Annika teased her cousin with that same knowing look that had irritated her, the way only sisters can. Naya flushed and shot her a mild glare. There was a small lull in the conversation as Ravi and some of the guys went in search of more beer, and Annika could hear the aunties next to them talking.

“You wouldn’t believe—she was nearly three months along, and she missed.”

“Oh, hai. How terrible!”

Annika tensed. The accents were thick, and Annika could envision the hand movements and judgment-filled scowls that accompanied the words.

“Well, maybe for the best. She was engaged to a dhoriyo, and they broke up after she missed.”

They had to be talking about her. She was the only one who had been engaged to a white guy and had a miscarriage. How could they possibly know this? She felt the heat rise to her face, even as fresh tears pricked her eyes. Naya leaned imperceptibly toward her in support.

“Ah, so it was for the best that she missed.”

“That is why Usha-ben is so keen to get her married quickly, before all of this gets known, eh? They have even approached Poorvi Shah about her son. As if.” The auntie sniffed. “Who would give their son to such a girl? Pregnant before marriage? It is disgraceful.”

She felt Sajan tense beside her and heard Reena’s intake of breath. Poorvi Shah was his mother. There was only one Usha-ben in the group, and everyone knew she was Annika’s mother. Annika could not bring herself to look up at any of them. Twenty-seven years old, living on her own, working two jobs, but the shame of having a miscarriage and being dumped had her unable to make eye contact.

Before Annika realized what was happening, Naya had spun around to face the aunties. They exchanged glances and pursed lips, even as their faces flushed from being caught gossiping by the daughter of their host.

“You should be ashamed of yourselves, gossiping in such a manner in my parents’ home, about their niece!” Naya’s eyes were ablaze. “My cousin has done nothing disgraceful, nor should she be ‘grateful’ for her loss. It’s you who are disgraceful.”

The aunties had the decency to appear abashed as Naya reprimanded them, but as their gazes drifted over to Annika, she clearly saw their disdain. Daniel’s words came to her, clear as if he had been standing next to her: she had nothing to be ashamed of, and no one should make her feel so. Annika turned and looked them in the eye, forcing her chin up in defiance she hardly felt, daring them to continue judging her. Maybe they were right. She had dodged a bullet in Steven—he wasn’t right for her—and maybe it had been careless to get pregnant before she was ready. But she’d be damned if she was going to let them know that.