Hetal pursed her lips, a knowing smile forming there. “Duh. Of course you’re not interested inhim.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s your boss, right? Soof coursethat’s the reason. Not because you’re into another guy.” Hetal rolled her eyes. “Are you changing or what?”
“Yeah, okay.” Riya furrowed her brow. What other guy? She couldn’t mean—No. There was no way Hetal could know how she felt about Dhillon. No time for a shower now. She changed her clothes and pulled out her necklace.
“You don’t wear that to fires?” Hetal asked.
It was true: Riya was usually never without this necklace. But she shook her head. “It’s metalwork. Not safe in a fire. It gets exceptionally hot on scene.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but it’s gorgeous.” Hetal admired it. “Samir really was talented.”
“Yes, he was.” Riya kept her voice neutral.
“Why was he going to engineering school, then?” Hetal asked.
Riya shrugged. “Engineering was a solid field, that’s why.” Their parents had probably convinced him art wasn’t a real job. She didn’t want to bad-mouth her parents to Hetal, so she did not elaborate.
She eyed the necklace and put it on. Hetal was her little sister in every way that was important, except that they did not share blood. “Follow your heart. Do what makes you happy. Fuck everything else. Seriously. That’s why I do what I do. Life is too short.”
Hetal beamed at her. “You are absolutely right, Riya Didi. Absolutely right.”
Riya wrinkled her nose at the antiseptic odor of the rehab center. Her mother had been moved here this morning. “How are you feeling, Mom?”
“Okay.” The weakness of her reply belied her response.
The room had stark white walls, and some of the paint was peeling, but it was clean and functional. There wasn’t anyone in the other bed just yet, so maybe her mother would get the room to herself for a bit.
“I brought some flowers to cheer this place up, and I brought you some tepla for lunch.” She set up a plastic water pitcher as a vase and arranged the bouquet of mixed flowers in it. That added some color, but the place still felt like it was infested with Dementors.
“Thanks,beta,” her mother croaked. The bed was propped so she was somewhat sitting up. Riya draped another white hospital blanket over her.
“You gave Papa quite a scare. How are you feeling?” Riya sat on the bed next to her mother.
“Is it true, beta?” her mother asked. Her arms were tucked under the sheets, so only her head and neck were visible. It really only served to make her look more frail.
“Is what true?” Riya feigned ignorance, though she knew what her mother meant.
“Is it true that you are a...firefighter?”
“Who told you that?” Avoidance might be the key here.
Her mother shook her head slowly, her eyes closed. “Fires cannot be fought. Only tamed. A fight with fire results in loss.” Sadness oozed from her, which would not help her mother’s healing.
“That’s not true. I can help people.”
“You cannot bring back Samir.” She looked her daughter in the eye.
Riya broke her gaze. “Mom, I don’t want you worrying about all that right now.” Riya cleared her throat. “I need you to rest so you can get better.”
Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Her mother shook her head, sadness filling her eyes before she shifted her gaze to look out the window. Riya checked her phone. A text from her cousin Roshni put a small grin on her face.Sorry I missed you at the rehab center. Had to get to a meeting.She had added a sad-face emoji. Of course Roshni had a meeting. She always had some kind of meeting. But that was how it was when you ran your own online clothing business. Her degree had been in fashion, which Roshni’s parents had had some serious doubts about at the time. But now that Roshni was the CEO of her own very successful online store, all doubt was forgotten.
No problem. Just hanging out for a bit.
Great. Mom is on her way with more food.Roshni had added an eye-roll emoji.
