Yes, Mummy, I can believe. I was the one he threw off his wagon on his way to that goal. But, nope, not saying that.

“Then there’s Vansh. Here today, there tomorrow, everywhere.” Her hand made bouncing motions, and her voice reverberated with disappointment.

Naina knew she had accused Vansh of the same thing. Being fickle with his projects. That did not make him unstable, though. It did not make him undependable. Since Naina suspected she knew where this was going, standing up for Vansh would only tip the panic dominoes.

“People talk, you know.” Her mother hadn’t even made it all the way inside the apartment, but she’d already been down her list of talking points.

1. Weight problem.
2. Marriage problem.
3. Working-with-the-ex’s-brother problem.

Only Naina wasn’t just working with Vansh, was she? She was on orgasm number two.

To say nothing of the ones Riz had assisted her with. Or needed to barely assist with, thanks to Mr. Dimples and Pecs in her closet having taken residence in her dreams.

“You have to make response, Naina. That’s why with Yash it not work out. You don’t say, you keep inside.” She patted her heart. “You keep all thoughts only on work things. If you don’t keep up conversation, how you will talk to rishtas?”

That was an easy one. She wasn’t going to be talking to any of these marriage prospects Mummy was intent on digging up from the far reaches of her extended family’s network. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Mina wants for you to stop work with Vansh.”

That couldn’t be true. Could it? “Did Mina Auntie say that to you?”

Mummy glared. “Not always one has to say in words. She doesn’t like all such things either.”

“All we’re doing is working on a project to empower women and provide support to homeless people. What such things?” And now she was a liar.

Not that their mothers would ever know that. As far as they were concerned, as far as anyone was concerned, there were no “all such things” between Vansh and Naina, and there were never going to be. Ever.

“Why you have to work with him? You know Dr. Kohli doesn’t like either.” And there it was, the real problem. Always Dr. Kohli.

“It’s really cold in these wet clothes. I need to change. Do you want to stay and have tea while I change?”

Mummy looked at her Rolex (to “match Mina’s same-to-same,” except Mina Auntie’s was probably an antique handed down the ancestral chain). “Cannot. Ten minutes only I have to be there. I will tell Mina you said you think about not working with Yash’s brother.”

“Please don’t.” But she shouldn’t have said it, because her mother reddened.