“My apologies, Mr. Solanki.” Ethan killed the engine and climbed off the motorcycle with a sheepish smile. “It seems I’ve once again disturbed the peace with my bike.”
“Not at all,” Puppa said. “Moksha is officially closed. I was just meeting with the contractors.” He gestured toward the van parked nearby. “They’ll be tearing out the old wiring, then moving on with the rest of the renovations.”
“More noise,” Ethan remarked.
“Well, not for another two weeks. That’s the earliest they can get to it. Some areas may be off-limits while the crew is here, but I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with your plans.”
“I have plenty of commitments I can handle off-site on those days. As long as my privacy isn’t compromised, it’s all good.”
“Of course,” Puppa replied, but then his expression changed. “Should I have them sign something? A confidentiality agreement?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Ethan said, slowly nodding his head. “I’ll have my assistant look after it.” Shifting his attention back to his new motorcycle, Ethan caught Mumma checking out the saddle. “I apologize, Mrs. Solanki, if the leather offends you.”
Priya winced, knowing her made-up story claiming her parents hated leather was about to fall apart.
Mumma waved off his concern. “I was just admiring how neat the stitching is. Our car’s seats are leather too. Secondhand car, so we didn’t have much of a choice. But thank you for being so considerate.”
Ethan tilted his head toward Priya, and when their eyes met, he raised an eyebrow. He’d caught on to her lie, and she could already sense payback brewing. She glanced at her parents, but they were too busy admiring the bike to notice. Had it actually belonged to Priya, frugality would rear its penny-pinching head, and both parents would probably have passed out on the spot.
“I’ve never been on a motorcycle before,” Mumma confessed.
“Is that so?” Ethan replied. “How would you like to join me for a ride?”
“Oh, no!” Mumma declared, shaking her head. “Motorcycle riding at my age?Baap re.Maybe in another life.”
“Ah, Mrs. Solanki.” Ethan grinned. “You’ve ruined my winning streak. It’s been a while since someone turned me down.”
Priya watched in amazement as Mumma’s cheeks bloomed with a full-on blush.
“What an idea.” She laughed self-consciously. “Me refusing you.”
“I can tell there’s an adventurer in you, Mrs. Solanki, and now’s her chance to shine. What do you say?”
Priya snorted quietly.Adventurer? Please. Mumma got nervous switching brands of atta.
“Without a helmet?” Puppa cut in. The Solankis weren’t exactly thrill-seekers—they approached new things with plenty of hesitation and a whole lot of caution.
“She can wear mine,” Ethan offered. “It won’t fit perfectly, but we’ll just go for a quick spin around the grounds.”
Puppa gave a hesitant nod, and Priya waited for her mother to dismiss the idea—a predictableNo, thank you. Instead, Mumma’s face lit up like a sunflower turning toward the light.
Priya blinked in surprise, watching as Ethan secured the helmet under Mumma’s chin and helped her onto the bike.
“Don’t be shy. Hold on tight,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “Ready?”
“Ready.” Mumma’s voice was a blend of fright and delight. She wore a cardigan over her salwar khameez, her dupatta tucked securely to keep it from fluttering in the wind.
With a reassuring nod, Ethan turned the engine on. Mumma let out a gasp. Her hands, perched like timid sparrows on his shoulders, suddenly bear-hugged the life out of him.
Taking off slowly, Ethan guided the bike along the winding paths of the property, weaving around flower beds bursting with the orange and yellow marigolds her parents planted each year. Mumma squealed as they veered left, then right.
“She’s having fun,” Puppa said, the frosty tension between him and Priya thawing as they watched.
“Yeah…” Priya shook her head with a smile. “Would you look at that?”
Mumma’s nerves melted, and her grip relaxed. She wasn’t just tolerating the ride. She was loving it! Eventually, Ethan steered the motorcycle back to its starting point. Glowing with excitement, Mumma thanked Ethan and dismounted.
“Rakesh, that was incredible!” she said excitedly to Puppa. Priya glimpsed a completely different side of her mother—a woman with a spark for life, not just the strict parent she’d always known. It made Mumma feel far more relatable than Priya had ever imagined.
