“Clearly, you’re upset about this. Let’s focus on that.” Daniel used his best patient-soothing voice. “Why does this upset you?”
“Because,” Naya sighed, “he just told his parents he’s joining the Peace Corps with me, and they flipped out! They even told my parents. So now my parents are pissed at me for ‘putting these ideas’ in his head, as well.” She paused for breath. “If he opens this restaurant, everyone will blame me as the ‘bad influence’—especially his parents—and I can’t—”
She broke off as sudden tears choked her. Annika reached for her cousin, but Ravi got there first. “Naya. How many times do I have to tell you? We’re in this together. Who cares what they think? I’ve seen this a million times. Stubborn Indian parents opposed to the person their child chooses to marry. They almost always come around.”
“Almost?”
Annika shook her head at her cousin. “I love you, Naya, but you have got to stop living your life for everyone else. Go with your heart for once. See what happens. This is your life, not theirs.”
“And anyway,” interjected Ravi, “being a chef, opening a restaurant, has always been my dream. I should just let my dreams go because you’re afraid of what my parents will think of you?”
“Well,” Daniel spoke up without thinking, “I don’t think that’s what she’s saying. I think she just wants your parents to love her the way she is prepared to love them.”
Both Naya and Ravi turned to glare at him, and Naya spoke first. “You know what? There’s no way you understand what’s going on here—I don’t care that your grandmother is Indian. It’s not the same.”
Daniel seemed unfazed. “It’s not about that. I’m just offering a different perspective.”
“Perspective?” Naya said shrilly. “Now, that is something you two could both use.” She waggled her finger between Daniel and Annika. “Whatever you two have going on, it can’t last.” She calmed her voice and turned to Annika. “Sweetie, I can see that you think you love each other, but he’s not who your parents would want for you.” She paused and gave Annika a meaningful glance that Daniel did not miss. “How much can you expect your parents to take?”
Annika seemed frozen to her chair, and Daniel’s heart plummeted, even as his anger rose. Naya turned to Ravi and continued. “That’s why this can’t work. Daniel is right about one thing—I do want your parents to love and respect me, and if they can’t, if they see me as the one leading you down a wrong road, I can’t live like that. I love you, Ravi, but I’m not going to make you choose.” Naya stood.
“What’re you doing?” Ravi’s eyes widened, and he stood, as well.
“I’m sorry.” Naya shook her head and headed for the door. “I can’t do this.” With that, she donned her coat, turned and left.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ANNIKA
“OHMYGOD, ANNIKA! Come outside!” called an excited Nilay, poking his head through the door of the bar.
“I’m working.”
“Two minutes.” He looked around the restaurant. “It’s practically empty.” He glanced at the bar. “Hey, Daniel!”
Daniel waved to Nilay over his sandwich. “Hey, kid.”
It was pretty empty and no one needed her, so Annika took off her apron and grabbed her jacket. “Fine.” Daniel grabbed her hand as she walked past him and pulled her in for a kiss. She allowed herself to melt into him for a moment. She was definitely getting used to this.
With a heavy sigh, she pulled back. “Let me go see what he wants.”
“Mmm. If you insist.” Daniel let her go. “No hat?” He teased.
“Ha ha.” She opened the door to the deep winter cold and wished she had grabbed her hat, and maybe a scarf. It was dusk, and the sun still peeked around a few clouds, shedding some light. The streetlamps would be on momentarily.
Nilay, wearing only a sweatshirt over his jeans and T-shirt, stood admiring Daniel’s motorcycle.
She rubbed her hands together. “Aren’t you cold?”
“Didi, check out this bike!” His eyes danced with excitement.
“Please tell me you didn’t call me out here to look at Daniel’s bike.” She stomped her feet against the cold.
His eyes widened. “This? This is Daniel’s bike? Seriously?”
“You did call me out here for this.” The fragrant aroma of home cooking emitted from the brown bag he handed her. She pulled out her phone and texted Daniel to come outside. “Let Daniel come out here and talk to you about—”
“What is that stench?” A tall, muscular man had walked a couple of steps past them, but returned, his nose in the air, sniffing. Annika, always aware of her surroundings, had noticed him passing. He stood a good head over Nilay, his shoulders spanned the width of both hers and Nilay’s, and he wasn’t wearing a jacket, simply a dark-colored long-sleeved shirt, so tight it looked painted onto his skin, accentuating his beefy musculature. He took slow steps toward them. “I smell something...foreign.” He wrinkled his nose and turned to them with a snarl. “Like it don’t belong here.”
