The camping trip excuse makes perfect sense because Mummy and Mausi both studied in V. G. Vaze during their junior and senior years, and Nani will know field trips are common during this time of summer.
I pause halfway out Priti’s door. I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I say, “I’d rather we talk to Nani together. It’ll be more convincing that way.”
Priti glares at me, her right eye twitching.
“Or not,” I add hurriedly, knowing it’s a miracle she agreed to this in the first place and the smallest possible thing might make her change her mind. It’sus—we are experts at getting on each other’s nerves. “I’ll do it. It’s not your headache. You get ready.”
Priti comes up and holds the door as I step out. To my surprise, she nods. “It will be easier to convince Nani as a team. Wait for me.”
With that, she slams the door in my face.
4
Keep Calm and Give Your Enemies a Chumti
Mumbai, Friday
We find Nani in her bedroom adjacent to the kitchen, watching an episode of the 2013 remake ofMahabharaton her TV at full volume. Ever since Priti taught her how to use streaming apps, Nani’s been spending all her free time bingeing the show. There’s, like, twenty-plus seasons.
I’m relieved Nani’s awake. I didn’t want to wake her up just to convince her to let Priti and me go off on a silly road trip so I can kiss a boy. The fact that I’m lying to her only makes the guilt worse, especially since she was so thrilled at the prospect of having me all to herself for a few days.
Priti walks into the room first, taking the lead, and I automatically fall into step behind her. Nani looks up at us over the rim of her spectacles and presses the pause button on the remote. Her eyes widen with surprise as her gaze flicks between the two of us. Our rockyrelationship is no secret—especially not to Nani, who has heard both Mausi’s and Mummy’s rants and sides of the story.
“???? ????????,”*she says fondly as we sit, Priti next to Nani and I on the rocking chair by the bed. “???? ????”*
“Why do you think something’s happened?” Priti asks, snorting. “Maybe we’re just here to spend time with our darling Nani.” She puts on her best puppy face, and I stick out my lower lip, both of us feigning innocence.
Nani narrows her eyes, skeptical. “That naughty glint in your eyes doesn’t fool me one bit. It is the same look both your mothers used to give me when they had something up their sleeves.”
I guffaw. We should’ve known Nani would smell the rat instantly. Priti and I exchange a glance, which honestly feels weird as hell, because it’s beenagessince we were in on anything together; a united front.
“Spit it out,” Nani says, sighing. She strokes tender circles along Priti’s back.
“You wanna ask, or should I?” Priti says, a smile curling her lips. I raise my eyebrows. Her entire face changes when she smiles. On top of her usual sullenness, she’s been so withdrawn and miserable lately, I can’t remember the last time I saw her smile.
The image of her tear-streaked face on the balcony flashes in my mind momentarily.
“Go ahead,” I say, knowing she’s done this tons of times before—asked Nani for permission to spend the night out. Even though it seemed a terrible idea at the time, Srishti was right in suggesting I approach Priti for help. I don’t want to jinx this by blabbering—something I’m famous for.
“There’s a camping trip thing happening in Lonavala,” Priti says. “A bunch of my friends are going. I didn’t want to go because Rudra had his internship work and wasn’t able to make time when I first asked him. But he just called up to let me know he’s turned it in early and changed his mind, and, well, Krishna’s here until Wednesday, so I was thinking we could both go.”
Nani doesn’t look convinced.
“I know it seems weird or whatever because Krishna and I aren’t chummy. But she overheard me talking to Rudra and she’s always wanted to go to Lonavala, so she whipped up a mug cake and bribedme.” Priti throws me a glare. Everything else she just said is a fib, butthatbit is real. “Not that I’m too chuffed about it, but they assign tents in threes, and it makes sense. We’ll be back by Tuesday morning.”
I’m a bit stunned by Priti’s ability to fabricate a story and make it so convincing. She’s got all the bases covered: why our plan’s so last-moment, why she’s suddenly decided to go, and why she’s taking me along. I mentally store all the information away so I can stick to the story later.
“There are spots available?” Nani asks.
“Yeah, I just spoke to Neeraja. She’s on the volunteer team, so she’ll be able to get me tickets.”
Nani scans our faces for ten whole seconds, hunting for a lie. We keep our features schooled, but my palms are sweating. God, I need this to work out so, so bad.
“Fine.” Nani relents, shaking her head as if to sayThese kids.
Our faces break into wide grins and we exchange a look of utter delight, which again throws me off, because I’m not used to this. Who knew having Priti on my side would make all this so effortless?
“But I want a WhatsApp every three hours so I can ensure you girls are okay,” Nani says. I adore how she says she wantsa WhatsAppinstead ofa text. “And if I don’t get one, I will WhatsApp Rudra. You know I have his number.”
