When I get home, Emaye informs me that Bapi has been calling and asks if I would like to meet him. Unlike Nandita, I agree to meet with him. Dressed in nice business suits, Emaye and I head to the restaurant he has booked with Mr. Patel and Jayanand called Garden Delicacies, specializing in fancy sandwiches from around the world and pasta meals.77Please respect copyright.PENANAAsIhQLe8Va
"Konjit, nice to see you again." Mr. Patel slides our seats out for us while Bapi fixes me with a hard stare.77Please respect copyright.PENANAxXuBiaIJch
"Thank you, Shaurya, how is your family?"77Please respect copyright.PENANAHnTADSngsc
"Very good, thank you for asking." He turns to me as he retakes his seat. "Madhuri, you are growing into such a lovely young woman. It behooves me to understand how my son has let you go."77Please respect copyright.PENANAHUpqctFeTW
"Yes," Bapi echoes, "do you care to explain?"77Please respect copyright.PENANAmzsI7dV40X
Jayanand chokes on his water, but I am calm, cool, and collected. "We have both fallen in love with someone else---"77Please respect copyright.PENANAN83e8Y5LcT
"So you will forsake your duty to your family...for...Jayanand says a little white boy?!"77Please respect copyright.PENANAq8woz86cN3
Jayanand sets his water down abruptly. "I SAID a new Italian student, Sir, son of a famous photographer, right, Madhuri?"77Please respect copyright.PENANAMGLHVxFQIK
"It makes no difference to me---"77Please respect copyright.PENANAZcoFZnlMrw
"Jay wants to be with someone else too. The betrothal was never mandatory, so what does it matter, Bapi?"77Please respect copyright.PENANAsqZCMRk1xV
"It was UNDERSTOOD, Madhuri, that you would keep the business in the family."77Please respect copyright.PENANA5cpbH8IEaK
"Why can't one of your other daughters take it?"77Please respect copyright.PENANAQHmeUy4PZS
"They don't want to be betrothed and are too young. Besides, they already have an inheritance. What am I going to leave for you?" He massages his temple with frustration. "My wife never approved betrothal--"77Please respect copyright.PENANAvUoVPS5SoX
"I ONLY approved it when Madhuri turned 14 and was old enough to understand what it meant and also knew that it was not required. Madhuri knew she could leave at any time, and she still can. She and Jay have always been close---you assured that, Workneh," Emaye spits back at him. "I would not have allowed you to force my daughter into anything---tradition or no."77Please respect copyright.PENANAHlGBNbuXl0
Before he can reply, I shake my head. "Bapi, I don't want a betrothal. I always understood the betrothal, but since you left...I....I don't care about your inheritance or bringing you honor---" My words catch in my throat. "I want LOVE, Bapi...true, genuine love---me and my sister---you abandoned us." I desparately search his perplexed gaze. 77Please respect copyright.PENANAkvxn4EJynA
Bapi clears his throat, studying his crystal clear glass of water. "I will try to do better, Madhuri. I never knew that you felt this way." He furrows his eyebrows. "Please forgive me." Turning to Mr. Patel, he nods. "I think the discussion is done, Shaurya."77Please respect copyright.PENANAFgxTtq04Uh
"Fair enough."77Please respect copyright.PENANAj3QF5GYGKO
Jayanand grins at me, but I just turn to Emaye. I dont want to be here.77Please respect copyright.PENANAlBU5W6tmCX
Emaye stands up. "Nice to see you both again, but I think we will be heading home now that everything is settled."77Please respect copyright.PENANArxCuD6JoDL
"Are you sure? We can pay---"77Please respect copyright.PENANA1vAlqBpi1K
"Yes, Shaurya. Madhuri has school in the morning, and it's getting late. Nandita has probably not even started on her homework." 77Please respect copyright.PENANAdqUzpLqwRh
As I say my good-byes and trail Emaye out the door, Bapi calls after me. "I will be in touch, Mou. I will try to be a better father."77Please respect copyright.PENANA9pQgHhTjy0
Taking a deep breath, I return to hug him. As I race back to her, Emaye puts an arm over my shoulders. "I am so proud of you."77Please respect copyright.PENANARXI9rCngcb
With a one-sided grin, I reply, "I learned form the best."
As the next weeks pass by, Rizzo and I are openly dating. Sometimes, he comes to the house to walk with Bobby and I to school. We study together with Saunders in the library, and Ms. C and Gui wave ecstatically at me when they drop him off in the morning; sometimes, Rizzo drives to impress me, but he isn't exactly comfortable with it. They say I am good for him, but he is good for me---he helps me to focus on other things besides the tumult that is my life. 77Please respect copyright.PENANAX79YHiMU6K
Bapi does call more and agrees to give me back my car, which I allow Emaye to use of course until she can get her own car. Slowly, Nandita opens back up to him, and things get better. When we have lunch with him, he asks me about my birthday, but I honestly haven't thought about it. 77Please respect copyright.PENANADhrpKXGDWg
"Well, since I am going to be gone on business, I thought we might celebrate today. I have you backstage passes to interact with bengal tigers at the zoo!"77Please respect copyright.PENANAuTWCPylw3U
I squeal. "Bapi, thank you!"77Please respect copyright.PENANAmrr0bKnsar
Nandita sucks in an amazed breath, and we rush to the limo. When we get to the zoo, a lady greets us, introducing herself as Mandy, the head tiger caretaker.77Please respect copyright.PENANAcD6hbiBvtY
"So, Dad, will you be coming in too?"77Please respect copyright.PENANAfrFgSahDGB
"Uh, no," Bapi stands with his hand jammed into the pocket of his grey slacks. "Strictly for the girls. I am not a cat person of any kind."77Please respect copyright.PENANAHCi9zkvzdq
"Oh, Bapi, come on!" Nandita calls, and he scratches his head.77Please respect copyright.PENANAE8UU8tiNxA
"Alright, Abhi, alright."77Please respect copyright.PENANAojN9sZl3WB
We are led into a small nursery where large baby tigers greet us. "They are going to find a new home because we are a little over crowded and underfunded, so we are get them used to being away from their mother."77Please respect copyright.PENANAUD3CdcpNGC
She hands us each a bottle, and I approach a little tigress with grey eyes. "Hey, beautiful..." I whisper.77Please respect copyright.PENANAmnlIKPr8Ui
They are huge to be considered babies---the size of a medium sized dog, but gorgeous all the same. Bapi laughs as a big male tiger finishes off the bottle in a matter of minutes. "How old are they?"77Please respect copyright.PENANA5psI01udnK
"About...eight months, but they still love their milk treats." Mandy strokes one of the other females. "I am going to miss them."77Please respect copyright.PENANA6KEnLxtcD2
We interact with the tigers for an hour, and then Bapi takes us to a gormet cake shop where I can create my dream birthday cake---chocolate swirled with blue icing and icing balloons. As I blow out the candles, the whole staff yells, "Happy birthday, Madhuri!!!"77Please respect copyright.PENANAejAWNe6FF3
Bapi whispers to me, "You have all my love, my sweet girl. I hope your day is the most amazing of days."77Please respect copyright.PENANAWiRtmptZ9j
"Thank you, Bapi, I love you too." 77Please respect copyright.PENANAO637ZQ7X2u
As I watch the smoke rise to the ceiling, I grin...this is my wish come true.77Please respect copyright.PENANAU2FVVrP8kY