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“What, Mum? If it wasn’t for her?”
“Nothing,” snapped Saraswati. “I thought you wanted to know about your Dad, not Leela.”
“Uh... yeah,” said Reeva. “Even though what happened was, well, really bad, why did you fake his death? Instead of getting a divorce or something?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Saraswati sighed. “It made sense at the time. And it’s what you all assumed! When I told you he’d gone and wasn’t coming back, you girls were the ones who presumed he’d died. I just... went along with it.”
“Right, so it’s our fault,” muttered Sita.
“In a way, it felt like the truth,” continued Saraswati. “He was gone from our lives. When I told your dad, he accepted it too, and he said it made sense to continue letting you all believe that. He felt bad. We both did.”
“What about once he wanted to see us again?” Reeva looked into her mum’s eyes as she asked the one question that she knew was true. “He tried. And you said no. Why?”
Her mum’s face and voice both hardened. “I did what I thought was best, Reeva. I’m sorry if that makes me a terrible mother.I’m sorry you were so desperate to see your dad. I would have thought that you of all people would have understood why I did that.”
Reeva stared at her in confusion. Why her of all people? Because she understood the trauma of being cheated on? She tried to force herself to focus on the task at hand. Sympathy. Her mum responded well to sympathy. “Look, I know it must have been so hard for you, Mum, and you did what you thought was best. You poor thing, you were so brave.”
Her mum sniffed. “Yes. It was hard.”
“Definitely. I guess I just wish we could have spoken to Dad about it all before he died.”
Her mum let out a strangled cry. “Well, you’re with him in death, aren’t you? You can talk to him about it now. While his spirit is still with you, before he leaves forever in the kriya ceremony.”
Reeva looked at her sisters in desperation. Her mum was being a lot weirder than usual. Jaya shrugged while Sita nudged her. “Get more info.”
“Uh, okay, Mum, that’s true,” said Reeva. “I’ll talk to him. Is there... anything you want us to say to him for you?”
Her mum shook her head. “No. I just hope you can find it in you to forgive him, Reeva.”
“Yeah. I guess we all will.”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter so much about your sisters. It’s you I’m worried about. You were the one who was so affected by it all.”
“Me?”
“Of course. My little Reeva. That’s the whole point—it’s why we did what we did. But I’m glad you’re doing so well. My clever girl.”
Reeva looked at her mum in a daze. “Okay, it’s just, even though Dad’s journal explained things, there are still a few holes... Can you tell me more about what happened? In detail? It would be really, really helpful to hear your side of things.”
Her mum shook her head vehemently. “Reeva, you know I don’t believe in going over the past. It’s just not healthy. Let’s leave it where it belongs and focus on the future, okay? I’m glad you know what happened now—but I cannot relive it. It’s too much for me. That’s why I was hoping you’d find out without me these two weeks. I just can’t bear to talk about it. So let’s leave it there, okay? Now it’s done; there’s no need for us to ever speak of it again.”
The plan was backfiring. Reeva looked at her sisters in panic. “But, Mum, I need to—”
“Sorry, darling, I have to go. They’re calling for me on set, but I love you lots and I’ll see you soon, okay? Stay strong. Oh, and say hi to your sisters for me. You’re all getting on okay?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess—”
“Wonderful. Kiss kiss!”
—
Reeva turned tolook at her sisters. “Is it just me or is anyone else more confused than ever?”
Her sisters nodded glumly.
“It sounded like our Leela theory was completely true,” said Jaya. “I mean, ‘if it wasn’t for her.’ But what’s that got to do with you, Reeva?”
“I have no idea. Maybe it’s what you both always say, and it’s because I’m the oldest?”
