“So she isn’t now? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Who told you?”

“Priti …”

Ammu shakes her head. “Your sister spends a little too much time eavesdropping when she should be studying for her exams.”

“There are more important things than exams, Ammu.”

For a moment, I think she’s going to protest, but instead she nods slowly. “I know.” She looks at me with something that resembles a smile, something that softens her face, and says, “Don’t worry about your Nanu. Or … about your sister. Go, or you’ll miss your bus.”

But I can’t help the worry that floods my brain about both Nanu and Priti. How have so many things been happening around me and I haven’t even noticed?

When Flávia catches my eye by the lockers I know exactly how. Priti is right. I’ve been so caught up with Flávia and the competition and everything else that I’ve forgotten to pay attention to the important things.

But as Flávia approaches me with a brown shopping bag clutched in her hand, I’m not sure I regret any of it.

“This is for you,” she says as she hands me the bag. Our fingers brush as she does it. I try to tell my body to shut up, to not react, but obviously—obviously—my heart isn’t very good at listening to me. It beats a million miles a minute.

“What is it?”

“Open it.” She nods encouragingly.

A furled white poster paper sticks out of the top of the bag. I pull it out and unroll it—and almost gasp aloud.

It’s a banner.

It has NISHAT’S MEHNDI written in colorful letters in the middle, and below it even has some words in Bengali script. It’s carefully done so that it looks sharp and geometrical—not like the rounded and soft letters that my Bengali handwriting usually is.

The background is a mishmash of bright colors, and on one side there’s a drawing of joined hands with henna winding down the palms.

It’s far better than anything I could ever have done.

There’s something lodged in my throat. I think it’s my heart.

“This is beautiful,” I breathe.

Flávia just shrugs like it’s no big deal. It’s definitely a big deal. It’s a huge deal.

Trying not to steal too many glances at Flávia, I slip the banner into my locker. When I close my locker though, we catch each other’s eye. She smiles, dimples and all, and I can’t help the grin that spreads out across my lips too.