Chapter 34 Veera

Chapter 34 Veera

VEERA: Bobbi and Kareena helped me whiteboard a plan

DEEPAK: Why does that sound ominous?

"I can't believe you bought a pie," Deepak said. They stood side by side in the black marble and chrome lobby of Olivia's

building. An attendant in a black suit sat at a wide circular desk, eying them as he held a receiver to his ear and spoke

in hushed tones behind his cupped hand.

Veera looked up at Deepak, tempted to touch the smooth, freshly shaven jaw, to muss the styled black hair combed to the side

and back, revealing the strong angles of his face. "It's almost Thanksgiving," she said and wiggled the wrapped pie plate

that she held in front of her with both hands. "We can't show up to someone's house without pumpkin pie."

Deepak kissed the corner of her mouth, then rubbed her back in a smooth circular motion. She felt it through the thin insulated

coat she wore on their trek from Brooklyn to the Upper West Side. "Let's hope we get a chance to try it before your sister

kicks us out. Then we can go get some lunch before I head into the office."

"There is a second pie at home," Veera said and smiled when he kissed her again, a quick peck that she knew he delivered to show his gratitude and love. It was powerful to be able to touch him, to be touched by him in the way that she'd once dreamed of.

"Do you think your sister would move back to New York?" Deepak asked.

"Only time will tell," Veera said. She glanced at the gold fixtures that reminded her so much of the Kumari boutique. "This

is a nice place. If both she and Olivia are serious, I can see her living here."

"You can head up," the attendant called out. He stood and leaned over the front of the desk. He pointed two fingers at the

elevator bank. "Last one on your left. The panel is preprogrammed, so just step inside and it'll take you to Ms. Olivia's

floor."

"Thank you," Deepak and Veera said. They followed the directions and entered the steel-and-glass elevator, which took them

up twenty-five stories in a smooth, easy ride.

Every floor they ascended had her heart beating just a little bit faster. This was it , Veera thought. This was her moment to hash out a compromise with her twin.

The night before, Olivia had called Deepak and asked for a few minutes of their time so they could talk. She'd assured them

that they wanted to work together, to come up with a solution that was right for both Mathurs and Dattas.

As they walked down the hallway, Veera thought that enough time had passed that her anger had cooled, even though she still

disagreed with Sana's motives. But that's how it had always been between them. Burning hot and fast before snuffing out, leaving

a thin tendril of smoke as the only remnant of their argument. They were sisters, and they brought out the ugliest in each

other but also the strongest parts, too.

Before they could ring the bell for the last apartment on the left side of the hallway, Olivia was yanking the door open for them.

"Hello, you two," she said, draping her curvy body against the door jam, a sultry smile on her glossy mouth. "Come on in."

She stepped back to allow both Deepak and Veera to enter the small foyer.

Veera noticed Olivia's casual attire, and she couldn't recall her ever looking so approachable in her videos. Her loose T-shirt,

her hair tied up in a messy bun, her face devoid of makeup was just as beautiful as all the polish and glam. But definitely

just as intimidating.

"This is for you," Veera said and handed over the pie. She took off her low pumps at the entryway and set them next to Deepak's

dress shoes.

"Pie," Olivia said, her face brightening as she inspected the wrapped dessert in her hands. "I love pie. That's sweet of you.

Damn, I wished you weren't as kind as your sister says."

"I'm sure that's not what she's saying right now," Veera replied blandly.

"She is, even though you called her a chutiya."

The voice came from the end of the hall. Veera turned to see Sana in a similarly casual outfit as Olivia's. With her leggings

and oversize sweatshirt that dipped off one shoulder and exposed her cash money tattoo on her collarbone.

Veera ignored her twin's entrance. "Olivia, you have a beautiful home, and I appreciate you letting us come by."

"Sure," she said. Her smile was amused. She set the pie plate down on the gold-and-white console table to her right.

"Vee," Sana said, with a sigh. "Don't be like that when you just walked through the door."

"Be like what?" she asked, even though she knew that she sounded bratty.

She had called her sister a chutiya.

More than once, if she remembered correctly.

Veera squared off in front of her twin. The woman who looked just like her, except not. Sana's hair was still that short,

curled mop that draped effortlessly over her brow compared to Veera's carefully coifed bun. Her soccer body versus Veera's

dancer's form.

"I'm sorry," Veera finally said to her sister. "I will refrain from name-calling in your girlfriend's home, as long as you

do the same."

Sana nodded in one quick jerky movement. "Agreed."

Veera felt Deepak's warmth as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She immediately looped hers around his waist and leaned

into his side. She saw her sister's stare zero in on the contact, but instead of irritation, Sana looked... guilty.

