Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli

Author:Sonya Lalli [Lalli, Sonya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

Get together.

The words sounded so lame, like she was setting up one of Kanika’s playdates, but she didn’t know how else to imply what she meant. She typed and retyped the text, and then without thinking about it anymore, she pushed SEND. Marianne ushered her to hurry up, and so she dragged herself off the bed and dug through some of the purchases she’d made in Soho the evening before. A coat very similar to the one she’d seen on Marianne’s bunk earlier that week. Boots with laces and all sorts of nylons and tights with interesting patterns and colors. A skirt so short Anu doubted even Jenny would wear it. Tops that looked like dishrags on the hanger but surprisingly managed to narrow Anu’s waist and hips.

“That one,” Marianne said as Anu pulled on a slinky red shirt. “With the skirt, the boots. I love it. I love it so much, I kind of hate you.”

Anu laughed, not sure if she was being serious. She didn’t have time for foundation, and so turning to the mirror on the back of the dorm door, she went heavy on the eye makeup and then picked out dark pink lipstick.

“Perfect,” she heard Marianne say as Anu reached again for her eyeliner. “Ready?”

Anu nodded and quickly dabbed a touch of black eyeliner behind her right ear. When she turned around, Marianne was staring at her intently.

“What was that for?”

Anu hesitated, reaching for her coat and purse. “It was nothing. You’ll think I’m crazy.”

“I’ll think you’re crazy if you don’t tell me.”

She followed Marianne out of the dorm and down the hall. “It’s something I’ve picked up from my mom. A superstition.” She glanced over, wondering why she felt the need to say all this—explain herself—to a perfect stranger. “A black mark is an imperfection, or so she thinks. It wards off the evil eye.”

Marianne snorted a laugh. “Is there someone out to get you?”

Anu didn’t respond as they continued down the corridor, past the Italian guy asleep at the front desk who had checked Anu in earlier that week. She snuck a look at her phone. Theo hadn’t texted back.

“It’s kind of like the story about the black cat,” Marianne added. “We’re not supposed to let it cross our path, right?”

Anu laughed. “Right.”

What was Lakshmi doing at that very moment? Anu imagined her hunched over her textbook by the fire as Kunal—who seemed to be the one cooking now that Lakshmi was back in school—made a simple dinner of dal and rice. Did it feel like a holiday without her there?

“Are there more?” she heard Marianne say. She sounded interested, not dismissive like Ryan had been when she had explained the superstition.

“A few.” They stopped short outside the door to the common room, which muffled the rowdy sounds inside. “We’re not supposed to touch our feet to books or paper, out of respect. Taking or giving anything in threes is unlucky. Um, what else? Oh, don’t open only one eye in the morning—whatever that’s supposed to mean.

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