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Samir is not going to personally apologize to Manu. Had I really expected him to? Do the Singhs ever apologize to anyone? At least the maharanis know Manu was not to blame.

I feel Samir’s finger graze my cheek. I tilt my head away from him.

“Marriage to Jay suits you. I miss his friendship, but you can’t be friends when you’re in love with the same woman.”

My mouth falls open. Blood pounds in my ears. But I don’t dare turn around.

Twelve years ago, I would have welcomed those words. To know that he cared this much. Not today.

I can’t be having this conversation. I love my husband. I could have loved Samir, but Parvati staked her claim on him a long time ago. She makes the key decisions in their lives. And he lets her. Does that make him weak? Has he always been the less powerful Singh and I just never noticed? Or is he more perceptive than I give him credit for? After all, isn’t Parvati the one who always manages the disasters in the family?

I clear my throat. “Don’t try to contact Nikhil. Ever.”

From the back seat, I hear rustling. He’s opening a fresh pack of cigarettes. “Moving to America will help with that.”

I hear the flicking of the gold lighter. A stream of cigarette smoke fills the front of the car when he exhales.

Out on the cricket field, the game is over. The players are shaking hands with one another. Private-school etiquette. In the distance, Malik and Kanta are all smiles waiting for Niki to join them.

I hear the back door open. In the side mirror, I see Samir get out of the car and come to stand by my window.

“Samir?”

“Um?”

“If Manu is any indication of what Niki will grow up to be, Ralph Waldo Emerson was right.The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

I look up at him. He’s smiling at me. He gives me an army salute and ambles away.

29

MALIK

Jaipur

Once we all learn that Singh-Sharma is going make the Royal Jewel Cinema whole again and that Manu has been reinstated as director of Palace Facilities, we decide to celebrate with a feast. Saasuji has made her specialchole subjiand Niki’s favorite cake. Baju makesdal, rice, an okrasubjiand potatopakoras. Manu brings backbesan laddus, cashew burfiandkheerwith pistachios from the sweetshop. Neither Auntie-Boss nor I have had a chance to write letters back home this whole time, so we call Jay at home.

I hear Jay tell Boss that Nimmi and the kids are back home now because the heat is off; his commissioner chum has eliminated the danger.

I ask to speak to Nimmi.

“Today is Rekha’s birthday.” Nimmi sounds happy. In the background, I hear Rekha singing “Happy Birthday” to herself. “Dr. Jay and I have made a cake. And guess what?”

With a pang, I realize how much I’m missing not being in Shimla. “What?”

“I wrote Rekha’s name on it. In Hindi!” She laughs that lovely deep laugh of hers.

“You should see it! It’s so pretty!” Rekha has grabbed the phone from her mother. I laugh and tell her I have a present for her birthday. “A present?” she says before Nimmi takes the phone back.

“Please, Malik, no more crickets! We can’t find the one Rekha let out of the cage!”

I hear the smile in her voice and find myself grinning, imagining her face when I put the gold chain around her neck. Through the phone I hear Madho Singh exclaim, “Namaste! Bonjour!Welcome!” He must know they’re talking to me.

I hand the phone back to Auntie-Boss so she can say goodbye to her husband. She tells him, “We’re coming home tomorrow.”

As she hangs up, I say, “You saidwe.”

“I did.”