Chapter 17 Summary, Themes, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Daisy folded over in the waiting room of an animal hospital, struggling through a severe anxiety attack. Max, her dog, had been unresponsive when she arrived to pick him up, and Mehar Auntie had frantically searched the house for the cause of his illness. Daisy rushed Max to the vet, who took him in immediately and pumped his stomach. Mehar Auntie arrived shortly afterward to reveal that Max had gotten into her baking chocolate, and she stayed to keep Daisy company while the vet worked.

The vet assures them Max will recover, and Mehar Auntie suggests taking Daisy home so she can return in the morning. Daisy refuses to leave Max. As her anxiety spirals, she focuses on the breathing technique her therapist taught her: in for four, hold for four, out for four. The chapter reveals that Daisy’s anxiety had spiraled out of control years ago after her mother’s sudden reappearance, and she went through three therapists before finding one who could help.

Liam arrives unexpectedly. Daisy had sent him a quick text after the vet assured her Max would be okay, never expecting him to show up. He explains that he thought she might need a friend. His presence startles her out of her breathing rhythm. Mehar Auntie immediately begins interrogating him — who is his family, what does he do, how does he know Daisy — and Daisy’s anxiety peaks again. Liam apologizes, worried he’s causing more stress, but Daisy insists it was nice of him to come. He offers comfort, stroking her back with slow, steady movements, and mentions that his mother had anxiety issues and that rubbing her back helped.

Mehar Auntie shifts from interrogation to curiosity about his motorcycle, asking if he’s in a gang and whether he’s “full patch,” referencing Sons of Anarchy. Daisy corrects her — Liam just rides for transportation. Mehar Auntie warns him not to take Daisy on the motorcycle, and Liam promises not to unless she asks.

Then Mehar Auntie asks if he can do Bollywood stunts, referencing Ajay Devgan in Phool Aur Kaante and Hero, and launches into a performance of the song “Ding Dong,” singing and dancing in the waiting room. Daisy is mortified, but no one seems annoyed — everyone is smiling. Liam laughs, pulls up a YouTube version of the song on his phone, and plays it to help her out. By the end, everyone in the waiting room is clapping along, and Daisy finds she can breathe again.

Mehar Auntie pats Liam’s shoulder and declares he’s a good boy. She decides to go home and rest, whispering to Daisy that Liam came all the way for her and she doesn’t need an old auntie when she has him. After she leaves, Daisy tells Liam he passed the test.

The two fall into easy banter about food — avocado and hummus quesadillas, baked tofu fries, batata vada, and Kurkure Masala Munch, a crunchy snack from India that Liam admits he loved. Daisy reveals she had her own hidden stash, and Liam reacts in mock horror that he could have eaten it all.

Daisy pulls away, reminding herself of her rules. Rules keep her safe; feelings don’t. She tells Liam he doesn’t have to stay, but he points out she hasn’t used the restroom in a long time — he’s been tracking. The banter escalates into a ridiculous exchange about peeing, and Daisy finally jumps up to go to the restroom just to make him stop. When she stands, Liam sweeps her up in his arms, declaring he’ll carry her to her car and drive her home. A woman with a cat in the waiting room calls out that they’re cute together and that Liam is a real catch. Liam teases her about it as he carries her out, and the chapter ends with him telling her not to pee on the seat.

Key Events

Max eats Mehar Auntie’s baking chocolate and becomes unresponsive; Daisy rushes him to the animal hospital
The vet pumps Max’s stomach and assures Daisy he will recover
Daisy suffers a severe anxiety attack in the waiting room, using breathing techniques from therapy
Liam arrives after Daisy texts him, offering support
Mehar Auntie interrogates Liam about his family, job, and motorcycle
Mehar Auntie performs a Bollywood song and dance; Liam plays the song on his phone and the waiting room joins in
Mehar Auntie approves of Liam and leaves
Daisy and Liam banter about snacks and bathroom habits
Liam carries Daisy to her car to drive her home

Character Development

Daisy. This chapter shows Daisy at her most vulnerable. Her anxiety attack is triggered by fear for Max, and the narrative reveals that her anxiety has been a long-standing issue, rooted in her mother’s sudden reappearance years ago. She’s been through three therapists and has developed coping techniques, but she’s also built protective walls around her heart as self-protection. Her internal conflict is explicit: she’s drawn to Liam’s kindness, but she has rules to keep herself safe, and feelings are dangerous. The chapter shows her letting her guard down despite herself — leaning into his comfort, laughing at his jokes, and taking his hand.

