Page 20 of Right Where I Belong
“Some fancy clothes for you to wear,” Diya replied. “And before you complain, these are not new. They’re mine from before I got pregnant. You and I are the same size. They havebeen just lying in my cupboard unused. At least you can wear them in Singapore.”
“I have clothes.”
“Not like these!” Diya grinned. “Your clothes are dull, dark, and boring. These are sexy and hot.”
Aisha twirled a finger in front of Sabrina’s long, high-neck blue dress. “See. Boring and so dull.”
Sabrina opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say to that. Of course, she’d kept herself hidden behind simple, plain clothes and a severe look, so that if, by some vague chance, those awful people were still looking for her, they’d never recognize her. But fourteen years had passed since…
Lost in her thoughts, she ran a hand over her tightly knotted hair. Aisha leaned forward and unclasped the clip at her nape. Sabrina gasped.
“So pretty!” Aisha smiled in awe. “It’s time to own it, don’t you think? You are young and alive. And you’re going to live in a different city, all by yourself, for a long time. Take this opportunity to find yourself again, Sabrina. You’ve been lost for too long.”
“And may you become the best version of yourself there,” Diya added. “For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been a mother, a daughter-in-law, a sister in-law, a friend, and now a business owner. It’s time to be only Sabrina and learn who she is and whatshewants in life.”
Her heart thumped inside her chest. She must have done some great things in her past life to be blessed with such wonderful friends in this one. They were going above and beyond everything, simply to ensure that Sabrina took this chance for herself.
A new kind of excitement filled her veins. “Oh God, I’m actually doing this…”
“Yes, you are!” Diya clapped her hands, giggling like an excited child.
Sabrina caught each of their hands in her own. “Thank you. I don’t say it enough, but I am so thankful for both of you.”
Her friends beamed.
Sabrina’s heart soared. For the first time in her life, she had the means and the support to do something for herself. She was going to grab this opportunity with both hands. Who knew, maybe she’d rediscover herself along the way.
Perhaps, she could even rewrite certain parts of her story.
But first she had to deal with her mother-in-law. She groaned.
5
“You did what?” her mother-in-law yelled.
It was late afternoon, and Sabrina had just broken the news about Ahaan’s and her own plans the moment her mother-in-law had returned.
Radha pointed a shaky finger at Sabrina. “How could you? How could you send Ahaan away like that? Tell Aisha to bring him back right now.”
“I cannot do that. They’re on the flight to Delhi.”
Her mother-in-law glared at her.
“Ma—”
“Don’t Ma me!” the older woman said. “Aisha already thinks she can do anything she wants because she is rich. However, I will not stand by and let her brainwash you into taking rash decisions.”
Sabrina blinked. “Brainwash? Rash decision? Have you not heard a word of what I said? I’m going to Singapore tostudyfor six weeks, and Aisha offered to take Ahaan for a vacation first and then stay with him while he does that cricket program. You know how muchhewanted to go for it.”
“You cannot go to Singapore,” she fumed. “It’s a terrible idea.”
Sabrina crossed her arms. “Why?”
“You have responsibilities here; you cannot leave me alone.”
Sabrina’s jaw tightened, though her voice stayed calm. “For all these years, all I’ve done is look after my responsibilities. This opportunity will benefit me and my business, so I’m going to take it. Besides, you’re quite independent as you keep telling me all the time. I’m sure you can manage a few weeks without me.”
“Fine. Go,” her mother-in-law barked out. “But if you’re really insisting on leaving Ahaan behind and running off to Singapore—something I absolutely donotapprove of—then fine. But he will stay here withme.”
