When Dimple Met Rishi(93)

He pulled out a folding chair from the pile and sat next to Ashish. "You really like her."

"Yep." Ashish shifted. "And I don't need a lecture about how she's not ‘suitable' or whatever."

Rishi raised a hand. "I wasn't going to say that."

"Well, that's a change," Ashish mumbled sarcastically.

They were quiet for a moment, watching a small group of guys talk excitedly about their chances. The guys didn't seem to notice them, sitting in the dark about ten feet away. When they disappeared into the dressing room, Rishi turned to Ashish. "I'm sorry."

Ashish's eyebrows shot up. "For?"

"You've been really supportive with this whole talent show thing. You've really helped Dimple-and me-a lot. And I appreciate it. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before."

Ashish nodded and looked away. "Yeah, no problem."

"But also . . ." Rishi looked down at his hands and then up again, waiting till Ashish met his eye. "I'm sorry I haven't always supported you. I've judged you instead of just being there for you. You're different from the rest of us, and I was always trying to get you to change to be more like us. That wasn't fair." Rishi paused and looked out into the dark before continuing. "The truth is . . . I've always been slightly envious of you. You've always been so sure of yourself, of what you want, even if it wasn't anything Ma or Pappa ever encouraged. Even when they-or I-actively discouraged you from doing something you really wanted to do, you did it anyway. I've always envied that courage." He smiled. "I see it in Dimple, too. That's probably why you guys get along so well."

Ashish stared at him and rubbed his jaw. "Wow. I, uh, don't know what to say."

Rishi shrugged. "You don't have to say anything. I just wanted to tell you that. And this girl? Celia? If you really like her, you should fight for her. Because I don't think she and Evan are going to last. I don't think she even really likes him."

"Yeah, but I'm not sure she even likes me. "

"So what are you going to do?" Rishi asked. "Just sit back and do nothing? That doesn't sound like you." He waited a few seconds and, when Ashish didn't say anything else, stood. "I guess I'll get back to Dimple."

"Rishi?"

He turned.

"Thanks." Ashish smiled a little, and for the first time since he'd come to SFSU , his jaw was relaxed. "For what it's worth, I really like Dimple. I was wrong about her."

Rishi grinned. "I know." And then he walked back to the dressing room.




Max looked concerned. Even his beard and mustache were aquiver. "You guys can't perform like this."



       
         
       
        

Dimple was sipping her water, trying not to look like she was eavesdropping, but it was hard to do when the conversation was taking place literally two feet from where she sat.

"We're fine," Evan said, looking right at him. "There's nothing wrong."

Max leveled a look at Isabelle, who was trying hard not to laugh. She had both hands pressed up to her mouth. Beside her, Celia was grinning loosely, like her jaw muscles had all liquefied. "Really."

"Really." Hari crossed his arms and waited till Max looked at him. "We're cool. I mean, I could get my parents on the phone, but I don't think that's necessary, do you?"

There was a tense moment when Dimple didn't know which way this would go. Who were Hari's parents? It was clear he'd just pulled rank with Max, but Dimple had no idea what it really meant.

Finally, Max let out a slow breath. "Fine," he said, in that übercalm voice older adults used when they were trying not to lose their cool. "I'm going to announce your teams, then."

Evan and Hari fist-bumped, and Evan said, "Bro, that was epic. That wing your parents donated to the computer science department must be something else."

Oh. Max's reaction made more sense now.

Hari shrugged nonchalantly at Evan's comment, but his chest was puffed out, like being rich was something he'd built with his own two manicured hands. The Aberzombies began to make their way out of the dressing room. At the last minute Dimple pulled Celia aside, which wasn't hard to do because she was trailing behind the three of them. Her skin had taken on an unhealthy pale green cast.

"You don't have to do this," Dimple said quickly. She could hear Max introducing them onstage. "You can still back out."

Celia's bloodshot hazel eyes met hers. For a second she looked like she might cry or throw her arms around Dimple's neck or ask to be taken home. But then she wrenched her arm out of Dimple's hand and stalked out behind the others.