- Mindy honey, are you coming down any time soon? Dinner's on the table!
- I'm coming dad! I'll be right there! - She yelled from her former bedroom.
Mindy took a quick glance around the room; it was a really strange experience, seeing her furniture still all in place as she had left them. The room had been turned into a guest room, but little had changed: all her old mystery and romance novels were still up on the shelves, her little stuffed elephant and white duvet had not been moved from her bed, and the wallpaper still remained a pale shade of pink. While contemplating all of this, a fleeting thought crossed her mind: that she, just as that room, had been stuck in that teenage phase. And now it seemed moving on from it was long overdue.
Well, it's not like she was some rotten loser; she had become a doctor and left home behind at a very early age. But looking back on it now, Mindy realized the only major change she had experienced was packing and unpacking her stuff in a dorm, and later on in her own apartment. The rest was all the same, with a little bit more freedom and a little less Red Bull.
When one thought about it, she had made it through med school only thanks to the likes of Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Julia Roberts. She daydreamed her way through life studying hard and expecting to someday be rewarded with her own little perfect romantic plot, and in doing so achieving her forever after. And to be honest that childish soul, which some people – that even herself – found to be a charming trait, now weighed on her a little. She would always be cheery, lazy and an easy laugher and that was ok with her. She liked that. But she felt she needed to take one big step towards adulthood still… a step that seemed closer than ever now, waiting for her back in New York.
As she laid her eyes on her phone, Mindy caught a glimpse of the clock and snapped back to reality. She zipped up her crimson dress and slipped on her red velvety cardigan quickly, hoping if she was fast enough her parents wouldn't yell at her again. She then approached her pink vintage vanity and sat down, retouching her make up for the last time.
Mindy took in the reflection in front of her and felt there was something missing: She opened one of the drawers and contemplated the little black box that stood there, open, and encompassing the gold pearl earrings. She took them out and put them on, a big smile flashing across her features. Immediately she grabbed her phone and took a picture of her reflection. At that moment, Rishi entered her room.
- Oh, would you quit it already?! – Rishi nagged her.
- Hey, don't you knock anymore little bugger?! – Mindy said, jumping up her seat as if caught red-handed.
- I've seen everything there is to see Mindy; I'm neither shocked nor 12 anymore. Now, would you please knock it out with the selfies? – Rishi begged.
- Just one more; I think this one turned out blurry… - Mindy answered absentmindedly, lost in the gadgets of her phone.
- Mindy, come on! I'm starving and mom won't let me eat until everyone's at the table! – Her brother complained.
Mindy flashed a model-y smile at the mirror and snapped the new picture, showcasing her earrings with one hand on her ears.
- Min… - Rishi insisted.
- Yes, okay, okay! I'm ready, let's go – she gave up, ushering him out of her room and smoothing her hair with her palms.
- Oh pumpkin, before I forget, here you go. – Her dad handed Mindy an open letter.
- What's this? – She said with a grin.
- Casey sent you a card – Her dad added. Mindy's heart dropped to her stomach, and it showed.
- We might have opened it – Mindy's mom rushed in to add.
- Ex-queeze me? Why would you do that? – Mindy asked, momentarily outraged.
- We initially thought it may be directed to us…? – Mindy's mom said as she looked at her husband, both nodding in agreement.
- Why would you think that? You never even met him! – Mindy claimed.
- Well, because he was your fiancé and maybe you know… now that you're… he might want to… - Her dad trailed off
- Now that we broke up he would want to meet you? To what end Avu? – Mindy said, still not believing that ludicrous reason.
- Connect, catch up – Her mom finished unconvincingly.
- He was going to be your husband, honey – Avu added.
- Ugh, I can't even with you too… you gang up on me with the worst excuses ever… and you smile like puppies and expect to be forgiven! – Mindy sighed.
- We make you laugh though, don't we? – Her mom pressed on, poking her on the ribs.
- You are like a lame version of Sonny and Cher if you must know… "The Avu and Swati Comedy hour"! ... Let's just... Let's go have dinner, okay? – She said with a resigned tone. God, they knew her weak points too well. She could not stay mad at them for more than five minutes.
Her parents rushed over and hugged her and lead her to the dining room.
- You two are lucky it's Christmas week… - she warned them.
- So, what's your plan for New Year's Day darling – Swati asked as she poured some fried rice on her dish. When her daughter did not answer, Swati turned around from the serving table and took a look at her - Mindy?
- Huh? – Mindy mused. Her mind – and fingers – was too busy texting to even grasp half of what her mother had asked her. She giggled.
- New Year's Eve – tried Swati again, examining Mindy.
