7
Prema arrived on the train platform in Pathankhot with excitement building in her stomach, launching off her sides like wild birds, bigger than butterflies. Tayi Ji leaned on her neck, brimming with the kind of love Prema tried to receive but that truly made her squirmy. Her aunt was crying, of all things. She straightened and squeezed Prema's hands and cheeks, bangles tinkling. She put one hand on Prema's waist, giving it a squeeze for good measure.
"I am not happy," Tayi Ji said.
Prema smiled. There was no one in the world like her aunt. Prema picked up her backpack, but her uncle called a porter over. Prema looked at the porter, then looked at her aunt and uncle and sighed. She handed the backpack to him because what could she do? The old, thin coolie with cheekbones like knives wr
