Page 118 of Born in Sin

Silence fell over the room as they all stared at Cara’s apparently gassy stomach.

“Umm so wine?” Dhrithi asked, holding the tray out.

Everyone took a glass each, Cara picking hers up with her left hand.

“A toast?” Dhrithi smiled around at their circle. “We can go around and everyone can tell us what they want to toast to?”

Amay raised his glass. “To finally seeing my father behind bars.”

Dhrithi tapped her glass to his. “To justice for all those women who suffered.”

Ishaan raised his glass. “To having the least assholeish father. Good to know that he was only a bankrupt drunk.”

A low rumble of laughter spread around their circle as Mayukhi tipped her glass with hers. “To dressing my new celebrity bestie for the Met Gala someday.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Cara laughed, raising her own glass. “To friends and family of the heart.”

Virat tapped his glass to hers, met the gazes of all his friends and murmured, “To chosen family.”

“To chosen family,” they all echoed.

It was only much later, when they left Amay’s apartment that Virat asked her, “You’ve still got it?”

She gave him a smug smile and pulled the trophy out of her sweatshirt. “I told you, I’m a swift, graceful gazelle.”

“A gassy gazelle.”

They were still laughing when they stumbled through the door of Virat’s home. Love, laughter, loyalty, all things they’d fought to have in their lives. All things they’d never take for granted. Ever. From this lifetime to the next, a silent toast, a prayer, and a hope.

‘To chosen family’.