“It’s Sailor,” Ísa began, excitement in her voice. “He’s come up with an innovative new concept that I think has the potential to be huge.”
Poetry-loving Ísa was the Dragon’s daughter—and Jacqueline Rain had made millions in business. Love or not, Ísa wouldn’t say something like that unless she believed absolutely in it. Nayna listened.
* * *
The next day, while Raj was lying next to Nayna, both their chests heaving after an explosive quickie squeezed in between the end of the workday and an upcoming visit to the hospital, his future wife mentioned her possible change in direction.
“Nothing’s settled yet,” she added, “but I’m excited about it.”
“Then you should do it,” Raj said at once, rolling over so that he was braced on one arm beside her, the hand of his other on her abdomen. “I love my work. I want the same for you.” He never wanted Nayna unhappy—and at least in this, he could make sure her dreams came true.
“It’ll be risky at the start,” she said, closing her hand over his. “Pay’s likely to be a pittance and the hours will be brutal.”
“Money won’t be a problem,” Raj said, then stilled, suddenly conscious of her fierce need for freedom. “If you don’t mind me stepping in to cover things while you get on your feet.”
“No, I don’t mind,” Nayna said, poking a gentle finger into his chest. “As long as you keep on letting me prop you up when needed too. We’re a team. No one-way traffic allowed.”
The tension draining out of him, Raj said, “Yes, we’re a team.” It felt so fucking good to say that and to hear Nayna say it. “As for the hours, by then Dad should be fine, so it’ll only impact me and you.” He moved again, this time so he was braced full length over her. “I’ll deal with the home side of things, you conquer the business world, and we’ll meet in the middle. Naked.”
His last word made her laugh and wrap her legs around his hips. As she tried to tip him over, the two of them wrestling playfully, Raj prayed that this was how it would always be, that his Nayna would find joy with him even when his responsibilities kept the two of them pinned to the earth.
44
Oh, Madhuri. How Could You?
Two days later and Raj’s father had been at home for over twenty-four hours and, Nayna was pleased to hear, was already up to short walks around the house. The rest of the time, he and Raj’s mother apparently spent making wedding plans, both of them happy and engaged. Aditi often joined in to—in her words—head off any future disco ideas.
Relieved his family was heading back on track—Komal and Navin not included—Raj swung by to see Nayna after work, and the two of them put together a delicious dinner with zero drama and multiple kisses. That was when she discovered her gorgeous hunk could actually cook.
“Used to do it all the time when my parents were running the company,” he told her while expertly adding spices to a chicken dish. “Aditi was only little, and Navin not even in high school.”
“I assumed your grandparents must’ve babysat you.”
“They did, but my aji’s got arthritis, so I’d take over in the kitchen when her joints got bad, while my aja supervised Adi and Navin. She’d instruct and I’d do as I was told.” He let her taste the dish, smiled that slow, sinful smile at her moan of delight. “I figured out after a while that it was like building. Construct a good foundation and even bad décor won’t mess it up.”
“Keep talking sexy to me and I’ll drag you off to bed in a second.”
He turned off the stove, took off his shirt, and Nayna’s panties just fell off.
* * *
An hour later, her body sated in a bone-deep way and a belated but delicious dinner in her belly, Nayna was closest to the door when someone knocked—Raj was grabbing an apple out of her fridge. “It’s probably my neighbor.” The elderly man often popped over for a cup of tea and a chat.
But the man on the other side wasn’t harmless Mr. Franklin.
“Madhuri’s run away.” Dr. Sandesh Patel’s words were a dousing of ice water, his eyes black chips. “She says she’s in love with someone else.”
Raj walked out right then. “Nayna, is—” His eyes fell on the scene in the doorway and on her ashen face. “What’s happened?” He put the apple in his hand on her small hallway table.
“Her sister has run away.” Sandesh thrust his phone at Raj. “Read this.”
“Come in and shut the door,” Raj said before turning his attention to the message.
Trembling inside, her head stuffy and too full, Nayna leaned up against Raj and scanned the message.
Dear Sandesh, I’m so sorry to do this to you, but I just can’t go through with the wedding. I thought I could, but the closer it gets, the more panicked I feel. And I’ve finally realized it’s because I’m not in love with you. I’m in love with someone else. I didn’t mean to break your heart. Thank you for being so good to me. – Maddie
Raj put one arm around her. “When did you get this?”
