NATASHA: Since when do you drink cheap wine? Or cheap anything?

PAYAL: Good point. And there you are! We haven’t heard from you in days.

NATASHA: Yea, sorry, been MIA because of working on stuff.

PAYAL: How are you? Did your mom come around?

NATASHA: No way. She’s still freaking out and taking it personally like she always does.

Payal and her mom have one of those mother-daughter relationships Natasha thought was only part of fables. They share everything with each other, rarely argue, and even go on trips together. Natasha’s always been intrigued and jealous of their Rory and Lorelai Gilmore vibes.

IFEOMA: Any word from Karan?

NATASHA: Nah. Don’t expect to hear from him, either. And my parents are still so pissed.

PAYAL: I bet. My mom told me to line up some dates after she heard about it. It’s like she thinks what happened to you is contagious and we’re all going to end up alone.

NATASHA: My mom is convinced I am. I’m sure she still has hope for the rest of you. At least you’re on the apps and Ifeoma is already part of a power couple.

Ifeoma met her boyfriend, Jordan, during her first year of law school at Emory. They live together in Decatur.

IFEOMA: You knew it wasn’t right for you. It’s like when Carrie knew she couldn’t end up with Aidan, so she wore his ring on her necklace and got all awkward and stuff.

NATASHA: True. Btw, do you realize how many shows work because none of the characters are children of immigrants? Carrie didn’t have her mom calling her every five minutes asking her when the wedding planning could start and if she could invite all ten thousand of her actor friends from Bombay.

PAYAL: LOL, true! What does Suhani think of all this?

Payal always wants to know what Suhani thinks. She’s a younger version of Suhani, pretty and premed.

NATASHA: She’s keeping her opinions to herself for now. I’m sure she’ll lecture me soon. Can’t even blame her. I thought I was going to have babies with that guy, y’all. Like literally, a little version of him.

PAYAL: I get it. You have to distract yourself so you stop thinking about him. What are you doing today?

NATASHA: Not much . . . you?

She could tell them. She should. But something holds her back. Maybe it’s a shift in perspective, a newfound awareness of how her life is in comparison to theirs. During her four years at Georgia State, Natasha couldn’t wait to be a real adult. She pictured her future as a bright and shiny thing, full of possibility. That kind of blind optimism might have been sweet and even a bit badass in college. Now it just seems pathetic.