Chapter 6
TANISHA
“Tani!” Yash Mamu called out the minute she reached the pool. “Come sit with me. We haven’t had a moment to catch up.”
Tani smiled, burying her aching heart and its myriad regrets, and plastering a smile on her face. She grabbed a bottle of water and sat down beside him and Maya Masi.
“So tell me your plans. Karam mentioned you were planning to start your own business.”
Right. Tani’s cheeks flamed at the thought of how recklessly she’d thrown away the chance to get her business off the ground.
“Yes, she is.” Aakash strolled over, a huge sausage speared on a fork in one hand. “She’s going to be working with me.”
Tani sneaked a look at her father’s grim face and decided deflection was urgently needed. “Umm yeah. I’m going to focus on that once the wedding is done.”
“But what is the business plan?” Yash pressed.
“Yash!” Maya laughed. “Give the girl a break. She’s getting married in a month. Tani, tell us more about Jay. Yash and I were travelling the last time you brought him home and missed out on getting to know him.”
“He’s…” Tani’s voice faded a little before she forced life into it. “Nice.”
Aakash stopped mid bite of his ginormous sausage. “Nice?”
“Nice?” Another voice joined the conversation as Kanak Maasi sat down on the lounger beside Tani. “Nice?” she said again, making a face. “What are we supposed to do with nice?”
“Hey,” Maya interjected. “I married nice.”
“So did I.” Aayushi called out from where she was dangling her legs in the pool.
“Yes but,” Kanak pulled a dubious face, “they’re more than just nice, aren’t they?”
“Cut it out Kan.” Shikha’s voice was firm. “Nice is sexy.”
“Eww, mom,” Rehan muttered from where he was floating in the pool on a giant, pink, swan shaped floatie. “Don’t say sexy.”
“The only reason you exist my love,” Shikha said, fixing her son with a steely look, “is because I found your father sexy.”
“EWWWW.” Tani and Rehan exclaimed in unison.
“The important question though,” said Rehan from the pool, his arms propped on the sides, “is does Tani find Jay sexy?”
Tani flushed a bright red as everyone turned to look at her. A second later, a hissing sound filled the air and Rehan toppled backwards into the water, the swan disintegrating beneath him.
“Don’t tease your sister,” Karam said mildly, swimming away from the deflated swan like he hadn’t just been responsible for its demise.
Advik chortled and high fived Karam as he pulled himself out of the pool and walked over to where his wife sat. He kissed her smiling mouth and murmured, “I find you very sexy too.”
Tani’s eyes blurred with sudden tears. Her parent’s marriage and their love for each other had been the foundation of her life. And she wanted the same for herself. It’s why this marriage to Jay made sense.
He made sense. He loved her. He wanted her. He chose her. And after years of being rejected by the man she loved, Tani just wanted, so badly, to be wanted.
“He’s a good guy,” she said softly. Everyone quietened as they turned towards her. “He’s got a good job, comes from a good family, and he loves me.”
It was only when she stopped talking that Tani realised she hadn’t said ‘I love him too.’ She opened her mouth to say it but the lie stuck in her throat, perishing unsaid.
For a long moment, no one spoke but then Maya said, “All that matters is that you’re happy, sweetie.”
“I am,” she insisted, blinking back annoying tears. “Very happy.”
“Sure don’t look it,” Advik muttered, hunching his shoulders when his mother, Maya, sent him a fierce glare. “She’s crying again!” he protested, wilting under her angry stare.
“They’re happy tears,” Tani muttered, tossing a towel in his face. “He’s nice.” There was that stupid word again. “He’s great,” she tried again, sounding even more lame.
“He seems decent enough,” Karam said from where he stood, towelling himself off. “But his parents are shady. I don’t think they approve of his choice.”
Rehan popped his head up from the pool, like a dolphin with an opinion. “Didn’t Nanu disapprove of you too?”
“Yeah,” Karam replied, deadpan. “Your Nanu’s shady too.”
“Karam!” Shikha remonstrated though she was laughing too hard to make an impact.
Tani was just grateful that the attention had shifted off her. Before anyone could say anything else, a deep throaty roar echoed in the distance, growing closer with every second. A huge smile split her face as a red Maserati hove into view.
It came to a stop, a few feet away from where they all sat, and the door opened. Vikram Thakkar stepped out and grinned at all of them. “Hello family.”
A loud volley of greetings and shouts exploded from them but none as loud as the one that came from his father.
“Who the fuck said you could drive my car?” Aakash roared.
“Chill Pops.” Vikram sauntered over. “Don’t give yourself a stroke in your old age.”
“My old age?” Aakash sputtered.
Vikram winked at his father as he walked over to pluck Tani up and crush her in a bear hug.
“That one takes after you,” Aakash muttered to Kanak.
“Yes, he does,” she agreed proudly.
“You’re getting married!” Vikram said now, drawing back to look at her, his perceptive gaze scanning her face and seeing more than she wanted him to. If there was one cousin who saw straight through her bullshit, it was this one.
“I am,” she agreed, smiling brightly. “You’ll get to meet him tomorrow. He’s coming down with some of his friends to spend time with everyone.” She looked beyond him to the car. “Where’s Vedika?”
Vikram’s smile dimmed. “She’s studying for an exam. Can’t take time off apparently,” he said, moving to hug Kimi who launched herself at him like a rogue missile.
“That one,” Kanak said caustically to Aakash, from behind them, “takes after you.”