hears it, but he’s got this apropos quote all queued up and ready to go right after an alarming event!

  “You didn’t cry when the men punched me or threatened you. I guess we’re all full of surprises.”

  “I don’t waste my tears,” I blurted out.

  Jay brought his fingertips to his chest and pressed them hard. “I see. I am not worthy of your tears.”

  I had to gain control over the escalating situation. “That is not what I meant, Jay.” I looked down.

  “What is it that you mean, Ahana, because I’m having a hard time accepting you don’t trust me.”

  I pressed his right palm in my hands. “I never said that.”

  Jay squeezed my hands. “Then prove it.” His green eyes, the stare…it pierced through my bones. “Don’t be scared.” Jay ran his finger on my chin.

  I inched away. I wanted to stand under a hot shower. Scrub my face with antiseptic neem and turmeric scrub. Disinfect and recharge.

  Jay laughed without any inhibition. “Have dinner with me.”

  For the first time, I decided to think for myself. “I have dinner plans. I told you earlier.”

  Jay made a face, “Sure. Whatever.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t reschedule the dinner tonight.”

  Jay touched the spot where the muggers had punched him. “This really hurts. Can you blow some air so it burns less?”

  I looked closer and noticed there were no cuts or swelling on Jay’s face. “I still insist you see a doctor. You don’t want me blowing my germs into a wound.”

  “Nah, my hotel is across the park.”

  How can he afford a hotel by the park when he initially said he’d crash with a friend? I tried to say something, but Jay put his right index finger on my lips. “Shhh.”

  “Come with me to my hotel for some time.” Jay moved uncomfortably close to me.

  “After the attack, it’s funny how I’m filled with fear and trepidation. I used to walk through the park at 3 a.m.” He ran his index finger from my third eye to my lips.

  I moved his hand with a jerk. “Let’s call you a cab.”

  “I don’t have any cash on me.”

  “Well, I gave my money away to the muggers.” I spoke without any expression. “This is New York City, and cabs accept credit cards.”

  “I’m not sure I can find a cab at this hour. It’s Friday evening.” He looked at his watch.

  “Sure, you can.”

  “Boy, you really want me out of your hair.” Jay touched his eye this time.

  “No, as your friend, I want you to rest well and get better. You’ve been up since 4 a.m., right?”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “You can count on it.” I forced a smile.

  I said a quiet goodbye to Jay. In turn, he hugged me tightly and then reluctantly hailed a cab.

  - 26 -

  I stood still for a few seconds before calling for a taxi. The day had been so random.

  Once home, I tucked my nose under my blouse. I didn’t recognize the smell that came from my body. Before jumping into the shower, I texted Naina, “I’m back.”

  “You OK? Where is that shithead?”

/>   “Back in his hotel. I’m hopping into the shower. Will chat later.”

  “Enjoy your date with Rohan.”

  I tried to memorize everything that had transpired. Surreal. Every part of my body ached. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, carefully, with tea tree oil cleanser and scrubbed every spot Jay had touched me with turmeric and neem. I couldn’t tell what Jay was about. He was not easy to like, but the guy took a punch to his face to keep me safe. But how was it that Jay seemed uninjured after being attacked by three muggers? How was it that he knew pertinent details of my life?

  When I stepped out of the shower, I noticed he had already updated his social media profiles. There was a picture of his broken glasses and the caption read, “When Batman gets hurt saving Gotham.” I laughed humorlessly.

  Both Amanda and Tanya had commented on Jay’s picture. Wait, what? Tanya and Amanda were back in his life? What did Jay have on them? Did he know I was onto him? Suddenly, Jay seemed even more mysterious and dangerous than I had imagined.

  I stretched my arms out in front and exhaled all the memories Jay had built up inside me. I went into the kitchen and got a big drink of water. I folded my legs in lotus position and tried to meditate, but nothing. I closed my eyes, but all I saw was the big guy punching Jay. The darkness outside reminded me how vulnerable I had been today.

  It was 7:45 p.m. I didn’t know what to do—not after a headstand, not after a long shower, not even after meditation. I knew I needed to talk to someone before heading out to meet with Rohan.

