Page 132 of Glass Jawed
My soul leaves my body. Faints. Revives.
Lucian is still standing there like it’s just a fun little joke while I’m internally being defibrillated.
“Goodnight, Lucian,” I mutter, turning on my heel before he sees me spontaneously combust.
Behind me, I hear him laugh softly.
Son-in-law,my ass.
THIRTY-THREE
Lucian
“Damn! That’s really cool. So like... you’re looking at—what—50% penetration in the market?” Vikram asks, eyes lighting up.
He’s honestly a chill guy. The second Ishika introduced me to her fiancé, he pulled me into a full-blown strategy conversation like we’d been work bros for years. He’s a management consultant, so between that and my start-up experience, we’ve been exchanging war stories for the past thirty minutes.
It’s late morning now and the post-breakfast chaos is finally calming down. Mina Aunty—aka Ishika’s mother andgeneral-in-command—had sent me on an errand run earlier. I agreed enthusiastically. Not that there was anything toagreeto. I was told, notasked.
Because apparently, I’m now the resident white boy with a strong back.
The boxes were heavy. The boxes inside the boxes were heavier. All of them filled with sweets so rich I think I absorbed calories just breathing near them.
But the laddoo reward? Worth it. She literally fed it to me like a golden retriever that fetched a stick.
I’ve also made some key discoveries today.
Advik—yes,thatAdvik—is Vikram’s younger brother. And Navya, the girl who tried to imprint on me last night, is their cousin. She’s still prancing around with far too much energy andfar too little subtlety, occasionally casting long glances my way. It’s...unsettling.
“Almost 50% in Ontario, yeah,” I tell Vikram, shifting my weight as I lean against the stone ledge near the garden. “But BC’s a tougher nut to crack. Different veterinary systems. Also, the pet population skews differently. We’re adapting.”
He nods, genuinely impressed. “That’s awesome, man.”
It still surprises me—how early people start drinking here. It’s not even noon and I’ve seen whiskey, beer, vodka, and something suspiciously pink just floating about. Honestly? I’m tempted. Really tempted.
But I don’t. Iwon’t. One sip will be a full drink. One drink will be three. And I didn’t claw my way out of that pit just to fall back in.
So, I sip my iced tea. It’s sweet.Reallysweet. But it’s cold and perfect, and no one questions me.
“Hey, have you been to Greece?” Vikram asks.
Before I can answer—the glass is snatched from my hand.
I flinch—because apparently that’s my new default reaction. Fight, flight, orflinch.
I turn.
Aarohi.
She’s glaring suspiciously at the glass like it offends her. She brings it to her nose and takes a deep inhale like a wine snob at a sommelier’s competition.
And then—then—she takes a sip. A full one. Squints. Smacks her lips. Once. Twice. She looks fucking adorable.
“Did I pass your inspection?” I whisper only for her ears as I smile at her.
She doesn’t look at me. Simply nods to herself like a queen has approved the poison-free wine... and hands it back to me.
Then, without a word, she turns and skips away.
