CHAPTER 10

By the next week, things were finally starting to settle into a rhythm. Nandani was regaining her sense of control post-summer. Aryaman had not texted lately and she figured he had got the message that she had no interest in rekindling a friendship. Or anything else.

Her class schedule was very well organized. She built in about three hours of study time daily, and still managed to find time to work on the business plan most evenings and weekends. On the odd days, she even made it to the gym or the beach with friends, Nandani's world was slowly starting to make sense again.

Even Manik was becoming part of the rhythm. He continued to make appearances in the mornings and she usually caught a ride at least once a week. She enjoyed his quiet company and was intrigued by the sense of humor that seemed to sneak out when no one was observing. To his credit he had also held up his end of the bargain so far, ignoring what had happened between them at the party.

By the fourth week, Nandani's mom called out of the blue. It was the first time that her mother had spoken to her after school had started. The message she had left on their answering machine, informing about her arrival from New York probably did not count.

Her mother informed her that "We have bought a new house," she said by way of introduction.

Nandani had not even known they were looking for one. The house she had lived in throughout high school was the 'Oberoi house.' It was only the second home she'd ever had, the only one after her Dad had left them.

Mom was going on about the new place. "It has a hot tub, and a dance studio for Sarah."

"Why are you moving?" Nandani asked.

"Since Karan (Nandani's stepfather) has become a partner in the firm, we need more space." What Mom meant was that she deserved more space, as the other partners had big houses. Mom also added that they would be moving after a month and so she wanted Nandani to come home and clean out her stuff. "We have storage at the new house. If you need to keep a few boxes they can go in the new garage." Maybe behind all the files.

Mom had met Karan through work when Nandani was about eleven years. At least, that was when she had started bringing him around. They were both lawyers. Karan was well known and respected in the legal community, and had just come off a divorce from his first wife at that time. He and Mom had gotten married within six months, after a whirlwind romance.

If the relationship between Nandani and her Mom were strained before her Dad left, it was fractured after he left. Some of their arguments were related to Nandani. Her father always argued with her mother, for he never wanted kids, a revelation her young mind struggled to process at nine years, especially as he had always been kind and loving. She thought he was the best Dad in the world. That was why Mom always blamed her for her father's desertion. Those were the worst years of Nandani's life.

But somehow things had changed with Karan and his daughter Sarah. Instead of being belittled, Nandani was mostly ignored now. She was the prototype daughter, a mistake acknowledged on holidays, and when tuition was due. Sarah was the refined model, who was always indulged and celebrated.

"Why don't you come home this weekend and go through your room?" Nandani knew better than to think it was a request. If she didn't comply, her belongings would likely become charitable property. While part of her wanted to protest that things were too busy, and her midterms were approaching soon, and she had to complete her assignments. she therefore agreed.

It was clear Godsend when her car would not start Friday afternoon while she was on her way to meet up with Alya on a study date. "Perfect," she said, while she banged her hand against the dash.

She walked out of the car and walked back inside. The heels that she had slipped on for the day were not meant for walking up to the bus stop, so she exchanged them with flats. Mukti stuck her head out of her room when she heard her. "I thought you were going out.

"My car won't start. Guess I am not going home tomorrow either."

Mukti looked sympathetic. "I think Manik is going home this weekend. You could accompany him for a ride?" The Malhotra's lived barely a mile away from her Mom. She used to walk that distance in high school.

Nandani messaged Alya to tell her she needed to catch the bus and would be late for the study date in the library, she then closed the front door and left. She headed towards the bus stop.

She then texted Manik.

"Mukti said you are going home tomorrow. Any chance I can hitch a ride?"

Manik's response came a minute later.

Three empty seats.

At least something was going right today.

****************

Manik picked her up on Saturday afternoon in the Chevrolet Chevette. He eyed the large suitcase she had in tow as she walked towards the car.

"Is this a one-way trip?" he asked.

