Page 46 of The Defiant Wife

"The one you just made."

I stare. She stares right back.Aadhya suddenly yells, "Bui!"

Sitara waves enthusiastically."Hello, my favorite human."

Aadhya squeals.Meanwhile, I'm trying very hard to remember what expression was apparently on my face. Because I have absolutely no idea.

Sitara leans closer to the screen. Suspiciously. "You were thinking about someone."

"No."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You absolutely were." She insists.

"I wasn't."

"You know," she says thoughtfully, "the last time I saw that look on Devraj Bhai-sa's face—"

"No."

"—he ended up married."

"Sitara."

"—and Vihaan bhai-sa—"

"Sitara."

"—ended up married too."

"Sitara."

She grins.I regret having siblings.Every single one of them. They're exhausting.

"Who is she?"

"There is no she."

"There is always a she."

I sigh heavily. "There isn't."

Aadhya chooses that exact moment to shove a toy block into my mouth.

I remove it.Slowly.Then stare at the ceiling.Perhaps I deserve this. Maybe this is karma.For something.I don't know what.But probably something.

Sitara watches me suspiciously. Then suddenly her eyes widen. "Oh my God."

No. Absolutely not. Whatever she's about to say. No.

"Is it the NGO girl?"

I nearly choke. Not visibly. But internally. Very visibly.

Sitara gasps dramatically. "You hesitated."