Page 132 of The Defiant Wife

"Happy birthday, Diya didi!" Rani suddenly jumps in front of me, nearly knocking the cardboard crown off my head again.

Laila joins her, both of them breaking into the most uncoordinated dance I've ever seen while Keshav claps dramatically from the side.

"She'll cry before we even cut the cake," he announces.

"I told you she would."

"I'm not crying," I protest immediately.

"You are."

"I'm absolutely not."

"You have shiny eyes," Rani says proudly."That's crying."

"I'm emotionally . . . hydrated."

The children burst into laughter.Even Raj, standing beside the handmade banner, signs, “Liar”with the biggest grin on his face.

I laugh through the tears threatening to fall. The banner behind him is painted in uneven blue letters.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIYA DIDI

It's crooked.The paint has dripped in three places.It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Before I can say anything, Meher bhabhi sa walks over. She gently places a hand on my shoulder. Her smile is soft . . . warm, the kind that always makes me feel safe.

"Happy birthday, Diya," she says quietly."I'm so grateful you became part of this family."

My heart squeezes painfully.

Family.

That word used to feel like something I wasn't allowed to have.Now I hear it so often that it almost feels normal.

Almost.

Beside her, Poorvi lifts a tablet with a bright smile.

The screen lights up."Happy birthday!"Sitara practically screams through the video call.Dhruv waves from behind her.

"We wanted to be there!" he says. "But business is cruel, right now."

"So we'll celebrate twice." Sitara jumps enthusiastically, her happiness radiating through the screen. "We're stealing you for dinner the next time we're home."

I laugh, wiping my eyes."You two are impossible."

"And you love us," Sitara grins.

I do.

Looking around the room, my fingers brush absentmindedly over the pale patches on my hand.

There was a time when I would have hidden them immediately.

Today . . . I don't even think about it. Not because they've disappeared. But because nobody here makes me feel like they should.

These people don't look at my skin first.

They look at me.