A knot of dread forms in her stomach as she sees Anita and Karan standing behind Jiten. Anita stares at the ground while Karan’s gaze goes straight to Natasha. Bina feels the weight of sadness settle over her. It’s unnatural to not run toward Anita and hug her, tell her how wonderful it is to see her.

“Hey,” Natasha says to Karan.

Go, Natasha! Bina’s proud of her daughter for not letting the sheer awkwardness push her into silence, the way it has for Bina.

“Hello,” Karan says.

“How are you? What have you been up to?”

“Just the usual.” Karan’s curt in a way Bina has never seen in all the years she’s known him. Why couldn’t he and Natasha have worked things out? What was so bad that things had to end this way?

Bina forces herself to bury the questions as Natasha steps toward Karan.

“Just the usual? Are you really going to act like we don’t know each other?” Natasha’s eyes flash before she mutters, “That’s really mature.”

“Mature? Mature?” Karan asks. “You’re telling me about being mature? That’s rich!”

Everyone’s necks turn to Karan, then Natasha, then Karan again. It’s like they’re all watching a painful tennis match. A few wedding guests, including their elderly neighbors, slow down to take in every detail. Bina gives them a look that she hopes indicates there’s nothing to see here.

Natasha steps toward Karan again. “Maybe we can ta—”

“I’m going to grab a drink.” Karan cuts her off and makes a straight dash to the bar.

Bina gives Anita a forced, awkward laugh. “It’s good to see you.”

“You, too.” The sadness that was in Anita’s eyes at the health fair is still there, but today it’s submerged under a layer of regret. Her silver-streaked hair is pulled back in a low bun, and she’s wearing a silk olive-green sari. The expression on her face and her outfit suddenly make her look older, like the type of woman who has had a difficult life. Bina wants to ask her if she’s okay, if she’s been sleeping and taking care of her self.

Talk to me, Bina wants to say. I’m here for you.

But Anita looks away as if she’s distracted by something on the purple carpet. For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, Bina understands how a friend can break your heart in a way nobody else can.

Anita nods and puts on a tight smile as she calls for Kavita, who is dipping a samosa in chutney. Bina can’t believe that in a matter of minutes, she, Anita, Kavita, and Mira will be sitting next to one another. For once she hopes the speeches and dance performances are long so she doesn’t have to make too much small talk.