Page 143 of Debugging Love

Mom sucks in a breath. “There’s more?”

“My boss put us on the same project. That’s what we were working on when you came in.”

“The universe is sending you a message,” Mom says with absolute certainty.

“Everywhere I went it was Danni, Danni, Danni, like a skipping record.”

Dadi looks impressed by my list of coincidences that are starting to seem a lot less like chance, I’ll admit. She smooths the front of her saree. “I’m sure I will like her when I get to know her.”

“I think you will,” I say, unable to suppress my grin.

“But what will we do about Navya?” Dadi says, suddenly worried. “She came here to see you.”

Oh yeah. Navya. Whatwillwe do about her? “How long were you planning to stay?”

“Just today and tomorrow,” Mom says.

“Why don’t you stay through the weekend? Get a rental on Folly Beach? We’ll hang out. It’ll be fun.”

“I’m not going near the sand,” Dadi says.

“You can stick to the boardwalks.”

She tugs at her damp collar and looks at me sadly. I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. “I won’t be that far away.”

“Yes, you will. But it will be fine. If I like it here, I’ll come once a year. Maybe more. You won’t be able to get rid of me.”

“I’d like that.”

“Now get your arm off me before I melt.”

I knock on Apartment 240 while nerves munch on my stomach. Navya’s a nice girl. I don’t want to hurt her more than I already have.

Danni answers, looking concerned. She ushers me in.

Navya is lying on the couch with a bag of frozen peas covering half of her face. The eye I can see is closed. “Is she asleep?” I whisper.

Danni shakes her head, her face reflecting the dread that I’m feeling.

I walk over to the couch and kneel beside it. Navya’s eye pops open. She springs up, the bag of peas tumbling into her lap. The young bruise under her eye is more red than purple.

“Hey,” I say.

She straightens, becoming formal like the Navya I’m used to. “Jyotiraditya,” she says stiffly.

“Hey,” I repeat because I’m not sure what else to say yet. I settle onto the couch next to her.

Navya ducks her head and looks up at me. “Hey?”

Danni’s in the kitchen clinking silverware and clanging pots, putting away dishes to pretend she’s not eavesdropping.

I lean over and rub my face. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. You guys surprised me today.”

“Your dadi said you knew we were coming.”

“She might have lied a little.” I pinch the air, leaving a sliver to represent Dadi’s lie. “I told her I didn’t want an arranged marriage, but I guess she wasn’t ready to give up on the idea. I’m sorry she misled you.”

“It’s fine,” Navya says, straightening again. “My parents have a backup plan. Aadesh wants to marry me, but you were their first choice. I told them we aren’t a good match, but they wouldn’t listen to me.”

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