“Why you think everything I say is lie?” She patted her bun, then patted her heart. Reassurance, comfort she had to give herself. Because no one else had ever given it to her. The fluttering that had always annoyed Naina.

When Naina was a little girl, she had found it charming, the way she had found everything about her mother charming and comforting. Her mannerisms made her Mummy, and as long as she was around, Naina felt like she was seen, watched over.

“Actually I know why you think like that way.”

Up until the Basketball Incident, they had been a team. Then Naina had given up. They both had. Her father had finally broken them both, in one fell swoop.

“Mothers tell to their children all time that they stay because for them. I thought that’s why I stay. That’s lie. Truth is, I should not have stay. So much I make you put through. So much it take from you. But no more. I cannot let him take away something that make you happy again.”

This was about Vansh? “What happened to ‘I don’t like all such things’? What happened to ‘Win Yash back’? What changed?”

Her mother went to the couch and sat down. The gray cushion covers were gone. In their place were her bright Kathmandu covers. Mirrors catching the sunshine like happiness. She patted the seat next to her and Naina went to her. Picking up a cushion, she squeezed it into her chest.

Mummy’s smile was all the things Naina had missed. “I didn’t expect from my marriage much. I just never did. Maybe that’s why Dr. Kohli became like that way. Because whatever he was, I was okay with. Not like Mina and my other friends, who made stand up and fight their husband.”

She wiped Naina’s tears. “I think I will be like this way: good wife, and someday he will see. Only one thing there was that I did expected. One thing I believed someday I get. A simple ‘sorry.’ At least once. Do you know not anyone has ever apologize to me in life? Never. Only you. All the time. When nothing your fault. No one who ever make real mistake ever apologize to me. When I was girl, my brother drive motorcycle over my toe. It was accident but he never say sorry. My toe break, but he only tell people how brave I was because I not cry. I think he feel sorry. But he never say.”

Her eyes were luminous with something now. “Do you know who only person who ever really apologize to me?”

Naina’s heart squeezed so hard, she didn’t think she could bear it.