Accidentally Engaged(27)
If Reena wanted his heart (or any other part of him), she would have cooked herself—and made something more showstopping, like the duck and shallots au vin she made for Amira’s going-away dinner. Ooh, maybe with smoked salt focaccia, and star anise-cardamom crème br?lée for dessert. And to drink, maybe…wait. Mum was still talking.
“I didn’t make any maani,” Mum said. “But I bought you some frozen ones.”
Reena’s nose wrinkled. “Ugh, Mum. Frozen bread?”
“You know what you should try, Reena?” Saira said. “Serving the kebobs with lettuce cups.”
Reena tried so hard not to snort. Lettuce cups wouldn’t win a man’s heart, any more than frozen bread. But since she didn’t want to win Nadim’s heart, it was a moot point. She’d serve the kebob jo shaak, but with her own sourdough bread, and save her Thai for another day.
But she didn’t want Mum to know that—Mum would see it as a victory.
“Maybe tomorrow. I’m eating with Marley and Shayne today. Thank you for the food, though.” Reena smiled, hoping Mum wouldn’t push.
“Mahreen? We never see her anymore. We don’t even see Amin and Shaila that much since her sister died.”
Amin and Shaila were Marley’s parents. Shaila’s younger sister had passed away from ovarian cancer a few years ago, and it was true, Shaila Aunty had taken her sister’s death hard. But it was understandable, they were very close.
“Mahreen’s not still doing that stuff, is she?” her mother asked.
Saira rolled her eyes and plopped herself on the barstool at the breakfast bar. “Really, Mum? That stuff? You can just say she’s bisexual. Nobody cares.”
Saira had a point. When Marley came out to her parents last year, the news caused barely a blip on anyone’s radar in the extended family gossip. Really, there had been more judgment when Marley dyed her hair blond for about six months than when she started dating women. But, of course, Mum judged.
Deflect and distract time.
“Thank you for the food…” Crap. She’d already said that. Reena raked her brain to think of something suitable to say…
“You must ask Nadim to come another time,” Mum said. “Alone. I invited him for brunch next Sunday, too.”
Wow. Family brunch? Bold move. Nafissa hadn’t been invited until she and Khizar were engaged. “I thought I told you last Sunday, I’m missing next week. I’m going to Amira’s for the weekend. She’s having a housewarming.”
“Reena! This is important! You can come back for Sunday brunch. Ask Nadim what kind of daal he likes.”
“I can’t come back early. Amira’s party is Saturday night and will probably go late. I’ll be too tired to drive home early Sunday. And also”—she took a deep breath—“please stop setting me up with men.”
Saira snorted loudly. Reena raised a brow at her sister. She still had no idea why Saira was here. Maybe for the eggplant recipe?
“Reena, please. I’m not setting you up,” Mum huffed. Did Mum not know the definition of setting up?
Mum bit her lip slightly and looked at the door before turning back to her daughter. “Is it wrong to want my daughter to be happy? I want you to find a nice man and settle down. But…” Mum sighed. “This time isn’t like the others. The family needs you now.”
What the everlasting hell? Had she stumbled into The Godfather? The family needs her? Other than the fact Nadim worked for Dad, he was exactly like the others: educated, from a parent-approved, good family, and a complete stranger to Reena.
Except for his toned legs and firm biceps. Okay, that was not like the others.
“Mum, tell me what’s going on. Why do you need me all of a sudden?”
Mum sat heavily on the barstool next to Saira and rubbed her face—an unfamiliar gesture from her mother.
“Girls, please don’t tell your father I told you this, but he’s in trouble.”
Finally! Honesty! So refreshing. But…why was Dad in trouble?
“The Diamond project is at risk. Your father was swindled. The first architect he hired turned out to be a crook. I never trusted the man. In fact, I told your father that from the beginning. I can just look at someone and know they’re lying. But your father—”
“He took Dad’s money?” Reena froze. Her father worked with a lot of people on a lot of projects, and she worried that one day someone would take advantage of his trustworthiness.
Mum nodded. “Yes. Cash flow is empty.”
“Wait, isn’t this the last guy you tried to set Reena up with?” Saira asked.
Actually, about three potential husbands ago, not that she was keeping track or anything. “Can’t you guys go to the cops?”
“What, and let everyone know he was cheated?” Mum said. “People will laugh at our misfortune!”
Reena didn’t doubt others would enjoy watching the mighty Manjis fail publicly. Just like Dad enjoyed watching his rivals’, like the Shahs’, downfall.
Mum sighed. “Shiroz Remtulla’s investment is essential to keep the project going. But he will only invest after his son finishes a three-month probation period. I would never have agreed to this plan…What do we know about this boy? To tie up the business in this—”