Page 100 of The Ex Factor

“Yes, Imran. Everything is good,” I said rather curtly, then added, “Thank you for driving me today. I appreciate it.”

He nodded as I placed a call to Devi. It was Sunday, but we never cared about weekends since our startup days.

“Yes, Boss,” she answered in a chirpy voice. Sunday was when she spent quality time with Kitty, and I felt slightly guilty about encroaching on it.

“Just a quick thing, set up a call with Vinay first thing tomorrow.”

“Vinay Rathod?”

“Yes. First thing tomorrow,” I repeated and disconnected without pleasantries.

My parents had raised me to be kind, but I was never meek. Even when I was deferential, I was never meek. My friends knew this, as did my competitors. Now, it was time to unleash this side of me for everyone else to see.

As I felt the world closing in on me, I was certain of two things. One, I really, really liked Aarti. She had made her way into my heart and deservedly so. I wasn’t going to give up on the possibility of us without a fight. The question was, did she like me enough to stand up against her family, her father, for me? Only she could answer that.

And two, whatever my equation with Aarti, whatever our future held or did not, I wasn’t going to let Manoj have his way. Not this time.

I was on a warpath, and this was just the beginning.

AARTI

The calendar had turned that week, kindling a renewed conviction in me.

After our pictures appeared in the tabloid, we’d avoided going out openly. We never spoke about it but we had started meeting at our homes instead of stepping out for meals. The heartwarming dinners had halted, although the conversations had stayed the same.

Sujit had an invitation to a New Year’s party that he couldn’t refuse. He had made an appearance and left the soirée early to be by my side at midnight. We celebrated with a tiramisu that he had ordered and a chilled bottle of wine. At midnight, he’d kissed my cheek, and later, I’d fallen asleep on his shoulder while we watched a movie.

That week, I decided to regain control over the reins of my destiny, my happiness. It all hinged on one important factor: my father’s approval.

“I really don’t feel like attending a party, Ma,” I said over the phone when I called my mother to inform her of my visit to Dallas.

It had been a while since I had seen my family. I was homesick, but this visit to Dallas was an impetuous decisionthat I hoped wouldn’t backfire. I reserved the real reason for my visit, but Mom took it as a sign to finally throw the party she’d been planning. She wanted to introduce Nitara to the world with a splash and was waiting for me to return. There would be no celebration without me, they all had repeatedly asserted.

I was in no mood to celebrate, not yet anyway. The wedding was still fresh in the memory of our clique. And I had more pressing issues to deal with. Except, Mom had made up her mind and she was a force of nature.

“It’s not about you, Beta. This is about Jia and Nitara,” she tried to persuade. “It’s about making them feel special and loved.”

“I understand, and I want all the happiness for them, but I’m still not keen on making public appearances.”

Mom let out a quiet sigh. “That’s alright, Beta.” And there it was. I knew I was going to lose the argument the moment those three words came out of her mouth. “We’ll do it later. I’d hate to put you in an uncomfortable position. But it’s time to stop hiding. Sameer got married in one of the biggest weddings this year, and you shouldn’t be the one shouldering the burden of that breakup. Come with your head held high. You have nothing to feel embarrassed about.”

Wise as my mother was, I hated that she was usually—well, always—right. I delivered a deep exhale into the phone, which Mom accepted as my reluctant acquiescence.

“Good,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “Good decision. I’m glad.”

I called Sujit to give him the news. The idea of being away from him, of not seeing him for a prolonged period of time, caused an unprecedented frenzy inside me.

“I was just about to call you,” he said.

“Yeah? About what?”

“Do I need a reason to call you?” I heard a happy ring in his voice.

I sighed with relief. “No, you don’t. You never need a reason to call, but I called to share some news. I’m going to Dallas for a bit.”

There was a brief pause that followed an unmistakable shift in his breath. “Is it a casual visit, or did something happen?”

As much as I wanted to share the real reason for my visit, I couldn’t. Not yet anyway. If the conversation with my father didn’t work out the way I hoped, it would save us both the unavoidable heartache. The very thought threatened to crush my breath and my soul.

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