Akash

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SHANTI: AKI? ARE YOU there? I’ve been trying to call you for ten minutes. Nye said you stayed over at Hamish’s place. Why aren’t you answering your phone?

Akash: What are you doing up at one in the morning? What’s wrong?

Shanti: Nye was taking me home from the Sin Bin when we saw smoke coming out of the bakery. I’ve called 999.

“Fuck.”

“Akash?” Hamish reached out to turn on a light, only to drop back with a groan. “Bloody arm.”

“I hope it’s not bloody.” Akash sat up and fumbled with the lamp on the nightstand. “Shanti texted me; my bakery is on fire. I’ve got to go.”

“Fire? What?” Hamish shot up out of bed, pushing through the pain. “I’ll come with.”

“You sure?” Akash dressed more quickly than he could ever remember doing. He fought down his impatience while helping Hamish with his jeans. “Let’s go.”

He’d gotten them both fully clothed before a terrifying thought occurred to him. Ganesh. My cat. I have a cat. Fuck. He fumbled with his phone to give his sister a call. Nye answered instead and calmly explained he’d managed to get safely into the flat to retrieve the cat when Shanti had tried to do it herself.

I suppose I’ll have to be nice to him now.

They talked briefly. Nye hung up once the fire brigade arrived. He promised to keep Shanti, and the cat, away from danger.

Hamish grabbed his keys from the table in the living room. “Take mine.”

“Fine.” Akash didn’t care who drove what as long as they made it to the bakery before his life savings went up in ashes. “What am I going to do?”

Hamish covered his hand that rested on the steering wheel. “First, take a few deep breaths. Second, remember you are not alone in this world; you’ve family and friends who are here to help you rebuild whatever the damage might be. Third, if you wreck my vehicle because you’re panicked, I might have to take you over my knees and give you a good spanking.”

Akash glanced at the hand covering his, and then over to the man attached to it. “Bare arse and all?”

“Let’s not get distracted.” Hamish squeezed his hand before easing back into the seat. “I’ve a friend who works with the fire brigade. I’ll give him a call while you drive.”

While Hamish chatted with his friend, Akash focused all his attention on not wrecking the car. His heart sank into his stomach when billowing smoke could be seen as he turned the corner. He parked down the street to avoid blocking the emergency crew.

Shanti and Nye were waiting for them when they got out of the Mercedes. His little sister rushed over to him to throw one arm around his waist while her other clutched a hissing Ganesh. Akash stared over her head to what had once been his bakery.

The fire appeared to have burned hot and seemed mostly centred in the front of the bakery. Please let it be so. Water from the fire brigade had clearly done its job. What the flames hadn’t ruined, the dampness likely would.

“How the bloody hell did this happen?” Akash couldn’t understand how his dream bakery had vanished in a roaring fire. He always checked everything before shutting down at night. “It’s all gone.”

“Oh, Aki. I’m so sorry.” Shanti squeezed her arms around him with Ganesh squashed between them; her tears dampened his T-shirt. “We’ll help you put it all back together.”

“This isn’t a vase you can fix with glue.” Akash gently eased her out of the embrace and over toward Nye. “Take her home, will you? I’ll call around once I have answers. Can you keep Ganesh with you?”

Shanti often cat-sat Ganesh for him. Akash didn’t have the mental energy to worry about it for now. His cat would be safe and spoiled rotten by his little sister.

“Of course, but I should—”

When Shanti started to argue, Nye shook his head at her. Akash loved his sister dearly, but he couldn’t handle tears right now. He had to assess the damage without his emotions tripping him up.

I’ll sob my eyes out in a pillow after I know if my dream’s gone.

After the smoke had cleared and the danger passed, Akash still wasn’t allowed into the building. The words arson investigation floated right over his head. He could only stare at the bakery with the dawning realisation that everything he owned had likely gone up in smoke as well.

They waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Hamish looped his arm around Akash’s shoulders to hold him close. “The upstairs doesn’t appear too badly damaged. I imagine they’ll let you in if it’s safe, to get clothes and such.”

Akash rubbed his eyes. “They’re not going to let me live here, are they.”

“Probably not until the investigation is over—and they’ve determined the structure is sound.” Hamish dropped his arm after a moment. “Sodding shoulder. You can stay with me. I’ve got plenty of space and even a spare room if you’re worried about it seeming too soon, or whatever nonsense you come up with.”

Before Akash began to formulate his argument, one of the firefighters peeled away from the others to join them. Hamish had been right in his assessment. The second floor flat had suffered smoke damage, but the flames hadn’t directly affected it.

The firefighter, who insisted on being called Lennie, provided an escort into the bakery. The man tried to explain about the investigation, but Akash didn’t hear a word of it. His mind wouldn’t process anything other than the blackened remnants of his shop.

They carefully picked their way around the damaged areas to the stairs in the back, which were completely untouched. Akash breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered all of his belongings untouched by fire. They might require a thorough air out and clean, but his clothes, computer, and everything else remained intact.

