“Nothing.”Thwap.
Toni and I exchanged glances. I gestured with my head toward the door of our room.
“What?” my sister asked.
“Don’t you have to go, um...”
“Wash my hair?” Toni suggested brightly. “Organize my socks?”
“Leave us in peace for five minutes?” Reeti asked.
Toni heaved a dramatic sigh. “Fine. Thanks for the chicken tikka.”
Reeti’s face softened. “You’re welcome,choti.”
Toni went into the living room and flung herself on the couch.
“I want to help. What can I do?” I repeated.
“Nothing. Really,” Reeti said.
“There must be something. You look ready to stab someone.”
“Only stupid Vir,” she growled.
“Oh no. What happened? What did he do?”
She ripped the plastic from a package of chicken breasts. “He said he never thought his parents would make such a wonderful choice for him, but now we had met he couldn’t imagine being with another woman. He said he doesn’t believe in this Punjabi patriarchy bullshit. He wants a partner who is strong and independent.”
“But that sounds...”
“Good, right?” She attacked the chicken with the knife. “So I tell him my dream. I say, I want to be a teacher. I don’t want to go to work for my father after graduation. And he says—he asks me—how do I feel about disappointing my parents?”
“Fair question.” I knew how close she was to her family. How much she wanted their approval.
“You don’t get it.” Her knife sliced into the chicken breast, chopping it into chunks. “Vir made this big point about how thegurus teach that women’s rights are a matter of social justice. He says he supports the equality of women. But it’s all lip service. He doesn’t supportme.”
“Is that what he said?”
“He didn’t have to.” Her tone was fierce. Her eyes glittered with tears. “It’s obvious he’s as conservative as his parents. He’ll never go against them.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “This is all my fault. I told you to talk to him.”
“No, you were right. Better to know, like you said.” She swiped her eyes with the back of her wrist.
“Well, then, I’m proud of you for having the conversation. You don’t need him.”
Her face crumpled briefly. “I don’twantto need him. I don’t want to feel this way. It hurts.”
“Oh, honey.” I rubbed her arm. “Maybe he’ll come to his senses and apologize.”
Reeti sniffed. “As if I would have him back.” Her knife flashed and slashed. She stopped and looked at me. “Do you really think he might?”
“Of course I do,” I said staunchly. “He said himself he’ll never find anyone as awesome as you. And he’s right. You are amazing.”
“Darlingdidi. You can’t have it both ways. Either I am awesome and Vir is an arsehole, or he truly respects me and I am a jerk.”
“You’re not a jerk. But it takes time to really get to know someone. To build trust.”
