“You have seriously never been on these rides?” Nimita asked.
“I have never been on any rides,” Molly said. “I wasn’t allowed.”
“Why not?”
Molly kept her focus on the amusement park and shrugged. “Strict family.”
“Really?”
“Oh my god. Yes, really. They never let me do anything.”
“Why?”
She sighed as she continued to look longingly at the rides. “I was…fragile as a kid. Bruised easily, broke some bones.”
“But you’re all grown up now. And they’re not here.”
Molly grinned at her. “I knew I liked you.” She glanced at the roller coaster. “Come on. There’s no line. We can tie Finn right here, he won’t mind waiting outside.” She pointed to the small booth where the operator stood.
Nimita looked up. The ride, the Giant Dipper, appeared to be a bit rickety, but wasn’t that the fun of it? She tied up Finn and followed Molly.
The roller coaster was about forty-five seconds long, but Molly was thrilled to pieces. “That was the most terrifying and exhilarating thing I’ve ever done. Again!”
They checked that Finn was okay, and they went again. Then they did the spinning cups and the train. They rode the rides until Finn started getting antsy and the crowd got denser. Molly talked about nothing else the rest of the walk back to her place.
“I’ll come by in the evening?” Nimita asked.
Molly nodded her enthusiasm. “Please do!”
Her phone buzzed as she walked back to the house.
Reena’s face showed up on her screen. Her sister was at the office today, and Naya was at daycare.
“Where are you?” Reena demanded.
“On my way back from dog walking.” Nimita kept her voice even. Any joy she’d had with Molly completely evaporated.
“Papa has an appointment today. Like right now. The office just called me wondering why he isn’t there.”
Damn it! With the amusement park and hanging out with Molly, Nimita had forgotten that she was supposed to take Papa in today. “Oh. Shoot. I’m sorry. I’m on my way.”
“Don’t bother. You won’t make it.” Reena didn’t sound annoyed, she sounded disappointed. Which felt, somehow, even worse. “I rescheduled for tomorrow. They had a cancellation. I thought I could count on you. I thought this time would be different.”
“It is. It will be. I really am sorry, Reena.”
“You always are.”
So much for getting her life together.
* * *
“We’re going to need a new rule for guys’ trip,” Vishal announced.
“No meeting women on the guys’ trip,” Karan said.
Roshan shook his head at them. “What?”
“You are clearly in love—”
