Page 107 of The Rules of Playing with Fire

“Why all these questions, Appa?” I cried with exasperation. “I found a better job. I’m happy.”

“Ah, see, that’s where I don’t believe you. You have been telling us how great this new job is, and yet, I don’t see real happiness on your face.”

“It’s just anxiety about the new place and new people.”

My flimsy explanations stood no chance before my astute father. He was too smart to buy the lies I was trying to peddle. “Mihir lives in Texas, doesn’t he?” he asked, cutting to the chase. “Do you like him, mol?”

When my head dropped low, he moved up to sit with me.

“Tell me about him,” he said, extending his legs on the bed. “He seems to like you, and you’ve spent all day avoiding him.”

So much for trying to hide it from my parents!

I leaned against him, and a tear slipped out as I told him about our relationship in as few words as I could manage.

Appa pulled his arm around me and patted my arm. “And he didn’t give a reason for breaking up?”

“Not a good one. I feel cheated and humiliated.”

“And it forced you to relive your breakup with Ajay?” my considerate father asked.

I found myself fumbling for an answer, but I had never found it easy to lie to my parents. “Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. With Mihir it was different. There was love and respect on both sides. But he didn’t trust me enough to give me the real reason for distancing himself,” I explained, trying very hard not to burst into tears. That would crush my father.

Appa patted my back, consoling me.

“And you say he proposed marriage to you?” I was surprised he had chosen to latch on to that part of my narrative.

Gathering myself, I nodded. “But I said I’d reserve my yes until he’d met you both.”

“Is he here to reconcile? He has been very nice to us. Is it all for you?”

“No, Appa. He knows we are over. He’s here about something personal, and I’ve agreed to help him. For his parents. They loved me too. They probably still do…”

Appa exhaled.

“And despite everything, Mihir is a decent guy. Whatever he was with you today wasn’t a show. That is the real him. He is smart, caring, and mostly kind. Except his ego is the size of Texas because, unfortunately, he knows how good he is. And it didn’t help that you kept praising him all evening,” I griped.

Appa smiled back warmly. “Look mol, you are a sensible woman, and your mother and I both trust you. You know that, right?” I nodded. “So whatever decision you make, we will support you.”

“Yes, I know,” I said. “Thank you.”

“He’s a good-looking chap, though, I must admit.”

“Are you teasing me?” I demanded with incredulity.

“No, my child,” he said with a soothing grin. “Goodnight.” He placed a tap on my head and left the room.

When I woke up the next morning, my heart felt lighter. Sharing my pain with Appa had worked like a magic pill. It felt like he’d lifted a boulder off my chest and flung it far away. Parents really were heroes with superpowers. At least, some of them were.

I looked at my phone. 9:30 a.m. I jumped out of bed. Mihir was supposed to arrive around ten, and bedhead was the least of my worries. After freshening up, I rushed to the dining room for tea.

“Ah, the princess is up!” Appa smiled from behind his newspaper. Like most people of his generation, he preferred to read his news in print.

“Why are you still home?” I frowned and decided I wanted coffee instead.

“I’m leaving in a bit. I’ve told my office not to expect me while you are here.”

“That does not prevent them from calling at all hours,” Mom chimed in from the kitchen.

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