“Yes, about superheroes,” she explains. “And occasionally about his sister.”
I look at Neel again. He shrugs helplessly. “My classmates ask.”
The teacher continues. “He also tries to negotiate homework deadlines.”
Aditya nods slowly. “That sounds familiar.”
I try very hard not to laugh. Neel suddenly turns toward us with wide innocent eyes. “I just want learning to be fun.”
Aditya presses his lips together. “That’s admirable.”
The teacher sighs again. “He’s a wonderful child. Just… very energetic.”
Neel slides off the chair and wraps his arms around both of us suddenly. “I love my family,” he declares loudly.
The teacher smiles despite herself. Aditya ruffles Neel’s hair. “I think we can manage the talking issue.”
“Yes,” I add. “Maybe slightly less storytelling during math.”
Neel nods thoughtfully. “That seems reasonable.”
Ten minutes later we step outside the classroom after the teacher talks about his performance and suggests focusing on English. Neel exhales dramatically. “That went well.”
I cross my arms. “You negotiated your way out of a lecture.”
“It was strategic.”
Aditya laughs. “You’re very persuasive.”
Neel grins. “I learned from the best.”
“Which one of us?” I ask.
“Both.” He hugs Aditya's leg and my heart burst in so many emotions, seeing two most important men in my life bonding like that makes my heart so happy. We step out into the sunlight together.
Parents and children are still scattered around the courtyard.
Neel grabs both our hands suddenly. “I think we deserve cake.”
Aditya looks at me. “That sounds like a reward.”
“It absolutely is,” Neel insists.
I sigh. “We’re creating a monster.” Aditya smiles.
“Maybe.” Neel swings our hands between him happily as we walk toward the gate. And somehow we’re all laughing before we even reach the street.
20. WHERE I BELONG
ADITYA
Neel is terrible at keeping secrets. I realize this about three minutes after telling him mine.
He is sitting on the floor of his room with his back against the bed, building something extremely questionable out of Lego pieces while I lean against the doorframe pretending to casually exist there.
He keeps glancing at me. Then grinning. Then glancing again. I shake my head and a smile forms on my lips because this guy and his antics. Finally he drops the Lego piece entirely and says in a stage whisper that is somehow louder than normal speech, “Is today the day?”
I sigh and push myself off the doorframe. “Yes.”
