Once when Ashna had been ill and hadn’t been able to get out of bed or eat without her aunt forcing spoonfuls into her mouth, her mother had apologized over the phone about being in the middle of a project it would be unthinkably irresponsible for her to abandon. Thousands of women and children were counting on her. She was raising money so underprivileged women could have toilets inside their homes instead of having to walk outside their villages every time they needed to use the restroom. Wasn’t that more important? Couldn’t Ashna understand how Shobi couldn’t leave that, no matter how badly she wanted to be there?

Who could argue that those things weren’t more important than a daughter who had inconvenient timing when it came to falling ill?

Even after Baba died, Shobi had flown down for a few days and then simply gone back to India for some project or other.

The last person Ashna had wanted to face then was Shobi anyway, given that after spending all those years blaming Shobi for destroying Baba, Ashna had been the person to finally push him over the edge.

“What about the foundation? And the Padma Shri? There’s got to be so many events around that.”

“I’ve built a strong enough team that they’re taking care of everything.” Another swipe that wasn’t lost on Ashna. “I won’t be able to get away for too long, I’d have to be here before the awards ceremony in two months, but I do want to help. How long do you shoot?”

“Not sure yet,” Ashna said.

Whatever this was—this thing where her mother seemed to have added “bond with daughter” to her monthly goals—Ashna did not have the time for it.

“Mina Kaki is helping me. We’ve got it all worked out, so don’t worry about it.” That should work because Shobi was usually happy to hand her mothering responsibilities off to her sister-in-law.

It worked. Thank God. After a few frustrated sounds, Shobi let Ashna go.

Ashna packed up and made her way home. It was late, but Mina Kaki was a night owl, so Ashna called her.

All she had to say was “Hello,” and her aunt knew what she was going to say.

“Don’t worry about the restaurant. It will be well loved. I have it all under control. Nisha’s going to help me.”

“But Nisha’s swamped with the campaign.”

“Actually, not being able to travel is giving her cabin fever, so this will be good. She’ll help when she can and I will be fully focused on this.” As always, the soothing timbre of her aunt’s voice calmed Ashna.

By the time she let herself into the house, her breathing was even. “Has Yash found anyone to help?”