Ashna circled the block and went into Curried Dreams. It was closed today. Which was why her aunt and her mother had been at home. Ashna went into the janitor’s storeroom and retrieved her cleaning cart. Mina Kaki had hired a cleaning service. In just a few months, how much everything had changed from when Mandy and Ashna had soldiered on with nothing more than hope to fuel them. The restaurant was spotless, but Ashna washed and wiped everything. She remembered the expression on Mandy’s face when Ashna had let her go. Before she had asked to be let go.

Her legs felt shaky as she made her way to Baba’s office. She had never been inside the room after they had cleaned out his remains. She tried to push the door open but she couldn’t do it.

The last day Baba had been alive played in her head. He’d found out about her and Rico and demanded that Rico come and meet him. The feeling of inescapable doom had pulled over Ashna like someone sliding a plastic bag over her face. She had begged Rico to stay away from Baba and gone to see him herself. At first she’d tried to explain how much Rico and she loved each other.

Boys like that only want one thing. In his case two. And neither one of those has anything to do with loving you . . . He is not like us. Life is hard enough with someone who’s your social equal . . . I’d rather die than let you shame our heritage just because you’re panting over a son of a whore who lives in a servant quarter.

Rage had exploded inside her, a nuclear blast wiping away a lifetime of placating him, determinedly seeing him as someone he was not.

You’re sick. It’s not just the drinking and vomiting, you’re sick on the inside. How did I ever stand being near you?

She didn’t care that he looked like Ashna had kicked him.

It’s because your mother couldn’t stand being near you. You had no choice. This boy is going to do it too. He’s going to leave you like your mother did.

Ashna had run out of the room, but it had felt like dragging herself out because he’d cut off her legs.

You’re just like your mother. Selfish.

She sank down by the door. Maybe she’d sleep here tonight. For one terribly long moment the thought was comforting. Then Ashna jumped up.

But she still saw herself on that floor, rolled up in a ball. A part of her had been lying there, outside his door, for twelve years.

It was time to get up and move on.