Reena shrugged, and Nimita was sure she was just going to sit there in silence.
But then: “You. Left.” The amount of pain and fury in her voice was disproportional for their present situation. This was years of pain that had eaten at her sister.
Nimita stared at her little sister as tears filled Reena’s eyes. Nimita fought the tears in her own eyes. The truth was, Reena was not little anymore.
“You left when Mom died, and I was here.” Reena pointed to the ground, her voice shaking with rage. “Iwas the one who had to watch Papa grieve, who took over his care, whostayed.” Her fury was barely contained. “I do not care what you wanted from your life, you abandoned me when I needed you the most.” Her voice cracked. “When I needed my big sister, you were nowhere to be found.” Tears flowed freely down Reena’s cheeks, but she did not avert her stare from Nimita.
She was right of course. Nimita had fled the minute her injuries had allowed. She didn’t let herself think about what she was leaving behind, she only thought about what was in front of her. It had been selfish and inconsiderate.
Nimita had left Reena to do all the heavy lifting. The strain she felt with her family was her own doing. Shame burned through Nimita, leaving her speechless. She thought Reena needed to give her a break, but she finally understood the truth.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Reena threw the words at her.
“You’re right. You have every right to feel that way. I’m sorry.” Reena’s eyes widened, and Nimita kept going. “Reena, I’m so sorry. I’m trying to be here and share that responsibility, if not just take it on myself. That is my full intention. I am not leaving. Not this time. I love you.” Nimita kept her words even and honest. It was all she had in this moment.
Reena stared at her, taken aback. “I had already lost Mom, and when you left, I lost my big sister, too. I was completely alone.”
“Can you ever forgive me?” Nimita asked.
She wiped her eyes with her hand.
Nimita handed her a handkerchief.
“Seriously? Who carries these anymore?”
“Do you want it or not?”
Reena used the handkerchief to dry her tears. “It smells like Mom.” Her eyes softened.
Nimita nodded. “I know.” No matter how many times Nimita washed it, it still always smelled like their mother.
The nurse popped in. They turned their attention to her. “He’s in a room and just barely awake, if you want to see him.”
“Thank you,” Reena said. Silence fell between them. But it was more comfortable than before. Reena sighed and stood, offering her hand to Nimita. She gave her a half smile and took her sister’s hand.
“I have no idea why you really left,” she said as they made their way to their father’s room. “Maybe one day you’ll tell me.”
Nimita felt the truth wanting to break free, but something stopped her. She was just getting her sister back. She couldn’t jeopardize that. Instead, she made a noncommittal noise.
Reena eyed her and cocked her head. “You know, after you left, I didn’t really know what I was doing, so I did whatever I thought Mom would do.” She inhaled. “She chose not to ever take Papa anywhere, take any risks. All she did was keep him safe. Safe may be good, but it may not be a way of life. Maybe if you had stayed, Papa might have gone to more Holi or Diwali or Christmas celebrations.” She squeezed Nimita. “Maybe now that you’re staying, he will. You’re my sister, and you’re back. I know I have been angry, so angry that even when you were doing the things I had wanted you to do for so long, it just made me more angry. Maybe we forgive each other and move forward?”
Nimita nodded. “I’d like that. You’re amazing, you know that? I’m so proud of you.”
Reena scoffed.
“If I haven’t said it, you have done a great job with Dad, your child, the house, your career, all of it. And of course you and Hiral arehashtag relationship goals.”
Reena opened her mouth and then shut it as she swallowed down tears. “Thank you. It’s nice to be seen.” She paused as they made their way to their father’s room. “After you see Papa, you might want to check on that man of yours. I saw him when I was looking for this waiting room.”
“He’s not my man,” Nimita said as casually as she could.
Reena raised her eyebrows.
“We broke up at Holi.”
“Well, that may be, but he clearly still cares for you. The way he told me off.” Reena widened her eyes. She squeezed her hand. “Go find him. He looked like he was alone.”
Chapter Twenty
