The surprise on Shobi’s face was stark, but instead of getting flustered, she stayed calm and sure. “I didn’t want you to hate me even more. I thought you’d blame me for his death.”

Ashna picked up her cup again and took a sip. “I wouldn’t have blamed you. Not because I was ever generous to you, but because it wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I was the one to blame. I was the one who pushed him over the edge.”

“No, you weren’t.”

They looked at each other over the cups of tea.

“There’s so much you don’t know,” they both said together, as though this were a Shakespearean farce.

“Me first, please,” Ashna said.

Shobi put her cup down and nodded, pulling her legs up on the couch and crossing them. “Fine.”

“The reason I know you were there that day, it’s . . . it’s because, well, there was a boy there that day too. You met him when Baba was yelling at him.”

Shobi’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh. Now I know why Rico Silva looks so familiar. Oh, Ashi.” She reached over and took Ashna’s hand. “No wonder he looks at you that way.”

Ashna felt the insistent warmth that always wrapped her up at the mention of Rico rise across her face. “I met him in high school. I was so in love with him, Mom.” “Was”? Please.

“You didn’t tell anyone? Not even Mina or your cousins?”

“No. I was terrified. I was such a coward. But Baba found Rico’s messages on my phone and . . . and he told me that he’d rather die that let me be with Rico. I didn’t believe him.”

Her mother scooted closer and kissed Ashna’s hand. She had warm, strong hands. Competent hands. “And you’ve spent the past twelve years blaming yourself for it and punishing yourself for it.”

“I shut you out. I shut Rico out. I felt like a cheater when I was happy.”

“Is that why Rico is here? For you.”

“I don’t know. I . . . Yes.”

“He slid across your kitchen on his knees—after surgery—to keep you from getting hurt. Please tell me you see what that is?” She squeezed Ashna’s hand against her chest. “That’s love tinged with madness, love that takes you out of yourself. That’s not love you take lightly, Ashi.”

Ashna swallowed. She couldn’t give up Rico if she tried.

“Did Bram tell you he wasn’t good enough for you? That you’d be shaming the family? That you deserved someone at your ‘social level’? Someone culturally and religiously similar to you?”

“Word for word. How did you know?”

“Because that’s exactly what my father said to me.” With a deep sigh Shobi squeezed her forehead.

“It’s okay, Mom. Tell me.”