Sejal reached inside the hollow leg of the desk. “Smoked it, Mira. When you’re seventeen and you find weed, you usually smoke it.” Her fingers brushed against a small wrapped package, and she grunted. She couldn’t quite get her fingers around it. “I think there’s something here. Quick, use your tiny hands.”
“They are normal-sized hands.” But Mira got down on her knees and felt inside the leg. “Oh my gosh. I think I got it.” She pulled out a small brown package.
Sejal replaced the leg. “This time I hope it’s not weed.” She carefully undid the tape that held the kraft paper closed. A big sigh left her when she exposed the flash drive inside, relief making her lightheaded.
“Is that it?”
“I think so.” It was indeed a newer drive than she remembered, but on the side there was an “S” written in Sharpie. “If you have a computer I could use to check it, that would be great.”
“It’s back at the hotel, but of course you can use it. I can take a look, too. If it’s embezzlement we’re looking for, I do know my way around a spreadsheet.”
“Thank you.”
Mira rose to her feet from her crouching position. “I’m impressed Dad kept this safe.”
“I’m impressed he helped me at all.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t back then.”
Sejal avoided looking at her sister. “I put you in a bad position.”
“And I put you in a worse one. How much did it hurt to ask Dad for help?”
Sejal rubbed her jaw. “My pride? That hurt, immensely. But at the end of the day, he got Alexei off my back. So it was worth the groveling I had to do.”
“Rhea would say that it was proof he loved you.”
Sejal gave a half laugh. “Sunil, too. It takes more than some half-assed actions or an email to show love.”
“I agree. I’ve learned a lot about how much work love takes in the last couple years.” Mira shot her a sideways glance. “What’s up with your Krish?”
Sejal stiffened. “Not love, if that’s where you’re going. I barely know him.”But with every little thing I learn about him I like him more.
“So why are you traveling with him?”
Sejal rubbed her nose. “It’s complicated. I’ll explain it when it gets worked out.”
“Will it get worked out?”
“I hope so.”
“You care for him.”
“He saved my life a few times from Alexei. If I hadn’t been with him this past week, Alexei’s man could have already nabbed me by now.”
“His eyes are kind.”
Krish’s eyeswerekind. Damn it.
Sejal rose. “Come on. We should get back so we can get out of your hair soon.”
“You can stay in my hair for as long as you need.” Mira’s gaze rested on Sejal. “I’m glad to see you, and happy that you got to see Ananya. Sorry it’s for cleaning-up-a-mess purposes, but I’ll take what I can get. Hopefully next time it’ll just be for dinner.”
Sejal rubbed the tip of her nose. “I don’t know.”
“Doesn’t have to be right away. I know it takes time to come home.” Mira held out her hand. “I hope everything works out for you, sister.”
Sejal slowly took her sister’s hand. The gold in her ears was warm, and so was her sister’s hand. “Thanks.” And because that felt too abrupt given how generously her sister had helped her, both last time and now here in the storage unit, she added, “Dinner might be nice.”
