Page 12 of His Smile
Politely greeting Mrs. Gorshal, Rubina sat down next toRahina as their mother, Deeya Chopra, and the elderly Mrs. Gorshal took theirseats as well. As the older women talked, Rubina gave her sister a knowingsmirk as she appraised Rahina’s clothing.
“Those colors look good on you,” Rubina picked up some ofthe draped fabric of Rahina’s sari and ran it between her fingers.
Rahina didn’t even try to stop her mischievous smile. It hadbeen a fun little game between them for years now to wear opposite colors.Naturally, Rahina always chose bright colored saris. The bright pinks, yellows,and soft pastels complemented her personality. Today, however, Rahina chose adark ash gray design overlaying a dark steel blue. On her sister the colorswould’ve been powerfully complementary, the dark, regal colors on Rubina’sstriking countenance would’ve been visually arresting and exactly what theirmother would’ve liked. Naturally, they did the opposite.
“Why thank you!” Rahina said a bit too chipper, not hidingthe amusement in her eyes. “I was just thinking the same about you.”
Ever one to be a master of her emotions, Rubina’s facestayed beautifully impassive while her eyes glittered back with laughter. DeeyaChopra, who sat at the other end of the couch, next to Rubina, leaned forwardslightly and caught her middle daughter’s gaze— she was not amused. As a politeconversation began, Rahina resisted everything inside her to just slump againstthe couch arm she was pressed against. Bloated small talk filled with subtlebragging was exchanged back and forth across the lacquered coffee table thatseparated the two couches. Her mother, an expert in the lethal art of reparteeand complementary exchange, dueled graciously with Dev’s mother. Both weresaying without saying that Dev was a perfect candidate for marriage and one ofthe Chopra sisters would be ideal.
With her phone discreetly hidden against her thigh and thearmrest, Rahina typed out a text to Roman.
(I sooo don’t want to be here.)
Rubina was answering a question about her women’s healthpractice when Rahina caught the familiar look of back straitening pride on hermother’s face. Rubina’s doctorate in Obstetrics was Deeya’s pride and joy. Withher oldest daughter, there had been no complaining, no fights, and nocontinuous sources of shame at her daughter’s path in life, unlike her middlechild. God, Rahina instantly wanted to go home. How easy would it be to justexcuse herself to the bathroom and then run to her car? Rahina could go home,order a pizza, and hide under her bed when her mother inevitably came over totear down her door and strangle her. It would be better than sitting aroundhere, listening to the subtle hints as to why she was the crap daughter.
Just as masterful as their mother, Rubina expertly turnedthe conversation back to Dev asking his mother about Dev’s latest business hestarted. Looking down at her phone, Rahina sent another desperate text afterthe first un-replied text.
(If I have to listen to my mother and Mrs. Gorshal talkabout how great Dev Gorshal is any longer, I’m going to start looking forrope.)
After a few minutes and continuous checking on her hand, themessages updated to “read” by the recipient, but no reply.
(Fine don’t answer! I’m haunting you first.)
Looking back up, Rahina wasn’t surprised to see a perceptivelook from her sister.
“Please tell me you are not still chasing after Mr. creepysmile?” Rubina whispered low enough for only Rahina to hear while the olderwomen continued to talk.
The elderly Mrs. Gorshal looked their way forcing them bothto look attentive in the conversation momentarily. Rahina just gave her sistera smile they conveyed her unspoken shrug of defeat. Although she had tried withpainstaking effort, Rahina could not make her sister understand her infatuationwith Roman. The concept of pursuing a man was alien to her sister, a woman whohad men trip over themselves to get her attention had no empathy for Rahina’ssituation.
The sudden vibration at her thigh filled her with far toomuch elation than she was willing to admit to herself.
(I wouldn’t dream of standing in the way of true love.You have my blessings.)
She knew he was a man that liked to joke and tease,especially at others expense but she couldn’t deny that it stung.
(Fine) She texted back.
Putting her phone on silent, she looked up and did her bestto throw herself into the conversation around her.
“Ah, Dev come here,” Mrs. Gorshal called to her son as someof the men walked over.
Dev was wearing a traditional and very expensive lookingsilk Kurta, the long midnight blue top was embroidered at the neckline instrands of silver while his fitted pants were a soft cream color. He waswithout a doubt handsome, she admitted to herself bitterly. Coming to standnext to his mother, Dev unexpectedly met Rahina’s gaze, completely bypassingRubina. Rahina smirked, and she could see the hint of intrigue and warinesspass through his shuttered expression. Poor boy, probably thought she was thesafer bet. If she were a man and her and her sister were Rahina’s only twooptions, Rahina would probably choose her too. Rubina was the equivalent of alarge billboard that read “death imminent” in front of a jagged misty mountainroad, you’d better be pretty damn sure of yourself before taking on thatchallenge.
Ignoring him, Rahina looked over her shoulder towards herfather and brothers and caught Riaz’s gaze. She grinned at him expectantly, towhich he replied with an exaggerated sigh before signaling her over. Happily,she stood up and whispered a soft “excuse me” from the group while ignoring theno doubt caustic expression of her mother at her escape. With quick strides,she was across the room and latched to her dad’s arm within seconds.
“Rahina” her dad grumbled disapprovingly knowing full wellwhat she was up to but didn’t do anything else. Her uncle gave her a knowingsmirk while they continued talking about their favorite cricket teams. Rahinaignored her eldest brother, Amit. They couldn’t stand one another, they decidedlong ago to simply ignore one another.
The pink phone at the end of the couch lit up. Casually,Rubina reached for it and slid it to her lap and turned it over. The caller IDread Roman. Letting it ring, Rubina watched it stop with a smile. Thenotification log read four missed calls. Reading the last few lines of text,Rubina put the phone back down. Looking up, she watched her sister argueplayfully with Riaz while Dev, who was now back with the men pretended to talkto her father and Amit. He was doing a poor job of it, not only could Rubinasee clearly from across the room that Dev was biding his time for Rahina’sattention she knew her sister knew it too, which only made the dancer ignorethe boy longer. Next to her on the couch, her mother was still in deepconversation with the other two women. Deciding this was her perfect chance,Rubina walked to the back of the room and held up her sister’s phone as if shewere merely taking a selfie.
The phone silently rang again. Clicking the video button,she didn’t have to wait long for the man on the other end to appear. Nervousbutterflies filled her stomach. He wasn’t at all what she was expecting. Narrowcold gray eyes contradicted the slow smile that split across his face as hestared back at her. Why in god’s name would Rahina want to be with a man likethis?
“I’m going to assume your Rubina,” his deep voice matchedhis intimidating smile perfectly. “Where is Rahina?”
Using all of her disciplined composure, Rubina didn’t lether face show anything but a calm facade. Acting as if she were simply fixing astrand of hair in the camera, she held the phone closer.
“Why do you care?” She looked at him with her most practicedimperious face. “From your last text to her, you gave her your blessings.”
She could see continuous movement behind his head and judgedthat he was in a car. The terrifying man gave her a long considering lookbefore widening his grin, bearing some of his white teeth. Gray fog seemed toroll through his gaze like a haunted warning, and she knew instantly he wouldnot repeat his question again without some sort of consequence.