"Sana, I promise, I won't hurt your sister," Deepak said, slowly. "And I don't want her in the middle of my business, especially

if it forces her to choose between us."

"I know."

"You... know?" Veera asked. She gaped at her twin. "What convinced you?"

Sana looked over her shoulder at Olivia and then back. "I, ah, talked to Margaret. She found out that I was the other candidate.

She told me pretty much the same story. That it was Dad and that he's playing a power game. He's trying to use me as his puppet."

"Sana, I'm really sorry." Even though she told her sister the truth first, Veera knew it had to hurt even more when it came

from a neutral third party.

"I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you," Sana said. She glanced again at Olivia and tugged at the neck of her shirt. "I was just so angry on your behalf that I actually trusted Dad and could've ruined your relationship."

"It's okay," Veera said. Then she crossed the room and wrapped her sister up in her arms. They fit together like always. Sana's

hug, her warmth, was the only consistent affection she needed in her life next to Deepak's. Feeling her twin close, even though

they had seen each other only a few days before, chipped away at some of the tension in her shoulders. "Thank you so much

for always wanting to protect me," she whispered, as she pressed her cheek to her twin's. "For giving me the chance to travel

and to get away from the city."

"But then we didn't go into business together," Sana said quietly.

"It's not what you wanted, but it's what I needed to hear." Veera truly believed that, too. She just needed some hope, and

her sister gave it to her.

Veera held on tightly as Sana did the same, and the last piece in her life seemed to slide into place. Her spirit was in equilibrium

again.

"That's so beautiful," Olivia sniffled from behind them.

Sana chuckled and sniffled as well. Veera wasn't finished yet, though.

"Sana," she said, leaning back in the embrace, her arms still wrapped around her sister's waist. "You know this is not about

Deepak, right? This is about you and me and Dad. This is about him not believing that we'd ever be good enough."

"But we are," Sana replied, eyes rimmed with tears. "Damn it, we are. And I hate that I fell into his trap."

"I feel like there is something to be said about trying to be more American in business while becoming more toxic Punjabi at the same time," Veera mused. Or maybe her father just hadn't evolved the way that so many of their community were finally starting to do.

"Son of a bitch played me when he said that Deepak was the one who turned down the proposal," Sana said, as she squeezed Veera's

hand. "We asked you here so I could tell you in person that I'm going to drop out of the running. I don't want to be a part

of this. I don't want to be a part of his plan."

Her sister had always been there for her. And to a fault, she tried to fight Veera's battles as well. But now, it was Sana

who needed her. It was Sana who was still grieving all the years that they worked so hard under their father's mentorship,

only to have him use them and brush them off like they never mattered in the first place.

Veera realized that while she had been traveling, she had been able to process a lot of her fears and doubts. She had contacted

her therapist and done remote counseling. She had been working on herself, which is why it had felt like such a betrayal when

she was ready to start the next phase of her life. Her sister wasn't ready then.

But now, they had finally gotten to a point where they could lean on each other and move forward together.

Veera brushed her wet cheek with a pad of her thumb. "I think I have an idea on how we can all get what we want, but, Sana,

you can't tell Dad yet that you're pulling out of the race. We're all going to have to work together."

"Just tell us what you think we should do," Sana said. "You were always the strategist, so I'm happy to follow your lead."

Veera rubbed her palms together. "Perfect. We'll start with Olivia."

"Me?" Olivia said, pressing a palm to her chest. Her long, painted fingernails added flourish to the simple move. "I'm happy to help, but what can I do in this situation?"

"Two things," Veera said, the gears in her head turning rapidly as she started to envision the parts of her plan working in

sync. She'd already brainstormed so much with Deepak, and then again with her best friends. All she needed this whole time

was Sana's and Olivia's cooperation.

Deepak beamed at her, his smile so confident in her.

They were going to be okay.

"Olivia, the first request I have from you is for you to use your personal platform. Then... your Mrs. W.S. Gupta column."

Olivia's eyes went wide. She whirled to face Deepak. "You told her? You know that's a breach of contract."

Deepak shrugged. "Sue me. It's one thing to keep secrets from my friends and family, but I'm not going to keep secrets from

my wife."

"I won't tell anyone, I promise," Veera said, as she made a scout's honor gesture. "But both your identities could really

come in handy."

Olivia looked at Sana, then back at Veera, and to Deepak. "Fine," she said, her shoulders slumping. "What would you like me

to do?"

"We'll start with eating that pie," Veera said. "And take a selfie." She turned to her sister. "After that, we're going to

have a long conversation with Mom."