Page 22 of The Promise of a Traitor

She stopped when she saw Advik sitting there. Her glance flashed to Aastha, a question in her eyes. Aastha nodded, the silent communication intriguing Advik.

“Advik,” Aastha said quietly, “this is my sister, Amyra.”

Advik’s brow furrowed. Aastha had a sister? Had he known that? He couldn’t remember her ever mentioning a sibling. His mind raced even as he smiled at the young girl. “It’s nice to meet you, Amyra.”

A flash of undiluted hatred sparked in the girl’s eyes. There and gone in a flash. She smiled, “It’s nice to meet you too.”

Advik blinked. Had he imagined that? He must have because there was no reason why this girl would hate him. Unless…Aastha had told her something about him. But what?

“I was just telling your Aastha Di to go make something for your Jiju,” Binita said, bossily. “He’s hungry.”

Amyra smiled, a flash of mischief that lightened the room. “Or we could order in,” she said, pulling out her phone. “What do you fancy, Jij?” She shortened the title cheekily making Advik grin and her mother hiss again. “Snacks? Food? Chinese? Italian?”

“There’s no need to order when Aastha can-“

“When Aastha can relax and have fun with us? I agree,” Amyra interrupted, scrolling on her phone rapidly. “Pizza?” she asked Advik. “Easy to share. We don’t need to stress about cutlery and all. We each grab a slice and-“

“I’ll rustle something up.” Aastha got up, cutting her sister’s rapid fire ideas off. Her mother beamed with delight.

“But Di!” Amyra protested but Aastha’s quelling look had her subsiding.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” she said, turning toward the kitchen, her back rigid with anger and something else, something Advik couldn’t put his finger on until it suddenly hit him. Exhaustion. She was exhausted.

Shame rose inside him, a tidal wave of it. “Aastha.” He reached over and caught her hand before she could leave the room.

Aastha froze, her gaze snagging on his hand on hers, fingers twining around her stiff ones. And for a moment, the months of pain, of anguish, of betrayal melted away. She looked down at him, her fingers tightening in his as he said softly, “Sit.”

They stared at each other, eyes locked, their attention only on each other, unsaid thoughts simmering in the air.

“She’s not a dog.” Amyra’s giggles broke the moment.

Aastha looked away from him, breaking eye contact, a loss he felt keenly. He swallowed hard and forced a smile for Amyra. “You’re right,” he told her before looking at Aastha who didn’t look at him. “Please sit down,” he murmured. “I’m not really hungry.”

“I have an idea,” Pramod Agarwal announced, startling them all by actually speaking. “I’ll order ice cream for everyone.”

Advik's heart stumbled as tears sprang to Aastha's eyes at her father's offer. Something about the promise of ice cream both touched and pained her. He hated that seeing her hurt still made every instinct in him want to fix it.

Advik smiled tightly, agreeing that ice cream sounded wonderful. His gaze swept the room, taking in the complicated family dynamics at play. Aastha and Amyra exchanged another speaking glance, even as her mother fluttered around the room asking everyone their ice cream preferences.

“Aastha, what will you have?” Binita asked.

Aastha didn’t respond. She was staring down at her hands, lost in thought.

“Roasted coffee,” Advik replied when it was clear Aastha wasn’t going to respond.

Binita wrinkled her nose at him. “What a weird flavour. Who would like that?”

“It’s Aastha’s favourite,” he replied automatically, not realising what that answer revealed.

“Not anymore,” Aastha said from behind her mother. She’d lifted her head at last, her expression unreadable. “I don’t like roasted coffee anymore.

“Since when?” Something tightened painfully in his chest.

Aastha didn’t look away. “Since I left New York.”

He smiled humourlessly. “Why am I not surprised?” His voice dropped, quiet enough that only she could hear. “You left a lot more than the city behind.

Chapter Fourteen