Jia’s father was the first one to break the spell. “Mrs. Dixit,” he said, and the reverence in his tone startled Jia. She’d never heard her father speak like that to anyone. “You need no introduction. I am Mohammad Ahmed, this is my wife, Farzana, and our daughters, Jia and Ayesha.”
Shweta’s gaze moved over each of them. “You may call me Shweta,” she said in Hindi, and unfortunately, that exhausted most of what Jia knew in Hindi.
“Our daughters only speak English, unfortunately,” Farzana said regretfully, like it was her greatest shame in life that she hadn’t raised bilingual children.
Shweta raised one eyebrow. Damn. Jia only hoped her eyebrows remained that perfect when she got to Shweta’s age. “Not even Urdu?”
“No.”
“Hmm.” Shweta came down the stairs with an old world grace. “Did you have a good drive?”
“Lovely. We took the long way and drove all along the coast.” Mohammad’s voice was hoarse.
“How nice. Apologies for my appearance. I was repotting the plants on my balcony when I saw you arrive.”
“Please, we came off a long flight,” Farzana said. “We are the ones who are rumpled.”
Shweta looked between Jia and Ayesha. “Which one of you is Jia?”
Jia took a step forward. “I am.”
Shweta looked her up and down, and Jia felt stripped naked in that pause. “Hmm,” Shweta said again. “I like your dress. I wore that exact color to an award show last year. Bright colors are appropriate for a pretty girl like you.”
Jia blinked at the compliment. So much for her mom always trying to shove her into pastels. “Thank you.”
“Is your grandson not here to greet us?” Farzana’s forehead started to crease.
“I am afraid he went to the store. He expected you later. He’ll be here shortly. Why don’t we all go freshen up in the meantime?”
“Yes, that would be perfect.” Farzana nearly curtseyed.
Shweta turned to her employee. “Pinky, can you show the Ahmed family to their rooms please?”
Pinky inclined her head and they followed her up the stairs. When they got upstairs and looked out the huge windows, Mohammad let out a little hum, and Farzana and Ayesha gasped at the pure blue ocean in the backyard. Jia didn’t make a noise, but she was moved by the sight too. Oh, to wake up to that water every day.
Someday. When she owned her own makeup company, she’d buy a place like this. She’d give a lot to charity, she tacked on in her own head, and then she’d buy a place like this.
Their parents were shown to one room, and she and Ayesha were put right next door. Her sister didn’t even give Jia a chance to appreciate the view before she whirled on her. “I hate this.”
“So you’ve said.”
“No, I really, really hate this. This is a terrible idea, Jia.” Ayesha wrung her hands. “I can’t believe you’re going along with this engagement.”
“What’s the alternative? I tell everyone those texts aren’t between me and Dev?” Jia flipped open her suitcase and pulled out the dresses she’d bought to wear over the next couple of days. She hoped Shweta approved of the red shalwar kameez she’d chosen for dinner.
Ayesha stomped over to her own bag. “You could say you’re not engaged, at least. I’m worried about you, you doofus. I can totally see you getting married because you’re stubborn and don’t want to tell Mom that you screwed up.”
“Lower your voice,” Jia hissed. “You know she has, like, a sonar when it comes to us talking about her.”
Ayesha pulled out her clothes. “You know I’m right.”
“You’re not right. For the record, both Dev and I know we can pull out at any time before marriage. Or even after.” She almost tacked on a ribald joke, but Ayesha wasn’t in the mood. “And secondly, I’m not doing this to please Mom or anyone else.” She was past that. She was evolved now, thank you very much.
Pleasing herself caused way less stress than trying to please everyone else. It was like she’d taken a dial and turned down all the noise in her brain. She could finally hear herself think.
“I cannot believe you’re actually considering marrying him.”
Jia shrugged. “It wouldn’t be so bad. I could do a lot worse.”
“That’s not a ringing endorsement, that he’s not the worst you can do.”
“Okay, he’s probably the best I could do, is that better?”
Ayesha crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah? What’s so great about him?”
“He’s perfect.”
“No man is perfect.” Her sister said the words with such world weariness, she sounded like Rhiannon. When this was all over, Jia hoped she could introduce her family to her second family.
“He is. He’s kind and has this really dry sense of humor.” She paused. “He cracks me up, actually. He seems all stern at first glance, but underneath that seriousness, he’s a sweet pussycat. He let me win at Scrabble.” Jia shook her head. “And did it in such a charming way, it didn’t hurt my pride one bit.”
“Hmm. What else?”
Jia stretched to hang her clothes in the closet. “Oh, he’s great with his niece. She lives with him, and he is so patient. He takes her to school every day and helps her with her homework at night.”
“How does he feel about your work?”
“He loves it. He even takes photos for me. He treats me like I’m actually a serious businesswoman and not a—” She caught Ayesha’s look. “What?”
“Wait a darn second. You like him.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Ayesha clasped her hands over her mouth. “No. You liiiiiiiiiike him.”
Jia glared at her sister and shushed her. It wouldn’t do for their mom to hear she liiiiiiiiked her fiancé! “Very mature.”
“Oh my goodness.” Ayesha rested her arm on the bureau. “This is going to make a great storytime someday for you. Talk about content.”
Jia growled. “Quit it.” Quit telling the truth.
“What’s wrong? I think it’s sweet that you’re falling for the man you got maneuvered into a fake relationship with.” Ayesha squinted. “Weird, but sweet. Why didn’t you tell me this before? If you’d said, Ayesha, I’m madly in love with this man and can’t wait to make out with him, then I wouldn’t have worried. Of course I’ll help you close this deal now.”
Jia groaned. Sisters. “You stink. Why don’t you shower first?”
Ayesha’s mood had undergone a 180. She walked to the bathroom, whistling a jaunty tune. “Jia and Dev, sittin’ in a tree . . .” She ducked without turning around, and the pillow Jia had thrown smacked right into the wall. “Stop damaging your future in-law’s house,” Ayesha chided her.
“I’m gonna damage somebody. Hurry up.”
“Why, you want to see your fiancé?” Ayesha made kissing noises and crossed her arms over her chest until they wrapped around her.
Jia picked up another pillow, but Ayesha kicked the bathroom door closed on her laugh.