When I opened the apartment door, the smell of fresh flowers mixed with home-cooked food immediately greeted me. I found Manu sitting at the table, helping Rose arrange a display in the glass vase.
"I told her not to overexert herself, Ravi," Rose complained as soon as she saw me come in, her eyes narrowed in mock scolding. "But this girl just won't stay still."
Manu lifted her face toward me, with a small, defiant smile.
"I'm just moving my arms. It doesn't count as effort."
I couldn't help but laugh. The simple fact of seeing her with color in her cheeks, trading banter with Rose, was already a victory. I lightly touched Daniel's shoulder, who was accompanying me. "Manu, this is Daniel."
She rose slightly from the chair, shy, and extended her hand. He shook it with the natural polit
