“Anjali, it’s Zarina. Can you buzz me up?”
Anjali groaned. It was almost seven and Coulter would be over any minute. They were going to see a movie. What the hell was her sister doing there?
“Anjali?”
“Sorry,” she said and hit the buzzer.
Kali, who’d been sleeping peacefully on the sofa, raised her head. “Run and hide,” Anjali warned. “She’s coming.”
She opened the door and leaned down to fiddle with her sandal strap. It was a casual get-together, not a date. But Anjali couldn’t remember the last time she’d had an attractive—make that beautiful—man over. Not that she liked him only because of his looks. She wasn’t that shallow. But a beautiful—make that exquisite—exterior certainly didn’t hurt. Besides, what was she supposed to do? Judge people by their auras? She suspected biology was to blame. She felt a deep, primordial thrill whenever she was around Coulter, as if her ovaries sensed his superior genetic material.
Zarina walked in and perched gingerly on the edge of the sofa, her petite frame barely making a dent in the cushion. She and Kali eyed each other with dislike. “Do you know what pet dander can do to the air you breathe?”
“I like it,” Anjali said. “Adds texture.”
Zarina gave her the once-over. “You’re wearing too much makeup.”
“I am?” She walked into her bedroom and studied her appearance in the wall mirror. She’d tried for the natural look. Then again, it took a lot of makeup to achieve the natural look. She squinted and pursed her lips. Nah, she looked good.
She took a seat next to Kali and said in a bright false voice, “What brings you to San Jose?”
“I spoke at an all-day conference in Redwood Creek. By the way—” Zarina pulled out a business card from her suit pocket. “I met a representative from Hunter Pharmaceuticals. Their programming department is hiring.” She set the card on the coffee table. “I set up an interview.”
Ever since their dinner at the Sunset Grill, Zarina had been calling nearly every day about interviews and potential job offers. Happily, Anjali hadn’t been home to take most of the calls and her cell phone was permanently on voice mail. “I appreciate the effort but—”
“What’s going on with you?” Zarina asked. “Are you depressed?” She pulled out her BlackBerry. “I have a colleague who can prescribe something. Normally I frown on medication but…”
“I’m not depressed. Not now anyway. I’m just figuring things out.”
“The whole family is worried about you.”
Anjali could feel her irritation growing. Well, two could play that game. “You know…I spoke to Mom yesterday. She’s not fixated on my single status these days. What she wants is a grandchild. That’s your department.” She expected a sharp retort from her sister and was surprised at the flush that bloomed in her cheeks.
“Vijay and I have been trying,” Zarina mumbled. “Well…we were trying, but he’s always tired and…”
“Umm.” Anjali cleared her throat. “If you want to, ah, talk about it…”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Zarina said tightly. “Not about me. If you don’t want a job, fine. I don’t know what you’re doing with your life, but I’m tired of trying to help. You’re on your own.”
Anjali could feel her own cheeks getting warm but from anger, not embarrassment. “You’re tired of trying to help? Since when is perpetual disapproval helping? Getting that from Mom is one thing. But from my sister? And guess what? I have a job. I’m the resident psychic for a ghost-hunting firm! Well one of two, actually.”
Zarina stood. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Have you told Mom and Dad? You’re going to give them each a heart attack!”
“I think they’re stronger than that. Besides, if anything I did up until now didn’t kill them…”
“Why can’t you pretend you’re like everyone else?” Zarina argued. “What’s the big deal about this psychic thing anyway?”
Anjali stood as well. “Pretending I’m someone else hasn’t worked so well for me—in case you haven’t noticed. And you’re the one making a big deal about all this—you, Mom and Dad. I have a job I’m growing to like. Coworkers I definitely like. And I’m making a difference. I don’t spend nights crying into my pillow or mornings contemplating pouring vodka into my cereal.”
Zarina glared at her. “Mom and Dad moved to this country to give us a better life. So we could be successful. What are you doing?”
“No, they moved here to give us opportunities, and opportunity means having a choice. The choice to live our lives any way we want.”
The doorbell rang.
Zarina picked up her purse. “I should go.”
Anjali went to the door and opened it. “Hey Angel,” Coulter said and strode in, looking like Apollo in tight jeans and a white T-shirt.
“Hey—” Anjali began and heard a thump.
Zarina stood there, purse fallen to the floor, lips parted, absolutely mesmerized.
“Ah…” Anjali looked at her sister and then at Coulter, who obviously didn’t think there was anything odd about the woman in a near-Zombie trance staring at him. He was probably used to just such a reaction. Anjali could more than understand.
But not from her sister.
Zarina had never been gaga over anything or anyone. She planned her life with the ruthless efficiency of the Chinese government. She’d chosen her husband by charting out his potential wage earnings and life expectancy. She’d never once cried over a movie or oohed over a puppy.
Anjali came to a conclusion: The more repressed they are, the harder they fall.
Since they couldn’t stand around and stare at one another, Anjali decided to make introductions. “Coulter, this is my sister, Zarina.”
He smiled lazily. “Well isn’t your daddy lucky to have such a fine pair of daughters.”
“Thank you,” Zarina said shyly.
Kali jumped off the sofa and began rubbing back and forth against Coulter’s legs. When he picked her up and began scratching under her chin, she closed her eyes in ecstatic bliss.
Anjali could swear Kali had shot her sister a triumphant glance just before shutting her eyes.
“I was thinkin’,” Coulter began and put Kali down. Before he could straighten, she jumped back in his arms.
Zarina frowned. “Your cat has no manners.”
Coulter laughed and resumed holding the cat. “As I was sayin’, how ’bout a change in plans? Drinks and food instead. You wouldn’t believe the birdseed Wilder keeps in the fridge.”
Zarina giggled.
Coulter smiled at her. “You’ll be joinin’ us, right?”
“I’d like that.”
“What about Vijay?” Anjali reminded her. What about the argument we just had?
Zarina turned a distracted smile to her. “Hmm?”
The three of them ended up taking Anjali’s car.