Nadim:We were perfect. The offer still stands. I’ll figure out a way to stay a little longer if you want to do this.
She looked up from her phone at the jewel-toned bangles and glimmering necklaces surrounding her. Her family in the distance, discussing color schemes and the benefits of georgette over silk.
Even if they won the whole thing, then what? He’d still leave after. And she’d still have to lie—to her family, to her friends, and to the FoodTV people. She’d still be pretending and avoiding the truth.
Reena:I don’t want to lie anymore. I am sorry I put you in that position at all.
Nadim:I get it. I’m not sorry, though. I had a blast.
Reena:I did too.
The three little dots appeared on her screen again for a few seconds, and then a final text.
Nadim:No pressure. I’m packing and running errands for the next few days, but I would open my door if you knocked on it on Sunday.
Reena closed her eyes. Should she? She could have one more day.
Reena:I’ll knock.
Reena put her phone away and looked closely at the jewelry in the display case. Like so many other little Indian girls, she’d always been drawn to the bright, colorful costume jewelry in velvet boxes. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she remembered being in so many similar stores all over the world. It didn’t matter where she was: here in the suburbs or in the city. In London, Vancouver, or even in Dar es Salaam, Indian stores permeated with the scent of incense, sequins, and silk gave her that familiar feeling of shared culture. Home. Reena loved being Indian. Loved the food, the glittery clothes, and today, she even loved the deep-seated traditions. Like sari shopping with aunties.
Resisting her parents’interferencefor so long all felt, in a way, like resisting her culture. Family meant everything to them, and parents were expected to look out for their children long after they weren’t children anymore. She was an individual, but an individual who was part of a family.
But there had to be a middle ground—a way to make the traditions work for her instead of stifling her.
As she approached the counter, a silvery chain in a black box caught her eye. It was an odd shape—a large bracelet with dangling bells on it and a big center medallion with a long chain hanging off it ending with a ring. The whole thing looked huge, like it had been designed for a basketball player’s hands.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the woman behind the counter said.
“It’s gorgeous. Huge, though. Would never fit my wrist.”
The woman laughed. “It’s an anklet, dear. For your foot. This one is a bridal one. But we have less ornate ones as well. Can I show you?”
“Bridal?” Reena asked.
“Yes. It’s designed to be worn with a wedding lehenga. Aren’t you here with a bridal party? I believe we pulled some lehengas in the bride’s size.”
Reena couldn’t be sure exactly what came over her at that moment, but it appeared her mouth had been disconnected from her logical brain.
But maybe this wasn’t the time for logic. Maybe it was time for Reena to take her own leap of faith. “Yes, but could you show me some inmysize?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Considering her unemployment and her decision to change careers, Reena should not have spent over three hundred dollars on a turquoise and pink lehenga with matching costume jewelry, but she wasn’t in any state to second-guess anything right now. This unhinged plan of hers was risky, but the money spent would be worth it if it worked.
She managed to hide the outfit from her family, who were too preoccupied by the discussion of whether orange or red looked better on Saira to notice Reena trying it on. When they saw her wrapped garment bag, Reena told them it was for Amira, who had no Indian stores nearby and who’d asked her to pick something up for her.
After Saira dropped Reena and Marley off at their apartment building, Reena said goodbye to her cousin and went straight to her bedroom and hung the lehenga in her closet, lightly fingering the subtle embroidery in ethereal silver and gold threads. It was so beautiful. The kind of outfit memories were made in.
Finally, she took a deep cleansing breath and took off her jeans and socks. She dug around her summer clothes to find a long, Indian-print skirt and white T-shirt. She took her hair out of its ponytail and added a bit of antifrizz serum to make sure her curls looked their best. Finally, she dabbed a bit of fragrance to her neck. She carefully removed the silver anklets from the black velvet box and fastened them to her feet, clipping the rings to her second toes. She wished she had time for a pedicure but needed to do this now before she lost her nerve, and her chance.
She closed her eyes, said a silent prayer for strength, and retrieved a single item from her dresser before leaving her apartment barefoot.
Reena knocked on Nadim’s door, her heart pounding in her chest. She clutched the item in her hand, leaving it slippery from sweat on her palm. He left the door chain attached again when he opened and peeked out the four-inch gap in the door.
“Reena, it’s you. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. Perfect.”
