Chapter Twelve
“How’s it going?” Roshan was FaceTiming his sister.
“Great,” she said.
He studied her face for signs of fatigue.
“I know what you’re doing,” she said.
“So?”
“So I said I was fine. Take my word for it. And stop calling me every day. It’s weird.”
“What’s weird about calling your sister?” This was a common point of discussion. Roshan was used to it.
“It just is. Other siblings don’t talk every day.”
“We aren’t other siblings,” he countered.
“I wish we were,” she said softly.
“Well, I’d like to say that your sunny disposition and sarcasm is a sign of health, but you’re like this during chemo as well.”
She grinned. “I’m a joy to be around. How’s Hawaii?” She furrowed her brow. “You seem different—sad. Who gets sad in Hawaii?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “Look.” He panned the phone so she could see the ocean.
“Wow!” She pouted. “You should have let me come.”
“On a guys’ trip?” He furrowed his brow.
“It’s not guys. It’s Vishal and Karan. They’re like my bonus brothers. But you’re right. I should go with my friends in the summer.” She grinned widely.
“Yeah. We’ll see.” His turn to pout.
“Oh, I’m not asking you,” she said, matter-of-fact. “Tickets will be purchased tomorrow.”
He said nothing, but panic filled him. “We’ll talk when I get home.”
She just shrugged. “You sure you’re okay? Did you meet a girl, and she ditched you?”
He stared at the phone. There was no way she knew. And just like that, an incoming call saved him. “Mom’s calling,” he told her.
“Bye, Bhaiya,” she singsonged. Not a good sign. Singsong voice meant she was likely up to something.
A pit filled his stomach.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, Beta. Just checking if you’ve been able to reach Malini. We called, and she didn’t pick up.”
He assured them he was checking in on her.
His mother smiled. “You’re such a good brother to check on her even on vacation.”
“That’s his job.” His father beamed.
That it was. “Okay. Vishal and Karan are waiting on me.”
His parents wished him well and signed off.
* * *
Malini was born with a sense of adventure. Roshan saw it as soon as his parents brought her home. She was in constant motion, even when she couldn’t move around. And she tracked his every move. He adored her.
Thanks to his diligent instruction, she walked at eight months. By the time Malini was in kindergarten, she had a true love of the playground, where she amassed scrapes and scars from just about every piece of equipment.
When she was seven, they found out she was sick.
Bruising and bleeding were now threatening monsters, not endearing or even the sign of rough-and-tumble play. No more playground.
Roshan, at fifteen, was frantic with worry, tried to do everything to help his panicked parents.
As soon as he turned sixteen, he got his license and took over driving her anywhere she needed to go.
He was driving her home from school one day when they passed by the park.
She had been in and out of the hospital for months.
She was finally back at school for a bit.
“Bhaiya. Let’s go to the playground.” Malini had gazed out the car window with such longing that it hurt Roshan to say no.
“Um. No. You could fall and hurt yourself. And we can’t have that right now.”
“Please, Bhaiya? It’s been forever. And you’ll be with me.” She had turned those huge hazel eyes on him, and he softened.
“Fine. Ten minutes. And no monkey bars.”
Her face lit up, and it warmed his heart. Malini looked truly happy for the first time in a long time as she literally jumped out of the car and ran to the monkey bars while Roshan was still getting out of the car.
“I just said, no monkey bars.” He shook his head and laughed at her as he made his way over.
“It’s okay, Bhaiya!” She was still saying his name when she fell. Roshan ran but was too late to catch her. She hadn’t fallen from too high, but it was enough to break her ankle.
He sat in the waiting room with his head in his hands while his parents spoke to the doctor. Malini would need a cast and some time in the hospital. He never should have let her go to the playground. This was all his fault.
His parents came out of her room, their faces pale.
“Roshan. This is unacceptable,” his father had said.
“You are supposed to look out for her,” his mother added.
“When she is in your care, she is your responsibility.” His father had glared at him. “See to it that this kind of thing never happens again.”
Roshan had been ashamed. His parents were right, it was his responsibility as a good older brother to see to it that Malini stayed unharmed. He nodded. “Of course. This will not happen. Ever again.”
Roshan took that diligence with him into every aspect of his life. It had made him a great doctor and provided him with scaffolding, so he was always in control.
* * *
The next day, Nimita was prepared for Finn. She had spent the night reviewing what Neha had taught her and studying how to train dogs. Delayed gratification would take some time, but it was possible. Though she supposed that would be the owner’s problem to deal with.
