His father blinked. Ma and Nisha looked horrified. If they clutched their figurative pearls any harder, they’d crush them.

“Naina? Yash’s Naina?” Aji repeated, hand pressed to her mouth.

“Oh, Vansh!” Esha said, and wrapped her arms around him.

Sid looked completely out of place but also relieved at this fortuitous change in focus. “It was . . . um . . . really nice meeting all of you, but, I think this might be a good time to leave your family to this.”

“Good idea.” Esha went to him and dropped a kiss on his lips.

“We’re not done with you,” HRH said.

“Shree Kaka, I don’t think you’re ever going to be done with him,” Esha said.

HRH rubbed his forehead. Esha was without a doubt his favorite, and seeing her this confident, this strong, was probably what he’d dreamed of since he’d scattered his brother’s ashes thirty years ago.

“But,” Esha said, “I think our Vansh problem needs to be dealt with first.”

“Come in through the front door tomorrow,” Aji said.

“God, please,” Sid said, “I’d like that very much. Thank you.” And with nothing more, he was gone with admirable speed.

Trisha and Ashna needed to get back to work too.

“You should be with whoever you want to be with,” Trisha said, throwing a pointed look at Nisha.

“Will you apologize to Naina for us?” Ashna said, dropping a kiss on Vansh’s cheek.

Then the two of them left with their partners and Neel.

“What is wrong with everyone?” Ma said, pinching her temples. “I can’t believe Naina would do this. She promised there was nothing between you two.”

“We didn’t plan this, Ma. You know Naina, she doesn’t even want a relationship. It just happened.” Except it had also just unhappened.

“She is twelve years older than you!” Nisha said. “She’s seen you as a baby.”

“Really, Nisha? Neel had seen you as a baby too. You were in love with him in elementary school. Will you stop being a hypocrite for one moment?”

“Nisha is not older than Neel, and it’s certainly not twelve years!” Ma said.

“This breaks you, Ma? This is the rock your feminist beliefs shatter on—that she’s older than I am?”

Ma looked like he’d slapped her. “That’s not true. It’s not just that. It’s Naina!”

“I know. Naina, whom you’ve always loved. And she loves you. Maybe even more than she loves me.” A sad little laugh escaped him. “And it might be too late for this conversation.”

Ma looked tortured. He knew she loved Naina. “She was in love with Yash. How can that not affect you brothers? It will tear my children apart.”

“Mina,” HRH said, but he was watching Vansh, studying him for something.

Vansh braced himself for disappointment.