  My hands shook as I picked up the phone. Maybe they understood dialing this number would lead to the beginning of a new journey.

  “Hi, Josh?” I stuttered.

  “My favorite sister-in-law. How are ya?” Josh replied happily.

  I could hear people in the background. “Is this a good time?”

  “What’s going on?” Josh’s voice grew serious. “Do you want me to call Naina?”

  “No. No. I actually need to talk to you.”

  “Give me a second.” I heard Josh tell someone he had to take an urgent call.

  “Are you in trouble?”

  I could hear him better now. It would seem Josh had walked to a quieter space.

  I squeezed my eyes shut. “No. Not that I know of…” I pressed my right temple. “I met with Jay today.”

  “Jay Dubois? Naina talks about him a lot.”

  I understood what he meant.

  I narrated the events of the evening to Josh. Josh heard me patiently and interjected a “huh” or “really?” or “okayyyy” or “interesting” every now and then. His tone was sometimes skeptical, other times intrigued. But when I started to tell him about the mugging incident, he asked whether I could do a FaceTime or Skype call with him.

  I walked to my bedside to pick up the iPad and then threw on a sweatshirt over my casual T-shirt.

  I dialed Josh.

  “Hey, sorry to make you do this, Ahana.”

  “Please don’t embarrass me.” I looked at the bright lights in the background. “You are at a party. I should be the one apologizing.” I readjusted my glasses and saw a few bodies dance far in the background.

  “We’re at a friend’s weekend home outside NOLA. It’s like Mardi Gras in there.”

  “Oh, shit, Naina had told me about it. Sorry.”

  Josh pointed over his left shoulder in the back. “You’re fine. Just overlook the noise in the backdrop.”

  “Done deal.” I smiled.

  “I’m a cop. You might not like the questions I ask. But this is what I’m trained to do. Got it?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to close your eyes and go back to The Ravine. I know it’s not easy. But do this once. Does anything stand out?”

  I poked my third eye with my right index finger. I sat on the floor with my legs crossed over each other. I tried hard to think about specific details. I pressed my lips together and closed my eyes. Just when I thought I didn’t remember anything, I surprised myself. “The mugger punched Jay, but it all happened so fast.” Suddenly, I was moving around the room, demonstrating the angle of the attacker. “Jay fell down. I helped him stand up. But what did surprise me was that Jay had no bruises or cuts on his face. He kept touching the place where he got hit, but there wasn’t even a scratch mark.” I took a deep, meditative breath. “Something didn’t feel right, so I thought I’d ask for your professional opinion.”

  “Not even a black eye or a swelling?” Josh brought his index fingers and thumbs to the corner of his lips and rubbed those points as if in deep contemplation. “How was Jay after the attack? Did he seem antsy? Incoherent? Freaked out? Angry? Scared?”

  “He quoted goddamn Salinger.”

  “Hmmm.” Josh paused. “And the muggers?”

  “They didn’t even chase us!”

  “Did you call the cops and file a report?”

  “Jay was adamant about not seeing a doctor or filing a police report.”

  Josh scratched his forehead vigorously.

  “I feel responsible—had Jay not made the trip to NYC, none of this would have happened.”

  Josh tried to cut straight to the truth. “Stop feeling responsible for something that’s not on you. Tell me, did he misbehave with you at all?”

  I went into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. “He hit on me.” I stiffened and stared at my bare feet. I felt like I was running down an unfamiliar street where shards of broken glass were scattered everywhere.

  “I’m glad you’re safe. But I don’t see how any of what transpired makes any sense.” Josh spoke kindly.

  I shifted uncomfortably and tried to breathe. That was the feeling I had tried to battle all evening.

  “I have to go now.” He pointed to a woman and a few men behind him. “They’re calling me.”

  “Of course!”

  Josh spoke in a stern voice. “Send me Jay’s first and last name, date of birth, and mailing address.” He also asked for Jay’s picture. “Don’t meet with him until you hear back from me.”

