“C’mon,” Nicole said, standing. “Let’s talk somewhere else. There’s going to be a bit of chaos here soon. Everyone flying out tonight is coming to wait for the van to the airport.”
Jana nodded. The last thing she wanted was for people to see her this way. The four of them headed around a corner toward the pool and outdoor lounge area.
“I’m not surprised you have regrets,” Shelina said. “What would even compel you tosleepwith Anil, anyway? I mean, yeah, I know you were pretending you were married once, but after he cheated on his wife with you last time, I’m surprised you’d go there again.” She snorted. “It’s all so…juicy. Like a—”
Jana closed her eyes. Did Shelina think she was helping at all here? Jana suddenly opened her eyes when she felt an arm on hers. Nicole. She was stopping Jana from walking farther.
Because right around the corner, Rohan’s parents, Mom, Kassim Uncle, Dr. Lopez, and Farzana Aunty were standing together, seemingly posing for a giant group picture. From the wide-eyed look on all their faces, it was clear that they’d heard what Shelina had said.
Jana wanted to fall into a hole. Or a crater. The Olduvai Gorge wasn’t far—maybe Jana could hide in there for the rest of her life.
“Oh my god, I am so sorry!” Shelina said, cringing at Jana. “I…I’m so sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut.”
Shelina looked genuine in her apology at least. But the damage had already been done.
Jana froze a few long seconds, then turned and rushed back around the corner to escape them all.
“Jana—wait!” Her mother rushed after her. Jana turned and looked at her.
Mom’s face was sour. Angry. “Did Shelina say you went tobedwith Anil? Have you no shame? What will people think? All my friends heard! I thought you were better than this, Jana.”
Jana blinked at her mother. Did Mom care at all about what Jana was going through? About how terrible it felt to be exposed like that? Or did she only care about what others thought?
After Jana said nothing for several long seconds, tears falling down her cheeks, she turned away, not wanting to look at her mother.
“It’s okay, beta,” Mom said, maybe finally feeling some compassion. “We can tell everyone Shelina was making a joke. Don’t worry. We can say—”
Jana shook her head. “No. Enough. I’mdonelying for you to save face.” She took a deep breath. “I wasnevermarried to Anil. We wereneverdivorced. And we haveneverbeen friends. We’ve barely spoken to each other unless we needed to for the last five years, andyou know that. You know he was married tosomeone elsewhen Imani was conceived, and it’s time you stop lying about my past.” She wiped away a tear. “All you do is tell people how amazing your daughter is…how proud you are of me. But you’re lying about who I am. You really think I’m a disappointment.” She finally turned and faced her mother. “I don’t care if you’re proud of me or not. I just want you toacceptme. Why aren’t I good enough for you?”
Jana’s voice cracked when she saw the gutted, destroyed look on her mother’s face. How could Jana have said all that to her? Mom was a widow. She took care of Jana. She cared…in her own way.
And that’s when Jana noticed Dr. Lopez standing behind her mother. He’d heard Jana’s outburst. He knew they’d been lying from the beginning. Jana shook her head and walked away.
***
Jana’s knees were shaking as she wobbled out of the lobby. Nicole took her by the arm and guided her to Asha’s and her room. Jana hid there while half the party, including Anil, Dr. Lopez, and Farzana Aunty, left for the airport. She did not want to watch Anil say goodbye to Imani. She’d had enough heartwarming father-daughter moments burned into her memory for a lifetime. And she had absolutely no idea what to say to Dr. Lopez—so she decided to say nothing.
Jana might have just lost everything. She’d upset her mother. Embarrassed herself in front of everyone. And worst of all, she’d lost the respect of Dr. Lopez and Farzana Aunty. They knew that it had all been a lie now. The divorce. Her and Anil’s amicable co-parenting relationship. All of it. He said he wasn’t the only one making the decision for the job, but she assumed hedidhave the power to veto whatever decision the board made. She had no doubt she’d lost a lot of integrity in Dr. Lopez’s eyes.
Did he think all those lies were to get the job? To make her stand out to him by impressing his divorce-researcher wife? To hide the truth that she’d slept with a married man?
Jana wanted that job so much…especially after getting to know Dr. Lopez on this trip. She couldn’t believe that going along with her mother’s lies might have cost her the opportunity. And she hated the fact that she’d disappointed a man she’d come to respect so much.
And then there was Anil. Had anyone told him what Shelina had said? How did he feel about everyone talking about him again?
While Jana was hiding in Asha and Nicole’s room, Rohan and Kamila came in to check on her.
“I can’t even believe Shelina said that,” Kamila said after they were all sitting with steaming mugs of chai. “She’s always got her foot lodged firmly in her mouth. She says sorry, by the way, but I wouldn’t let her come up.”
Jana shrugged. She didn’t really blame Shelina…that much. The lie would have come out eventually.
“Did you talk to Anil before he left?” Kamila asked.
“No.”
“Are you going to talk to him?”
“Of course. I talk to him all the time.”
