want to change the trajectory of our state, and I believe that I know how to do that.”
He let that sink in before he continued. “I have, however, told one lie, and I want to own up to it now, before you put your faith in me and vote for me. Even though I believe that it has nothing to do with why you should vote for me as your governor.”
The audience had gone eerily silent. India squeezed her knees to her chest and reminded herself to breathe.
On the screen, his eyes bored into her. “Naina Kohli and I are not engaged. She is not my girlfriend. All we’ve ever been is friends.” A murmur went through the audience, but Yash went on, voice strong and calm. “Our relationship has always been one of trust and loyalty. For the sake of our families we did try to have a relationship, but we’ve never been in love. We never intended to be life partners or anything more than friends. When the media became fascinated by our relationship I should have set the record straight, but I didn’t.
“When she cried after I’d been shot, her tears were not a lie, but inadvertently that footage turned into a romantic-tragic symbol. Yes, it was tragic. But there was nothing romantic about it. Which brings me to the lie.”
India gasped. No, Yash. Don’t.
Nisha and China pressed gentle hands into her back.
Yash went on, sincere eyes locked on the camera, locked on her. “The pictures taken on the day when Abdullah Khan woke up from his coma . . .” He turned around and looked at Abdul, and anyone with a pulse had to feel the connection between them. “Those were not pictures of Naina and me. Naina, being a friend, wanted to prevent a scandal from ruining my campaign, and so she decided to say it was her. I should have stopped her, but I was afraid for the safety and privacy of the woman in the pictures. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. But she did not sign up to have her privacy violated with scandal. Especially when there is no scandal, because Naina and I were never together.
“As you can imagine, I was advised by my team, by my family, by my political advisers—all of whom have worked tirelessly for my campaign—to not make this announcement today, just three weeks before the election, especially considering where I stand in the polls. Everyone believed waiting until after the election would be prudent. But relationships that start with lies often lead to disaster, and I don’t want my relationship with you as your governor to start with one. So there you have it. I lied. I am profoundly sorry that I did. But every promise I’ve made to you has been sincere. I will work every day to fulfill each one, to make California carbon neutral, to make sure every Californian has access to affordable health care, to make schools safer for our children, to address land management to control wildfires, and to make housing fairly and equitably available to all. This is my promise to you and I hope that you’ll believe that I’ll keep it.”
India pressed her hand to her heart; she wasn’t sure if it was still beating.
“That’s the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.” Tara was the first to speak. “It reminds me of that man who was stuck under a boulder and cut off his own arm.”
Every one of them stared at her, completely speechless.
“What?” Tara said. “He lived. When the choice is between life and death, you have to decide what’s dispensable.”
India felt suspended between joy and panic. Yash had just shown her that she was the life he wanted to choose. Did that mean that he’d decided that his campaign was dispensable?
“What is her name?” A reporter from the San Jose Mercury News asked.
Yash smiled. “I think I owe Rico twenty bucks for calling that as the first question. I’ll tell you what, let’s deal with one reveal at a time. I’ll ask her if she’s okay with me telling you and we can set up another press conference if she’s up for it.”
The press wasn’t happy with that answer but Yash stood strong on it and they turned back to questions about restructuring the police.
“Who do you think this mystery woman is?” Trisha asked, scratching her head, and China started to giggle.
“Oh, did I mention that they record the press conferences and play them with