“Just before I drove here from my office.” Sandesh turned his icy gaze on Nayna. “Did you know?”
“Sandesh.” Raj’s tone was harder than stone. “You do not talk to Nayna like that.”
The doctor flinched, clearly unused to being addressed in that tone, but it seemed to get through. “No, I shouldn’t. I’m sorry.” The anger cracked, exposing desperation and hurt. “Why would she do this?” The words were a plea this time. “Did you know there was someone else?”
Having drawn several deep breaths in the interim, Nayna could think again. “No,” she answered. As far as she was aware, Madhuri hadn’t seen the surfer since her engagement. “She gave you no clue?” Anger began to simmer in her, that her sister would take such a damaging and impulsive action a second time around.
And to do it now? Only two weeks before her wedding?
“Nothing, and we had dinner just last night.” Sandesh paced the narrow space. “I took her to the revolving restaurant in the Sky Tower because she likes to watch the sunset from there.” His fingers trembled as he thrust them through his hair. “Afterward, we went for a walk along Mission Bay. It was fine. Everything was fine.”
Nayna knew Madhuri and the doctor hadn’t yet been intimate, so she didn’t ask if they’d spent the night together. Sandesh Patel was old-fashioned in his courtship, and Madhuri seemed happy with that. She’d told Nayna how much she loved how he treated her. It just didn’t make any sense.
“Have you tried to call her?” Raj asked.
“I set my car’s system to dial her the entire way here. But she won’t answer.”
Digging out her own phone, Nayna sent her sister a message, figuring Madhuri was more likely to reply to that: Are you okay?
The answer came within seconds: I’m safe.
After passing on the message to Sandesh, Nayna typed another: I need to talk to you, Maddie. What’s going on? I’m going to call you.
No response to the message or the call. Not then, and not in the frustrating quarter hour that followed as Nayna touched base with Anjali and Jaci. She had to be delicate about what she asked, because if Madhuri hadn’t shared her plans with her friends, then Nayna wasn’t about to betray her and have the information spread.
Poetry-loving Ísa was the Dragon’s daughter—and Jacqueline Rain had made millions in business. Love or not, Ísa wouldn’t say something like that unless she believed absolutely in it. Nayna listened.
* * *
The next day, while Raj was lying next to Nayna, both their chests heaving after an explosive quickie squeezed in between the end of the workday and an upcoming visit to the hospital, his future wife mentioned her possible change in direction.
“Nothing’s settled yet,” she added, “but I’m excited about it.”
“Then you should do it,” Raj said at once, rolling over so that he was braced on one arm beside her, the hand of his other on her abdomen. “I love my work. I want the same for you.” He never wanted Nayna unhappy—and at least in this, he could make sure her dreams came true.
“It’ll be risky at the start,” she said, closing her hand over his. “Pay’s likely to be a pittance and the hours will be brutal.”
“Money won’t be a problem,” Raj said, then stilled, suddenly conscious of her fierce need for freedom. “If you don’t mind me stepping in to cover things while you get on your feet.”
“No, I don’t mind,” Nayna said, poking a gentle finger into his chest. “As long as you keep on letting me prop you up when needed too. We’re a team. No one-way traffic allowed.”
The tension draining out of him, Raj said, “Yes, we’re a team.” It felt so fucking good to say that and to hear Nayna say it. “As for the hours, by then Dad should be fine, so it’ll only impact me and you.” He moved again, this time so he was braced full length over her. “I’ll deal with the home side of things, you conquer the business world, and we’ll meet in the middle. Naked.”
His last word made her laugh and wrap her legs around his hips. As she tried to tip him over, the two of them wrestling playfully, Raj prayed that this was how it would always be, that his Nayna would find joy with him even when his responsibilities kept the two of them pinned to the earth.
44
Oh, Madhuri. How Could You?
Two days later and Raj’s father had been at home for over twenty-four hours and, Nayna was pleased to hear, was already up to short walks around the house. The rest of the time, he and Raj’s mother apparently spent making wedding plans, both of them happy and engaged. Aditi often joined in to—in her words—head off any future disco ideas.
