She grinned. “I’m a joy to be around. How’s Hawaii?” She furrowed her brow. “You seem different—sad. Who gets sad in Hawaii?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “Look.” He panned the phone so she could see the ocean.
“Wow!” She pouted. “You should have let me come.”
“On a guys’ trip?” He furrowed his brow.
“It’s not guys. It’s Vishal and Karan. They’re like my bonus brothers. But you’re right. I should go with my friends in the summer.” She grinned widely.
“Yeah. We’ll see.” His turn to pout.
“Oh, I’m not asking you,” she said, matter-of-fact. “Tickets will be purchased tomorrow.”
He said nothing, but panic filled him. “We’ll talk when I get home.”
She just shrugged. “You sure you’re okay? Did you meet a girl, and she ditched you?”
He stared at the phone. There was no way she knew. And just like that, an incoming call saved him. “Mom’s calling,” he told her.
“Bye, Bhaiya,” she singsonged. Not a good sign. Singsong voice meant she was likely up to something.
A pit filled his stomach.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, Beta. Just checking if you’ve been able to reach Malini. We called, and she didn’t pick up.”
He assured them he was checking in on her.
His mother smiled. “You’re such a good brother to check on her even on vacation.”
“That’s his job.” His father beamed.
That it was. “Okay. Vishal and Karan are waiting on me.”
His parents wished him well and signed off.
* * *
Malini was born with a sense of adventure. Roshan saw it as soon as his parents brought her home. She was in constant motion, even when she couldn’t move around. And she tracked his every move. He adored her.
Thanks to his diligent instruction, she walked at eight months. By the time Malini was in kindergarten, she had a true love of the playground, where she amassed scrapes and scars from just about every piece of equipment.
When she was seven, they found out she was sick.
Bruising and bleeding were now threatening monsters, not endearing or even the sign of rough-and-tumble play. No more playground.
Roshan, at fifteen, was frantic with worry, tried to do everything to help his panicked parents. As soon as he turned sixteen, he got his license and took over driving her anywhere she needed to go. He was driving her home from school one day when they passed by the park. She had been in and out of the hospital for months. She was finally back at school for a bit.
“Bhaiya. Let’s go to the playground.” Malini had gazed out the car window with such longing that it hurt Roshan to say no.
“Um. No. You could fall and hurt yourself. And we can’t have that right now.”
“Please, Bhaiya? It’s been forever. And you’ll be with me.” She had turned those huge hazel eyes on him, and he softened.
“Fine. Ten minutes. And no monkey bars.”
Her face lit up, and it warmed his heart. Malini looked truly happy for the first time in a long time as she literally jumped out of the car and ran to the monkey bars while Roshan was still getting out of the car.
