Chapter 47

They sat in silence for a few minutes. "It cannot be that simple, can it? Feeling this way makes the rest of the problems disappear?" Nandani asked Mukti.

"It might not make the rest disappear, but maybe it makes it worth fighting for?" Mukti replied.

"But what about what he did to us? I mean, does a website just cancel out everything he said to your parents?" Nandani asked Mukti.

"I don't know, Nandani," Mukti said gently. Then she bit her lip. "But I spoke to Dad and Mom when I got back from New York, and apparently at the start of Christmas break Manik told them he had violated. That they should let me do what I want. Apparently, his exact words were 'if anyone can make a living selling overpriced skirts, it is those two.' So for what it is worth, it sounds like something shifted for him. I would be willing to bet that was you," Mukti told Nandani.

Manik-knows-best, had actually admitted he was wrong? Had practically intervened for them? Huh, Nandani thought.

"I know I have no right to say this, but I think he really cared about you, Nandani." Mukti was serious. "He must have. Whatever you said to him in New York, affected him big time. I don't know if you can come back from that, but maybe you can. If that is what you want."

The thoughts were running a mile a minute through Nandani's brain. Manik had been out to sabotage them. But for how long? And he had done it to protect his family. Then there was the website... which he had not even tried to use to get her back. What did that even mean?

"You are awfully quiet, Nandani. You know 'quiet' scares me," Mukti said.

Nandani took a deep breath. "I am just a little dumbfounded. You are right, it does change things. At least for me. But I was pretty hard on him, Mukti. If only you would have heard me." Manik and her conversation came back in her mind, the accusations and shortness. Even thinking of it made her wince. "I don't know if I can take back what I said."

"It kind of sounds like a face-to-face conversation, doesn't it? But you could call him. Just to let him know you are thinking about him, maybe see if you can talk?" Mukti advised her.

After Mukti left, giving her a big hug on the way out, Nandani paced for probably an hour. Glared at her mobile on the desk for another several minute, as if it was going to reveal the answers for her. Finally, she grabbed it and sat down in the corner of her room, legs tucked under her. She hit Manik's number on her phone, still on speed dial, and held her breath. She was not even sure what she would say.

Turns out it didn't matter. The phone rang four times then went to voicemail. She listened to his voice, which somehow lifted and crushed her heart at the same time, then hung up.

**********

After sleeping on it, Nandani was more convinced than ever that everything had changed with the website and Mukti's admission. And the more she thought about Crystal's advice the more empowered she felt. Even before launching, they had done everything they could for the label and the pieces were all coming together. A new fear had entered her mind, What if they were successful? Did she want to have a fashion empire completely alone, especially when there was someone special nearby who could make everything seem better? Now Nandani had a plan.

She worked up what she was going to say. Practiced it. But it would not matter if she was just saying it to herself.

So next she tried texting. Hi. are you around?

It was the most inadequate text ever. After the first hour, she stopped waiting for a reply. After the first day, her fear of not knowing what to say when he texted back was overcome by a sense of sadness thinking he just would not text back.

The next day Mukti tried him. "He is not responding to me either." She offered. It was part comfort, part apology.

"Tell you what. Let us spend the rest of spring break with my parents," Mukti told Nandani. She actually meant on the off chance Manik would stop by.

Nandani gratefully agreed.

When they entered the house, Neyonika Aunt greeted them. "Hi girls. This is a nice surprise."

Mukti did not waste time. "Mom, is Manik here?"

Neyonika looked between Nandani and Mukti for a moment. "No, honey. He had been shortlisted for an 'Engineers Without Borders' trip over spring break. It came through at the last minute. He will be back on Sunday night. I am surprised he did not tell you."

It was not a huge mystery as to why he had not, Nandani felt.

"I am going to go take my bag to my room. Are you coming?" Mukti asked Nandani.

"Actually, Nandani, can you help me with something in the kitchen first?" Neyonika asked.

Nandani shrugged and nodded. She followed Neyonika to where she was putting the finishing touches on a quiche (French tart consisting of a pastry crust filled with savory custard and pieces of cheese, meat, seafood, or vegetables.) "Put some tea on?" Neyonika asked. Nandani complied, moving easily around the familiar space.

Neyonika did not look up from where she was adding cheese to the top of her creation. "I know it is not my place, but I heard about you and Manik. At least, I heard there was a break-up."

Nandani tried to keep moving but inside she was frozen, hanging on to her words. How had she known?

"I am sorry it did not work out. We adore you, and you would have been wonderful for him. You are already practically a daughter to us, Nandani. I hope you know that?" Aunt Neyonika said.

Nandani swallowed. "Thanks, Aunty." Something in her swelled up to hear that Neyonika felt that way. "He was actually pretty good for me too," Nandani replied.