Page 61 of You Had Me at Hello World
“I’m going to call her.” Mr. Chadha speed dials. A second later, Khoi’s backpack vibrates.
Without asking for permission, Aisha’s mom kneels down and unzips it. She digs out Aisha’s rose-gold iPhone. “Why is her phone here?”
“Maybe she… forgot?” God, Khoi is so bad at comingup with these answers. We’d be better off with ChatGPT. Or a Magic 8 Ball.
“She forgot her phone inyourbackpack?”
“Do you mind if we take a look around?” Mr. Chadha asks me.
It doesn’t feel like there’s much of a choice. I nod. I’m just praying this interaction ends without anyone seeing my boobs.
They sort through Aisha’s dresser, shake out her bedsheets, sift through the scattered papers on her desk. It’s like they’re FBI agents. I wouldn’t be shocked if someone busts out a fingerprinting kit.
“Priya,” Mr. Chadha says. “Look at this.”
When I see what he’s holding, my heart sinks. It’s a program for the Harvard dance showcase from June.
“Her name is here. See?” He jabs his finger at the page. “This is for some high school dance camp.”
Mrs. Chadha’s face is stormy. She mutters something in Punjabi.
“Wait,” Khoi says. “That’s, um. That’s not…” But his voice dwindles, because there is no lie that might explain this away.
“The situation is clear,” Aisha’s dad says. “Our daughter’s been lying to us about where she’s going. Did you help her with this deception?”
Khoi opens his mouth and then closes it again wordlessly.
“Google Maps says this building is a twelve-minute drive from here,” Mrs. Chadha says, looking up from her phone.
“I’m disappointed in you, Khoi,” Mr. Chadha says as they leave. “I thought you were a good kid.”
Heisa good kid,I want to say, but don’t.
The door slams shut.
As soon as they’re gone, Khoi jams his feet into his shoes. “Char, let’s go!” Without waiting for me, he starts running.
As soon as my shirt is back on my torso where it belongs, thank you very much, I chase Khoi down the hall. “Where are you going?” I holler.
“We have to get to Harvard before Aisha’s parents. We have to warn her!”
My brain connects the dots. Oh, hell. It’s one thing if the Chadhas discover that their daughter is at dance camp. It’s another if they discover that she’s queer before she’s ready to come out. And we can’t even call or text her, since she doesn’t have her phone. We’re basically prehistoric again.
He suddenly halts in front of a room and pounds on the door.
Haru answers with a yawn. “What?”
Khoi’s all, “We need to borrow your motorcycle.” No greeting. No explanation. Not even apretty please.
“No thanks.” Haru moves to shut the door.
“Please!” Khoi wedges his foot in the doorway. “This isn’t for me. It’s for Aisha.”
“So? I barely know that girl.”
“Okay. How about this. Let us borrow your motorcycle and I’ll debug your code for you.” Khoi smiles big, as if this is some incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Jesus. If I’m ever in some hostage situation, he better not be the one negotiating for my release.
