Before Priya could reply, a crew member tapped her shoulder. “Miss, where do you want us to set up the projector?”
“I’ll be there in a sec,” Priya answered, suppressing a sigh.
“Everything okay?” Meghna asked.
“It’s a bit of a madhouse here at the moment.”
“I bet. Moksha is back in business, and you’re right in the thick of it. I’m sure Mumma and Puppa are glad to have you around, but how areyoudoing?”
Priya opened her mouth to say, “I’m fine” again, but the words caught in her throat. She wasn’t fine. Far from it. She was exhausted and overwhelmed from pretending to be fine. And now, as her sister’s voice echoed through the phone, the dam of her emotions broke, and with it came a torrent of tears—not the silent ones that spilled onto her pillow at night, but deep, racking sobs that she could no longer contain.
“Hey, hey…” Meghna’s voice sharpened with concern. “What’s going on, Pri?”
Priya took a shaky breath, her sobs slowing to a tremble. “I don’t know how to explain it,” she said. “It’s like Moksha is taking over my life, Megs. You know how Mumma and Puppa say it’s our destiny, right? Well, I feel like I’m slowly sliding into its belly, being swallowed alive. I’m trying so hard to get back on track, but there’s no escape. I’m trapped, Megs, and I don’t know how to get out.”
“Oh Pri.” Meghna sighed. “You’ve never backed down from anything, especially not with Mumma and Puppa. But you sound…done. I’ve never heard you like this, not even after things ended with Manoj. What’s really going on?”
Priya stayed silent, unable to find the words.
“You sounded happy when we spoke last month,” Meghna said slowly. “Mumma and Puppa were away, and you were holding things down at Moksha with—” She gasped in realization. “It’s Ethan Knight, isn’t it? Ever since he came to Moksha, you haven’t been the same…Oh my god, Pri. You’re heartbroken. I can hear it in your voice.” She lowered her voice. “Did something happen between you two?”
“Yes, we had a thing. And I foolishly let myself believe we stood a chance,” Priya said, her voice cracking. “But I can’t escape Moksha, Megs. No matter what I do or how far I run, it’s always going to pull me back in.”
Meghna was quiet for a moment. “I know it feels like you’ve hit rock bottom, but this isn’t some fate you must accept. Losing Ethan might’ve been the tipping point, but that doesn’t mean Moksha is your only option. Everything that’s happened—all the setbacks, the challenges, the heartache—that’s just life, Pri. Sometimes it leads and you follow. Sometimes you lead and it follows. And right now, you need to take charge. If you don’t find your footing, you’ll keep spinning to everyone else’s tunes.” Meghna paused, letting her words sink in. “The only power anything or anyone has over you is what you allow. You’re the only one who can break free, and that’s not going to happen if you give up.”
Priya nodded but felt as if she were standing at the bottom of an insurmountable mountain. “I don’t even know where to begin, Megs. I don’t know what to do.”
“You don’t have to figure it all out in one go,” Meghna said. “Just trust that you’re not stuck. You’ve been knocked down, but you can rise again. One step at a time, Pri. You’ve got this.”
Priya wiped her cheeks, blinking through the tears as guests passed by. It was embarrassing to be caught with her guard down,but they barely noticed. Her tears fit right in, just another ripple in the endless tide of grief that flowed through Moksha. Meghna was right. If Priya didn’t pull herself together soon, she would end up disappearing into the shadows of the funeral home like a forgotten statue collecting dust.
Twenty-Eight
Priya’s stomach was in knotson the day of Lady Whiskerbottom’s funeral. She knew Ethan wasn’t coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. She had stayed out of sight since he’d left, and it was time to face the world again.
The reporters were back, though only a select few, invited specifically to cover the event. Puppa hired extra help and pulled out all the stops to meet Brooke’s every request—an ice sculpture of Lady Whiskerbottom, paw-print tapestries, and even a violinist crooning a mournful ditty for her kitty. Pet influencers began arriving in droves, some with their own cats in tow.
Lady Whiskerbottom lay perfectly poised in a silk-lined casket, wearing a tiara and a hot-pink tutu. Even in death, she looked as though the tributes around her weren’t quite good enough—not the catnip wreaths, and certainly not the memorial mugs with her face on them. Strategically placed cameras streamed every angle of the service for her fans, who flooded the live feed with reactions and comments. A separate screen showed a mosaic of virtual attendees, Lady Whiskerbottom’s exclusive circle of influencer cats.
Madame Clawdia, a poised Siamese, had a handkerchief tucked in her collar. Muffin, the orange tabby, swatted furiously at his human, while Pinot, the playful Bengal, kept presenting his backside to the camera.
Lady Whiskerbottom’s veterinarian delivered the eulogy, touching on her social media career and her influence in the feline fashion world. He chuckled as he recalled her bites and scratches, proof that she did not tolerate being handled by just anyone. His voice softened as he spoke about her final days and how she became an advocate for feline health.
Brooke sat beside Priya, tears streaming freely. Priya put an arm around her as the room dimmed for the next part of the service—a slideshow of the cat’s most iconic posts, as well as some candid moments. The screen lit up with Lady Whiskerbottom’s life from her early days as a kitten to her rise as an influencer. Brooke’s tears gave way to soft laughter at some of the photos. As the last slide appeared, a stylishly groomed cat in the audience yawned, sparking a wave of laughter.
The service ended with a reel of Lady Whiskerbottom’s brand endorsements. Guests were treated to a commemorative collar and encouraged to donate to a feline charity in her name.
Brooke turned to Priya, eyes red but shining with gratitude. “Thank you. This was everything and more. You and your family arranged the most perfect goodbye for my fur queen. I just wish Ethan and my father were here.”
“I know it would have meant a lot.” Priya drew her in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “But Ethan’s in the middle of his promo tour, and your father will be joining you at the cemetery.”
“You’re coming too, right?” Brooke asked.
“Of course. I just have to take care of a few things, so I’ll meet you there. Your ride is all set, whenever you’re ready to leave.”
“You’re the best.” Brooke gave Priya a grateful hug.
As Priya watched Brooke mingle with the other guests, a small pang tightened in her chest. There was something about the way Brooke tilted her head and smiled at people that brought a sudden, vivid flash of Ethan to mind. Taking a deep breath, she slipped out of the room in search of Mumma and Puppa.
