Page 109 of Glass Jawed
I’m not watching them anymore. I don’t care to.
Then Liam grabs my arm, and we head inside the building without looking back.
The doors close behind us with a satisfying thud.
In the silence of the lobby, my chest finally sinks.
Shit.
Is that what’s waiting for me in India?
TWENTY-EIGHT
Aarohi
“You’ve lost so much weight,beta!”
My mom’s voice is soaked in pity as she tugs the blouse tight at the seams. The fitting is happening in front of five women—collectively known as theIndian Aunty Circle of Body-Shaming.It’s like a panel of unsolicited commentary, except no one asked for their opinions and there’s no commercial break.
It’s been three weeks since I landed in Delhi. And we’re here doing final fittings for the family.
Things have been... okay. Peace is taking its sweet time, but it’s getting here.Glacially.
And weirdly, I am happy. Being back feels right.
Also—because even though this is technically an extended vacation—I’m not going back toToronto.
I accepted the consulting offer in Vancouver. Kashvi was delirious with joy when I told her. She immediately started looking for two-bedroom apartments in the West End so we could move in together.
Since she’s still in Vancouver, she’s handling all the apartment showings herself. Well... not entirely alone. Her “friend” Christian’s tagging along.
I’m not sure how she feels about Liam anymore. She hasn’t mentioned his name once since he left after his Vancouver visit. Which is a stark difference from before—when his name wasdropped in almost every conversation like it was punctuation. Now? Radio silence.
Karina and Isaac surprised me the day I was packing up my Toronto apartment. They showed up with coffee, snacks, and bubble wrap. Helped me pack everything up.
I was grateful—until they started talking about theLamebrains. It took me a second to realize they meant Liam and Lucian.
From what I know, Liam knows he fucked up. And apparently, nothing’s been going on between him and Layla. Not since he met Kash.
I tried telling her that. She shut that conversation down real fast. And I didn’t push. I get it.
Because the moment Karina brought upLucian... I did the same.
Kash has been my strength, and it kills me that I can’t be hers in the same way. She’s hurting—I can feel it—but she hides it under sarcasm and vague threats of homicide.
God, I wish she were here right now. She’d verbally suplex this entire aunty conference without spilling her chai.
My eyes drift to Ishika, my cousin—and the bride-to-be. She’s perched in the corner, scrolling on her phone, oblivious to my blouse-induced humiliation.
But then her mom speaks.
“Arrey, Kikibhabhi, kids these days just want to starve themselves,” MinaChachichimes in. My dad’s brother’s wife. Walks like she invented Ayurveda. Talks like she knows the secrets of the universe.
Ishika’s fingers pause on the screen.
MinaChachiturns her judgmental gaze to me. “Look at Ishi, Rohi. You should get her diet plan. Getting too thin is not good in the long run.”
That’s it.
