Her aunt tucked a lock of hair behind Ashna’s ear and patted her cheek. “Go out and greet your customers. You’ve got to give the people what they want. While you’re out there, ask them to vote for Yash.” That made Ashna smile, and Mina Kaki added more softly, “Freddie was telling me that Mandy was telling her how hurt she is that you let her go.”

The smile died on Ashna’s lips again. “Really, Mandy said that? I never let her go. She quit.” Mandy had lined up a job and not even mentioned it to Ashna.

“Maybe you misunderstood? Sometimes we believe the thing that is easiest to believe.” And by we she meant Ashna. “It’s easy to push people away before they leave.”

Before the full impact of that could sink in, her aunt patted her cheek. “Now, don’t get all bent out of shape, beta. You have to look for what’s behind what people say. What Mandy said simply means her door is open.” She spun an elegant hand around the kitchen. “If this keeps up, you might need someone with Mandy’s competence and experience. Much as I love this place, all this steam is terrible for my hair.” She patted her perfect hair and took her bag from the hook by the door. “Go on. I think everything is under control here. I’m going to leave for a bit. If you need anything, Shobi has offered to come over.”

Ashna tried not to stiffen. Shobi had not set foot in Curried Dreams since before Baba died. It was really annoying that everyone kept acting like she was here to help Ashna. You couldn’t help someone with a restaurant without being physically present inside the restaurant.

Her aunt opened her mouth, but decided to hold her peace right now. Good, because what she’d said earlier about Ashna pushing people away was ridiculous. People pushed her away.

“Did you know Shobi was going to visit?” More like ambush her. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

Mina sighed. “What you’re really asking is why I didn’t stop her. I can’t stop Shobi from visiting. Are you really angry with me about that?”

“I don’t know.”

“If you can’t say, ‘No, I’m not angry,’ then you are.”

Truth was, Ashna didn’t know how to be angry with her aunt. If she didn’t have Mina Kaki and HRH, all she would have was anger.

Thanks, Shobi.

“No, I’m not angry.” Ashna smiled. “How can I be angry with you? Look at this place. You breathed life into it.”

Her aunt shook her head. “No, you were brave enough to go out and do something that wasn’t easy. That’s what breathed life into this place.”

Ashna hugged her aunt. “Why aren’t you my mom?”