After dropping him back at the building, she drove straight to her parents’ house, where she was surprised to see an extra car in the driveway. Strange. Before she made it into the house, the door opened and her sister rushed out in her stocking feet, pulling a confused Ashraf behind her.

“Saira, what’s wrong?”

Saira beamed. “Nothing’s wrong. Everything is good. Better than good, in fact. Ashraf proposed! I’m getting married, Reena!”

Saira tackle-hugged her, while Reena stood frozen in shock. Saira, engaged? And hugging her?

After a few seconds Reena smiled and hugged her sister back. “You’re happy?” she asked in Saira’s ear.

“Yes. Very. This is what I want.”

Reena grinned, letting go of her sister and hugging Ashraf. “Welcome to the insanity.”

“I am happy to be here,” he said awkwardly.

Saira beamed and put her arm around his waist. “He asked me last night. Mum was so excited she screamed when we told her.”

Reena took her sister’s hand to look closer at the ring, a standard white-gold solitaire that looked perfect on Saira’s long fingers. After squeezing her hand, she looked into her sister’s eyes, surprised to see them glassy with tears. “I’m happy you’re happy,” Reena assured her.

“So …” Saira’s gaze shifted down to their locked hands. “Then we’re good, right? I want you to be my maid of honor.”

Wow. Could she do that? She wanted things to be good with her sister. Wanted to let go of the resentment she’d felt for the last year—longer, if she was honest. But could she just take all that bitterness and resentment and boil it off, leaving nothing behind but the sweet sisterly bond she always wanted? Maybe, with work. Doing this for her sister could be the first step. She could face it, instead of deflecting. She squeezed her sister’s hands again before letting it go. “I’d be honored to stand with you. What did Dad say?”

“Not much.” Saira shrugged. “He’s in a pissy mood about something to do with his project. As usual, business first, family later.” She turned toward Ashraf, who was standing quietly behind her. “Don’t ever be like that.”

He shook his head. “You know I wouldn’t.”

Saira smiled widely, pulled him back into the house. “Let’s go face the wolves.”

They went inside to find Mum and Dad at the table.

“Reena! Did you hear your sister’s news! Ashraf, sit … ” Mum motioned to the seat near hers.

Mum’s and Saira’s happiness were infectious, and Reena couldn’t help but soak it in as Saira told the story of Ashraf surprising her in her favorite sushi restaurant.

Dad sat quietly while the three women in the family gushed over Saira’s ring, talked about wedding clothes, and made plans for bridal sari shopping. Finally, Reena looked at her father. She would have thought he would at least be a little happy his youngest daughter was engaged, and to a good Muslim man this time. A nice, sensible, management-type. Really everything Dad wanted in a son-in-law.