“Eh, you’ve been reading too many romance novels.” Sachin held the phone out of her reach. “Time is of the essence. Twenty thousand people join Match every day. Her perfect partner could be out there right now, just waiting for her to pop up on his feed.”

“I’ll write your profile, Auntie.” Smita turned toward Jaya, an excited smile on her face. “Trust me, I’m really good at this. Can I pick out a dress from your closet?”

“What’s going on here?” Dev entered the kitchen, chuckling. “Are my children hounding you again?”

Jaya smiled at him. “Not at all, they’re being perfect angels.”

Dev threw his head back and laughed in that boisterous way Jaya had always loved. “Well, now I know you’re lying,” he said, as each of his teenagers pummeled his shoulders from opposite sides. “Yes, it seems the tables have turned in 2015, and now children pressure the adults to get married instead of the other way around.”

“Who pressured you to get married?” Dev’s wife, Chandra, joined them in the kitchen, one eyebrow arched and a yoga mat tucked under her arm.

“No one, darling.” Dev put his arm around Chandra’s shoulders and kissed her. “And it was the best decision of my life.”

“Damn right.” Chandra slapped him on the ass. “Are you coming to Bikram or not?”

“I’d love to, but I already promised Jaya I’d stay here and help her with the cooking.”

Chandra shot Jaya a knowing glance. “Okay, just don’t complain when your back feels stiff tomorrow.” She waved her fingers over her shoulder as she turned to leave.

“Really?” Jaya said. “That’s your excuse? Now she’ll expect you to make dinner when you get back home.”

“Ah, no risk of that. Chandra has tasted my cooking.” Dev grinned. “We have a deep mutual understanding of my limitations.”

“You’re very lucky, you know?” Jaya said, tossing green beans in a colander. “That she puts up with you.” Seeing Dev, his family and their life in London had been a revelation for Jaya. How many different ways there were to live in the world. The choices Jaya had made only represented a single path, one that made sense at the time and place she’d made them.

“Hey,” Dev said, feigning offense. “I’m a catch. Speaking of which, how’s Keith?” He winked at her. Dev had always liked Keith for being whip-smart and winning his way into their parents’ hearts. “We’re not an easy crowd to keep up with, especially for a Yankee,” he’d always said of his brother-in-law.

“He’s fine, some stress at work, the usual,” Jaya said. She hadn’t told anyone what was happening with Keith, trying to safeguard his privacy and reputation until they knew more.

Having Dev here made her feel safe and comfortable. She loved the warmth and lightness she felt in the presence of her niece and nephew. How she would have liked to have them around all the time, not just on the phone or for sporadic visits, but integrated into her life. In the beginning of her marriage to Keith, Jaya had thought it was easier to be far from both their families, free to establish their own rituals and norms, but perhaps the fabric of their life was weaker for it, leaving them untethered when adversity struck.