Chapter 130

‘No, no, that’s not what I meant!’ Priya looked on the verge of tears again. ‘I just didn’t put it very well…’ She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Her fingers were red and cracked, the skin flaking near the knuckles. Some of the patches looked raw. ‘It’s only November,’ I said, frowning. ‘What the hell happened to your hands?’ She jerked her arms back into her sleeves. ‘It’s nothing. I’m used to doing chores back home.’ I stared at her. She looked small again, hunched in that oversized coat, trying to disappear into it. I let out a breath. ‘You’d be better off staying here and getting a job. You can’t keep playing maid for those people. Your mum was talking about marrying you off just now, wasn’t she?’ She nodded. ‘They found some guy, forty years old. They’d come to sort of arrangement before we left.’ ‘Are you fucking serious?’ I was incredulous. ‘They’re trying to sell you off? That’s it. You’re NOT going home with them!’ Priya swallowed. ‘Mirabelle, you should call the p