Roshan clutches the bell of his stethoscope, which is looped around his neck. Suhani tries to ignore the tightness in her chest as Dad’s eyes dart back and forth between her and Roshan. This guy could have been in their family. For a second, she imagines the three of them meeting at Atlanta Memorial, running through their days, then going home together for a big family dinner. Mom would tell jokes in Gujarati. Anita Auntie would stop by and say she hoped Karan grew up to be like Roshan.

Dad, clearly noting it’s a good time to exit the conversation, says, “Okay, then. Good to see you. I’m going to find the attending psychiatrist on call.”

“Look, I have to go,” Suhani says.

“What’s wrong?” Roshan asks.

Suhani plans to answer with a curt Nothing or Don’t worry about it but because of the sheer emotional weight of the day finds herself saying, “My sister’s going to be admitted to psych.”

“What? Natasha?” Roshan’s eyes widen. “I’m so sorry. I hope she’s okay. If there’s anything I can do . . .”

Suhani had forgotten that Roshan always had a soft spot for Natasha. Both of them identified as misunderstood middle children, could get easily riled up, were able to shift from being charming one second to angry the next, and had a tendency to hit below the belt during fights.

As her gaze locks with his, she realizes that they never truly let each other go, at least, not in the way they should have. Maybe he had a point that day in his office. She ran away and never told him why. And maybe that made them hold on to their relationship far longer than they ever should have.

“There isn’t.” Suhani shakes her head. “But thanks.”

She can hear Mom and Natasha fighting before she even reaches Natasha’s bed.

“What’s going on here?” Suhani asks as she shifts the curtain toward the wall. Dad is shaking his head, his go-to move when he’s frustrated with their arguing. Zack is drawing an imaginary figure eight with his sneakers. Anuj is staring off into space.

“Mom freaking said that my comedy is the reason I’m here! Can you believe that?”

“I didn’t say that.” Mom raises her palms into the air. “I was just saying that maybe such an unstable career path isn’t the best thing right now.”

“You know what, Mom?” Natasha challenges. “Just because you didn’t make it as an actress doesn’t mean you have to ruin things for me.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Suhani says. “Look, there are a lot of heated emotions right now, but let’s all just take a second, okay? Natasha, Mom isn’t blaming your comedy for what happened. Mom, maybe you should think about how your words can be a little harsh and maybe it’s better to say nothing right now.”