He hurried back the way he had come.
‘Hold on, darling. Can you wait?’ the woman said. Aleisha nodded. She looked back at Zac in the car. He was resting his head back on his car seat, staring at the ceiling.
She heard their muffled voices coming from what she thought must be the living room, but they were speaking in another language and Aleisha couldn’t make out their words.
Just as Aleisha thought she should probably leave, Mr P came out again, wearing a winter coat covering his spillages; he was sweating.
‘Come in. Nilakshiben has made dinner. She would like you to eat with us. I need to get a shirt on.’
The woman came back to the door as Mr Patel made his way to another room, slowly. She could see his hip was causing him pain.
‘Is he okay?’ Aleisha asked.
‘He had a bit of a fall yesterday but he’s totally fine. He was running around after his grandchildren, and now feels a little bit useless. I am looking after him today.’
‘I really don’t want to intrude. I just wanted to drop this off,’ she held the book out to Nilakshiben.
‘No, I insist. Come in and eat. It is dinner time.’
‘No, it’s fine, thank you so much, but my friend is in the car, waiting.’
‘Invite your friend in too.’
Their conversation went back and forth like that for a little while, until Aleisha gave in. This lady wasn’t taking no for an answer. She checked her watch. Her mind flew to Aidan and Leilah at home – she still had some time, but would Aidan need her much before he went to work? If she stayed for an hour, she’d make it home in plenty of time, she reasoned.
All she needed to do now was convince Zac that this was a good idea.
Chapter 26
ALEISHA
‘I HATE SOCIALIZING!’
‘Zac, he’s like eighty years old, just be nice!’ Aleisha whispered back, feeling like they were having their first domestic. She’d practically had to drag him from his car.
Nilakshiben and Mr P had been very welcoming, standing in a line from the door like a welcoming party. Zac seemed a bit creeped out by it all, shuffling awkwardly through the hallway; he probably hadn’t expected their first date to go anything like this.
Was this a date? Aleisha asked herself. Or would it have been? A drive through Richmond Park seemed pretty datey – the kind of thing Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet might do.
The table had been set for two people, but Nilakshiben was pulling out a couple more spoons, and two more plates. After she brought the big standing fan from the living room into the kitchen, they all sat down, as Nilakshiben dished a roti （she pronounced it rotli） onto each of their plates and started serving out different vegetable and dhal dishes.
‘Aleisha, do you want some dhal?’ she asked, already spooning a huge helping onto her plate.
‘Young man, any bhindi nu shaak for you?’ she asked Zac, once there was already a pile of okra dished up for him. ‘Any more?’
After washing their hands, Nilakshiben and Mr P tucked in immediately. Zac and Aleisha followed suit, observing them to make sure they’d mastered the art of eating with their hands. Their spoons sat forgotten on the table. Zac had ripped off too small a piece of the rotli to scoop some food. Aleisha noticed Mr P observing; she could tell he wanted to help Zac, but didn’t want to embarrass him either.
After practically demolishing his plate, Mr P spoke first. ‘Nilakshiben, this is delicious. Thank you.’
‘That is quite okay. Get your strength up. Be well,’ was all Nilakshiben said.
‘What happened?’ Aleisha asked, concerned.
‘Technically, I took a fall. But that is not not not true. The fall took me.’ Mr P smiled at his joke, but no one smiled back. Nilakshiben patted him on the shoulder with the ball of her hand, her eyebrows puckered in a semi-frown.
‘We missed you at the library,’ Aleisha said.
Mr P looked up at her, smiling – spinach between his teeth.
‘I wanted to bring you your next book. Have you finished Pride and Prejudice yet? I know you read quickly.’
‘I read quickly so I can get to the library and get the next book you recommend me! But Miss Aleisha, this one has taken me longer to finish. I, er, had a few family dramas of my own to contend with,’ he chuckled, glancing at Nilakshiben who smiled back warmly. ‘I couldn’t take on the Bennets’ soap operas too, but now all is better. And this home service is lovely.’ He pronounced it ‘lubly’ and Aleisha’s heart ached a little bit.
‘What do you do, my son?’ Mr P said, turning to Zac, swiftly changing the subject.