“He’s…” Tani’s voice faded a little before she forced life into it. “Nice.”
Aakash stopped mid bite of his ginormous sausage. “Nice?”
“Nice?” Another voice joined the conversation as Kanak Maasi sat down on the lounger beside Tani. “Nice?” she said again, making a face. “What are we supposed to do with nice?”
“Hey,” Maya interjected. “I married nice.”
“So did I.” Aayushi called out from where she was dangling her legs in the pool.
“Yes but,” Kanak pulled a dubious face, “they’re more than just nice, aren’t they?”
“Cut it out Kan.” Shikha’s voice was firm. “Nice is sexy.”
“Eww, mom,” Rehan muttered from where he was floating in the pool on a giant, pink, swan shaped floatie. “Don’t say sexy.”
“The only reason you exist my love,” Shikha said, fixing her son with a steely look, “is because I found your father sexy.”
“EWWWW.” Tani and Rehan exclaimed in unison.
“The important question though,” said Rehan from the pool, his arms propped on the sides, “is does Tani find Jay sexy?”
Tani flushed a bright red as everyone turned to look at her. A second later, a hissing sound filled the air and Rehan toppled backwards into the water, the swan disintegrating beneath him.
“Don’t tease your sister,” Karam said mildly, swimming away from the deflated swan like he hadn’t just been responsible for its demise.
Advik chortled and high fived Karam as he pulled himself out of the pool and walked over to where his wife sat. He kissed her smiling mouth and murmured, “I find you very sexy too.”
Tani’s eyes blurred with sudden tears. Her parent’s marriage and their love for each other had been the foundation of her life. And she wanted the same for herself. It’s why this marriage to Jay made sense.
He made sense. He loved her. He wanted her. He chose her. And after years of being rejected by the man she loved, Tani just wanted, so badly, to be wanted.
“He’s a good guy,” she said softly. Everyone quietened as they turned towards her. “He’s got a good job, comes from a good family, and he loves me.”
It was only when she stopped talking that Tani realised she hadn’t said ‘I love him too.’ She opened her mouth to say it but the lie stuck in her throat, perishing unsaid.
For a long moment, no one spoke but then Maya said, “All that matters is that you’re happy, sweetie.”
“I am,” she insisted, blinking back annoying tears. “Very happy.”
“Sure don’t look it,” Advik muttered, hunching his shoulders when his mother, Maya, sent him a fierce glare. “She’s crying again!” he protested, wilting under her angry stare.
“They’re happy tears,” Tani muttered, tossing a towel in his face. “He’s nice.” There was that stupid word again. “He’s great,” she tried again, sounding even more lame.
“He seems decent enough,” Karam said from where he stood, towelling himself off. “But his parents are shady. I don’t think they approve of his choice.”
Rehan popped his head up from the pool, like a dolphin with an opinion. “Didn’t Nanu disapprove of you too?”
“Yeah,” Karam replied, deadpan. “Your Nanu’s shady too.”
“Karam!” Shikha remonstrated though she was laughing too hard to make an impact.
Tani was just grateful that the attention had shifted off her. Before anyone could say anything else, a deep throaty roar echoed in the distance, growing closer with every second. A huge smile split her face as a red Maserati hove into view.
It came to a stop, a few feet away from where they all sat, and the door opened. Vikram Thakkar stepped out and grinned at all of them. “Hello family.”
A loud volley of greetings and shouts exploded from them but none as loud as the one that came from his father.
“Who the fuck said you could drive my car?” Aakash roared.