Liam. Liam’s care for Daisy is on full display. He drops everything to come to the animal hospital after a brief text, offers steady physical comfort during her panic attack, and shares a personal detail about his mother’s anxiety. He doesn’t just tolerate Mehar Auntie’s antics — he actively joins in, playing the song on his phone and enjoying the performance. His humor is gentle and teasing rather than mean-spirited, and his observation about her bathroom habits reveals how closely he pays attention to her. The chapter deepens his character by showing his emotional intelligence and his willingness to be present for someone in crisis.

Mehar Auntie. Though she’s a supporting character, Mehar Auntie plays a crucial role here. She’s protective of Daisy, staying at the hospital and offering to take her home. Her interrogation of Liam is both comedic and serious — she’s vetting him as family would. Her approval is significant: she calls him a good boy and tells Daisy she doesn’t need an old auntie when she has Liam. Her Bollywood performance, while embarrassing to Daisy, also serves as a test of Liam’s character — and he passes by embracing it rather than being put off.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Vulnerability and emotional support. The chapter centers on Daisy’s anxiety attack and Liam’s response to it. His presence, his steady touch, and his willingness to stay demonstrate what genuine support looks like. The chapter contrasts Daisy’s self-protective rules with the comfort she actually receives when she lets someone in.

Anxiety and control. Daisy’s anxiety is tied to a loss of control — over Max’s health, over her body’s response, over her emotions. Her breathing technique is a tool for regaining control, and the chapter shows how Liam’s presence helps her find her breath again.

Humor as coping. The absurdity of the pee conversation and the Bollywood dance performance serve as comic relief that also functions as emotional release. Laughter breaks the tension and helps Daisy breathe.

Family approval. Mehar Auntie’s interrogation and eventual blessing mirror the larger theme of family acceptance in the novel. Liam passing the “test” is significant for the fake relationship’s credibility.

The fake relationship blurring into real. Liam’s actions — coming to the hospital, comforting her, carrying her to the car — go beyond what a fake fiancé would do. The chapter shows the line between performance and genuine feeling dissolving.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Daisy and Liam’s relationship. Up to this point, their arrangement has been framed as a fake engagement for practical purposes. Here, Liam’s response to Daisy’s crisis — racing across the city to sit with her in an animal hospital after only three fake dates — demonstrates that his feelings are becoming real. Daisy’s internal struggle between her protective rules and her growing attraction to Liam is made explicit. The chapter also deepens the family dimension of the story: Mehar Auntie’s approval signals that the fake relationship is being accepted as real by the people who matter. The chapter’s blend of emotional vulnerability and humor is characteristic of the novel’s tone, and it sets up the romantic tension that will drive the rest of the story.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Daisy experience an anxiety attack in this chapter, and what coping mechanisms does she use?

Daisy’s anxiety attack is triggered by fear for Max’s health after he ate baking chocolate and became unresponsive. The chapter reveals that her anxiety has been a long-standing issue, spiraling out of control after her mother’s sudden reappearance years ago. She uses a breathing technique taught by her therapist — in for four, hold for four, out for four — and has been through three therapists before finding one who could help. Liam’s arrival and his steady physical comfort (stroking her back) help her through the attack.

2. How does Mehar Auntie’s interaction with Liam function as both comedy and a test of his character?

Mehar Auntie’s interrogation of Liam — asking about his family, his job, and whether he’s in a motorcycle gang — is comedic in its directness, but it also serves as a family vetting process. Her Bollywood dance performance is the real test: she’s seeing how Liam reacts to her culture and her personality. By playing the song on his phone and joining in, Liam shows he’s willing to embrace her world rather than be embarrassed by it. Her approval — calling him a good boy and telling Daisy she doesn’t need an old auntie when she has Liam — signals that he’s passed.

3. What does the banter between Daisy and Liam reveal about their relationship at this point in the novel?

The banter — about snacks, bathroom habits, and his ego — reveals a comfort and intimacy that goes beyond their fake arrangement. Liam’s observation that Daisy hasn’t used the restroom in a long time shows how closely he pays attention to her. Daisy’s internal monologue reveals her awareness that it’s almost too easy to get comfortable with him and that her rules are meant to protect her from feelings. The banter is both a sign of their genuine connection and a defense mechanism for Daisy, who uses humor to keep emotional distance even as she’s drawn closer.