The men obviously got the vibe shift, because they tensed. Even the waitress took a step back, her eyes growing shuttered. Her gaze ping-ponged between her and Krish. “What are you looking for?”
Krish spoke, and the single word landed between them. “Cobra.”
Dhruv shook his head, his smile tight. “What’s that?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.” Vivek glanced at the waitress. “Nina, why don’t you get these nice people the check.”
Nina bit her lip. “They haven’t ordered yet.”
“Then get them some snacks on the house. They need to go.”
Sejal put her cards neatly back into her new go-bag and used her bestI would like to speak to the managervoice. “I’m not going anywhere. I need to talk to whoever is in charge of Cobra.”
Dhruv snorted. “Good luck.”
“Shut up, son.” Vivek gave her a tight smile. “Leave.”
She glanced around the restaurant. “This is a nice place. Do you know that Cobra’s other daughter is an accountant? She has a lot of contacts at the IRS.”
“One of my good friends also works for the IRS,” Krish contributed.
“Wow. Look at that.”
“Bad idea to threaten Cobra, Chandra.”
“My name’s actually Sejal Chaudhary. I’m Rushali’s eldest daughter.”
That stopped everyone. The waitress took another step back. A group at a table near them stopped eating and stared.
“We do not speak of Rushali,” Vivek growled, his voice shaking.
“She is my mother. I have the right to be here. And I will sit right here, until I speak to—”
“Sejal, please stop making a scene and threatening my staff. And with the IRS? Tsk, tsk. That’s rather cruel.” A well-dressed woman slid into the booth.
Sejal froze, and Krish did as well.
Wait. What?
“Nina, get us chai, please. Thank you, Dhruv and Vivek, for trying to protect me, you may go.” As if the woman had snapped her fingers, the three left, murmuring a barely audible “Yes, Madam.” The other tables went back to dining like a curtain had been called on a play.
“What?” Not very articulate on Sejal’s part, but she wasn’t sure what else to say. Except... “Isha?”
Gone were Isha’s sensible jeans and comfy sneakers. She’d traded them for a form-fitting blue jersey dress and put on makeup. Her hair was down and blown out. She looked closer to Sejal’s age now. “That’s me. Hi.”
“But... you’re Mira’s nanny,” Krish said slowly.
“I am.” Isha made a face. “I guess that’s more of awasnow, though.”
“My little sister’s nanny is the head of Cobra?”
Isha tossed her head. Unlike them, she appeared to have slept well. Her skin was glowing, not a single frown line to be seen. “Yes, I am.”
Sejal gaped at her. “Why?”
“Because I’m also her little sister. And yours.”
Sejal gripped the edge of the table, the better to ground herself. Under the table, she felt Krish’s hand land on her thigh. A good place for it. “What?”
