Page 109 of I Wish We Weren't Related

“Thanks. I might need it.”

“But what about when Nitin has the twins? Isn’t that easier?”

Sita exhaled longingly. “Yes. Oh god, yes. The best two weekends of every month. Apart from when he calls me every ten minutes asking whether they can eat calamari or some other bullshit.”

“Can they?”

“They can eat anything! Whether theywillis another thing entirely.”

“Well, they seem to be doing great. I’m so happy you made the choice to leave Nitin properly.”

“Me too. And... what about you? You and Nick seem pretty loved up.”

“Yep.” Reeva couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “It feels sogood to finally have that intimacy I’ve always wanted. I forgot how amazing it feels to have a connection like that with someone.”

“Way to rub it in.”

Reeva forced herself to stop smiling. “Sorry. But if it helps, it’s also not the magic fairy-tale ending I thought it would be. He’s not the center of my life—that’s still me. And to be honest, I have a lot going on.”

“Are you still going to all those meetings? Al-Anon?”

Reeva nodded. “Yeah. I kind of love it, Sita—you should come one day. It’s teaching me so much. I feel like I’m learning to focus on myself rather than trying to take responsibility for everyone. And I’m living in honesty, rather than fantasy like I always used to.”

Sita raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t the whole point meant to be focusing on healing your trauma rather than all this self-improvement crap?”

Reeva rolled her eyes. “It’s not crap—it’s spiritual growth. And I’m healing my trauma too. It’s a process.”

“Well, at least it gave you the confidence to finally quit your job and create your own firm. It was about bloody time.”

“I know—I’m still not over how good it feels.” Reeva grinned. “And I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks for being my first client.”

“Guuyyys? Where you at?” Jaya burst into the room in a floaty white maxi dress, her hair falling in perfect waves, with her baby suckling from her left breast. She looked like an Instagram ad for motherhood. “I can’t believe you’re doing a bathroom hang without me! And Maya.”

Reeva felt the same pang of annoyance that hit her every time someone said the baby’s name—the name she’d always told herfamily she’d give her own daughter. But when Jaya shrieked in pain as Maya bit her nipple, Reeva reached out her arms for her. “Oh, hi, clever baby. Who’s the most wonderful little creature?”

Sita shook her head. “It’s weird how you talk to her like your cat.”

“I think it’s cute,” said Jaya, sitting down on top of the laundry basket. “And at least Reeva wants to hold her niece. You never bother.”

“Because I have two of my own. The novelty’s worn off.”

Reeva looked up from Maya’s big green eyes (it turned out Rakesh’s genes weren’t dominant; Maya looked just like her mum) and glared at her sisters. “Hey. No arguing. Satya Auntie won’t like it.”

“Do you think she’ll mind if I just climb into the bath and nap?” asked Sita.

“Uh, yes,” replied Reeva. “Besides, I need you there. Both of you. Moral support. We all remember what happened the last time I gave a speech at a funeral.”

Both her sisters shuddered.

“I wish I didn’t remember,” said Sita.

“Can you, like, not slut-shame me at this one?” asked Jaya.

“No promises. Anyway, we need to go. We’ve missed practically all the pre-funeral prayers.”

“As always,” said Sita. “Too busy grieving in the bathroom.”

“Come on,” said Reeva. “Let’s go grieve with everyone else this time.”

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