First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) - Alisha Rai Page 0,57
he didn’t feel too much fear at losing his grandfather’s money or not relying on the family fortune. So long as he and his little family were taken care of, he’d be fine.
“But when I was sixteen, my parents died in a car accident and my brother and I were shipped back to my grandparents’ home. They took us in, because what would it look like if they didn’t?” Dev shrugged. “Besides, my brother was very handsome even at thirteen; he was the spitting image of my grandfather. The world could forget who his mother was. My grandfather was less interested in me. I was still so angry about how he’d treated my parents, and I was a reminder to him about his own loss, I imagine. I only lived with them for a year or so before I left.”
Jia’s step faltered. “You were so young. Where did you go?”
“I tried my hand at a couple careers. Acting was the easiest paycheck. I got a flat in Mumbai, as far as I could get from them in the same city.” He didn’t like to think about those early years too much. He’d still been grieving the upheaval of what had been a good life, and missing his brother something fierce.
A few years later, Dev had tried to get Rohan to come live with him, but it was too late. His brother had already been sucked into the Bollywood film star machine, filled with all the debauchery and wealth that came with it. Another regret to add to his shoulders, that he hadn’t taken over Rohan’s guardianship when the boy was a minor.
“I’m sorry. Your family has had so many losses.”
“Some people say there’s a curse. My parents and uncle were young, and my brother was as well. Then my grandfather. I think that Rohan’s death took too much of a toll on him.” He paused. “It’s quite odd to mourn your family members when a whole nation is also mourning them.”
“I can’t imagine,” Jia murmured.
What had been in those pancakes to make him confess his darkest secrets? “Apologies, I don’t know why I’m talking so much. Obviously, none of this is common knowledge. I would prefer you not share it with anyone, including your family.”
She mimed locking her lips. “I have that kind of face. People tell me things.”
“That must be it.”
They walked quietly for a moment. “You have a nice little family now.”
“Yes. I’m glad Adil Uncle could come live with us. I didn’t see him much when I was growing up. I think there was some question of him taking custody of Rohan and me when we were young, but I believe my grandparents convinced him we were better off with them.” More over-sharing. “It’s been good to have help with Luna, too.” He’d been surprised Luna hadn’t seemed overly enthused to meet or spend time with Jia earlier tonight, but he supposed that could be chalked up to shyness.
“Is Luna’s mother—?”
“Out of the picture. I don’t even know who she is. I think Rohan must have bought her off.” He didn’t know the ins and outs of what had happened when Luna was born, just that one day Rohan had been a carefree bachelor, and the next, the newspapers had proclaimed him a father. When Dev had called him, he’d refused to speak of it, merely said, Congratulations on being a kaka, Bhai, and hung up.
He didn’t know how his grandparents had felt about Rohan’s illegitimate child initially, but his grandmother at least had seemed to come around quickly. In the end, their family name had squelched the worst of the gossip.
Jia switched her purse to her other shoulder. “Luna seems to be healthy and happy, and you clearly adore her. You’ve made up for missed time, it appears.”
“Can you make up for such a thing?”
“I think so.” Her feet slowed, and he met her pace. “My roommate, Katrina, she likes to say that people come in and out of our lives, and we have to enjoy the parts in the middle. But I think it’s okay to not enjoy all the parts, you know? Things change, life changes, you change. I definitely feel like my relationship with various family members has ebbed and flowed.”
He filled his lungs with air. She was wise, but he already knew that from watching her deceptively simple videos. “Are your feet hurting? Those are very high heels.”
Jia gave him a chiding look. “Please, I can travel up a mountain in these.