After talking to Lucy's family and visiting the warehouse, Alex had an excuse to make a break for it. He went back to the warehouse, then teleported again to Earth.
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At his tight little rental apartment in Mumbai, Alex arched his arms above his head and yawned. His back cracked from too many nights on that lousy mattress.
He picked up his phone, scrolling through food delivery apps.
"Biryani or butter chicken? Oh, screw it! It will be both," he growled, ordering.
His gaze flashed to the little velvet pouch lying on the table, the new jade necklace and bracelet he had purchased from Lucy. He stroked his thumb over the smooth surface, feeling the cool stone against his skin.
"Wonder what these will get me this time..."
He shook his head, a smile creeping up onto his lips.
"Too bad that old trader did not hang around. If he had lingered, I would have bought out his entire inventory."
But no use complaining now.
He had done quite well till now.
Step one: sell these goodies first.
Alex scrolled to Rishi's number and pressed the call button.
"Hello? Alex?" Rishi picked up immediately, voice cheerful.
"Hey, busy? I have got a couple more pieces, and they are better than last time."
There was a shocked silence on the other end.
Then a crashing thud, as if someone had dropped their phone.
"What?!" Rishi exclaimed. "Alex, are you kidding right now? Are they as good as that last bracelet?"
Alex laughed.
"Not messing around. You will see when I come over."
Rishi laughed and lowered his voice to a whisper, as if sharing a secret.
"Bro, you know what my dad sold that last one for, right? Some collector from overseas snapped it up for $350,000. We made nearly $50,000 profit in one afternoon! And you have got better ones?!"
Alex leaned back against the wall, smirking.
"Something like that. Be ready. I am driving over in 20 minutes."
Rishi's tone turned respectful, almost reverent.
"Alex, do not say another word. I will get fresh tea brewed. Dad is also at home. He will want to see this for himself."
"Perfect," Alex replied. "See you soon."
He hung up just as the delivery man rang the bell. He opened up the steaming biryani box and breathed in the spices.
Thus, Alex attacked his food, a smile playing on his lips.
----------
After eating and taking a quick shower, Alex was set to leave.
But as soon as he yanked the door open, he almost collided with a middle-aged lady with tight curls and clutching a phone.
She stood squarely in front of the doorway, refusing him exit.
It was Mrs. Lata, his landlord for this old rental complex.
Alex stopped in his tracks.
"Mrs. Lata? Is something the matter?"
She folded her arms and shot him that all-too-well-known stare.
"Alex, recall the match I reminded you of last week? Have you thought about it at all? You are not young anymore, you know! When I was your age, I already had two kids disrupting the household."
Alex emitted a sheepish laugh. "Mrs. Lata, I just graduated from college a couple of months ago..."
She disregarded that totally and moved in closer, ensuring he could not push past her. For the last few months, she had been the perfect landlord anyone could hope for. No security deposit, no drama if the rent was overdue, even sending him food now and then when he looked run-down.
But there was one thing that made him lose it. She was adamant on marrying him off, though he did not know why.
Each time she cornered him in the corridor, she would return to the same subject. A nice girl she knew, a niece of someone, a neighbor of someone's cousin, all seemingly perfect for him.
"Listen, if you go on a blind date now, you will have time to learn about each other. Perhaps within a year or two, you will be ready to settle down. It is good family planning!"
Alex stroked his hair, not being able to laugh out loud.
He had never been able to refuse her flat, not when she had treated him so nicely.
Mrs. Lata wagged her finger at him for emphasis.
"You are tall, you look all right, you are a nice boy, and if I had a daughter, I would marry you myself. But unfortunately, I have only got my useless son who cannot even get clean socks from his own drawer."
Alex held up both hands in defeat. "Please, Mrs. Lata. I genuinely have to go. I am meeting a friend, it is urgent. Can I please go?"
But she stood her ground, feet braced like stone in the corridor.
Then finally, Alex let out a deep sigh and surrendered. He could not help but grin at the way she looked so serious. "Fine, fine. I promise. Just send me the time and details. I will go."
Mrs. Lata's face immediately brightened up.
"See? Was it that difficult? Now I do not have to run after you like this anymore!"
She quickly took out her phone, opening her gallery.
"I will give you her number. She is my sister's daughter. Very fair, does HR work, travels for work, goes to the gym. Very modern, very sensible."
Alex's eyebrow went up. He was hard-pressed not to chuckle. "Do you have a picture?"
"Of course!" She shoved her phone at him. Alex leaned forward only to be presented with a small kid smiling, front teeth missing, in a superhero t-shirt.
"Is this... the girl?" Alex asked, totally caught off guard.
Mrs. Lata yanked the phone away from him, embarrassed.
"Oh no, that is my grandson. Wrong picture. Hold on, I will text you the actual one."
She smiled, obviously pleased with herself, and patted him on the arm like she was sending her son off to school.
"You are making the right decision. I want some good news real soon, and do not let me down!"
She stepped out of the way finally, and Alex was left half giggling, half bracing himself for whatever he had just committed to.
He locked his door, shook his head, and grumbled to himself as he made his way downstairs.
"Next time I choose an apartment, I am asking if the landlord is a matchmaker first..."