“Well, I’m fine now,” Anuj says. “Or at least, better. I get annoyed with Natasha sometimes, especially in the past weeks. And then I’ll take a second and remember that she may seem tough but she really is fragile in lots of ways.”

It occurs to Bina that everyone in their family has this with each other: moments of frustration followed by moments of forgiveness. Maybe that daily push and pull is what sustains a family over time.

“Yes. She is,” Bina agrees. “You know, I was just feeling bad because I was glad you’re the one I’m able to discuss this with. If Natasha was home right now, she’d get so defensive that she wouldn’t even hear anything I was trying to tell her.”

“Yeah, but, Mom, do you think that’s all her fault?” Anuj’s tone is gentle as he shifts to face her.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re all really hard on her sometimes, harder than we are on anyone else,” he says. “I kind of get why she doesn’t always feel accepted with us.”

“So you’re saying this is our doing?” Bina asks.

“I’m saying it’s complicated,” Anuj says. “I mean, c’mon, Mom. If you really ask yourself honestly, can you say that you parented all three of us the same?”

As a toddler, Anuj would ask things that could have gone into an episode of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday: Why are we on the planet? Why do you care about how you look? Can’t everyone just be nice to each other?

Bina slumps in the recliner as she considers his questions. She’s always focused so much on how different her children are. But is it possible that she gave all her children different proportions of her regrets, resentments, and reliefs?

The three-toned chime of the doorbell fills the house.

“Who could that be right now?” Bina asks Anuj, who shrugs in response and says, “I’ll go check.”

A second later, he yells, “Mom!” from the foyer.

Before Bina can fold her blanket and throw away the empty biscuit sleeve, Mira, Kavita, and Mona walk into the living room. Mira’s holding a steel thermos. Kavita is balancing a cake dish in her hands.

“What are you all doing here so early?” Bina asks.

“We were all awake and wanted to make sure you’re okay after yesterday,” Mira says. “I’m sorry I showed you Natasha’s video. I shouldn’t have. It couldn’t have been easy to see that.”

Anuj gives a quick hi and bye to the aunties, then goes to his room.

“Don’t apologize.” Bina puts her hand up. “It was already out there. Not your fault she went and did that.”