- Uhm… No, thank you – Mindy replied absentmindedly, her gaze still fixed on her phone.
- Your mother asked you a question, Mindy. – Avu shouted, slamming his fork on the table. - See? See what I tell you? This is why I said no phones on the table. They get distracted! – He complained, raising his hand to the ceiling. Mindy dropped her phone, a little embarrassed.
- Stop it, Avu, they are grown ups… - Swati cut him off, slapping his hand lightly on the way back to her chair. She turned to Mindy – But honey, if you could, please leave it on your pocket for a while. Let's talk okay?
- Um, sure. Sorry mom, sorry dad. – Mindy apologized, blushing a little. She felt like a 10 year old every time she visited them. She was a very obliging daughter, and that had gotten her through med school. Her phone buzzed again but Avu's death stare made it clear the message would go unanswered for the moment being.
- So, New Year's. Where are you spending it? – Swati asked once again.
- We have a little party at the office; we all arranged to be back in Manhattan so we could celebrate together – Mindy explained, digging into the homemade chicken curry. – Dad, this is amazing. You have outdone yourself once more – She said, eager to please. – I mean, all these meals have been insane. I ate like a trucker for the entire week but I'm so not sorry! – She added enthusiastically. Her dad merely nodded and kept on eating. It was okay though, he had a soft spot for her primogenitor and those words alone had already melted him inside.
- Aw, that's sweet! I'm glad you're such a tight group! – Swati mentioned.
- Yeah, so sweet – Rishi mocked his mom.
- Shut up, loser – Mindy yelled, throwing a breadstick at Rishi. Rishi laughed and catapulted a baby carrot onto her plate. – OUCH! RISHI! You nearly got me in the eye!
- Stop it you two! God… it's like we are in high school all over again! – Avu exclaimed. Still, there was a little smile at the edge of his mouth. God, he missed having them around.
Rishi and Mindy laughed in silence, looking at each other with mischievously. The cellphone ringed once more then, and Mindy instinctively reached for it. She whipped it out of her pocket and froze, analyzing the mood at the table. They weren't going to let it go.
- I'm sorry, I have to get this. It's from work. – Mindy lied. – It will be just a second. 8-month pregnant, freaking out, hah…
Mindy opened the message. It read: "They suit you v. well. Glad you liked them."
Mindy couldn't help but smile while writing back, and Swati was looking at her as she did so. "I'm sorry I didn't get you anything!" she said, and almost instantly her phone buzzed again. "You should be. I'm ROFL."
Mindy cringed. What the hell…?. She typed: "What?" and Danny fired back: "ROFL. Really offended for… whatever, I don't remember the last one". Mindy had to contain herself from bursting out laughing then, and instead wrote: "Oh god… We need to update you on your mobile lingo stat, mister".
A few seconds later, Danny hadn't answered, but remained online. Mindy worried she might have offended him, but just as she was about to apologize, Danny wrote back: "Anytime".
Mindy was packing her stuff, already in her pajamas. The bus was leaving for New York the next morning, and she didn't want to make a run for it again. While she was stuffing her luggage with the last remainders of her clothes, something fell to the ground. Mindy got on her knees to reach it, only to discover it was Casey's holiday card. She sat down on the floor, breathing heavily. She had forgotten about it for a couple of hours, caught in the whirlwind of that last meal with her family, then driving Richie to a friend's party, and then of course packing. She opened the card quite carefully, as it were going to bite her.
The front picture of the card showed a beautiful Haitian sunset and inside there was a Polaroid of the hospital Mindy had help built in her time there. In the white rectangle below, Casey had scribbled the following: "Merry Xmas darling. A little gift from Haiti: look, it's still standing and going strong! PS: I'm glad our hearts are finally in the right place".
Mindy clutched the card to her chest, relieved. For a minute there, she had imagined a completely different scenario, and all the ways she would have to think off to turn Casey down. Because, if anything, this card had cleared her head: She still cared about Casey, and a lot, but not in that way anymore.
As she got up from the floor she felt closure for the first time, and a new-found freedom to let herself dream about the future once again.
Mindy lay on the couch watching TV. She had been having the greatest time watching "Love Actually" (for the one hundredth time probably) when her dad had popped in the living room, demanding they switched to TCM, where they were playing "Meet me in St. Louis". It had been impossible to say no to him, especially since it was her last night there.
So there she was, in the middle of "Have yourself a merry little Christmas", when Avu started snoring really loudly. Mindy looked over to the rocking chair and sure enough, her dad was deeply asleep. She would have been annoyed at this – people dozing off to movies was one of her biggest pet peeves – but today she actually found it adorable. She missed her dad more than she could own up to… and she loved her house, her family dinners, the sound of the crappy, ancient TV… there was an endearment to these old habits now that she was just a visitor. However, it turned out it was indeed impossible to listen to the movie with Avu snoring like that, so she made her way onto the kitchen, tip toeing as to not wake him up.
