“You didn’t get chance to change cushion covers yet?” her mother said, oblivious to the possibility that Naina might not have wanted to. “Where did you put them? I can help you. So busy you keep yourself. How will house things ever get done if you’re working-working always?”

Today? Really? Do I deserve this visit today? Granted, she shouldn’t have guzzled every glass of champagne that crossed her line of sight. She should not have done that. She admitted it. She was sorry. But please, please, must she be punished for every bad decision?

“I can do it later, Mummy. Would you like some chai?” She put a pot of water on to boil, grated some ginger into it the way her mother liked, and added sugar, lots of it.

“I’m good at all these sorts of things. Quickly quickly I will get done.” Mummy snapped her fingers to prove her own efficiency at these sorts of things. “Are they in bedroom?” She headed off to the bedroom.

Was she checking for something?

“Mummy,” Naina called after her, her own voice still too loud in her ears. “Don’t worry about it. Please.” She followed her, praying that Vansh had not left any signs of his presence behind.

“It’s matchbox size, no, this place?”

“There’s only me, so it doesn’t need to be any bigger. Plus it’s easy to clean.”

“So much money that man has given you. One cleaning lady would be okay, no?”

Naina loved cleaning her own home. Tidying up was relaxing for her. Everything in its place.

Her mother searched her room.

“What are you looking for?” Naina didn’t remember putting her clothes away last night. She had to have left them on the bathroom floor. They were no longer there.

Bonus points to the Dimpled Boy for putting them away, because if Mummy had found those clothes on the bathroom floor she would have taken it as a personal insult. Her beloved clothes disrespected thusly would have been an affront inflicting immeasurable wounds. Naturally, she would have said nothing, just looked wrecked. Which was far better than a mother who yelled and pushed outright, right?

“I’m looking for the cushion covers I bought for you, of course.” That wounded look flooded her eyes as her gaze fell on the covers, still in their plastic packaging, on the floor of the closet.

Naina touched her shoulder. “Don’t feel bad. They’re beautiful—just too fancy for my apartment. I was going to take them into my office and use them there. The decor in my office is much nicer than my apartment. Very polished.”

Mummy’s eyes lit up. “Really? Silly girl. I will send another set for office. Let’s get these ones on here. Everything will look tip-top and polished here also.” She started to take the covers out of the packaging.