The mud-coved expedition vehicle parked in front of Smoke's eponymous parts store. The elderly man came out to greet Janaki. The young woman's careworn countenance told Smoke that the treasure had not been found. Janaki gave Smoke the empty crimpled ring box. The two stood on the sidewalk behind the four-wheel drive. Smoke noticed a sparkle from the muddy spare tire mounted on the back. He wiped away the caked-on muck. The engagement ring had become wedged in the tread of the tire when the all 4 drive was stuck in the trench.

"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen," Janaki said of the blessing in disguise.

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