Page 103 of The Ex Factor

And I remembered. “On their honeymoon.”

“Come tomorrow, I insist,” she cajoled with another smile.

“Let me see,” I offered truthfully.

Later that night, when I told Mom about this conversation, she agreed. “That’s not a bad idea. Maybe you’ll meet someone there.”

“Ma,” I cried and rolled my eyes at her. “Why does everyone assume that not being attached means I’m lonely and miserable?”

“I’m only teasing.” Mom smiled and pulled my hand in hers. “But Sameer’s parents will be there. Will it bother you?

“I can ignore them.”

“Yes, and it’s bound to happen. We’ve excused ourselves from events for months now, but these are our friends, too. We can’t miss their kids’ birthdays and weddings because Sameer’s family will be there. Plus, they aren’t missing anything.”

I squeezed Mom’s hand. “You’re right. I think I’ll come. This embarrassment BS is like a blanket that we’ve pulled on ourselves. It’s time to shed it.”

“Well said, Beta. Chalo, you go to bed now.”

Before I turned in, I texted Sujit, and he called me back.

“Why are you still up?” I asked as I cozied underneath my warm duvet. “You’re an hour ahead. Shouldn’t you be tucked into bed like a good boy?”

“Who said I was a good boy?” he said, and I could picture the glint in his eyes, the one that twinkled from behind his glasses.

“You’re not. You are very naughty, a very bad boy,” I teased and resisted the thought of him doing nasty things to me.

He laughed. “How was the party?”

“It was wonderful. I’m glad I came. Nitara looked so stinking cute, Mom did her nazar tonight.”

“What’s that?”

“Something to get rid of the evil eye.”

“Ah, yes, I think my mother does something similar for my brother’s kids.”

“Your brother has kids?” I asked and realized we’d never really talked about his family. “How many siblings do you have?”

“Just the one brother and Cathy, who fusses over me like a mother hen. They have two girls, ten and six. Both a handful, much like you.”

“Hey,” I complained with faux indignation, “I’m a very good girl!”

“Yes, you’re a sweet, sweet girl,” he said, and my heart dipped. I wished we were on video call so I could see the look on his face. “Well, I’ll let you sleep now,” he added with haste.

“Wait,” I cried and let the pause say everything I wanted to.

He breathed into the silence, and it felt perfectly peaceful. Bliss, they call it.

“Good night, Sujit,” I whispered into the phone.

“Good night, sweet girl.”

It was with his voice in my head that I woke up the next day. Sweet girl, the words and the voice carried me through the day and into the party that evening.

Jia had decided to stay home and rest while Aakash was catching up on work. Mom, Dad, and I were almost ready to leave when Nitara threw a fit. Not her mother, or grandmother, nor her nanny could calm her down. It was only when I cradled her in my arms that she lulled into drunken-like drowsiness. Not wanting to put her down until she was in deep slumber, I asked Mom and Dad to go ahead. Mom didn’t want to miss the ring exchange. I nodded at them and turned my attention to the calm child in my arms.

AARTI

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