Page 28 of You’re So Vein

What is happening?

But I don’t have time to question it. Heart hammering, I shove Papa’s wheelchair into the hall and push it towards the elevator.

“I don’t understand!” Shera’s voice is muffled from the centre of the floral explosion. “The Gorilla Gardener’s flowers have never done this before!”

“Faster, Beta!” Papa whispers.

Red petals float around us as I sprint past the nurses’ station. We get in the elevator just as an alarm goes off. I make it to the carpark and bundle Papa into the front seat, taking care not to jostle him. I shove the wheelchair awkwardly into the boot, and am just sliding into the driver’s seat when Augustin appears, jogging across the parking lot with a concerned frown, leaving a trail of red petals and vines in his wake.

“What did you do?” I hiss as he dives for the back seat.

“Magic,” he says simply. “Drive quickly, please.”

I tear out of the parking building as if I’m Reginald and he’s late to a classic car meet. Papa rolls down the window and cackles with glee as he tastes fresh air for the first time in three weeks.

I can’t take the shortest route around the village green as the roads have been shut off for the stormwater repairs. Instead, I head around behind the church, noticing that the Gorilla Gardener has struck again, filling a large pothole on the corner of Chadwick Street with pretty white and pink flowers. I roll down my window, breathing in their heady floral scent, and can’t help laughing along with Papa. This is one of the craziest things we’ve ever done, but I’m so happy that Papa is still here, and he’s exactly the same.

When we pull up to our house on the outskirts of Argleton, every single light is on, and the driveway and most of the street are lined with cars. Through the lounge window, I see the twins and their cousins engaged in some kind of horseplay on the rug, the TV blaring, and toys and mess piled everywhere. Mamma and the aunties move around the kitchen, pouring wine, stirring dishes, tossing their heads back with laughter, while loud voices and Bollywood music blare from the conservatory.

All I want to do is go to my place and eat rajma until my legs stop shaking, but I need to help Papa inside. Besides, if I don’t show myself then someone will come out to check on me, and they’ll never leave. Better to get it over with.

Augustin lifts Papa from the car like he weighs nothing. When he’s not being insufferable, having a vampire around is kind of useful. We settle him into the (now slightly crooked) wheelchair and Augustin lifts him up the steps.

I brace myself for impact, and turn my key in the lock.

The wall of noise hits me the moment I open the door, as does the smell of biryani and sāmbār, and the sound of Dolly Auntie’s laughter, making my ears ring and my heart ache at the same time. Augustin makes a strained face.

There’s nothing like home.

“Beta, is that you?” Mamma screeches over the blaring Bollywood soundtrack as I shut the door behind me.

“It’s me. Is there any food left?” As I cross the foyer, I toss the various shoes scattered across the floor into the shoe rack so that the wheels on Papa’s chair don’t get caught up. Mamma’s jacket is in a heap on the back of the sofa, so I hang that, too.

“What a silly question. This is a desi house. Of course there’s food left. But don’t head out into the conservatory unless you want to get involved in a very serious dance-off.” Mamma sweeps into the lobby, but freezes when she sees Papa. “Chirag? What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the hospital.”

“I couldn’t miss Social Night.” Papa grins up at her. “Diya, you are a dream.” She’s wearing her favourite red sari, the same colour as the flowers, and I can see the love brimming in his eyes.

“Oh, Chirag,” Mamma scolds him, but I can tell she’s pleased to have him home. She reaches for the handles of the wheelchair. “You will do yourself damage. I’d better get you some tea.”

“I’m leaving.” Augustin bows his head to me. “You’ll have to sneak him back yourself.”

“No. You stay.” Mamma beams at him. “If you want to be mayor of this village, you will talk to everyone at this party and find out what they need.”

“Mamma, what are you doing?” I hiss. “You can’t invite him. He’s my rival. I’m running for mayor!”

“What?” Mamma folds her arms. “You didn’t tell me.”

“I was going to tonight. I’m running for mayor and Papa’s helping me.”

“I’m so proud of our girl,” Papa beams. “She’s going to bring all of my ideas to life.”

“Gods help us,” Augustin whispers. I glare at him.

Mamma huffs out her lip. “You shouldn’t encourage her, Chirag. Komal has enough to do with her business and helping the family. She doesn’t have time to be mayor.”

“She’ll be amazing,” Papa says. “Everything Komal does, she excels at. I know she can win this.”

Papa’s glowing praise washes over me, and a new resolve settles in my gut. I will win this. For him, because fuck cancer, but also for myself. Because after the disaster that has been my life for the last five years, I need a win. Augustin will just have to deal with my help in vampire negotiations, because I’m not stepping aside.