“Yeah?”
He pulled the small box out of his pocket, opened it quickly, and held it out in front of his body.
—
The blood rushed from Meghna’s head.
He bought a ring?And not just any ring. A dream ring. Thin gold band. Sparkling oval diamond. She swallowed. A huge diamond.
“Is this real?” she asked, her eyes glued to the ring.
“No. Of course not.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Why would you ask that?” His tone was sharp. Hard.
She snapped her head up.
A strange expression crossed his face. His brows furrowed, and he almost looked…guilty. Like a kid who’d been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
“I think it’s a normal question,” she said.
“Well, I’d never propose to you,” he said forcefully.
What?She bristled. Karthik hadn’t been like this around her in a really long time. He’d been almost…sweet. But now, it was like the past few months hadn’t even happened. He was back to being brusque and unfeeling and…What was he even talking about?
“I mean, I’d never propose toanyone,” he continued. “You know that.”
Her confusion faded. He’d misunderstood her question. “The ring, Karthik. I was asking about the ring.”
“Oh, that.” His face cleared. “Yes, that’s real.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “Why wouldn’t you just buy something fake?”
Karthik shrugged. “I didn’t think about that.”
She shook her head. “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. Since you’re returning it.”
“I guess so.”
She looked back at the ring. Honestly, itwasperfect. Exactly what she’d pick out for herself. If this was real.
“Did you say yes?” someone yelled. Meghna looked up. A small number of people were watching them from a distance. A man pushing a stroller. College students sitting on a blanket. A runner who’d stopped to stretch.
They didn’t need to perform for these strangers, but what else could she do? Shout back that none of this was real? Meghna pasted on a big smile and thrust her left hand toward Karthik.
“I did!” she said loudly.
Karthik stared at her hand like he’d never seen it before. Like he didn’t know what she wanted him to do with it.
“Put the ring on my finger,” she said through her teeth.
He did, his hand shaking a bit as he took the ring out of the box and slid it into place.
It fit perfectly.
Some of the college students let out a whoop, and the runner came by and offered to take their picture.
