“My parents will be here in ten minutes. You don’t have any company, do you?” Annika heard the sound of rustling and footsteps and Naya opened the door, looking every bit the hungover party girl, with tousled hair, black smears under her puffy eyes.

“What happened to you? I thought you had a quiet night in with Ravi last night?”

“In, yes. Quiet, not so much. His parents don’t like me.” Tears welled in her already red-rimmed swollen eyes.

“That’s ridiculous! His parents helped set you up.”

“They found out I want to join the Peace Corps when I graduate.”

“So?”

“That’s not what they expected from their daughter-in-law.” Her eyes became alert for a nanosecond. “Wait, did you say your parents were coming? Here?”

Annika had momentarily forgotten her immediate freak-out, but now the panic returned. “My dad knows I flubbed parent visitation a few days ago.” She stared at Naya. “They’re coming to try to get me to go back to med school. I know it. And they’re probably going to insist I date Sajan.”

Naya rolled her eyes. “It’s like your parents never learn.” She shook her head.

“Wait, what do you mean?”

Naya’s eyes widened. “Nothing. I mean nothing.”

Annika narrowed her eyes. “Spit it out, Naya.”

Just then, the buzzer sounded. Both girls started at it. Annika pointed at her cousin. “Well?”

“Later! Take care of this first.” Naya nearly pushed Annika toward the buzzer before retreating to her room.

With a final glare at Naya’s door, Annika hit the intercom button. “Hello?”

“We are here.” Her father’s voice was terse and to the point.

“Okay.” Annika clicked the door open for them and turned on her Keurig. She placed a pot of water on the stove for her parents’ chai. She had no idea what Naya was talking about, and right now, she was sure her parents were going to use her failure as a teacher to get her to agree to get together with Sajan. He was a nice enough guy, handsome, funny, but the thought of not being with Daniel nauseated her. Annika was so lost in thought she didn’t hear the knocking at her door until her father’s voice boomed from the other side.

“Hello? Annika?”

She started again and went to open the door, butterflies taking up all the space in her empty belly.

“Papa, Mummy.” She smiled and hugged them as they came in. “I just put pani on for your chai.”

“What about you?” her mother asked.

“I’m making my coffee.”

Her mother carried a brown grocery bag that Annika knew was filled with homemade food. “I brought some tepla. Go ahead and take it out. We’ll have some with chai.”