Relieved his family was heading back on track—Komal and Navin not included—Raj swung by to see Nayna after work, and the two of them put together a delicious dinner with zero drama and multiple kisses. That was when she discovered her gorgeous hunk could actually cook.
“Used to do it all the time when my parents were running the company,” he told her while expertly adding spices to a chicken dish. “Aditi was only little, and Navin not even in high school.”
“I assumed your grandparents must’ve babysat you.”
“They did, but my aji’s got arthritis, so I’d take over in the kitchen when her joints got bad, while my aja supervised Adi and Navin. She’d instruct and I’d do as I was told.” He let her taste the dish, smiled that slow, sinful smile at her moan of delight. “I figured out after a while that it was like building. Construct a good foundation and even bad décor won’t mess it up.”
“Keep talking sexy to me and I’ll drag you off to bed in a second.”
He turned off the stove, took off his shirt, and Nayna’s panties just fell off.
* * *
An hour later, her body sated in a bone-deep way and a belated but delicious dinner in her belly, Nayna was closest to the door when someone knocked—Raj was grabbing an apple out of her fridge. “It’s probably my neighbor.” The elderly man often popped over for a cup of tea and a chat.
But the man on the other side wasn’t harmless Mr. Franklin.
“Madhuri’s run away.” Dr. Sandesh Patel’s words were a dousing of ice water, his eyes black chips. “She says she’s in love with someone else.”
Raj walked out right then. “Nayna, is—” His eyes fell on the scene in the doorway and on her ashen face. “What’s happened?” He put the apple in his hand on her small hallway table.
“Her sister has run away.” Sandesh thrust his phone at Raj. “Read this.”
“Come in and shut the door,” Raj said before turning his attention to the message.
Trembling inside, her head stuffy and too full, Nayna leaned up against Raj and scanned the message.
Dear Sandesh, I’m so sorry to do this to you, but I just can’t go through with the wedding. I thought I could, but the closer it gets, the more panicked I feel. And I’ve finally realized it’s because I’m not in love with you. I’m in love with someone else. I didn’t mean to break your heart. Thank you for being so good to me. – Maddie
Raj put one arm around her. “When did you get this?”
“Just before I drove here from my office.” Sandesh turned his icy gaze on Nayna. “Did you know?”
“Sandesh.” Raj’s tone was harder than stone. “You do not talk to Nayna like that.”
The doctor flinched, clearly unused to being addressed in that tone, but it seemed to get through. “No, I shouldn’t. I’m sorry.” The anger cracked, exposing desperation and hurt. “Why would she do this?” The words were a plea this time. “Did you know there was someone else?”
Having drawn several deep breaths in the interim, Nayna could think again. “No,” she answered. As far as she was aware, Madhuri hadn’t seen the surfer since her engagement. “She gave you no clue?” Anger began to simmer in her, that her sister would take such a damaging and impulsive action a second time around.
And to do it now? Only two weeks before her wedding?
“Nothing, and we had dinner just last night.” Sandesh paced the narrow space. “I took her to the revolving restaurant in the Sky Tower because she likes to watch the sunset from there.” His fingers trembled as he thrust them through his hair. “Afterward, we went for a walk along Mission Bay. It was fine. Everything was fine.”
Nayna knew Madhuri and the doctor hadn’t yet been intimate, so she didn’t ask if they’d spent the night together. Sandesh Patel was old-fashioned in his courtship, and Madhuri seemed happy with that. She’d told Nayna how much she loved how he treated her. It just didn’t make any sense.
“Have you tried to call her?” Raj asked.
“I set my car’s system to dial her the entire way here. But she won’t answer.”
Digging out her own phone, Nayna sent her sister a message, figuring Madhuri was more likely to reply to that: Are you okay?
The answer came within seconds: I’m safe.
After passing on the message to Sandesh, Nayna typed another: I need to talk to you, Maddie. What’s going on? I’m going to call you.
No response to the message or the call. Not then, and not in the frustrating quarter hour that followed as Nayna touched base with Anjali and Jaci. She had to be delicate about what she asked, because if Madhuri hadn’t shared her plans with her friends, then Nayna wasn’t about to betray her and have the information spread.
