“Except it is,” Jaya said, leaning forward. “Don’t you see, Ish? Kiran will be my fiancé soon. I don’t have the luxury to be ‘heartbroken’ over an Emerson.” She tried to say it with vitriol, but her voice cracked.

Kicking off her shoes, Isha put her hand on Jaya’s knee, pulling her legs up so she was sitting cross-legged. “Maybe you don’t have the luxury to,” she said quietly. “But you can’t tell your heart what to do.”

Jaya blinked away her tears. “I’m marrying Kiran,” she said again, her voice high and tight. “It’s what’s best for the family.” Without quite meaning to, she found herself echoing Grey’s words from their first time in the dining hall. “It might not be easy, but it is that simple.”

“Jaya, you don’t even like Kiran. What’s best for you?”

Jaya shook her head and leaned back against the headboard once more. “Immaterial.”

“Jaya—”

“No. There’s nothing more to say about it.” Blinking, she added, “But I have to tell you something.”

Isha nodded.

“I’m sorry,” Jaya said, holding her sister’s gaze. “I’m sorry I’ve been pushing you so hard to be someone you’re not. I told you not to take robotics. I told you not to be with Elliot. I’ve been controlling and rigid and…” Caressing Isha’s cheek, she smiled a little, as much as she could. “You did nothing wrong kissing Talin. You did nothing wrong helping those other boys in the motorcycle shop. The problem’s not you. The problem’s the bloody messages we’re given, starting before we can even fully understand them. You’re perfect the way you are, Ish. People who don’t turn out how their parents or their society expects are the best people of all.” Her voice broke as she finished, and she cleared her throat to continue. “So you be the best fucking robotics engineer you can be. And if people give you shit about it, give them hell. I know I will.”

Isha stared at her, agog. “Jaya… You… you said ‘fuck.’ And ‘shit.’ ”

Jaya stared back. “Damn right I did.”

Isha laughed into the silence and leaped on Jaya. They hugged each other tight, both of them laughing, tears prickling Jaya’s eyes.

Then Isha pulled back and studied Jaya’s face, her own lined with worry. “So… um… What are you going to do about Grey? Are you really just going to let him think you were messing with him this entire time?”