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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3tMQ89692
"Konjit, nice to see you again." Mr. Patel slides our seats out for us while Bapi fixes me with a hard stare.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHGNGdAr4V
"Thank you, Shaurya, how is your family?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx1zgVWgkB
"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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UpKIEgSNI
"Yes," Bapi echoes, "do you care to explain?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt30d9Yfn2d
Jayanand chokes on his water, but I am calm, cool, and collected. "We have both fallen in love with someone else---"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGKy2XB2pQ
"So you will forsake your duty to your family...for...Jayanand says a little white boy?!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfUqGHpTQZ
Jayanand sets his water down abruptly. "I SAID a new Italian student, Sir, son of a famous photographer, right, Madhuri?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYW9Rm580H
"It makes no difference to me---"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEzTle47oB
"Jay wants to be with someone else too. The betrothal was never mandatory, so what does it matter, Bapi?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUSEg4amdW
"It was UNDERSTOOD, Madhuri, that you would keep the business in the family."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8CHaA4ScY
"Why can't one of your other daughters take it?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuL2eULZlg
"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--"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi24yAObu6p
"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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlV6tSoYsP1
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. 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAie4ClJyXX
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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJENIft12HQ
"Fair enough."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF1aWUtFwt
Jayanand grins at me, but I just turn to Emaye. I dont want to be here.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpeFtv9ueT
Emaye stands up. "Nice to see you both again, but I think we will be heading home now that everything is settled."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo4URj3l3N
"Are you sure? We can pay---"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvImh7cpefE
"Yes, Shaurya. Madhuri has school in the morning, and it's getting late. Nandita has probably not even started on her homework." 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVNIJhfxf6
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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrVnL0fYHa
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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Iv27bfN5
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. 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BA6humOI5
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. 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytD4iJPubG
"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!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILMQIVtuIL
I squeal. "Bapi, thank you!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10YstoyTin
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ljCqu3R5s
"So, Dad, will you be coming in too?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo1DBvLbQu
"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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xHSV4PUIC
"Oh, Bapi, come on!" Nandita calls, and he scratches his head.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEMjoVL2FY
"Alright, Abhi, alright."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuQdpic4ld
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."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIOQuBmUwZ
She hands us each a bottle, and I approach a little tigress with grey eyes. "Hey, beautiful..." I whisper.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorHzqGQxN5
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?"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYIPkQO3R4
"About...eight months, but they still love their milk treats." Mandy strokes one of the other females. "I am going to miss them."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwJOYuwLUW
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!!!"113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYwlIH7rKd
Bapi whispers to me, "You have all my love, my sweet girl. I hope your day is the most amazing of days."113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2zDhb5J5F
"Thank you, Bapi, I love you too." 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAUQeTh2WJ
As I watch the smoke rise to the ceiling, I grin...this is my wish come true.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65geYXkn6P
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