“You girls,” Mom mutters. “You have no idea what harsh even is. If you only knew the way my mother spoke to me, then you’d realize a thing or two. And we clearly have a problem here. Look at where we are!”

“You never un—” Natasha starts, but Suhani cuts her off.

“Yes, we are here. But we have to figure out a way to move forward.”

“I should have known something was wrong the day of Karan’s proposal.” Mom squints. “You never told me you were having doubts about him. You never tell me anything!”

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” Natasha yells. “What is wrong with you? All you care about is whether I get married!”

“Yeah, the Karan situation is not relevant right now,” Suhani says.

“Don’t you start with me. I know you also don’t tell me plenty of things.” Mom points to Suhani. “Both of you keep me out of the loop.”

“When have I kept you out of the loop?”

“Where do I even start?” Mom furrows her brows. “How about with that going-nowhere-in-life guy you were with at Emory? The dull one who played that stupid game with beer and Ping-Pong tables?”

“My college boyfriend?” Suhani asks. “What does he have to do with anything?”

“Oh yeah, that guy.” Natasha smirks for the first time since Suhani’s seen her.

“Is that funny to you? And I’m sorry, how did this become about me?” Suhani asks. “I’m just trying to help both of you calm down, as usual.”

Dad clears his throat.

“Yes?” Mom holds out her palms.

Dad scrunches his eyebrows and says, “I’m wondering if you’re all arguing because it makes this situation a little less painful.”

Zack nods and stays quiet, well aware that it’s better to not get involved in any arguments with the Joshi women. Suhani’s relieved her husband knows how to keep his cool regardless of whatever chaos might be swirling around him.

Anuj smirks.

“Is something funny?” Suhani asks.

“Dad has a point with his shrink talk.” Anuj smiles. “And it’s kinda nice seeing you guys just being you.”

“I’m going to second that,” Zack chimes in.

“Actually, now that you guys say it,” Natasha says, sighing, “this is the first time I’ve felt like myself since getting to this place.”

“Hello! Everything okay in here?” Dr. Chan’s bright, strong voice fills the space on the other side of the curtain.

Translation: I just heard you all yelling at each other.

“Of course,” Suhani says.

“Everything is good!” Mom says, her acting skills coming into full force.

Suhani returns Dr. Chan’s polite smile, wondering if things will ever really be good again.

Twenty-One

Bina

I’m so sorry, my betu.” Bina rushes back to Natasha after Dr. Chan leaves. “I don’t know how to handle this situation and I said things I shouldn’t have.”