Incense and Sensibility (The Rajes #3) - Sonali Dev Page 0,135
you and don’t let it get all mixed up with what others want.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
India hadn’t heard from Yash since she’d left him at his parents’ house exactly one week ago. This surprised India more than it should have. It also scared her because she knew the man, and she knew the look in his eyes when he’d said goodbye. Granted the election was three weeks away and he’d been in a different town every day campaigning, but she knew he was up to something. Her inner voice knew it too, the desolateness inside her had eased, the perpetual thoughts of him had turned hopeful instead of painful.
So when his three sisters knocked on the door of her studio, her heartbeat couldn’t be blamed for doing a frenzied thing. Her last class was done, her last client had been seen. She’d been about to go upstairs and crawl into bed.
“Hey, India,” the three of them said as she gaped at them and studied the empty street behind them.
“Were you expecting someone else?” Nisha asked, all innocence.
India shook her head and said nothing.
“The three of us were supposed to watch Yash’s press conference at my place,” Ashna said, her tone exactly as innocent as Nisha’s. “But my TV blew out. Can we, you know, watch here?”
India stepped back, letting them in. “Press conference? About what?”
Their response was three synchronized shrugs.
Trisha looked at her watch. “It started about a minute ago.”
India raced up the stairs without waiting for them to follow her. What are you up to, Yash?
China and Tara were already sitting in front of the TV, and they scooted to make space, as the Raje sisters followed India into the living room. Had China and mom been expecting them to show up? Had they planned this?
What was this, exactly?
The three of them squeezed onto the sectional and India dropped down on the floor.
On the screen Rico was behind a podium addressing a room full of reporters. Just behind him, Yash, flanked by Brandy and Abdul, waved and nodded to the audience as Rico urged everyone to go out and vote.
The women on her sectional, who looked entirely too comfortable, studiedly ignored her, even when she threw them an openly curious glance.
Suddenly Rico cleared his throat and everyone in the room sat up. “We wanted to announce that the California Black Caucus and BLM just endorsed Yash Raje.”
The press applauded with polite enthusiasm.
The president of the California Black Caucus came to the mic and praised Yash’s commitment and allyship. India’s heart filled with pride.
Next Rico introduced the president of the police union. He announced that the union was endorsing Yash’s plan to reorganize and retrain the California police.
How on earth had he managed that? She knew he had been working on it, and his brother Vansh had been helping, but this was possibly the most amazing thing India had seen in politics in her lifetime.
The press went nuts. The questions were endless. Yash answered them in a way that would make even the most cynical believe again. He was in his element. Something about him was dazzling, rejuvenated. All the earnest enthusiasm of the Yash she’d met ten years ago. All the confidence and power of the Yash who’d slipped under her skin again.
With every answer he gave, her living room exploded with opinions. It was no secret that his sisters adored him. For years when she and China had met up with them, she’d had to block out their fawning. Now she soaked it up.
Why were they here?
As they chattered on, India couldn’t get a word out. It didn’t seem to matter, because everyone had decided to act like she wasn’t here.
“There is one more thing,” Rico said finally. “Yash has another announcement of a somewhat more private nature.”
“Are you finally getting married, Mr. Raje?” someone shouted from the crowd.
Yash smiled. “I’m glad you asked.” There was no worry in his eyes. Nothing tortured. They were clear and brilliant. He looked freer than India had ever seen him look.
What are you up to, Yash?
“Last month when I said I wanted to work with the BLM leaders and the police union to come up with a plan to restructure the department, my opponent said it was just talk. It wasn’t. I’ve never made a promise I can’t keep. Not as state senator, not as U.S. attorney. I believe that the need to tell the truth is what defines me. It’s how I define myself. That and going after what I want. I