- Mom, what are you doing up at this hour? I thought you were asleep! – Mindy wondered. Swati hushed her daughter and motioned at her to shut the door that connected the living and the kitchen. Mindy did so and settled down opposite her mother on the breakfast bar.
- I can't sleep without your dad by my side. It's an old age thing – Swati admitted.
- Aww – Mindy mocked her. Swati pinched her cheeks playfully.
- I'm making some tea. Would you like some? – Swatti offered.
- Sure… - Mindy said unconvincingly – Also… Is there any kheer left?
- Yes but we had that already! – Her mom pointed out while looking for the china.
- I'm really hungry mom – Mindy begged
- No wonder… you barely touched your food tonight, with all those phone calls. – Swati mentioned casually as she poured the hot water on the cups.
- They were texts mom. – Mindy corrected her - Now pass the kheer, c'mon.
Swati handed Mindy her tea and finally caved in, giving her a bowl full of the desert. A few minutes of silence went by while the two women concentrated in their beverages and the now soft sound of Avu's snores.
- So, who was that texting you? – Swati asked, placing her elbows on the countertop and leaning in to her daughter.
- What are you talking about? I told you it was a patient. – Mindy said in between bites.
- I saw your smile back at the table… that was no patient. That was special. – Swati insisted. Mindy kept her eyes on her cup, afraid they would give her away.
- Ok - Mindy admitted, yet refrained from saying more and just smiled down at her mother. The impatience was palpable.
- So, who is he? – She asked eagerly. Mindy dropped her spoon on the bowl, faking outrage.
- Why must it be a he? Why can't it be a she? – She observed, trying to stray the conversation. Her mom sighed.
- We've talked about this already, darling. You are not a lesbian and – Mindy was about to cut her off but her mother raised her voice a bit - and if you were I'd be fine with it! But let's face it: you have had hidden posters of Robert Downey Jr. up in your bedroom since you were 12.
- Okay, that's a bit much – Mindy defended herself, clearly losing her battle. Then she went back to her food, poking the little floating chunks of raisins with her spoon.
- Is he the one who bought you those earrings? – Swati pushed. Mindy looked at her in awe, surprised at the level of detail of her mother's observation. Swati picked this up and explained - You haven't taken those off in the entire week and you brought three pieces of luggage. We Lahiris rarely repeat outfits for the same crowd. And accessories are your strongest suit honey. – She finished, smiling smugly like a fierce lawyer making his final, light-shedding statement to the jury.
- God mom, ok. You know me. – Mindy granted her. – Happy?
- I know I know you, but you are harder to decipher than you think darling. You never tell me about your love life since you became an adult. You use to rush home and tell me about all your little crushes on a different boy each week, and how Tommy had ignored you in Calculus so now you were Mark's girlfriend instead… - Swati trailed off. - I miss that. But of course I respect that. I just… I had to start digging in deep. Since you moved out for college, I have to be very astute. Catch your tones when we speak, what you look like when no one is paying attention… That's how I knew.
Mindy fell silent and finished her bowl and tea. Her mom did the same, trying to give her some space to process what she had confessed.
- What did you think when I was with Casey? – Mindy blurted out. She hadn't meant to, but that infamous card had been hovering around her mind the entire night.
- I heard happiness, I did. It's just… you seemed happy to finally have a path. But not necessarily excited about who you were sharing that path with. – Swati pointed out mysteriously and then headed to the sink to wash the cups.
- And now? – Mindy insisted, trying to read her mom's expression from the back. Swati didn't say a word until she finished rinsing the dishes.
- And now… I see you happy, and maybe a little afraid this is happening to you. - Swati turned to Mindy, grabbing one of her hands – I think you are a little anxious or apprehensive that you might be building up this in your head. – Swati squeezed her hand gently. Mindy's eyes glistened a little under this tough, spot-on truth.
- I am… - Mindy admitted – I'm scared about the "What if's"… I get the feeling it would be worse than losing anybody else.
- You can't think like that in life honey, or you would never make a move for anything in the first place. – Swati advised her. Mindy nodded, drying up her eyes. Swati pinched Mindy's cheeks once again and turned to leave the kitchen.
- You think he could be good for me? – Mindy said. Swati opened the door but turned again to her daughter, with what could be described as a wise smile. She thought about it.
- I don't know him… But I do love those earrings though. – She pointed out and then left.
Mindy started climbing the stairs to her bedroom, smiling to herself.