Quickly throwing a bag of essentials together, Akash packed enough clothes to ensure he wouldn’t have to come back for a week or more. He had no idea how many days or months an investigation might take. His worries were slightly put at ease by Lennie assuring him the entire property would be secured to prevent theft.

Not that I’ve anything left worth stealing.

Picking up his small stash of emergency cash, Akash also retrieved his laptop and toiletries. He made a mental note to contact his insurance company. They’d hopefully cover the entire cost of rebuilding; he had no intention of going backwards and returning to the bakery in Fowey.

Akash stood forlornly on the pavement outside of his shop; his mood plummeted in the acrid smoke still hovering in the air. He tasted it with each breath. “What a sodding nightmare.”

Life had only just begun to come together for him. Two bakeries. He had a flat of his own. A dashing man had barged into his world with no desire to leave. Everything had looked to be going brilliantly.

Akash lost his grip on his bags, and his knees went out from under him, as well. He dropped to the kerb with a bruising thud. “I can’t. What the bloody hell am I going to do now? Fuck. My parents. They’ll be devastated.”

I’m devastated.

Hamish crouched in front of him to lay a hand on Akash’s knee. “Why don’t we get you home? I’ve already talked to my friend who works as an arson investigator. I called the office as well. We’ll have someone out here to keep an eye on the bakery to keep anyone from getting into it who isn’t allowed.”

Akash lifted up his hand to show how violently it trembled. “You can’t drive, and I’m not sure I should.”

“You’ve had a shock.” Hamish glanced around until he spotted someone. “Oi. Lennie. Get your arse over here.”

Akash watched the handsome black firefighter jog over toward them. “You know him?”

“Not well. I know his husband. We served together.” Hamish stood up to greet Lennie with a hand held out. “Haven’t seen you in ages. Spoke to Marc, he thinks they’ll call him out to investigate.”

“You know I can’t say anything.” Lennie’s gaze shifted over to Akash. “You’re a bit peaky. Why haven’t you taken him home, Hamish?”

Hamish gestured toward the sling. “I’d rather not risk it.”

“Ah.” Lennie scratched his head for a moment before wiping away the sweat and grime on his forehead. “Tell you what, I’ll see if they can spare me for a minute to drive you and have Marc to meet us at your flat so he can give me a lift back. One catastrophe is enough for one day. We don’t want you getting into an accident. You might have to wait a bit.”

The next hour went by in a blur for Akash. They bundled him into the back of the vehicle. Lennie didn’t bother with conversation, only turned on the radio and drove them straight to Hamish’s flat.

“Keep an eye on him. Think he’ll be fine. A cup of tea and something sugary might help,” Lennie muttered in an aside to Hamish, though Akash could hear them both clearly. “What happened to your shoulder?”

“Tripped.”

“Tripped? I sense a story. How about you and your baker come over to supper later in the week?” Lennie invited. He glanced over at Akash in the back seat. “I’d say it was great to meet you, but the circumstances leave something to be desired. The chief’ll let you know when it’s safe to return. We’ll send you a report as well. You might want to contact your insurance.”

Akash nodded. He hadn’t heard a word, not a single one. All he wanted to do was to sink into the blissful ignorance of sleep and forget the last few hours for a bit.

“I’d tell you it’ll look better in the morning, but you’ll feel worse, I imagine.” Lennie turned away when a horn sounded. “There’s my Marc. See you, lads, later.”

Akash stumbled out of the Mercedes right into Hamish, who wrapped his good arm around him tightly. “Sorry.”

“Want tea?”

“Not particularly.” Akash didn’t believe in tea solving a multitude of problems. “Unless you plan on spiking it with something stronger.”

“We’ll see what I can find.” Hamish must’ve been exhausted, but the man never showed it. Akash had to admire his stoic ability to soldier through the pain of a dislocated shoulder. “Want a hand with your bags?”

Shaking his head, Akash trudged behind Hamish into his flat with his bags. He dropped them just inside the door, and fell face first onto the sofa with a dramatic groan. In the morning, he would attempt to find perspective, but for now, he intended to have a good moan about the situation.

Even if I’m only whinging to myself.

What the hell am I going to do?

Akash sat up on the couch, leaning forward with his face buried in his hands. He dragged his fingers roughly through his hair with a muttered curse when Hamish held out a mug to him. “I don’t want any sodding tea.”

“Good. It’s the strongest whisky I own.” Hamish waved the cup in front of him. “Have a few sips and budge over so I can sit next to you.”

“Is this supposed to help?”

“Old marine fable—whisky and a friend cure most problems.”

“You made that shit up.” Akash glared suspiciously but took the drink and shifted down on the sofa.

“If it works, does it matter?” Hamish eased down on the cushions with a groan. “Sodding shoulder. You can console yourself that you don’t have the ignominy of tripping over a mouse.”

Akash offered him the mug. “You might need this more than me.”