Falguni's Blog: MOTHER'S DAY excerpt from My Last Love Story

Dear Readers, it's one week to lift-off for

My Last Love Story.

In the meantime, enjoy a Mother's Day excerpt.

“I’m here. What’s the deal?” I asked, holding my purse against me like armor.

He closed the book, slid it into its slot on the store shelf. Rumi, I read off the spine—Zayaan’s favorite Persian poet. He used to quote Rumi all the time when we were kids. I hadn’t seen him read poetry, much less quote a couplet for a long time. No one who knew him now would guess that staid and to-the-point Zayaan possessed the soul of a romantic.

That night had taken many things from us. I had taken Rumi from Zayaan, and for that I couldn’t be sorrier.

He led me to the cashier’s desk cluttered with books and other things.

“What do you think?” he asked, holding a book on Lord Krishna in one hand and a box containing a silver-plated Om in the other.

“They’re…cool.” I blinked at him. “Going back to your Hindu roots, are you?” Some sects of Khojas were converted Hindus, which was why their language, customs, even their food was more Gujarati and Kathiawari in style than Islamic.

Zayaan did a double take before he burst out laughing. “Your punch lines always had perfect timing, Sims. Good one.”

“Hm. Great. Though, I’m not joking.” I pointedly looked at the objects in his hands.

“For Mummy. Mother’s day.” He gave a shy, charming little shrug. “Can’t decide what to get her.”

I couldn’t help it. I went up on my tiptoes and kissed his stubbly cheek. But I quickly stepped back when he leaned in just as unconsciously. And then he froze.

Khodai. We’d become so awkward around each other.

“You’re so sweet, Zai. Let me see. She’ll definitely love the book,” I said, roving a critical eye over both objects. Lord Krishna was the patron god of Nirvaan’s family and the book was an intricately illustrated romp through Krishna’s early life as a cowherd. The pictures were augmented by well-known hymns and poems.

Krishna was known as the Complete Man in Hindu philosophy. He was a prankster, a flirt, a diplomat, a musician and a great orator. If ever there was a classic example of a God’s influence on his Believer, Lord Krishna and Nirvaan were it.

ONLY ONE WEEK TO RELEASE, PEOPLE!