Nimita just needed Finn to not drag her into the ocean with him. She dressed in athletic shorts and sports bra and headed for the dog part of the beach. As soon as he saw the ocean, he took off, Nimita in tow.
Not again!
Nimita still couldn’t get him to stop, and into the water they went.
At least this time, Nimita was able to hang on to the leash.
She also noticed that Finn didn’t seem like he wanted to swim all the way out to sea.
He turned around toward the shore when he noticed her saying his name and trying to get him to heel.
They returned to shore, both soaking wet. Nimita had brought a few towels, so she laid one out for them to sit on. Might as well dry off in the sun.
“Oh my God.” A woman’s voice sounded from behind her, and Finn was off and running. Nimita jumped up and turned around to find Finn being cuddled by a beautiful woman. Finn clearly knew this person.
“Um, hi!” Nimita said.
“Oh hi!” The woman looked up and smiled at her while Finn licked her face. “You must be the dog sitter.”
“I’m actually helping the dog sitter with walks,” Nimita said.
The woman sat on the sand, and Finn curled up beside her. She frowned. “I totally could have done the walks,” she murmured.
“I’m sorry, how do you know this dog?” Nimita asked, suddenly wary, no matter how comfortable Finn was with this woman.
“I’m Molly. And Finn is kind of my dog.”
“What?” What an odd thing to say. Maybe the woman was confused.
“Well, he’s my roommate’s dog.” She hugged the golden hard.
Molly seemed sweet and definitely knew Finn.
All eighty pounds of him was as curled up as an eighty-pound dog could be in anyone’s lap.
And Molly was quite petite. She was wearing running shorts and a sports bra.
Her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail that swung jauntily from the back of her baseball cap.
Her skin was golden brown, and she had eyes to match. She was beautiful.
“Why is Finn with my cousin? The dog sitter, I mean,” Nimita asked.
“That is a great question,” Molly said with an odd note of sarcasm.
“Basically, my roommate is away, and things are kind of hectic in my life. We agreed to let Finn have a little vacation with Neha, and I’ve been regretting it—not leaving him with Neha but sending him away at all. I miss him so much!”
“What do you do?” Nimita motioned for her towel, and both Molly and Finn moved over.
“I’m a kindergarten teacher,” Molly stated with pride. “It really is the most fun job in the world.”
Nimita smiled. It was hard not to, Molly’s energy was contagious. “That’s fantastic.”
“The kids are hilarious and so curious.” She shrugged with what could only be contentment. “The parents, though…” She rolled her eyes.
“Tough?”
She nodded. “I don’t blame most of them, but some are just off-the-hook.” She shook her head. “What about you?”
“I’m between jobs,” Nimita said, trying out the phrase for the first time.
“So that’s why the dog walking.” Molly nodded knowingly, and without judgment.
“I don’t get paid for that. Just helping out my cousin.”
“That’s nice of you.”
Nimita shrugged.
“It is. Own it,” Molly insisted.
Nimita laughed. “Thank you.”
Molly stood. “I should go. Still need a shower before school starts.”
“Did you want to join me to walk Finn? Like tonight?” Nimita asked. She was drawn to this young woman who seemed strong and carefree. Besides, it would be nice to have someone to talk to, since Reena didn’t seem interested.
Molly’s grin as she dusted sand off her clothes was brilliant. “That would be so nice.”
“Great. I’ll meet you here,” Nimita said.
Nimita took Finn home and did a rinse and repeat of yesterday. Her father was eager to be useful once more. Though Nimita had told him to be ready ahead of time, so the soap, the sponge and the towels were all laid out when she arrived. Reena was being overprotective.
True to her word, Molly met her and Finn on the beach later that evening. Interestingly, Finn did not bolt for the water when Molly was around. They walked along the beach, allowing Finn off leash to play in the ocean, and he seemed content enough to stay at the edges.
“How come he doesn’t bolt for the water when you’re here?” Nimita asked.
Molly chuckled. “Did he take you down?”
“Twice,” Nimita said. “I came prepared.” She motioned to her tote which had multiple towels in it.
“Bhaiya and I worked on training Finn about the ocean. If he takes off with you, it’s because he’s trying to see what he can get away with.”
Nimita shook her head. Reminded her of Reena when she was little.
“So what jobs are you between?” Molly asked.
“I was a flight attendant for Wanderlust.”
Molly’s eyes bulged in admiration. “That sounds amazing—you got to travel all over!” She stared at her for a minute. “You do look familiar.” Her eyes widened. “Are you—?” Molly stopped herself but pulled out her phone. “Wait. No. Way.”