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“She didn’t even know we thought Dad was dead though,” pointed out Reeva. “I’m sorry, but if they were having an affair, I think the consequences would have come up.”
“Yeah, but Dad was really loyal,” said Jaya. “He promised Mum he wouldn’t tell anyone about the death-faking. Remember, Satya Auntie said he didn’t even want to tell her? I bet he wouldn’t tell his mistress.”
“Could you be any more contradictory?” snapped Sita. “That’s a rhetorical question; please don’t answer. Reeva, are there any messages from Mum?”
“Let me search for Saraswati... oh my god! There’s a whole message thread. They’ve been speaking for ages. And the messages arelong.”
“Fuck,” exhaled Sita, leaning over. “What have they been saying? And from when?”
Reeva scanned them quickly. “I think they’re all from a few years ago. Oh my god.” She stared at her sisters. “He asked to see us. Repeatedly. And Mum said no.”
“Are you fuckingkidding?” cried Sita. “She said no?”
“Look,” said Reeva. “He says that things are different now. He says that he’s changed. Time has passed. He’s done a lot of work on himself.”
“Oh my god, I love that Dad did inner work,” cried Jaya. “That’s so me.”
“He says he wants to... he wants to know his daughters before it’s too late,” continued Reeva, swallowing a lump in her throat. “He... he wanted us in his life. Oh my god, read this. ‘Who knows how much time we have left? I want to know them while I can.’ ” She put down the phone and looked up at her sisters. “And Mum said no.”
“Fuck,” cried Sita. “What’s wrong with her? Who says no to a dying man?”
“Well, I don’t think either of them knew he was dying,” said Reeva. “But that doesn’t excuse a thing.”
Jaya burst into tears. Her mascara started sliding down her cheeks as she hiccuped loudly. “I can’t believe... we could... have... had... a dad! Mum took him away from us, and now he’s dead, and we’ll never get a chance to speak to him.”
Both her sisters ignored her, choosing to continue reading the messages.
“Look at her responses,” said Sita. “She keeps saying things like, ‘You know that’s not a good idea. It’s not fair on the girls.’ As if she ever knew what was right for us or not. She barely knew us!”
“She’s the most selfish person I’ve ever met,” declared Jaya, dabbing her mascara away with a tissue. “What kind of person stops a loving, caring father from being in touch with his daughters?”
“I don’t know,” said Reeva. “It just... none of this makes sense.”
“It makes total sense,” said Sita firmly. “Mum chose her career over Dad, and that’s why she wouldn’t let us see him. You know that she’s selfish, irrational, and self-centered. She does whatever she wants. Always has, always will.”
Jaya nodded, all trace of tears gone. “Exactly. Mum put herself first—as per. She couldn’t risk us getting to know him in case it came out publicly that he wasn’t dead. Imagine if there were pics of him at our weddings or whatever. She’d be known as a liar. Or unhinged. It would have been too much of a risk. When you’re a public figure, you have to be really careful with stuff like this. Take it from me.”
“We need to ask Mum,” said Sita suddenly. “About all of it. Reeva, you’re going to have to call her.”
“Uh, I’ve already tried. You know I have. But she doesn’t answer my calls, or my messages.”
“Well, make something up,” said Sita. “You’re clearly the only one of us she’d ever answer the phone to. I still can’t get over the fact that she video calls you. Just... say you’re sick or something.”
Reeva frowned. “That’s terrible. I’m not doing that.”
“Oooh, I know!” Jaya grabbed Reeva’s phone right out of her hands.
“What? No! Give it back!” Reeva leaned across the table and wrestled her sister, but Jaya fought her off. “Seriously, give it back to me. You’re acting like a child.”
In response, Jaya bit her.
Reeva stared at her sister in unmasked outrage. “You did not just bite me!”
“Priorities.” Jaya shrugged as she started typing quickly on the unlocked phone. “Just... give... me... a second and... Sent! Soz.”
“I cannot believe you just did that.” Reeva scowled at her sister. “You are a complete child. Give it back to me now.”
Jaya’s eyes lit up as the phone screen vibrated and flashed. “Oh my god, she’s just replied. She’s calling you this evening. She has a slot at seven p.m.”
