Page 61 of The Art of Taking Second Chances

“I was worried sick.”

“Why, what’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter?” Her voice went up half an octave. “You met Tara’s boyfriend today.”

“I’m alright, Ma. I’ve decided to let it go.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I told her she and Sujit make a good pair and will be happy together.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, Ma. It doesn’t seem worth it to upend her life, especially after seeing them today.”

“But she still loves you. I saw it.”

“Yes, but she seems happy with him. And I’m all wrong for her.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t think I can make her happy.”

“How do you know that?”

“Mom, what are you doing? I’m trying to resign myself to my fate here. Why aren’t you being more supportive?”

“Because that’s not your fate. And because I can see you’ll never be happy without her.”

And she hung up. Just like that, all full of sass and badassery.

Chapter 19

Tara

Our paths had crossed and diverged again, like railroad tracks at a junction. We were two trains running at full speed without a care for where the other was headed. Of course we were going to ram into each other at some point. I wanted to hurt. I wanted the pain, but I felt nothing. My heart was in mutiny against my emotions.

Back in my apartment, I flung off my heels as the cell phone whirred in my hand, unusually loud against the jarring silence in my head.

“Hi, Sona,” I said with an upward lilt in my voice, but she didn’t buy my enthusiasm.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, Sona. I just did a stupid thing and realized my mistake.” I told her how Sameer had consoled me and how I had rushed over after Aai and Sujit left for the airport, only to find him with Aarti. “Like a fool, I stood there, still in my saree, hoping for what?” I wiped my forehead with my free hand. “There was no dignified way to exit. I’m grateful Aarti was kind. But it was like, suddenly something clicked. Sameer and I can never be.”

I heard her exhale.

“I went over to get him back, Sona. To cheat on Sujit the moment he left with my own mother in his care. I’m a horrible person.”

“Don’t say that, love. This is Sameer we’re talking about. When has anything involving him been easy or simple? Just give yourself some time and show yourself some kindness.”

“He said he was happy for Sujit and me, that I deserve to be happy. And yet…”

“And yet?”

I sighed and dropped onto the couch. “And yet, he was the only one who saw my distress. Not Amar, not Sujit, not even Aai. No one else noticed.”

“Maybe he does love you, but not all love is realized in the same way. He loves you enough to let you go and be happy on your own terms.”

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