Page 24

Five Sisters

Padma was beginning to wonder if perhaps she was too preoccupied with height. Both requiring it of her prospective husband and providing the illusion of it herself. Aware of the tricks to elongate the female form, her mother had advised she always wear either vertical stripes, small print patterns, V-necks, or monochromatic color schemes and always, always wear heels. Even her bedroom slippers were wedges.

Padma stretched out her calves while the hostess confirmed her table, and then followed the perky ponytail as it cut a path through the restaurant’s bar. Patrons quietly swirled ice in their cocktails as Padma passed, their eyes riveted to the silent television screen broadcasting a wide shot of Coast Guard vessels returning to the marina where Hank had kept his boat. Padma checked the breaking news banner to see if there had been any developments, but it scrolled along the bottom of the screen still declaring “Search Continues.”

She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. With Hank presumed dead, this was peculiar timing to be meeting Akshay, the first of The Matchmaker’s candidates. Padma had contemplated making an appearance at the marina in support of Hank’s wife, but her mother had put the situation in perspective—Hank was probably dead and not coming back. “No point crying over spilled milk,”

her mother had said. Plus, assessing the marina lawn on the TV, Padma had to admit her heels would most likely sink into the grass, and she could break an ankle. She decided that was a risk she wasn’t prepared to take; she needed to be in top form if she was going to outmaneuver her mother in her love life and career.

For the sake of efficiency, Padma had decided if her date was completely unattractive, she would thank him for trying and wish him good night. But as she approached Akshay’s table, he stood to greet her, and her heart skipped a beat and her armpits became slick with sweat.

“Oh. We’re hugging.”

Padma wore a fitted, low-cut, red-crepe, knee-length dress, bright-red lipstick, and her high heels.

He kissed her cheek, then bobbed to the other side.

“Oh. And kissing too.”

She was mortified at the sound of her own giggle.

Akshay was tall enough, his hairline was respectable, and his teeth seemed adequate, so she decided she could definitely order. She sat back, ready to be wooed.

They talked about his flight from Mumbai, his hotel, the menu.

Dinner arrived.

Then he talked about movies Padma hadn’t seen, books she hadn’t read, news stories she hadn’t followed, and TV shows she’d never heard of. He didn’t know any Real Housewives in any city and hadn’t even downloaded TikTok. He yawned, and Padma, not to be outdone, yawned wider. The dessert menu arrived. Padma craned her neck to see if there were any updates on the bar’s television screen, but programming had changed to a baseball game. She and Akshay both scanned the other diners in the restaurant.

Akshay asked, “Do you have any siblings?”

Padma waved. “I have a brother, but he’s married, and I never see him anymore. His wife doesn’t like me.”

Padma shrugged. “Most women don’t, unfortunately. They can be so jealous.” Padma took a sip of her wine, fiddled with her bracelet, put her hands in her lap, and looked across the table to find Akshay looking back. She started a bit. “Oh. Do you have siblings?”

He kept his gaze steady on her. “Thank you for asking. I have five sisters.”

Padma gulped. Then flashed her new smile. Padma had recently realized her bottom teeth were perfectly straight, yet when examining photos of herself, she noticed those teeth were perpetually hidden. So she had been practicing widening her smile to be sure they were seen. She waited for Akshay’s next question and was surprised when he raised his hand and called for the bill.

She would email The Matchmaker first thing in the morning to say Akshay was rejected.