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“That’s Arvi for you” Sighing, her sister rubbed at her teet imen was finely calibrated to make sure she didn’t become an addict or end up catatonic Ashwini hated that Tanu had to be on thes, her sister becaht
The aiive her ashours Banli House was a high-class facility, after all, one that took its responsibilities seriously If Ashwini hadn’t been entoht even have found it a soothing, caring environment
Janvier moved from behind Ashwini’s chair “Idown in front of Tanu, pressed his fingers to his own te the hed “Where did you learn that?”
“Frorandmother Sometimes what is hed and patted his cheek, no indication of any tension on her face at the contact “Yes, you’re definitely trouble Pretty trouble” Her eyes met Ashwini’s “You should chain hiue”
Tanu’s vivacious gaze dulled in front of Ashwini’s eyes, her head turning toward thethat looked out into the night “I can hear them”
“Tanu” Ashwini touched her sister on the knee
But Tanushree Taj wasn’t listening, wasn’t even aware of her or Janvier any longer, lost in the cacophony of phanto her knuckles over the heavy ache in her chest, Ashwini put her hand on Janvier’s shoulder, said, “We should go She can stay like this for hours, sometimes days” Ashwini had once returned fro tube because she’d gone into a near-catatonic state two days earlier
Arvi had been sitting at Tanu’s bedside, his voice hoarse fro to talk her back to the world “Please, Tanu I don’t kno to do this without you Please, Tanu Please”
Throat thick with the raw force of the memory, she wasn’t ready for the intense and painful tenderness she saw in Janvier’s eyes when he turned to herbut there was no pity No horror He looked at her as he’d always done when he was feeling protective, and the realization made her want to fall into his ar her up once he was on his feet, she left Tanu with a soft good-bye “She’s gone,” she told Carl as she and Janvier put their shoes back on “Please keep an eye on her” The voices could leave Tanu in agony, until sedation was the only way to give her peace
“I always do” The nurse walked with the away ht”
“Do you think you can call me when she’s lucid? I’d like to spend more time with her” Before there was no more time “But only if Arvi isn’t here” No matter her own need to see Tanu, Ashouldn’t steal Arvi’s ti but included as a child, but nothing could alter the fact they’d been siblings for nineteen years before she came on the scene
Unlike some male/female fraternal twins, Arvi and Tanu had never drifted apart, despite living vibrant, individual lives of their own Tanu had gone to a different university from Arvi’s, her social life an active whirl Arvi, in contrast, had buried hi-tered with the moon
However, when the two came home for vacations, it was obvious they’d kept in constant contact They’d make coh over secret jokes, tease each other ive their excited little sister gifts that compleh in the past eighteen and a half years was the day five years ago when she’d arrived for a visit to find Tanu coherent and herself Her sister had been doubled over in a fit of giggles, Arvi’s head thrown back in untrammeled joy as he sat on the floor with his back to theWhen Ashould’ve backed away, Arvi had called for her to come in, open affection in his voice
Ashwini had walked inside, all the pain that separated them buried beneath the wonder of that ti was as it should be Her brother had held her by his side with his arical hour, the three of them had been as before, Ashwini quiet and happy just to be in the roos while they bickered and talked and made fun of the world
“Of course I’d be happy to call you” Carl’s voice cut into the heartrending echo of memory “I’ll ask the day shift nurse to do the sa with a nod, she inhaled the crisp night air in deep gulps It felt as if the stranglehold around her throat had eased at last, her lungs expanding gratefully She hated Banli House as et out of here”
Janvier drove them back not directly to Manhattan but to the Enclave lookout he’d brought her to on the bike Leaving the car, the two of thee of the cliffs and took a seat notwithstanding the snow, their legs hanging over the side and the Hudson flowing slittered in the distance, the Tower a spear of light The brilliance of it caught on the wings of angels who flew in and out, turned the glass of nearby skyscrapers into dazzling o to Banli House,” Ashwini said, “I want to break her out, take her to so better”
Even Arvi had accepted that
Tanu had round-the-clock care at Banli House and friends a-term residents She was neverthe rules about notphysical contact with her unless she initiated it or it was absolutely necessary When it was, only a sroup of people were authorized to touch her, all individuals whose minds wouldn’t hurt Tanu
If no one on the cleared list was available, Banli House called Ashwini or Arvi And when Tanu was lucid and herself, the staff made sure she had access to whatever she wanted, be it the freedom to walk the pathways in the woods behind Banli House, eat a particular e canvas