“It’s perfect,” Baba replies without hesitation.
Her entire face lights up at his words.
“I got it from the boutique here at RK estate,” she adds quickly. “They have such a nice collection of winter wear. I know you probably won’t really need this in Mumbai, but…”
She hesitates for a fraction of a second before smiling again, “Whenever you come here next, I want you to wear it, even if I’m not around to see it.”
The moment those words leave her mouth, something inside me goesstill.The thought of her not being here at RK Estate doesn’t sit right.
I don’t react, nor do I say anything, but I know Baba has noticed my discomfort. Because when I look at him, his gaze is no longer on her. It’s on me.
And this time, there’s nothing subtle about that look at all.
“Don’t say you won’t be here the next time,” Baba says softly, looking at her again. “You can always come here to meet me. Or better yet, come to Mumbai sometime. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the family. They would love to meet you.”
Siya smiles, clearly touched by his words. But then her gaze shifts towards me, and I know she’s about to say something inappropriate.
“I’m glad you invited me yourself,” she says lightly. “Because I don’t think that invitation was going to come fromhim.”
Her eyes linger on me just long enough to make the point before she looks away again, as if it means nothing.
Baba lets out a chuckle. “Don’t take that personally. Raghav has never really been good at saying what he feels,” he says.“We’ve all tried, in our own ways, to get him to open up a little. Safe to say, we did not get very far.” He chuckles again before adding, “Come here now, let me at least get a selfie with you before I leave, Siya.”
“Why not,” she says immediately, pulling out her phone. “I’ll take it.”
She moves closer to Baba, but just before clicking the picture, she suddenly pauses. Then, she reaches up and takes the Irish cap from his hand.
“Wait,” she says. “Wear this first.”
She places it on his head and adjusts it carefully, smoothing it into place as someone would for their own father without thinking twice.
Siya steps back slightly, tilting her head as she checks how it looks. “Perfect,” she murmurs, clearly satisfied with the result. Then she leans in beside him and lifts her phone to click the picture.
A second later, she glances at me. “Are you coming?”
I instinctively take a step back as a clear refusal. “I’ll pass.”
She rolls her eyes, not even trying to hide her annoyance.
Baba laughs again, shaking his head. “See, I told you. My boy is shy. He’s not very fond of selfies.”
“Why am I not surprised?” she shoots back, before turning the camera back towards herself.
She takes a couple of pictures with Baba, adjusting the angle once, then again, determined to get the perfect shot.
“I’ll send these to you,” she says finally, lowering her phone.
“Of course,” Baba replies. “You can take my number from Raghav.”
My gaze shifts to him at once, hesitating, but Baba only gives me a pointed look and lightly shakes his head, making it very clear that he expects me to share his number with Siya.
I nod, just to make him believe I would, while wondering how fast things are moving. I hadn’t even wanted Siya and Baba to meet, and now it seems they would be exchanging numbers.
Not happening!
Siya slips her phone back into her pocket, then she bends down to touch Baba’s feet in respect. Once again, I’m caught off guard. Because that’s somethingIdo. Baba, too, looks at her, clearly surprised, then immediately reaches down to hold her gently by the shoulders, pulling her back up.
“You don’t have to do that,” he says, smiling at her affectionately. “You already have my blessings.”