  After sending all the information to Josh, I looked at the clock. It was 8:30 p.m. Shit, I’m late for my date with Rohan.

  I pulled out a simple, orange dress from my wardrobe. It was strapless and just below the knees—nothing fancy. I wore my contact lenses, but I barely had the time to put on any makeup or even blow-dry my hair. I put on some lipstick and eyeliner in the cab as the driver battled through Friday night traffic. Every now and then, I looked over my shoulders. In every passing face, every baseball hat that I saw in the crowd on the sidewalk when we stopped at the lights, I feared I was seeing Jay. I hated being this rattled.

  “You are coming, right?” Rohan texted.

  “Of course! Why would you ask that?”

  “It’s unlike you to run late and not inform. I wasn’t sure if you changed your mind.”

  I looked at my watch. It was 9:30 p.m. Oh damn! Rohan thinks I’m abandoning him. Crap! Crap! Crap! “I’m on my way. Sorry, got caught up with something.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “I can’t wait to see you in a few.” I ended the conversation abruptly. I need to focus on our date and stop acting like a heroin addict.

  My phone rang again. It was a text from Josh. “Rohan messaged Naina and me if we’d heard from you.”

  “What did you tell him?” I asked right away.

  “I gave him a guarded reply,” Josh replied.

  My heart sank. I was ridiculously late. I hoped Rohan didn’t assume the worst—that I didn’t want to meet him.

  - 27 -

  It was closer to 10 p.m. by the time I reached Dionysus—Rohan’s favorite bar on the lower east side in downtown Manhattan, named after the Greek god of wine and ecstasy. I ran out of the cab in my three-inch, transparent heels with my autumn coat resting on my arm. I noticed Dionysus was a quaint, personable, and cozy space.

  Rohan had told me, “I treat it as a hidden gem for when I want to go for a drink by myself. Be
it the mahogany furniture, art deco architecture, tasteful menu, funky music, and friendly staff, I love it all.”

  “What do you do there by yourself?”

  “I sit at a corner table, listen to Bob Marley, and enjoy the time alone with a perfect Sazerac.”

  “Is that where you meet your dates?” I had asked sheepishly.

  “You are the only person I’ve ever invited to Dionysus,” Rohan had answered with a straight face.

  I looked for Rohan as I entered. My heart paced for a reason I didn’t fully understand. Everyone around, mostly well-dressed men, stared at me unabashedly. I felt eyes pierce through my bones; I pulled down my skin-hugging dress.

  I was relieved to see Rohan and waved at him. He was clad in a pair of dark blue jeans, a light pink cotton button-down shirt, and brown loafers.

  He swirled the drink in his glass and got up from his seat.

  “Hi, Brady!” I held him tightly. I liked how his stubble felt against my skin. I wanted the moment to linger on. I felt safe in Rohan’s arms. Jay couldn’t touch me here.

  Rohan gave me a light kiss on the cheek. “You showed up, Matron…even if an hour late.” He looked like he was primed for bad news.

  I withdrew myself. “I am so so sorry, I am late. I truly am.” I pointed at myself. “I left in such a rush that I’ve shown up as a mess. I feel really bad, Rohan.”

  “Mess? Look around the room.” He took a sip of his drink. “All these men. Their fucking jaws are dropping, looking at you.”

  I pulled out my silk scarf from around my neck. “You should be proud; I might actually pick up a man tonight.” I meant my words as a joke, but heard them fall flat.

  Rohan gave me a concerned look and covered my bare shoulders with his arm. “Let’s get a table toward the inside.”

  “But don’t you have a favorite corner?”

  “I do. But let’s sit somewhere you’re a little inconspicuous.”

  I folded my arms and looked to the right. “How about that table?” It was midway between where Rohan wanted us to sit and where he was originally seated.

  “Okayyyy.” Rohan led me to the table I’d picked out. Even though he was holding his drink in one hand, he pulled the chair for me. He gently ran his hands on my back. Jay hadn’t extended the same courtesy, I remembered. My face tightened, thinking about Jay and the incredulousness of the afternoon.