Chapter Twenty-Two #2
Rhea smiled. “Cute. Are you two a couple? Are there wedding bells in the air?”
“Only if I get a concussion soon,” Sejal muttered. She might be digging Krish more than she’d thought she would, but she still
didn’t see herself as a marrying gal.
“Ah, too bad. A crisis really brings out the best or the worst in a man, and it seems that he has helped you quite a bit,
so it must be the best in his case. Nice body, interesting face, pretty eyes.”
Sejal looked out at Krish again. He had all those things, and a kindness she’d never experienced anywhere else. “I thought
you said to beware of men with light eyes.”
“Did I? That sounds rather reverse colorist of me— Oh wait. That must have been when I was dating that Kapoor fellow. Very
obnoxious, even for an actor.”
“Which Kapoor— Actually, never mind.” The story would take longer than they had.
Rhea lowered her voice. “I shouldn’t have blamed the individual, it’s all systemic and tied to colonialism in the end. People
can be so toxic about celebrating more Eurocentric features, you know?”
“Yeah, I get it. But Krish doesn’t think he’s beautiful, actually.”
“Oh.” Rhea thought for a moment. “Is he too poor to afford a mirror? It’s okay, Sejal, I gave you enough jewels for you to keep a man in style if you need to.”
Sejal couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, he’s fine. And I actually used your jewels for my friend. He had some debt, and he’s
sick.”
Rhea’s face changed, softened. “That sounds like a solid use of your inheritance.” Her aunt turned back to the tea cart and
helped herself to a tea bag. She dropped it into a mug. “Tea for you? It’s not chai, but it’ll do.”
Sejal inhaled. In the banter, she’d nearly forgotten. “No, I don’t want tea. I’m pissed at you.”
Rhea’s back tensed. “Yes, I can see that. I was hoping a grand gesture with Alexei would help ease your anger. I’ve realized
in the past few years that I don’t want to leave this world with you being mad at me. Especially because I don’t even know
what I did to earn that anger.”
Sejal rubbed her neck. “You were yourself.”
Rhea turned to face her, mug in her hands. There was no water in it, but she cradled it as if it would warm her. “Ouch.”
“You were supposed to be better than us,” Sejal exploded. “You were our role model, our way out, our aspiration. And then
I find out you were a thief like our parents, as corrupt as the others, and someone else I had to keep a secret for.”
To her credit, Rhea didn’t tear up or flinch from Sejal’s anger. “You’re right. I thought I was protecting you.”
“You were lying to me.”
“Only about what I did for a living. Why did your feelings have to change because I happened to steal a few things here and
there?”
“How can I be sure of that? How can I be certain that you only lied about that and nothing else?”
Her aunt took a step toward her. “Sejal. What else do you think I lied about?”
“About . . . about you and our dad actually loving us.” The words hurt. “He would have given us up if it weren’t for you forcing
him to keep us. Admit that he didn’t love us, that it was another thing you lied about.”
Rhea looked down at the floor, then back up at her. “Yes. He was a shitty father. And if he did love you, as I believe he
did, I admit that he did not show it. Perhaps . . . I couldn’t ever face that. Perhaps I forced him to keep you because I
was selfish. I didn’t want to give up my lifestyle, but I also didn’t want you to go into the system.”
“And this Alexei nonsense. Dad wasn’t really trying to avenge me.”
“It’s true Vassar hated Alexei, and he was happy to stick it to him.” Her eyes shone. “But yes . . . he was mostly excited
about the treasure at the end of the hunt.”
Satisfaction ran through Sejal. Finally. Finally, here was someone saying what she and Mira had always believed, and validating
their feelings about their terrible, no-good parent.
It didn’t feel good to not have had her father’s love, but it did feel good to be told she hadn’t imagined her whole childhood.
“I, however, did not lie about me. I do love you dearly. You and your sister. I stole that money to show you my love. And
to absolve my guilt, probably, for not taking you in and settling into suburbia and raising you properly when you were children,
as I should have.” Rhea lowered her head. “I am sorry, Sejal.”
Sejal took a step forward, then another, until she was standing right in front of her aunt. “You weren’t our parent any more than I was Mira’s mom. You did your best for two kids you didn’t ask for.” As she said the words, acceptance moved through her. Acceptance of Rhea, and of herself.
“I didn’t ask for you, but I was very happy to have you,” Rhea said quietly. She looked up into Sejal’s face, eyes swimming.
“This money I took from Alexei, it needs to go through some cleaning, but I’d like to make sure you get it.”
Sejal had never turned down money in her life, but she shook her head. “You know Mira had a kid?”
Rhea sniffed. “Of course. Just because I’m not nearby doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention.”
“You could be nearby, though, right? I mean, if the trial is over, if you have money, you don’t need Witness Protection. You
have ten million dollars. Surely that could buy you a more normal life. And you could see Mira, and her baby, every now and
again. I think she’d like that.”
Rhea grew still. “And what about you?”
What about her? Sejal didn’t know. “I’m already less mad. Give me some time. I’m becoming kind of a softy, I think, in my
old age.”
Rhea blinked rapidly. “Ten million dollars can’t really buy me peace or protection.” She pulled out her phone and typed something
on the screen. Then she nodded in satisfaction. “But another fifty should. If anything, they’ll blame Alexei for that, too.”
Sejal awkwardly opened her arms, and Rhea stepped into them. They hugged for a long moment, and Sejal accepted her aunt stroking
her hair. Other than Krish, no one had touched her like this in forever. Not in a nurturing way.
“I learned how to make chai.” Her words were muffled into her aunt’s shoulder.
“Did you?”
“Mmm. Krish’s mom taught me.”
“Excellent. It’s never too late to learn something new.” Rhea sniffled.
They finally parted, and Sejal’s arms felt empty. Rhea indicated Krish. “What is this about Krish’s brother?”
Sejal gave her aunt a quick summary. Rhea shook her head when she was done. “I feel bad for him. I know what it’s like to
be a victim of your mother.”
“I feel bad for him, too.” Annoying Avi. If Krish’s brother had been here, she would have drop-kicked him herself.
“There is someone who might know what happened with the brother, if you’d like to help Krish find some closure.” Rhea made
a face. “But I’d rather you not see her ever again.”
Aw, fuck. Sejal grimaced as well. “She’s not far from here, is she?”
“No. If you want to go visit, I can make it happen, but I worry about you, Sejal.”
She was worried about herself, too. As she watched Krish on the balcony, rubbing the back of his neck, she thought of him
staunchly defending his brother, even against his own mother.
The asshole had sold her location to Alexei, so Sejal wasn’t super sympathetic to Avi, but Krish did need that closure.
Besides, what could Rushali do to her? She couldn’t kidnap her daughter again from behind bars, right? Sejal straightened
her spine. “Pull those strings, Auntie.”
“Are you sure?”
You guys agreed that after Alexei was neutralized, you’d go your separate ways.
“Yes. I owe him.” And she didn’t want to say goodbye to him.
“Very well. Give me an hour or so.” Rhea’s smile was watery. “It’s the least I can do. You two head on out. I’ll make sure everything is tied up here.”
They embraced again. “Will I see you soon?”
“I’ll do my best. But whenever you need me, you know how to call me.” She tapped Sejal’s pendant. “I’m happy to see you wear
this necklace, as well. It gives me peace, to know I can protect you even when I’m not with you. Now. Go.”
Sejal went to the balcony. “Hey. Ready?”
Krish looked over his shoulder. The sun was just starting to rise, revealing the dark circles under his eyes. “Where are we
going?”
She held out her hand. “To see the ex-head of Cobra.”