The brass bell beside the carved teak door gave a soft chime under her touch. Siya stood still on the porch, her gaze running over the golden ornate latticework of the Agrawal mansion’s arched doorway. The veranda glowed softly with yellow lights as darkness swallowed the sky inch by inch.
The door opened and Neena came into view. The warm glow from inside cast her in a muted amber tone, making her pink kurti shine like the evening sky. The wisps of hair brushed against her cheekbone as a cool breeze blew. ‘Siya?’ she asked, surprised.
‘I’d like to talk to you if it’s okay. I am sorry I didn’t call ahead,’ Siya offered.
‘Come on in.’ Neena stepped back, giving her room to enter.
The entrance hall was spread with checkered tiles, and was dimly lit under the chandeliers. Her attention immediately snapped to the wall lined with dozens of framed photographs. Most of them were of Abhay, celebrating his achievements and moments. Siya looked around the wall, and saw more snaps.
In one picture, Mihit was holding a toddler Abhay pretending to be a superman on his shoulder. There were various shots of holiday outings and festivals with friends, and she found Raghav and Luv in several of them. Unlike theKashyap house, this home displayed the joy and milestones of a happy family very proudly.
‘You’ll find Mihit on the balcony,’ Neena said, already turning toward the kitchen. ‘Why don’t you go join him? I’ll bring us some chai.’
Siya walked toward the open doors, and stepped out onto the balcony. Mihit was seated in a wooden armchair, his feet up on a stool, reading spectacles perched low on his nose as he read a book. He glanced up when she entered. ‘Arey, Siya, what a pleasant surprise.’
‘Hello Uncle. I am sorry for intruding,’ Siya said, sinking into the cushioned seat opposite him.
‘Don’t be silly. We’re family. You can come over any time.’
Silence settled around them, filled only by the flutter of leaves from the vast garden below. Siya looked around and observed how just this balcony was as big as her and Kashvi’s rooms combined, complete with black marble and potted plants.
The quiet space and rustling of the trees calmed her nerves. She could see why they ended their day here, with this gorgeous view of the sun setting over the ocean.
The scent of ginger and cream wafted into the kitchen as Neena came in with a tray of three cups and a small bowl of sugar, setting them down on the lawn table.
She poured a cup and stirred in the sugar, then handed it to Siya. ‘Thank you, Aunty.’
Mihit prepared his own tea and made one for Neena too. She thanked him when he handed it to her, and Siya smiled at their familiar, easy bond.
Neena turned to her, taking a tentative sip. ‘How are you, Siya? I don’t know if you know, but we’ve been trying to reach you.’
‘We were worried about you,’ Mihit added.
‘I saw your messages, but I didn’t know what to say. I’ve also been caught up in doctor appointments and test scans.’
‘What did the doctor say?’
She curled her fingers around the warm porcelain in her hands, afraid it’d betray her anxiety. She decided to rip off the band-aid in one go. ‘I can’t have children. The doctor confirmed it.’
Mihit reached out to cover Neena’s hand, who gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘We’re really sorry, beta.’
Siya nodded, her gaze dropping to the untouched tea in her cup. ‘Anyway, I came here for a different reason. I want to apologise for my father and grandmother’s behaviour that night at the dinner. I know it must have been awful for both of you, and… for Abhay.’
‘Honey, there’s nothing for you to apologise for. It was all Kartik, and frankly, we’ve never expected any better from him.’
Her shame sat thick in her throat, coiled and overwhelming. ‘I want you to know that I didn’t know about my fertility situation. If I had, I would never have agreed to marry Abhay.’
‘We don’t doubt you, Siya.’
‘I just… I don’t want you to think I tricked him, and married him under false pretences.’
‘Why did you marry him?’ Her penetrating, fixed stare left no space for lies.
‘To save Kashvi. Dad threatened to get her married to that business tycoon Ravindra Bhatt if I didn’t marry Abhay.’
‘We know,’ Neena said, calmly.
‘What?’ Siya asked, taken aback.
