“I’m going to tell you about your parents.”
Kabir froze. Memories of days and nights when he’d begged and wept for any information about his parents, anything at all, only for her to shove him aside and leave the room swam through him.
Those had been the good days, the ones when she left him alone.
“Where do you think I got into the habit of sampling the maal?” she smiled, her stained, crooked teeth managing to drive dread through him.
“You’re saying my father was a drug dealer?”
She reached below her pillow and pulled out a thin folder. It was full of newspaper clippings. Kabir glimpsed the body of a man lying in a pool of blood, half his head blown off. Bile churned in his stomach as he looked away, a bead of sweat building on his temple.
“Can you just say what you have to? Leave the theatrics for another day?”
“Your parents were killed by the police.”
“Let me guess, my father was dealing drugs for the mafia?”
Her smile broadened, a vindictive gleam to it.
“Right.” Kabir exhaled hard. “My father was the mafia.”
“No.” His aunt’s smile almost split her face. “Your mother was.”
CHAPTER 20
TANISHA
“Do you think I look pretty?”Tani twirled in front of the mirror, her dress swirling around her. Her big, gap toothed smile telling the world how happy she was.
“You look beautiful, Bug.” Kabir came to stand behind her, towering over her, a dark shadow in all black.
Tani bounced on her toes, delight spilling through her. “It’s going to be the best birthday ever.”
“I got you something,” Kabir said gruffly, handing over a large, gift wrapped box. He watched indulgently as she ripped the paper of it with very little grace or patience.
Tani squealed at the sight of the Nintendo switch. “Thank you!” she screamed, throwing herself into his arms. Karam and Shikha had refused to get her one despite endless pleas that all her classmates had one and she was the only one left out.
“I’m your bad influence friend.” Kabir winked, grinning.
“You’re my best friend,” she said solemnly. “I love you, Kabs.”
His eyes seemed to shine and for a moment, Tani was worried he would cry.
“Aren’t you going to say it back?” Tani asked, pouting, a little miffed that he hadn’t as yet.
“I, uh,” Kabir ducked his head. “Don’t know how to say stuff like that, Bug. It’s a little hard for me.”
Oh. Tani pondered over that problem and then snapped her fingers. “I know.” She beamed. “You don’t have to say it.” She took his hand in hers. “I. Love. You.” Each word was accompanied by a tight squeeze of his hand. “See? You can say it without saying it.”
Kabir swallowed hard, looking at the little hand in his. And then he squeezed. Once. Twice. Thrice.
Time flies when you’re miserable. Happy, she corrected herself. Time flies when you’re happy. She sat on a bench in front of the mirror, her sunshine yellow lehenga spread out around her, flowing over the seat and onto the floor. The choli, of the same colour, was a simple wrap, leaving her shoulders bare. Her hair had been pulled into a messy bun, stray ringlets framing her make up free face.
Vedika and Kimaya hovered around her looking like angels in their sweet, white lehengas, gauzy dupattas draped over their cholis. Unlike her, they had their makeup and hair done. Also, unlike her they looked happy.
The window on the far wall framed the vineyards of Il Cuore. The family had driven in yesterday and the wedding festivities began with today’s haldi ceremony.
Three days from now she would be married.
