But Malini had asked him to do this. What choice did he have?
“So painting is not your thing,” Malini said after studying his sunset the next day. They were at her place, where she was recovering from her wrist surgery. Their parents were going to stay in town to help her out for a week or two while she recovered.
Roshan deflated. “Not really. It was completely stressful.”
Malini smirked. “Did Nimita come with you?”
He flushed. “No.”
Malini pressed her mouth into a line and furrowed her brow. “Keep trying. With this and with Nimita.”
Of course he would. He would take literally any scrap of time she would give him.
Malini chuckled.
“What?”
“Your face. You have it bad.”
“I do not.” He paused. “Have what bad?”
She shook her head at him. “You have never been this way over a woman before.”
That was because he’d never been in the presence of a woman like Nimita before. He shook his head and got up to go to work. “Bye. I’m leaving my masterpiece for you,” he called as he left.
His sister was still giggling as the door shut behind him.
* * *
Nimita entered the house after a walk on the beach. The evening had cooled, and the night was clear. She had walked along the beach, taking in the stars and the ocean. There was little pleasure in it, because every star, every crash of the ocean made her think of Roshan. The ache in her chest persisted.
The kitchen light was still on when she returned. Reena was sitting on the sofa in the sunroom.
Just sitting. Nimita’s heart stopped.
“Did something else happen to Papa?” she said in way of greeting.
“Mm?” Reena turned to her, shook her head. “No. He’s fine. We should be able to bring him home tomorrow.”
Nimita relaxed.
“How was the beach?” Reena asked.
How had she known? “Fine.” She shrugged and put it aside. It was then that she noticed the two wineglasses on the table in front of Reena. “Night cap with Hiral?”
“No. I was hoping we could…” Reena shrugged one shoulder, an anxious look on her face.
Nimita tried to hide her surprise and quite frankly, her giddy joy that Reena wanted to simply hang with her. “Yes. Of course.” Nimita grabbed a bottle of white from the fridge and joined her sister on the sofa. She poured them each a glass and then curled up facing her sister.
“So what is going on with you and Roshan?” Reena asked.
Nimita shook her head. “Nothing.”
Reena frowned, her expression skeptical. “How is his sister?”
“She’s good. Surgery went well.”
“And when do you plan to forgive him?”
