“A guy I went to school with in first year killed himself,” Chi mutters, emotionless. “A janitor found him in one of the labs. It was right before an exam. One more bad grade and he was going to get kicked out of the program, or at least that’s what he was afraid of. The pressure got to him, I guess. Classes were cancelled for a day. They brought in counsellors. All I could think was, sure we all want to be doctors, but it’s not worth dying for. Nothing’s that important.”

“Well, it was different for Sunil.”

Kavita waits, hopeful Chi might practice some of the bedside manner she has been honing. Instead, all Kavita hears is another puff of cigarette smoke. Suddenly she wants nothing more than to get off the phone. She feels so naked, waiting there for a morsel of kindness. “We’re going to have a memorial soon. Will you come?” The way the conversation has gone, she can’t be sure.

“I’ll try.”

“Thank you, Chi. Sunil always—”

“Listen, I hate to do this, but I’ve got to go.”

“Okay. Sure.”

Kavita listens to the nasal drone of the dial tone while she tries to figure out what just happened. She is learning people in crisis behave like exaggerated versions of themselves. Nirav is more reticent. Her parents are more divided. And Chi is more Chi.

Letting out a deep breath, she tells herself: Shake it off. There’s work to do. Next, she calls Sunil’s office.

“Hello, Patty speaking.”

Was it Patty that Sunil said was the horrible HR gossip? “My name’s Kavita Gupta. I’m Sunil’s sister. I’m not sure if you’re the one we met the other day?”

“When Sunil stopped by to fill out forms? No, unfortunately I was off sick that day. But Cathy told me about Sunil when I got back.”

I’m sure she did, Kavita thinks.

“How’s he feeling? You’ll have to tell him we didn’t win the lottery. Not even a free ticket since he’s been away. He’s our good luck charm.”

“Actually, he’s my reason for calling.”

“Oh?”

Kavita hesitates. “He was very sick. He succumbed to his illness. He died of….” She is that far along in her head when she realizes she hasn’t spoken yet.

“Hello?”

“A car accident,” Kavita says, wooden. “He passed away unexpectedly. In a car accident.”