How much that question annoyed him wasn’t something he could get into right now. “I’m quite capable of finding myself work. But thanks, Nisha.”

“Of course you are, sweetheart. But you know Yash and I would love your help. And we’re your family. And I know you value loyalty.”

Wow! he almost said. But Nisha was obviously digging for information and he didn’t have any intention of giving her an opening.

He rocked his nephew. “Speaking of family, is it my imagination or does this guy look exactly like his Vansh Mama? I mean, look at those lashes.” The phone buzzed in his pocket and he had the intense urge to introduce his nephew to Naina.

Leaving Nisha mid–eye roll, he picked up the baby carrier and diaper bag and took them up the stairs for Ram’s daily drop-off with Aji and Esha. Nisha followed.

After much oohing and aahing over his perfection—which he blissfully slept through—Ram was tucked into the cradle.

Vansh’s phone buzzed again and he checked it. There were many LOLs about Naina’s boiled-egg comment. Vansh smiled.

“Who’s that?” Nisha asked, grabbing a croissant from the breakfast tray J-Auntie had laid out. Vansh picked up a boiled egg and popped it in his mouth, making it impossible for him to answer.

“How’s the project going?” Esha asked. He had no doubt she saw right through his blatant attempt at avoiding Nisha’s inquisition.

Before he could answer, Aji gave him one of her warmly reprimanding looks that he loved so much. “You’ve barely been home these past few weeks. I don’t understand why you children work so hard.”

Vansh could practically see Nisha’s ears perk up. “If you haven’t been home, where have you been?”

“The schedule on the project is very tight. We need to be able to demo the app in real time in a few months. Pulling that off will be a minor miracle.”

“You really love this work?” Esha said, smiling. It wasn’t one of her ethereal smiles. She was asking. Esha never asked.

“I do. I feel really invested in it.”

“How is Naina?” Aji asked. “We haven’t seen her in a very long time.”

“Naturally she’s not going to come and see you. Now that Yash is of no use to her,” Nisha said. What was wrong with her? Nisha was direct and fiercely protective, but this was downright mean.

“That’s unfair,” Esha said. “Naina did not only come to see us because of Yash. Naina is much more than she seems.”

Nisha scoffed and studied Vansh for a reaction.

Vansh wasn’t sure what Nisha was trying. Her protective-big-sister personality was out in full force. Anything he said to defend Naina would be a dead giveaway. Of what, exactly, he didn’t know. But it wasn’t Nisha’s business.