“Not the fear,” Sabina clarified. “I will never forget how scared I was to be disowned, to be kicked out of this house, the only home I ever knew, have ever wanted.”
“I was thrown out,” Meena offered. “Not because of something I did, but because of circumstances beyond my control. I survived.”
“It doesn’t escape me,” Sabina said. “You’re stronger than me. Even now. To stay here, to do what you want knowing I’m not welcoming you.”
Meena rolled her shoulders back. Damn right. She was strong. “I learned how to be strong.”
“I have accepted that you aren’t leaving.” Sabina sighed. “I want to come to an agreement.”
“I’m not obligated to meet any of your conditions.”
“You said you weren’t interested in exposing me. Yet you told Sam.”
“He and I are close,” Meena said. “I won’t keep things from him.”
“I can never tell my husband or children about you.”
It shouldn’t have hurt. Yet it did. “Fine with me.”
Sabina stood. “We’re agreed. We will be neighbors and nothing more. I hope you can keep your word.”
“I will. If you tell Uma and Tanvi all of it.” Meena wanted to have meaningful relationships with the other aunties. She couldn’t do that with a secret like this.
“I can’t,” Sabina said. “They will never forgive me.”
“I am not going to close myself off to them. I also don’t want this hanging over my head. It’s your secret, not mine.”
Sabina gritted her teeth.
“Your choice.” Meena gave her an ultimatum. “This is the only thing I’m asking of you.”
“Can we come in?” Tanvi poked her head in. “Sabina, I didn’t know you were here. I sent you a text that we were coming down here.”
Meena looked up as Uma and Tanvi rushed in.
“We brought chai.” Uma waved the thermos.
“I have cookies.” Tanvi held up a plate. “What’s going on?”
Meena shrugged and picked up a cookie. “What are you guys doing here?”
“We need you to settle a bet,” Tanvi said.
Meena smiled. “Whoever had March twelfth for Sam and me to become boyfriend and girlfriend wins your bet.”
Uma whooped. “I had March tenth. I win.”
Meena laughed as Uma did a small victory dance. They chatted. Sabina and Meena with the other two but not with each other. If Tanvi and Uma noticed, they didn’t let on. Before the aunties left, they complimented her apartment and then themselves in the photos.
Meena closed the door behind them and left it unlocked as she went to her worktable. She had photos to edit, emails to respond to, and a schedule to make for upcoming assignments. Later she would go over to Sam’s and they’d order takeout and watch a movie while Wally snoozed on the rug. Next week Huck would join them. They would go to pub trivia. She was settling in, and it felt good. Right.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Four days later Meena was in downward dog when Uma and Tanvi barged into her apartment. A thermos and a Tupperware in their hands. There was concern on their faces. She came out of the pose, and before she could fully stand, she was enveloped in a hug by Tanvi. Uma stroked her arm.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re so sorry,” Tanvi said. “We should have tried harder to figure it all out.”