Lily in the Wind

What could be worse than, getting ready to go to a bachelorette party with a friend, mixing up the address and ending up in someone else’s house? Finding yourself in the bedroom with a half-naked man? Only the witnesses of your humiliation—and your own broken engagement.

***

— Mom, is Rinat really very angry?

— Very, — sighed the mother, looking away. — The Shavidos demand the kalyms back.

The girl shut her eyes.

— We don’t have it, right, mom?

— No.

Silence in the room mercilessly pressed on their shoulders.

— Daughter, that’s not all. Rinat is waiting for a matchmaker today.

— From... from whom? Liya suddenly began to stammer.

The mother looked at her carefully.

— You know from whom.