Kareena’s stomach pitched again. “This is all very surreal.”
Veera squeezed her hand. “Oh my god, that means it’s happening! Wow, one of us is getting engaged. You manifested it into existence at your birthday and look at you now!”
Bobbi touched Kareena’s and Veera’s shoulders. “Unless you don’t want to be engaged.”
“I can’t stop thinking about my mom,” Kareena whispered shakily. “I wish she was here to give me some advice. I mean, I’m stupid, right? I love Prem.”
Just saying the word gave her stomach cramps. She pressed a palm to her stomach.
“I love Prem,” she repeated, “but I want to be loved, too. Am I getting caught up in semantics? If so, why can’t I accept the fact that I’ll never hear him say how he feels about me?”
Veera rubbed the small of her back. “He loves you. Even if he’s a dummy and hasn’t said it. He has to! I mean, look at the way he tries to take care of you.”
“But if the words are important to you, then take the time you need to get them,” Bobbi said.
“That’s why I’m remembering Mom,” Kareena whispered. “I feel like if she was here, this would never be an issue, and she’d know exactly what to say about Prem. And then she’d freak out at Dad and Dadi for putting me in this stupid position of fighting for something that means a lot to me.”
Bobbi and Veera looped their arms over Kareena’s shoulders and waist. They put their heads close together and stood in a triangle, close together, borrowing strength from one another. “I’m scared that this is all I deserve,” Kareena said, in a shaky breath.
“That’s not true,” Bobbi said. “Never think that.”
“You deserve whatever you want,” Veera added softly. “What can we do to help fix this? Do you want us to take you home? Pretend you’re sick?”
“No, I have to figure this out myself,” Kareena said. They pulled apart, and even though Kareena still felt shaky, it was comforting to know that her friends were right behind her.
Bobbi’s phone buzzed, making all three of them jump. After she pulled it out of her bra and checked the screen, she let out a screech. “Oh my god! Why didn’t anyone tell the Indian Italians that Indian IST is later than Italian IST? Loken’s family is all here!” She rushed out of the ballroom.
Dadi yelped from the front entrance. “The aunties are coming, and the caterers are still setting up in the next room over! Kareena, I’m going to check the food, you stay here and tell the aunties where their table is.”
Veera was still holding her hand. “I’ll wait with you.”
Kareena shook her head. “No, you go. I’ll be fine. I’m going to be happy.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling. “But I love you. Bobbi loves you. And your mom loves you. No matter what you decide for the house, you’re going to be okay.”
“I hope so,” she whispered back.
Kareena swallowed her tears, her warring thoughts, as she stood in position.
The DJ changed the music to a basic Punjabi dhol beat and like slow motion, Kareena watched her four aunties enter side by side. Farah Aunty flipped her hair, Sonali Aunty checked the little mirror in the flap of her purse, Falguni Aunty adjusted her chunni on her shoulder, and Mona Aunty straightened the bracelets on her wrist.
Farah Aunty approached her first. “Beta! Don’t you look stunning. Just like your mother.”
“Well, isn’t that just the nicest compliment,” Kareena said as she hugged Farah Aunty back. Sonali Aunty was next, who did the customary hello, hi, how are you. Then Mona Aunty, who gave Kareena air kisses.
“Darling, you’ve gotten so good at eyeliner!” Mona Aunty said. “And to think when I taught you all those years ago, you would poke yourself in the eyeball.”
“Practice does make perfect, Aunty.”
Falguni Aunty squeezed her hand, her smile fading. “Are you okay, beta?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, but she patted Kareena’s arm. “It’s just something that I heard. I wanted to make sure that it was just a rumor.”
“Excuse me?”
“Falguni, what rumor?” Farah Aunty asked. Her red lips pursed. “We rode here together, and you didn’t say a thing.”
“Mind your business, Farah. It’s just a little something between me and Kareena.”