Nandani told him about the move. "It is mostly empty," she explained, depositing it in the truck. "I need to bring some things back to school with me. My mom wants me to get rid of my belongings so they don't clutter her new house." Though she said it with a smile, it sounded bitter even to her ears.

Manik craned his neck to look behind her seat as he backed out of the driveway. "Sounds rough. Need help?" he asked her.

"No, but thanks. What are you doing at home this weekend? Homesick?" she asked him as they pulled out onto the main street. It was not busy on the road, thankfully.

Manik looked over at her. "Dad's doing some family financial planning. He wanted me to check it out." He continued, "It is also about some investments he has been thinking about."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but aren't you both engineers? Or one and a half engineers between the two of you, since you are a baby engineer.?" Nandani could not resist teasing a little. "You know they have actual financial planners out there," she said.

Manik turned to her and said with narrowed eyes. "Well, when we lose it all you can say 'I told you so' from your financial consultant office."

"I don't think fashion labels have consultants office. Especially not brand new ones." Something else clicked in the back of her mind. "Isn't your birthday around now?"

He glanced over. "Good memory. Yeah. Three weeks, though I am pleading out of the whole family party thing. Here is hoping they don't try and surprise me and Mukti with something."

"Yeah. Because once you are twenty-one, you have to watch your stress levels. You are in prime heart attack territory."

They continued talking the whole ride home, and it struck her again how easy their conversation was. The half-hour drive passed in the blink of an eye, and he pulled up in front of Mom and Karan's place in no time.

"Okay. I will pick you up tomorrow around noon?"

"Great. Thanks again." She waved to Manik as he pulled away.

Karan's place was a four-bedroom ranch-style house in a decent part of the town. It boasted of a well-appointed neighborhood with manicured lawns and nice families. It had never felt like a home for Nandani, though. Still, there was a room with her name on it. At least for a little while longer.

She didn't bother knocking. As it was always locked, even if people were home. She pulled a key from her purse and turned it in the lock.

The interior though familiar, but there were a few changes since she had last seen it a year ago. She felt strange as if she was walking into someone else's house.

The paint had been changed. Looked like Mom had been reinventing herself, Nandani thought.

The family pictures on the walls had not changed much. She knew if these pictures were counted she would be in a handful of them, and also those pictures which she hated. There was only a single-family picture with Nandani in it. Her step-sister Sarah was nearly in all the pictures. Her first pageant at age six, her first dance performance, her article in the dance magazine.

Footsteps sounded from the kitchen past the dining room. A petite girl appeared, clad in a cool summer dress. "Nandani! I did not know you were coming home." Sarah rushed over to hug her. As much as Sarah's perfection rubbed her the wrong way, she was quite sweet. Somehow Nandani could not hate her.

"Mom did not tell you?" Nandani asked. Sarah shook her head. Typical of Mom, she thought.

"How is school, Sarah?"

Her face scrunched. "Honestly? Too much math. It is kind of shitty."

"Pageant queens don't say shitty. Say... challenging. Or better use, character-building," Nandani said.

"Haha. I am sixteen. But you never visit, how would you know what I do or say anymore?" Sarah said.

Nandani felt a little guilty. Sarah was a sweet kid and it wasn't her fault that she was perfect. "Mom told me about the house. Asked me to come and pack," Nandani said.

"The house is great, isn't it? Did you see the pictures?" She was practically bouncing with energy. "There is a finished garage we are going to turn into a studio. Dad is going to start work on it in a few weeks so it will be done by the time we move in. How amazing is that?" Sarah told Nandani.

Sarah then informed Nandani, "They are out furniture shopping today." She then added, "I think they will be back for dinner tonight."

"I am just going to the mall with my friends. They will be picking me up in fifteen minutes. Do you want me to stay and help you instead?" As sweet as Sarah's offer was, Nandani wanted some alone time.

"No. It is okay. Thanks, though," Nandani added.